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2009 Saturn Vue

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Saturn Vue do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 276.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

99 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Steering. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Power Train complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2023
Power Train

I have only 68,329 miles. My transmission lost reverse. When first driving it will only go up to 10 mph and over time the maximum speed is 30 to 40 mph. Even if it gets to this speed it hesitates. The car is a danger and not drive able. I took the car to a GM dealer requesting a Policy Evaluation according to the Service Bulle…

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I have only 68,329 miles. My transmission lost reverse. When first driving it will only go up to 10 mph and over time the maximum speed is 30 to 40 mph. Even if it gets to this speed it hesitates. The car is a danger and not drive able. I took the car to a GM dealer requesting a Policy Evaluation according to the Service Bulletin Warranty. The evaluation showed GM will not help me with any repairs or replacement of transmission. A car should not have a major component fail like a transmission especially with such low mileage. It is expected to have maintenance and repairs on a vehicle. What is not expected or normal servicing is transmission repair or replacement. It was estimated from the GM dealerships Policy Evaluation it will cost $5,500 to replace the transmission. My car is in great shape other than the transmission failure. I love my car and anticipated to have this car many years. This is an unaffordable repair and essentially makes this a throw away car. I feel extremely disappointed in GM's decision to not remedy this major problem.

NHTSA ODI #11525489

160,000 miles · Dec 27, 2020
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower TrainCrash

WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED. "STABILITRAK" WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING TWICE BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE DASH. WHEN I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO TURN …

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WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED. "STABILITRAK" WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING TWICE BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE DASH. WHEN I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO TURN AND WILL TURN OFF THE RADIO. THIS WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OR TURN THE VEHICLE ON. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AND THIS HELPED FOR 2 MONTHS THEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL SENSORS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE TAKEN TO 3 MECHANICS BUT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, I WILL TRY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN JUST TAP ON THE BRAIN COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE BATTERY AND SOMETIMES THIS WORKS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT. WHILE DRIVING IF THE ISSUES ARE REALLY BAD AND IF I HAVE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE I WILL TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROLL BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11385133

121,000 miles · Oct 24, 2020
Power Train

THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 122,000 AND IS IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION, YET THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS OFTEN THE CASE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR AFTER 120,000 MILES. WE BROUGHT IT INTO OUR LOCAL GM DEALER/SHOP AND THEY TOLD US IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH RANGES FRO…

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THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 122,000 AND IS IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION, YET THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS OFTEN THE CASE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR AFTER 120,000 MILES. WE BROUGHT IT INTO OUR LOCAL GM DEALER/SHOP AND THEY TOLD US IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH RANGES FROM REBUILT AT $2500 AND NEW FOR OVER $4000. THIS SEEMS VERY WRONG CONSIDERING KBB SAYS IT BOOKS FOR $4500?

NHTSA ODI #11366159

143,000 miles · Sep 11, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING

NHTSA ODI #11354446

144,041 miles · Sep 6, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

TRACTION CONTROL STAYS ON AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGES THEN RELEASE SLIPPING ..ALSO HYBRID SYSTEM NIT WORKING AT ALL NEVER TURN OFF AND ANY STOP LIKE A HYBRID .

NHTSA ODI #11353451

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2020
Power Train

IT STARTED RAINING IN AN AREA I WAS NOT FORMILLIA WITH. WHEN I HIT THE GAS SOMETIMES IT ENGAGED OTHER TIMES IT DID NOT. THEN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I COULD ONLY GO FORWARD IN LOW, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTTO 2ND OR DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11297276

35,500 miles · May 28, 2019
Power TrainSteering

AT LESS THAN 35,500 MILES I HAD A POWER RACK LEAK AND RACK NEEDS TO REPLACED WITH A PRICE OF $1000. AT 62,000 MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A COST OF $700, AND NOW AT 64,000 MILES I FIND I HAVE A CRACKED WAVE PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST ANOTHER $2,000.

NHTSA ODI #11210317

77,500 miles · Jan 27, 2018
Power Train

WHEN I PARK THE CAR, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT FULLY SHIFT TO PARK UNLESS I THROW IT VERY HARD INTO PARK AND I CAN NOT TURN THE KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND TAKE IT OUT OF THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL VERY HARD THROWS AND OTHER TIMES IT ACTS NORMALLY.

NHTSA ODI #11065407

53,385 miles · Mar 29, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH MILEAGE AT 25,394 5/28/2014 CURRENTLY TODAY, 3/29/2017 MILEAGE IS 53,588, AVERAGE USE PER YEAR 9,398. WITHIN THE MARCH 2017, 3/3/2017 HAD A TRANSMISSION REBUILT, 3/20/2017 CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK & TRACTION SIGNS FLASHING MAP SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, 3/29/2017, POWER STEERING LINE LEAK. U…

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PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH MILEAGE AT 25,394 5/28/2014 CURRENTLY TODAY, 3/29/2017 MILEAGE IS 53,588, AVERAGE USE PER YEAR 9,398. WITHIN THE MARCH 2017, 3/3/2017 HAD A TRANSMISSION REBUILT, 3/20/2017 CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK & TRACTION SIGNS FLASHING MAP SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, 3/29/2017, POWER STEERING LINE LEAK. UNDER 2009 SATURN VUE-V6 UTILITY 4D RED LINE AWD A RECALL #08284 WAS SITED ON SEP 16, 2008 WITH NHTSA ID# 08V470000. READING DESCRIPTION MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE RECALL CONDITION BUT MY VIN# DOESN'T SHOW ANY RECALL ATTENTION REQUIRED. ON 3/20/2017, DEALER FOUND A RECALL 15806 ACTION 9102060 AND IT WAS CLEARED BUT I STILL CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLES STEERING. I CAN'T ACCELERATE AND HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING TO LEFT OR RIGHT...

NHTSA ODI #10969422

84,400 miles · Jan 14, 2015
EnginePower TrainStructureCrash

I TURNED THE CORNER TO ENTER MY STREET, THERE IS A SLIGHT "S" CURVE TO ENTER MY STREET. I WAS NO MORE THAN 50 YARDS FROM THE CORNER WHEN MY VEHICLE REVVED LOUDLY, RPM TO 3500 AND ACCELERATED , I MANAGED TO AVOID MORE DAMAGED THAN WAS DONE, BUT IN THE INTERIM I HIT A 3' TALL BRICK MAIL BOX AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE …

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I TURNED THE CORNER TO ENTER MY STREET, THERE IS A SLIGHT "S" CURVE TO ENTER MY STREET. I WAS NO MORE THAN 50 YARDS FROM THE CORNER WHEN MY VEHICLE REVVED LOUDLY, RPM TO 3500 AND ACCELERATED , I MANAGED TO AVOID MORE DAMAGED THAN WAS DONE, BUT IN THE INTERIM I HIT A 3' TALL BRICK MAIL BOX AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE GENTLEMAN WHOSE MAIL BOX I HIT SUGGESTED I RESEARCH RECALLS, - AND I FOUND A TON OF "LIKE" INCIDENCES WITH THESE VEHICLES AND TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS AMAZING NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED. GENERAL CONSENSUS IS GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE SITUATIONS. GM KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED WITH A NON WORKING VEHICLE AND STILL OWING MONEY FOR THIS. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF FAILURE ON A CONTINUAL BASIS, BUT GM IS ABANDONING THE CAUSE. DISGUSTING SINCE WE THE TAX PAYERS BAILED THEM OUT WITH THEIR SUB STANDARD PRODUCT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672493

Official recalls

2

08V616000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Nov 24, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ALTHOUGH STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE MAINTAINED AFTER A TIE ROD SEPARATION BY THE UNAFFECTED WHEEL ON SMOOTH ROADS OR DURING LIGHT BRAKING, WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT SUSPENSION OR BRAKING INPUTS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TURN OUT AND SKID. IF A VEHICLE BUILT WITH TWO INCORRECT STEERING KNUCKLES HAD BOTH TIE RODS SEPARATE AT THE SAME TIME, STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE(S) AND TIE ROD(S). THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 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> .

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> .

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.