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2008 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Saturn Vue do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 276.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

329 reports with mileage · 77 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 120 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports11 fire reports10 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

15 reports
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90,115 miles · Jul 2, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

GOT IN CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY RADIO HAD BEEN RESET, AND THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I GOT A JUMP FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR, THE ODOMETER PANEL FADED OFF. YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE ODOMETER READING OR THE OUTSIDE WEATHER TEMP. THE CAR ALSO DELAYS WHEN IT STARTS. SOMETIME IT WONT EVEN STAR…

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GOT IN CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY RADIO HAD BEEN RESET, AND THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I GOT A JUMP FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON THE AIR, THE ODOMETER PANEL FADED OFF. YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE ODOMETER READING OR THE OUTSIDE WEATHER TEMP. THE CAR ALSO DELAYS WHEN IT STARTS. SOMETIME IT WONT EVEN START THE FIRST TIME AROUND, UNLESS YOU PUMP AT THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES. THIS CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL RECALLS IN THE PAST, AND I AM ALMOST CERTAIN NONE OF THE RECALLS WERE FIXED BY THE GM DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD IT TO ME IN 2011. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607692

71,693 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/4/2009 WITH 13,936 MILES ON IT. AS OF THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE 71,694 MILES ON THE CAR OR 57,758 MILES DRIVEN (AVERAGE 11,550 PER YEAR). THIS CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE DONE. THE FIRST THING THAT FAILED ON THE CAR WAS THE KEYLESS START. IT FAILED LESS THAN SEVEN…

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THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 4/4/2009 WITH 13,936 MILES ON IT. AS OF THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE ARE 71,694 MILES ON THE CAR OR 57,758 MILES DRIVEN (AVERAGE 11,550 PER YEAR). THIS CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD THE APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE DONE. THE FIRST THING THAT FAILED ON THE CAR WAS THE KEYLESS START. IT FAILED LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. LAST WINTER, WE NOTICED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY FAILED AND NO LONGER WORKED. ON 6/24/2008; THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS CHECKED EVERY OIL CHANGE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CAR STARTED MAKING RUBBING NOISES UNTIL NOW THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY FAILED. CAR TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100K MILES. WITH THE HISTORY OF SATURN VUES HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES, THIS ONE HAS NOW FAILED US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606598

119,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, MY CAR JUST QUIT, LOCKED UP STEERING, EVERYTHING DEAD. COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OR ANYTHING. CAR DID START UP AGAIN. DROVE DOWN THE ROAD A 1/2 BLOCK AND CAR STOPPED AGAIN, DEAD IN ROAD, NO STEERING, COULD NOT OPERATE DOOR LOCKS OR ANYTHING. CAR STARTED AGAIN AND MANAGED TO MOVE …

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WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, MY CAR JUST QUIT, LOCKED UP STEERING, EVERYTHING DEAD. COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OR ANYTHING. CAR DID START UP AGAIN. DROVE DOWN THE ROAD A 1/2 BLOCK AND CAR STOPPED AGAIN, DEAD IN ROAD, NO STEERING, COULD NOT OPERATE DOOR LOCKS OR ANYTHING. CAR STARTED AGAIN AND MANAGED TO MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT BEFORE IT WENT OUT AGAIN. NOTHING WAS WORKABLE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER IN LLANO, TX IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE POSITIVE CONNECTION TO THE MAIN FUSE BOX HAD COME LOOSE. THE ONLY FIX WAS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THE MAIN POSITIVE LUG TO THE FUSE BOX IS ONLY HELD ON BY PLASTIC. THE DESIGN OF THIS FUSE BOX IS DEFINITELY POOR CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE DEATH. THIS POORLY DESIGNED FUSE BOX WITH MAIN LUG NUT HELD BY ONLY PLASTIC NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596214

66,000 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE BECAME PERMANENT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN ADD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE BECAME PERMANENT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10547919

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAK FEATURE ON MY 2008 SATURN VUE REDLINE. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 16 MONTHS (PURCHASED BRAND NEW) AND WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD THE TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAK INDICATORS TURNED ON IN THE DIC APPROXIMATELY 15-20 TIMES. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTS TO JERK PRETTY ROUGH. I…

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I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAK FEATURE ON MY 2008 SATURN VUE REDLINE. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 16 MONTHS (PURCHASED BRAND NEW) AND WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD THE TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRAK INDICATORS TURNED ON IN THE DIC APPROXIMATELY 15-20 TIMES. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTS TO JERK PRETTY ROUGH. I NEED TO PULL OF THE ROAD AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE THEN RESTART FOR THE INDICATOR LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. IT HAPPENS AT ANY GIVEN TIME MOST OF THE TIME IN IDEAL CONDITIONS EITHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY. I'VE NEVER TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY CAN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM THAT I'M BRINGING IN THE VEHICLE FOR. I DON'T WANT TO WASTE MY TIME GOING THERE FOR NO RESULTS BEING THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE DEALERSHIP ON THE ISLAND. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S AN ISOLATED CONDITION OR IF OTHER SATURNS HAVE THE SAME CONDITION. THE INCIDENT DATE IS THE LAST TIME THE INDICATORS WENT ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253325

Official recalls

3

09V233000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Jun 25, 2009

GM IS RECALLING 44,451 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH BODY COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES MAY STICK OR BIND. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WITH CHROME DOOR HANDLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

08V470000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Sep 17, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 42,408 MY 2008-2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A FLUID LEAK, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT. IF A FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT, DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT AND CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

08V200000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

May 5, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS CONDITION, COUPLED WITH NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES, COULD LEAD TO FAILURE, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION IN 'PARK' POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN ITS PATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE09016 · Outside Door Handles Stick Unlatched

Opened Mar 10, 2009 · Closed Jul 2, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

BY LETTER DATED JUNE 23, 2009, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 09V233) TO REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES CAN STICK IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION.THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE AGENCY OPENED ITS INVESTIGATION BASED ON TWO COMPLAINTS OF DOOR LATCH FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.THE AGENCY ALSO RECEIVED EARLY WARNING (EWR) REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE.CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES HAVE PAINTED BODY-COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES THAT MAY STICK OR BIND.IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT FALLING PARTLY OR FULLY OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.BASED ON THE ABOVE SAFETY RECALL, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.