2006 Saturn Vue

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. 2. TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE (FWD). A. CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED 2 REAR WHEEL BRG (TIMKEN) FAILURES (SATURN PART #15871427) SINCE MAY 2008. FIRST FAILURE WAS MAY 07, 2008 (MILEAGE 58,086) WHICH WAS INDICATED BY A LIGHT SQUEAL NOISE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF CAR & INCREASED HUM OF THE POWERTRAIN AND HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL SPEED ON THE TACHOMETER (CAR SPD 60 MPH). SATURN OF EL CAJON, CA. REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE REAR WHEEL BRG UNDER WARRANTY ON MAY 07, 2008. B. SECOND FAILURE WAS JUNE 27, 2008 WHICH WAS INDICATED BY A BARELY DISCERNIBLE HIGH-PITCHED HUM NOISE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF CAR & INCREASED HUM OF THE POWERTRAIN AND HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL SPEED ON THE TACHOMETER (FOR THE SPEED OF THE CAR AT 60 MPH). SATURN OF EL CAJON, CA. REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BRG UNDER WARRANTY ON JUNE 27, 2008. C. CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS LITTLE INDICATION TO THE AVERAGE DRIVER THAT A BRG FAILURE IS OCCURRING. FURTHERMORE, IF THE BRG CATASTROPHICALLY DISINTEGRATES DURING HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVING AND SEIZES, IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. OEM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS OEM HAS RE-DESIGNED THE SUSPENSION PARTS ON THE 2008 SATURN VUE, INCLUDING PROVIDING A NEWER REPLACEMENT DESIGN FOR ALL TIMKEN WHEEL BRGS (REPLACING SATURN PART #15871427) WITH A MORE DURABLE NEW BEARING DESIGN (SATURN PART #19206600). D. CONTACT COMMENT: THE AVG AUTOMOBILE MTBF (MEAN-TIME-BETWEEN-FAILURE) FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE WHEEL BRG (PER TIMKEN AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE, TEL# 866-984-6536) IS APPROX. 100,000 MILES. ACCORDING TO TIMKEN REP, EACH BRG IS TESTED AND BUILT TO WHATEVER OEM TELLS THEM TO DO-THE OEM DECIDES THE LONGEVITY OF BRG WHEN THEY WRITE THE SPECS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,086.

2006 VUE REAR TIRES WERE CUPPED, TIRES WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED UNUSUAL STEERING CONDITIONS. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE GOING TO SWAPPED THE RACK FROM ANOTHER VUE AND CHANGED SOME SENSORS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. *NM