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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

44 reports
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2 miles · Dec 17, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS,YES WHEN DRIVING IT WILL STALL TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WILL LIGHT UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE RPM METER GOES ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RED,THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE RECALL NO08V200000. AND ALSO RECALL ON THE STEERING RECALL NO.08…

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THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS,YES WHEN DRIVING IT WILL STALL TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH WILL LIGHT UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THE RPM METER GOES ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RED,THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE RECALL NO08V200000. AND ALSO RECALL ON THE STEERING RECALL NO.08V470000 AND THE LATCHES/DOOR HANDLES RECALL NO.09V233000

NHTSA ODI #10935986

55,000 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Unknown Or Other

WAS ON A STREET STOPPED AT A LIGHT , WENT TO GO AND WOULD NOT MOVE , STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN GOT A LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE STREET AND IT STOPPED AGAIN WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE SIDE BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE AGAIN. CALLED A TOW TRUCK . ITS THE TRAMSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10896603

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

AFTER DRIVING MY CAR THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WAS STUCK THE AFTER DRIVING ? HAD POWER BUT I COULDNT REMOVE MY KEY , ITS STUCK , COULDN'T MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL ITS LOCKED. I TRIED MOVING BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE IGN…

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AFTER DRIVING MY CAR THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WAS STUCK THE AFTER DRIVING ? HAD POWER BUT I COULDNT REMOVE MY KEY , ITS STUCK , COULDN'T MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL ITS LOCKED. I TRIED MOVING BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE IGNITION KEY WOULD RELEASE ALLOWING THE KEY OUT SO CAN LEAVE. KEY IN "OFF" POSITION. I COULDNT REMOVE THE KEY, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THIS HAPPENED TWICE NOW ? BOTH TIMES AFTER DRIVING IN ON SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD FWY. ?

NHTSA ODI #10870192

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2016
Unknown Or OtherInjury

2008 SATURN VUE, LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS THAT HOLD THE LIFTGATE UP WHEN OPEN. THESE STRUTS FAILED AND THE OPEN LIFTGATE SUDDENLY FALLED AND UNEXPECTEDLY IT STRIKES ME ON HEAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN LEVEL DRIVEWAY AND I JUST OPEN IT UP - 7 SECONDS LATER IT CRUSHED MY HEAD. VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS TO CLOSE WITHOUT GAS STRUTS IT'S …

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2008 SATURN VUE, LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS THAT HOLD THE LIFTGATE UP WHEN OPEN. THESE STRUTS FAILED AND THE OPEN LIFTGATE SUDDENLY FALLED AND UNEXPECTEDLY IT STRIKES ME ON HEAD. CAR WAS PARKED IN LEVEL DRIVEWAY AND I JUST OPEN IT UP - 7 SECONDS LATER IT CRUSHED MY HEAD. VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS TO CLOSE WITHOUT GAS STRUTS IT'S TOO HEAVY AND SLAMS CLOSED.

NHTSA ODI #10870189

185,207 miles · Jan 11, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or Other

ARE THEIR ANY RECALLS ON ANY PARTS?

NHTSA ODI #10819509

139,500 miles · Aug 21, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

IVE HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS. I DIDNT LIST THE FIRST INCIDENT BECAUSE I DONT REMEMBER THE MILEAGE. WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYTIME I PUT GAS IN MY VEHICLE IT WONT CRANK. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I PUT IN IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY I WAS COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND NEEDED GAS, BUT PRIOR T…

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IVE HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS. I DIDNT LIST THE FIRST INCIDENT BECAUSE I DONT REMEMBER THE MILEAGE. WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYTIME I PUT GAS IN MY VEHICLE IT WONT CRANK. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I PUT IN IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY I WAS COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND NEEDED GAS, BUT PRIOR TO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN I TURNED ON THE AIR WHICH WASNT OFTEN IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE IT WAS MOSTLY COOL OUT. SO IVE HAD TO BUY BRAND NEW PARTS TWICE BECAUSE ITS WHAT THE COMPUTER READ AS AN ISSUE. THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I COULD BE JUST GETTING IN VEHICLE AND IT CRANKS FINE, I WOULD PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT AND IT WONT BULGE. ID THEN PUT IT BACK IN PARK THAIN DRIVE ITLL MOVE FORWARD PERFECTLY. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN IT WOULD BACK OUT WITHOUT CONTROL WITHOUT EASE. ONCE I ALMOSE HIT A CAR PASSING MY DRIVEWAY. THIS HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. IVE ALSO HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE DOOR OPENING HANDLES WHERE THEY STICK I JUST THOUGHT MY KIDS WERENT CLOSING THE DOOR ALL THE WAY. NOW THEYVE GOTTEN USED TO SLAMMING THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO HEAR MY MOUTH EVERYTIME I GET AN OPEN DOOR NOTIFICATION.

NHTSA ODI #10750390

92,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Unknown Or Other

THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WOULD ONLY MOVE TO THE ACCESSORY POWER POSITION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES B…

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THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE "OFF" POSITION ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND THE SHIFTER IN PARK. THE KEY WOULD ONLY MOVE TO THE ACCESSORY POWER POSITION AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE IGNITION WOULD UNLOCK TO ALLOW THE KEY TO MOVE TO THE "OFF" POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #10735234

92,000 miles · Jul 6, 2015
Unknown Or Other

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP, COULD NOT START CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10732177

76,000 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION STUTTERED ONCE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, AGAIN LATER DRIVING APPRX 35 MPH CHANGING LANES; SLIGHT ACCELERATION. THEN NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, SO I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, STOP THE CAR AND BEGAN CHECKING THE VEHICLE MANUAL WHICH INDICATED POSSIBLE EMISSION ISSUES +++. BEGAN RESEARCHING WHERE THE CLOSE…

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TRANSMISSION STUTTERED ONCE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, AGAIN LATER DRIVING APPRX 35 MPH CHANGING LANES; SLIGHT ACCELERATION. THEN NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, SO I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, STOP THE CAR AND BEGAN CHECKING THE VEHICLE MANUAL WHICH INDICATED POSSIBLE EMISSION ISSUES +++. BEGAN RESEARCHING WHERE THE CLOSEST GM DEALER WAS LOCATED. I TURNED THE ENGINE ON, PUT IT IN REVERSE, CHECKING FOR CLEARANCE BEHIND ME THEN STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR.... THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT FORWARD TOWARDS THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. "NO REVERSE?" GOOD THING I LEFT PLENTY OF PARKING CLEARANCE. I THEN RESEARCHED WERE A TRANSMISSION SHOP WAS LOCATED. AFTER THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME PULLED OUT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OUT OF THE SHOPPING CENTER... ONCE ON THE MAIN ROAD HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THE SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR WOULD LIKE SLIP, GOING INTO A HIGH REV, LETTING UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR ALLOWED SHIFTING TO PROGRESS. THANK GOODNESS THE TRANNY SHOP WAS ONLY 1/2 MILE AWAY. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER THE SHOP CALLED THAT A COUPLE OF CODES INDICATING POSSIBLE ELECTRONIC FAULTS MAY BE THE CAUSE. NOW WAITING FOR FOLLOW UP.

NHTSA ODI #10725864

130,000 miles · Jun 6, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

LAST SUMMER THE AIR WORKED ON AND OFF. PROBLEMS WERE WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED DRIVING AND IN TRAFFIC BUT OTHERWISE WORKED WELL. THIS YEAR IT HAS NOT WORKED AT ALL. IT BLOWS FINE BUT IT'S ONLY HOT AIR. MECHANIC SAID FREON WAS FINE AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING HE COULD. HE REPLACED A SWITCH OR SOMETHI…

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LAST SUMMER THE AIR WORKED ON AND OFF. PROBLEMS WERE WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED DRIVING AND IN TRAFFIC BUT OTHERWISE WORKED WELL. THIS YEAR IT HAS NOT WORKED AT ALL. IT BLOWS FINE BUT IT'S ONLY HOT AIR. MECHANIC SAID FREON WAS FINE AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING HE COULD. HE REPLACED A SWITCH OR SOMETHING WHICH I CAN'T RECALL RIGHT NOW BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. HE IS A WELL RESPECTED MECHANIC IN THE SAME PLACE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I LIVE IN A VERY HOT AND HUMID AREA OF THE COUNTRY AND HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES WHICH MAKE DRIVING THE CAR A CONCERN FOR ME. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10723779

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.