10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,853 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Saturn Vue engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Saturn Vue Owner Comments

problem #17

Aug 052021

Vue

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2008 Saturn vue Engine size 3600cc, 6 cylinders has been feeling like the transmission is slipping when you get up to a certain speed and this could be very harmful to other drivers that are driving.. Sometimes the car won't go into park or reverse and I feel that since there are 3 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE GM PLACE SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS Because someone could get hurt really badly if the transmission locks up while going down the road.

- Hamptonville , NC, USA

problem #16

Mar 012021

Vue

  • 216,000 miles
I push gas pedal no accel then it would take off. I hit a tree from this doing this and sl mm ost got hut by another car from behind

- Cosby, TN, USA

problem #15

Jul 292016

Vue

  • 119,850 miles
My Vue went out of control, after I slammed on the brakes, it took off like a rocket, going faster and faster up to 90 miles per hour, it would not stop and would not slow down, I threw it into neutral, after 1 min the engine died, and I coasted for a few min

- Phx, AZ, USA

problem #14

Nov 022018

Vue

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the transmission failed. While the vehicle was stationary in the park position, the vehicle rolled forward. The contact applied the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. While the vehicle was stationary in the reverse position, the vehicle was able to move partially and stopped. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to move any further in the reverse position. In addition, the rpms increased rapidly on more than one occasion and the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 30 mph. A dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Pinckney, MI, USA

problem #13

Aug 222014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 38,909 miles
Vehicle stalled while driving, was able to safely pull over to side of road. After vehicle was restarted, it would shift into different gears but would not move. Dealer repair service center states: "38909 transmission 3-5-R waved plate broken and damaged" parts replaced: Seal kit, gaskets, nut, valves, cover, spring, piston, housing, piston, plate kit, plate times 2

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #12

May 152014

Vue

  • 100,000 miles
Driving at speed and the transmission jerks causing the vehicle to slow down in traffic. Very scary feeling to not know what is causing your vehicle to suddenly fail and loosing control of your speed during travel. To have such a vital part able to fail in such a critical functioning of the vehicle is dangerous and potentially dangerous to drivers on the roads as well as the occupants of the vehicle. Please don't allow this to become a fatality before action is taken. The wave plate on these GM vehicles is breaking inside the transmission. Causing complete in motion failure of vehicle at speed. Thank you for what you do.

- Clarksville , TN, USA

problem #11

Jun 022014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 89,212 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Upon trying to accelerate, the "kicked" and jerked, then slowed slightly. When traveling uphill, and parking, transmission seemed not to have enough power. Rolls backwards while idle before taking off.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #10

Apr 122014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 54,383 miles
On April 12, 2014 I was driving on a major boulevard towards interstate 5 when the transmission shifted itself into neutral and revved the engine to an extremely high RPM. It was hovering quite close to the red danger zone on the gauge. As it was doing this I lost forward power and was moving forward on momentum only. It then felt like it dropped in and out of gear several times in quick succession. I was close to a parking lot so I hit the brakes lightly to decrease my speed and managed to turn the car into the parking lot and into a parking space just as the transmission appeared to re-engage. I immediately turned the car off and called emergency roadside service to tow the car to the dealer. The dealer was able to drive the car forward into a service bay but advised me that reverse was completely gone. Although I did not crash or sustain an injury, it was only because I got lucky and had a safe place to turn into. If this had happened 5 minutes later on the freeway, I would have likely died as that section of interstate 5 has construction work and no shoulder, so I would have been stranded and blocking traffic on a freeway with other vehicles and big rigs traveling between 55 and 80 miles per hour. It would have taken a miracle for no one to hit me in that situation. The vehicle is a 2008 with just over 50K miles on it - way too soon for such a major transmission failure.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 262014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 76,300 miles
I was driving with my family in the car, going around another stalled vehicle on the highway when I was not able to accelerate past 25 mph. My vehicle acted like it went into neutral, when it should have gone into 3rd gear. I was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road with only brakes and steering. If this had happened while trying to merge onto the highway, I could have been rear ended. From the research I have done online it appears that GM is aware of a faulty 3-5-R wave-plate used within many of their 6 forward gear transmissions used on vehicles from 2007 to 2009. I believe this part should be replaced through a recall to avoid any serious future injuries in all vehicles using this transmission with the faulty wave-plate. I believe this includes 6T70 and 6T75 transmissions in vehicles from 2007-2209.

- Otsego, MN, USA

problem #8

Oct 122012

Vue

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to respond to acceleration attempts. The contact mentioned that the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who replaced the ABS module, wire harness, and the driver side brake sensor but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.

- Dousman, WI, USA

problem #7

Apr 172013

Vue 6-cyl

  • 118,140 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was driving on highway approx 50mph and speed dropped below 30mph. I had to immediately turn on my hazards and moved to the right lane and eventually pull over to service road. Drove car at 10mph to a secured location and had it towed to a mechanic in local area the next day.

- E. Stroudsburg, PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 072013

Vue 4-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
While entering I-880 @ 45 mph increased speed to 60 mph to get into the flow of traffic. Car accelerated to 70-80 mph. Attempts to slow the car down by stepping on brake did not work but the car continued to accelerate to 80-85 mph. I had to switch lanes to not hit car in front. All attempts to brake did not slow the car down. Stepping on the gas peddle numerous times finally allowed the car to slow down. Initially believing car was in cruise control I did nothing. This happen 3 more times when I would accelerate to pass a car on the freeway and once on a private road. The latter was done intentionally, late at night, to assure my mind it was really happening. Car is in the dealer now and they are telling me nothing is wrong with it. This needs to be documented since this appears to be a very serious safety concern when a driver has no control of the vehicle and given the circumstances a lot of lives seem to be at risk including my own. This seems to be the only place to file this information since dealer stated that consumer complaint cannot be filed since Saturn no longer makes vehicles. As I stated to dealer Saturn is covered under GMC.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #5

Sep 172012

Vue 6-cyl

  • 96,637 miles
Transmission not engaging properly. Vehicle jerks while shifting and does not reach over 60 mph without going to 6 rpms. While in heavy rush hour traffic, the car does not accelerate and the power steering locks.

- Troy , MI, USA

problem #4

Jun 112010

Vue

  • 26,000 miles
I was merging onto highway 696 in detroit area. Semi to my left, thought I could accelerate and ease in front. Put foot on gas pedal strongly and it depressed all the way to the floor making the car quickly accelerate to well over 80 mph. Took foot off gas with no effect. Put foot on brakes and it tempered speed; no longer accelerated, but did not slow it down. All the while I could hear engine straining to accelerate but not being allowed to. Tried easing off brake but car started to speed up even further. Was practically standing on brake pedal now with left foot and did not slow. Hit gas pedal a couple times hard with right foot and pedal released and car started to slow, but have no idea if that was the reason it let up or just coincidence. Inspected gas pedal area. Nothing to encumber pedal. Nothing to catch on. No reason for it to stick. About scared me to death. If there had been a vehicle directly in front of me, I would have hit it. I was just shocked. I then had to pick up my kids in ann arbor and drive all the way back home to Illinois worrying it would happen again. Will call Saturn in morning to see what should be done.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #3

May 182010

Vue 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,874 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While traveling at relatively low speeds of 5 mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle by applying the brakes and then shut the engine off completely. The vehicle was neither repaired nor taken to the dealer for further diagnostic testing. The current and failure mileages were 33,874. Updated 12/10/10. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, but they were unable to duplicate the problem. As of November 28,2010 the problem had not returned. Updated 12/17/10

- Naples , FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 052008

Vue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact was driving approximately 45 mph and experienced difficulty in steering the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on two separate occasions to have the steering column shaft replaced. Additionally, the floor shifter failed to release into gear. An unintended acceleration occurred at any given speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on different occasions to be repaired which consisted of replacing components such as; floor shift assembly, acceleration pedal engine mount, and the front suspension drive train motor mount. The intermediate shaft was also tightened. The manufacturer was notified of the malfunctions. The failure mileage was 1,000. The current mileage was 27,000. Updated 04/15/10. The steering column, steering shaft, gear assembly, engine mount were all replaced. Updated 09/30/10

- Sun City Center , FL, USA

problem #1

Feb 082008

Vue 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,200 miles
When car is in cruise control it is constantly downshifting to maintain speed even on flat surface. Apparently the gearing on the transmission does not support to weight of the vehicle and it cannot maintain the cruise control speed. The service department said there is nothing they can do.

- Metairie, LA, USA

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