NHTSA — Power Train Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,988 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.

2009 Saturn Vue drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2009 Saturn Vue Owner Comments

problem #14

Apr 292023

Vue

  • miles

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

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.

- St. Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #13

Dec 272020

Vue

  • 160,000 miles
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.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #12

Sep 202020

Vue

  • 121,000 miles
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?

- Grand Rapids, MN, USA

problem #11

Jul 112020

Vue

  • 143,000 miles

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

Transmission started slipping

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #10

Jul 172020

Vue

  • 144,041 miles
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.

- Riverside, CA, USA

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problem #9

Nov 012019

Vue

  • miles
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.

- Crystal Beach, TX, USA

problem #8

May 242019

Vue

  • 35,500 miles

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

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.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #7

Jan 262018

Vue

  • 77,500 miles
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.

- Maineville, OH, USA

problem #6

Mar 012017

Vue

  • 53,385 miles
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...

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #5

Jan 062015

Vue 6-cyl

  • 84,400 miles
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!

- Orange Park , FL, USA

problem #4

Jun 162014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

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

My vehicle is shifting extremely hard. Dealer stated that it was a wave plate inside the transmission and would require an overhaul of the transmission. Research has shown many others have reported this same problem with the approximate mileage that my vehicle has.

- New Salisbury, IN, USA

problem #3

Sep 132013

Vue

  • 59,000 miles
Car would not start, when you put the key in the ignition will not start. After several attempts you can finally get it to connect. This is an ongoing issue I have had the car in the garage several times. I have been stranded three times in the last six months. It doesn't happen all the time and never happens when the garage has the vehicle. The last time was on Saturday 5/18/2014 the only way I could get the vehicle to start was to put it in neutral and turn the steering column, then when it would go back to the straight position the vehicle would stop again. After about five times trying it this way I left the wheels turned all the way to the left and put the vehicle into gear and made a U turn and keep going to home. I am afraid to try this car for fear it will cut out and someone will run into me.

- Rockford, MI, USA

problem #2

Feb 012012

Vue 4-cyl

  • 15,000 miles
As of the beginning of last yr. My Saturn has been giving me trouble with the key not coming out of the ignition when I turn off the engine. I have try a number of things. Ex; turn engine back on & turn the wheel to the left & then to the right. Also I'll shift the trans from P to D & back. It seems to be something in the lock or what ever controls the trans. That sends a signal when ignition is off so you can turn the key all the way to the off position to release the key. My 1st yr I had no problems. Other than this key situation I have had a good ride with this vehicle....updated 07-24-13 the consumer stated as of 07/12/13 the shift assembly was replaced to correct the key situation. At the present time, there were no more problems with removing the key.

- Belleville, NJ, USA

problem #1

Mar 132012

Vue 4-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
I started the engine and heard a clang. I got out and looked under my car and there was a part of the air conditioner compressor (part of the clutch) laying on the ground. I took it in for service and was told the bearings failed and it was falling apart. I noticed on edmond's that others were having the same problem with the same mileage for the same model so I thought I should document this. Thank you for your time and consideration.

- Austin, TX, USA

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