2008 Saturn Vue recalls and problems

The 2008 Saturn Vue has 3 recalls and 406 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

How the 2008 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 9 Vue model years — 2nd most.

3recalls

406complaints

16crashes

11fires

14injuries

75,337median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Latches/locks/linkages

Jun 25, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V233000 · 44,451 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Driving with an unlatched door could result in an unbelted occupant falling out of the vehicle, causing increased risk of injury.

Original NHTSA wording

DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy & notes

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.

Gm recall no. 09066.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Steering

Sep 17, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V470000 · 42,408 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The fluid could contact hot exhaust components resulting in a possible engine compartment fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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> .

Gm recall no. 08284.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Power Train

May 5, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V200000 · 26 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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> .

Gm recall no. 08168.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train120

Electrical System88

Steering86

Engine51

Unknown or other44

Air Bags25

Visibility23

Service Brakes22

Vehicle Speed Control18

Electronic Stability Control15

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED

PE09016 · opened Mar 10, 2009 · closed Jul 2, 2009 · led to recall 09V233000

Summary

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.

2008 vs. other Saturn Vue years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Saturn Vue have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Saturn Vue, the latest from Jun 25, 2009 (latches/locks/linkages). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn Vue?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (120), electrical system (88), steering (86). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.