2004 Saturn Vue complaints

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. . THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE WINDOW VIBRATES AND MAKES A NOISE. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2004 SATURN VUE-MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FOR SERVICE REGARDING A THUMPING THAT I HEARD AND FELT COME FROM THE SHIFTER LOCATION. I GOT THE "EVERYTHING IS WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS" LINE. THEN TONIGHT WHEN I WENT TO DOWN-SHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR, THE SHIFTER MADE A CRUNCH SOUND AND THEN IT BOUNCED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN 5TH GEAR AND IS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SATURN SERVICE CENTER AWAITING TO BE LOOKED AT TOMORROW MORNING. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST SATURN BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST AFTER HAVING AS MANY PROBLEMS AS I HAVE HAD WITH IT IN 1.25 YEARS TIME.*JB

04 SATURN VUE,(ONLY)11,000 MILES. PROBLEMS STARTING AND NOT CRANKING PROPERLY.PROBLEM PROGRESSIVLY GOT WORSE.DEALER IS NOW REPLACING THE ENTIRE WIREING HARNESS IN THE DASH.CUST.SERV.WRITER SAID "YOU HAVE SOME BAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS , SOME PINS WHERE NOT CONNECTING PROPERLY TO START YOUR VEHICLE." THIS MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFURTABLE WITH MY NEW SATURN VUE.MY DEALER NAME IS [XXX] OF JACKSON MS.THEY HAVE HAD MY TRUCK SINCE JAN 4TH AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY BE READY BY THE 10. THEY HAD TO CALL IN A SPECIAL TECHNITION. THANKS , [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND SWITCHING LANES REAR WHEEL TURNED INWARD, CAUSING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

I RECENTLY HAD MY 2004 SATURN AWD VUE SERVICED AT SATURN OF LIVINGSTON, NJ, AND HAD TWO RECALLS PERFORMED. ONE WAS FOR THE VOLUNTARY RECALL OF A REAR SUSPENSION LINK WHICH WAS CHANGED DUE TO A NHTSA TEST FAILURE. THE OTHER WAS THE RECALL OF THE REAR DRIVE MODULE (RDM), WHICH WAS CAUSING A MOANING NOISE IN ALL AWD VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. AFTER THE RDM WAS CHANGED I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE VEHICLES AWD FUNCTION CHARACTERISTICS. WHEN ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN WET CONDITIONS A FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION FROM A STOP RESULTED IN SEVERE FRONT WHEEL SPIN WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT OF THE AWD SYSTEM. IN FACT I COULD HEAR A DISCERNABLE CLICKING NOISE EMMINATING FROM THE RDM WHICH SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE AWD FAUNCTIONALITY WAS IN EFFECT BEING NEUTRALIZED. I HAVE PERFORMED THIS MANEUVER SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY VEHICLE IN THE PAST YEAR (WITH THE ORIGINAL RDM), AND THE AWD SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ELIMINATING FRONT WHEEL SPIN AND PROVIDING AMPLE TRACTION GOING UP THE INCLINE. I BELIEVE THE NEW VERSION OF THE RDM BEING ROLLED OUT TO THE MASSES HAS ONLY SERVED TO CONVERT ALL THE AWD VERSIONS OF THIS VEHICLE TO FWD, AND I BELIEVE SATURN MUST BE PERSUADED TO RE-ENGINEER THEIR RDM TO RESTORE THE AWD FUNCTIONALITY.*AK

2004 SATURN VUE AWD. SATURN REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (RDM) WITH A REDESIGNED PART IN NOVEMBER. THE NEW PART IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LATER THAN THE ORIGINAL PART. THIS PART CHANGE CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE'S HANDLING- INCREASED TORQUE STEER, EXCESSIVE FRONT WHEEL SPIN AND UNPREDICTABLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ENGAGEMENT. THE FWD MODEL OF THE VUE HAS TRACTION CONTROL THAT LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE STEER AND WHEEL SPIN. THE AWD MODEL DOES NOT HAVE THIS FUNCTION AND THE CRIPPLING OF THE AWD FEATURE MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE.*AK

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

THE GLASS ON THE REAR LIFTGATE SHATTERED FOR NO REASON WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR DRIVERS SIDE NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE REAR WINDOW AT ALL. 2004 SATURN VUE PURCHASED IN APRIL 2004. *AK

NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 2,500 MILES-2004 VUE. THEY WANT TO "FIX" REPLACE/REPAIR ENGINE FAILURE. WE KNOW THAT OTHER SYSTEMS CAN/WILL BE AFFECTED BY TOTAL BREAKDOWN ON INTERSTATE-IMMEDIATE ENGINE BLOW-NO POWER ETC. WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE "OFFER" OF REPAIR AND MINIMUM "WARRANTY" COVERAGE AS "ADDITIONALLY COURTESY OFFER". *JB

ELECTRICAL INTERMITTENT FAILURES. UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK USING REMOTE CONTROL, HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHT, DASH LIGHTS, RADIO (ALL ELECTRICAL EXCEPT ENGINE ACCESSORIES) FAIL RANDOMLY. ON ONE OCCASSION ALL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A DARK HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY BUT HAD NO HAZARD LIGHTS (AND PRESUMABLY NO BRAKE LIGHTS) TO WARN OTHER TRAFFIC. WIGGLING THE INTERIOR FUSE PANEL RESTORED POWER. LATER CHECKS OF ALL RELAYS AND FUSES REVEALED NO CONTACT OR COMPONENT FAILURES IN EITHER IN INTERIOR OR UNDER-HOOD ELECTRICAL PANELS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND NO NOTICEABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PROBLEMS.*AK

2004 SATURN VUE PURCHASED IN JULY. CLOSED REAR HATCH AFTER UNLOADING GROCERIES AND ENTIRE BACK WINDOW SHATTERED INTO THE CAR ON ME. NO EVIDENCE PRIOR TO THE SHATTERING OF A CRACK OR ANY OBJECT HITTING THE BACK WINDOW. IT WAS FINE WHEN I LOADED THE GROCERIES AND SHATTERED AFTER I GOT BACK HOME.*AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. " MY CAR IS ONCE AGAIN IN THE SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL DIFFERENTIAL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE PROBLEM HAS ARISEN IN A SPAM OF 3 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FIRST ONE, AND IS WORKING TO REPLACE IT A SECOND TIME. REAR DIFFERENTIAL MODULE REPLACED AT 8,102 MILES, THEN AGAIN AT 12.136 MILES.*JB

I PURCHASED A 2004 SATURN VIEW, NEW, AUGUST 21, 2004. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 I DROVE THROUGH WATER ON THE ROAD, ANKLE DEEP. THE ENGINE STOPPED, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CAR HAD 2,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC WHO WAS SENT BY SATURN'S 800 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID I PROBABLY BURNED OUT THE ALTERNATOR BECAUSE IT'S ON THE BOTTOM. HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS TO BE RECTIFIED ON THE 2005 MODEL. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 9/20 THE SERVICE PERSON (EITHER JACOB OR BRIAN) I SPOKE TO SAID THAT THE AIR INTAKE, NEAR THE BOTTOM HAD SUCKED ROAD WATER INTO THE ENGINE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE WHEN I DROVE THROUGH THE WATER IT CREATED A WAVE AND THE WAVE WATER WAS SUCKED INTO THE AIR INTAKE. THEY WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TAKEN APART. HE ALSO SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT (ALTHOUGH I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER SINCE WHAT MANUFACTURER PUTS AN AIR INTAKE WHERE ROAD WATER CAN BE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE) AND HE ALSO SAID THE L300 MODEL ALSO HAVE THEIR AIR INTAKE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED SATURN IN TENNESSEE (CLAIM 1-13554677) AND AN AREA SERVICE MANAGER NAMED MARCIA TOLD ME THAT AFTER THEY REVIEWED MY SITUATION THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. WHAT I HAVE IS AN SUV WITH AN AIR INTAKE THAT IS IN A POSITION WHERE EVERY TIME THERE'S WATER, I RISK DAMAGING MY ENGINE , AND THE LAST 3 YEARS WE'VE AVERAGED 103 INCHES OF SNOW EACH WINTER). I DID A

I AM OFTEN FINDING MY SATURN SUV HYDROPLANING IN THE RAIN....NOT ONLY MY VUE BUT MY STEP BROTHER'S VUE WAS TOTALLED WHEN HE HYDROPLANED INTO A SEMI ON THE HIGHWAY. AN ASSOCIATE OF HIS ALSO TOTALLED HIS VUE BY HYDROPLANING....I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE TOO HAVE HAD INSTANCES OF HYDROPLANING. MY VUE IS THE MAIN TRANSPORATION OF MY CHILDREN AND I DO NOT FEAL SECURE OR SAFE DRIVING THEM WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR IT IS RAINING.*AK

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED, AND THERE WILL BE 45-60 DAYS BEFORE THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE, THEY WILL SEND CONSUMER A LETTER. MANUFACTURER STATED TO CONSUMER THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO RECALL REPAIRS ON THE . REAR SUSPENSION SEAL. THEY WERE NOT FORCED TO DO THIS, AND THEY WOULD NOT DO IT ON THEIR OWN.*AK

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED, AND IT WILL BE 45-60 DAYS BEFORE THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE, THEY WILL SEND HER A LETTER. MANUFACTURER STATED TO CONSUMER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DO RECALL REPAIRS ON THE . SUSPENSION SEAL. THEY WERE NOT FORCED TO DO THIS, AND WOULD NOT DO IT ON THEIR OWN.*AK

WHILE TURNING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE REAR AXLE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE ON MONDAY, JULY 26, HE APPARENTLY HIT A PATCH OF GRAVEL WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT WENT INTO THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT END AND PASSENGER SIDE, AS WELL AS TO THE SHIFT CASING INSIDE THE VUE FROM WHEN MY SON'S KNEE SLAMMED INTO IT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING ESTIMATED FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES (EITHER TO TOTAL IT OR REPAIR IT).*AK

ON MAY 8, 2004, MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2002 SATURN VUE. HE WAS ON A ROAD THAT SURROUNDS A MALL. SPEED LIMIT IS 20 MPH. HE WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN HE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER SUV. THE CAR ROLLED OVER, HE HAD TO GO OUT THE BACK DOOR IN ORDER TO GET OUT. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE "OTHER CAR" WAS GOING A REASONABLE SPEED. OUR SATURN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING MORE THAN 10 MPH, YET, WITH THE ROLL OVER, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE INSURANCE TOTALLED IT. DAMAGES TO THE OTHER CAR WERE NOT BAD. BOTH CARS WERE DRIVING SLOW, SO THE DAMAGE TO THE SATURN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A MINOR FENDER BENDER. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, MY SON ONLY SUFFERED SOME CUTS ON HIS ARM AND HEAD. I READ AN ARTICLE THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED ON TWO SATURN VUES THAT THAT THE NHTSA HAD RECEIVED A CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT A SMILILAR INCIDENT THAT LED TO A ROLLOVER. I'M WONDERING NOW IF THIS HAPPENED IN THIS SITUATION.*AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 14, 2004 WHILE IN MY 2004 SATURN VUE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS HIT ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AREA AND THE BACK TIRE BENT UNDER THE CAR AND MY SATURN WAS TIPPED OVER AND SPUN AROUND WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT. THIS WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 20MILES PER HOUR AND THE PERSON THAT HIT WAS PROBABLY BETWEEN 25-35MPH. MY SATURN VUE SUSTAINED ABOUT $10,500 DAMAGE SOME OF WHICH WAS THE REAR SUSPENSION. I DO NOT YET KNOW OF THE FINAL OUTCOME WITH THE INSURANCE WHETHER IT WILL BE REPAIRED OR TOTALLED. I JUST HAPPENED TO READ THE KANSAS CITY STAR TODAY 7-27-04 ABIYT TGE GOVERNMENT SAFETY AGENCY INVESTIGATING THE SATURN VUE AND THIS FIT THE DESCRIPTION COMPLETELY.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO T-BONE THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT, BUT AIR BAG DEPLOYED TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE SEAT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

RANDOM OBD CODE P0571 CRUISE/BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTION SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON 6 DEC 03. THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN CHECKED SWITCH ALIGNMENT, CONNECTORS. NUMEROUS FAILURES CURRENTLY WAITING SINCE 29 JAN ON ENGINEER TO LOOK AT FREEZE FRAME DATA FROM THE COMPUTER. *JB

ROOF RACK SCREW HOLES HAVE NO WAY TO DRAIN WATER. RESIDUAL WATER SITS IN THE SCREW HOLES OF THE RACK AND HAS STARTED TO RUST THE SCREWS. RACK SCREWS HAVE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT ARE RUSTING. BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE FIXED.*AK

WATER THAT COLLECTS IN BOLT HOLE WELLS IN ROOF RACK RAILS CAN PROMOTE CORROSION. EVAPORATION IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE WATER TO ESCAPE. MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE A SET OF SEALING PLUGS AND CORROSION INHIBITING GREASE/GEL TO SEAL OF THESE HOLES.*AK