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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

118 reports
78,000 miles · Oct 31, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION AS THE AIR BAG AND STABILITY TRAC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION AS THE AIR BAG AND STABILITY TRAC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10651721

25,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

CANNOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST ONE MINUTE OR MORE TO GET IT TO UNLOCK OR RELEASE TO TAKE KEY OUT, USES TOO MUCH BATTERY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640126

48,000 miles · Sep 15, 2014
Electrical System

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MY REDLINE STARTED CLICKING STABILITRAK OFF AND THEN WHEN TURNING IGNITION OFF, WOULD BE COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS CONTINUED AFTER INSTALLING A NEW BATTERY (THOUGHT THE BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING). I HAVE TAKEN TO A REPAIR MAN NUMEROUS TIMES AND STILL CAN'T GET AN ANSWER. THEY REPLACED ONE OF THE BATTERY CABLES CO…

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SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MY REDLINE STARTED CLICKING STABILITRAK OFF AND THEN WHEN TURNING IGNITION OFF, WOULD BE COMPLETELY DEAD. THIS CONTINUED AFTER INSTALLING A NEW BATTERY (THOUGHT THE BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING). I HAVE TAKEN TO A REPAIR MAN NUMEROUS TIMES AND STILL CAN'T GET AN ANSWER. THEY REPLACED ONE OF THE BATTERY CABLES COMPLETELY AND THIS STOPPED IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THOUGHT WE HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM. WELL IT HAS SINCE CONTINUED TO HAVE A BAD CONNECTION SOMEWHERE. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I CAN "WIGGLE" THE BLACK ELECTRIC BOX ABOVE THE BATTERY AND POWER IS RESTORED. SOMETIMES, IT DISCONNECTS EVERYTIME I PUT IT IN PARK AND SWITCH OFF AND SOMETIMES I CAN GO DAYS WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. THERE HAS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL/WIRING ISSUE CAUSING THIS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE LIES WITHIN THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM. I THINK THAT THE STABILITRAK TURNS OFF AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE VEHICLE LOSING THE ELECTRONIC CONNECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633116

59,000 miles · Sep 3, 2014
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SUN VISOR CAME DOWN OBSTRUCTING BLOCKING THE VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE VIN WAS NOT UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10630401

59,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

APPROXIMATELY JULY 2013, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND RADIO SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER MOVING THE BATTERY, THE LIGHTS TURNED ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS LASTED FOR AN HOUR. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND MOVING THE BA…

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APPROXIMATELY JULY 2013, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND RADIO SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON AND THEN WENT OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER MOVING THE BATTERY, THE LIGHTS TURNED ON AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS LASTED FOR AN HOUR. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND MOVING THE BATTERY WORKED. I TOOK IT TO LOU FUSZ GMC BUICK. THEY TESTED THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND ALL OF THEIR COMPONENTS. THEY WERE FINE. I TOOK IT TO THEM IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, AND OCTOBER. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY NOT BEING SECURED OR I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED BY LOU FUSZ IN JANUARY 2014. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE UNTIL EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND ISSUES HAPPENED AGAIN. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT A GM SERVICE CENTER HOPING THEY CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY CONCERN IS IT MAY BE OVERHEATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BURN. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2009 SATURN VUE. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628258

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2014
Electrical System

THE LIGHTS (COURTESY LIGHTS, DASH, AND HEADLIGHTS) ON MY VEHICLE WERE FLICKERING. WHILE DRIVING, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE, BUT ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS DID NOT HELP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR AREA. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP A…

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THE LIGHTS (COURTESY LIGHTS, DASH, AND HEADLIGHTS) ON MY VEHICLE WERE FLICKERING. WHILE DRIVING, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE, BUT ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS DID NOT HELP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR AREA. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS ABOUT THE HEADLINER THAT GOES INTO THE SUNSHADE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626260

59,511 miles · Jul 22, 2014
Steering

STEERING MOTOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING ON NJ TURNPIKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615382

64,000 miles · Jul 18, 2014
Electrical SystemInterior LightingStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR RETRACTION CLIP FRACTURED AND THE VISOR WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DOME, DOOR, AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR RETRACTION CLIP FRACTURED AND THE VISOR WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DOME, DOOR, AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 08/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BAR THAT RUNS THROUGH THE VISOR BECAME HOT TO TOUCH AND CAUSED THE WIRING THAT RUNS TO THE DOME TO BURN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE VISOR WAS REPLACED BUT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE NOT REPAIRED. UPDATED 09/18/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10614505

71,765 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,765. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,853. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10608165

111,952 miles · Jul 1, 2014
SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SLID, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL POSIT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SLID, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR WAS NOT PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY AND THE STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V616000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,952.

NHTSA ODI #10607391

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.