2006 Saturn Vue

Above average

Owners filed 300 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

236 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 75,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags72
1115
Electrical System61
140
Steering17
100
Power Train13
000
Air Bags › Frontal13
305
Structure › Body11
100
Unknown or Other10
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages10
000
Electrical System › Ignition7
000
Vehicle Speed Control6
100

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Dec 17, 2025AK

The contact owned a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed under the 50 MPH speed limit, the vehicle slid on a patch of black ice; the contact was able to correct the vehicle. The contact stated that there was snow on the ground. Soon afterwards, the vehicle slid on another patch of black; the vehicle slid across the road and hit the embankment head-on. The vehicle went up the embankment and down to the ditch below, where the vehicle landed on the driver's side, where it came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. Afterwards, the contact and the contact's daughter stopped by the clinic. The contact suffered minor injuries to the chest caused by the seat belt. The contact had bruises across the chest. The contact's daughter was in the front passenger seat, and her head hit the windshield. The daughter sustained a bump on the head, which turned out to be a mild concussion, and some bruises. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The insurance company was notified of the accident. The contact was unsure if the insurance company had declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Power Train
Filed Aug 29, 202489,973 milesPA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered violently. The contact's daughter lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road before coming to a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,973. The VIN was unavailable.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 11, 202343,097 milesCA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 43,097.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 8, 2023GA

The key can be removed from the vehicle while being driven. Also the ignition doesn't "click" off when vehicle is parked and key is removed causing the battery to drain. There have been several recalls for this issue but not with the 2006 year model. This is a dangerous problem and there are very limited resources to get it resolved.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 20, 2022NH

Ignition gets stuck with key and locks steering wheel, now it wont shut off all the way to left and kills my battery looks like there has been MANY ignition issues and recalls with saturns which this is pretty important to have working to drive and be safe esp as a female in this world ..getting stuck or with a dead battery isnt good $300-400 at a gmc to fix this issue I feel personally this should be considered a recall fix

SteeringCrash
Filed Apr 12, 2022IA

My power steering went out

Steering
Filed Dec 4, 2021MI

My car is very rusted out,underneath the body and no one will work on my car because they feel it's a hazard to drive and work on. I went to an iron works shop and mechanic said it's a common problem with Saturn Vue's,I took it back to where I bought it because they knew it before I bought it . All they wanted to do was put me ina sports car,my car is a hazard to drive it plus I have 1 more year to pay for it. Seems like something could be done about this

Suspension
Filed Aug 25, 2021TX

Stability Bar / Stabilizer Bar broke on the passenger side. Upon going to the salvage yard we found in almost all the same vehicles were broke in the same area on the same passenger side.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 1, 2021FL

Key keep getting stuck in Ignition switch and hard to take the key out the switch.

Steering
Filed May 20, 2021IL

The ignition was locked and key wouldn't go in, to get it to unstick I put key in as far as it would go and noticed I could start it without the key being fully inserted. This happened a few times before but this was the first time I realized I didn't need the key to be in the ignition to start nor does it need to be in the ignition to drive. I was able to reproduce problem in driveway. I made a video but think only photos can be uploaded

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed May 23, 2020281,599 milesNC

THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AND IT'S HARD TO STEER I LOSE POWER STEERING. *TR

Steering
Filed May 15, 2020314,000 milesLA

WHEN MAKING A TURN (ANY DIRECTION) OR JUST TURNING STEERING WHEEL THE CAR WILL CUT OFF AND LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2019150,000 milesOR

ENGINE GOES INTO 'LOW POWER MODE' RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE LIMPING ALONG. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN IT GOES INTO THIS MODE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT GOES NO MORE THAN 5MPH. THIS OFTEN OCCURS JUST AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND THE LOW POWER MODE LIGHTS COME ON.

Suspension
Filed Sep 27, 2019161,921 milesFL

WHILE DRIVE SOUTHBOUND IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON I-95 DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I NOTICED A SLIGHT SHAKE IN THE STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS BEFORE MY VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL TOWARDS THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH TRACTOR TRAILERS ON BOTH SIDES OF ME. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH AND THE BRAKE AND PLACED MY VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW MY VEHICLE DOWN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2019OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AFFECTED . SOME DASH PANEL LIGHTS NOT WORKING & AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 19, 201971,000 milesNY

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN ADDITION TO THE 284 HOWEVER, THIS CONCERNS UNIBODY RUST TO THE FRONT K MEMBER CAUSING SAFETY ISSUE AND FAILING INSPECTION. THE CAR WAS UNDER COATED. ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND BODY SHOP, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR. REPAIR ESTIMATES EXCEED $10K. WHAT CAN NHTSA DO TO CORRECT TO CORRECT THIS MFR DEFECT. THE CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH VERY LITTLE USE.

Electrical System
Filed May 7, 2019170,000 milesGA

THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, 2006 SATURN VUE FOR 2014 AND I WAS TOLD THIS CAN NO LONGER BE FIXED. IT IS A RECAL NUMBER 14506 AND I NEED TO KNOW WHERE I CAN GET THIS REPAIRED. I CAN REMOVE MY KEY WHILE THE IGNITION IS STILL RUNNING.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Mar 26, 2019230,000 milesOH

PURCHASED 2006 SATURN VUE REDLINE V6 3.5 AWD SUV USED ON FEBRUARY 5, 2019. SURPRISED DAYS LATER & SINCE TO SAFETY CONCERN INVOLVING BODY CONTROL MODULE. WITHOUT WARNING, LEADS TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES & LIGHTS, INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTING, DOME, HEAD AND BRAKE LIGHTS. SEEMS TO EFFECT ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS UNDER CONTROL OF THIS MODULE, UNCERTAIN OF ALL INVOLVED. ASSUME THIS WOULD INCLUDE AIRBAGS AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING LEADS TO POTENTIAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL COUNTLESS ENCOUNTERS BY OWNERS TO THIS SAME ISSUE. DURING COLD WEATHER ESPECIALLY, INITIAL START UP OF VEHICLE IN MORNING OR AFTER EXTENDED (FEW HOURS) PARKED, LEADS TO LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, 3 MINUTES AFTER START UP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS POSSESSED. ALL LIGHTS, INTERIOR/EXTERIOR FLASH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AFTER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BELIEVE CODE IS P0685. SEEMS TO INDICATE PCM. ALSO CAUSES LOSS OF POWER AFTER DRIVING FOR PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE PERSONALLY LOST POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL POWER AT 65 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO ANYTHING. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, NARROWLY AVOIDING HEAD ON COLLISION WITH CEMENT MEDIAN DIVIDER. CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL! CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FOR OWNERS WITHOUT COST. WHAT WILL THIS TAKE? DEATH OF AN OWNER?

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 18, 201944,000 milesLA

ON MY 2006 SATURN VUE I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT BREAKING SYSTEM. PLUS THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE BREAKING SYSTEM WITH LESS THAN 44,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM THAT THERE NO WARNING SYSTEM ON IT AT ALL. THE VEHICLE JUST STOP AND WOULD NOT GO AT ALL. IT JUST STOP DEAD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPEN, BECAUSE I WAS JUST GOING AND IT JUST STOP COMPLETE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. TO ME THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THESE ISSUE WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM EITHER. THAT IT INVOLVES VEHICLES FROM 2004 -2009. BECAUSE OF THEM USING CHEAPER PRODUCTS.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 201944,704 milesLA

THIS HAPPEN ON 2 DIFFERENT DATE. THE FIRST THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 39,111 MILES ON VEHICLE ON 8/14/2018. THEN THE THING THAT HAPPEN IS THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED AND WOULD NOT GO AT ALL. ENGINE WOULD RUN BUT WOULD MOVE UNTIL IT COOLED OFF THEN IT DID IT AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENTIRE FRONT BREAKING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAULTY PRODUCTS USED. BRAKE ROTORS, BRAKE CALIPERS, HOSES AND ALL FLUIDS. THE THAT DID NOT WORK TOOK ANOTHER 2 WEEKS FOR THEM REDO THEM AGAIN BECAUSE ON GOING PROBLEMS HAS BEEN GOING WITH 2004-2009 SATURN'S. WHICH COST ME AROUND $1214.59.

20 of 300 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20106010Routine
2009118231Fatalities reported
20084063110Above average
2007286060Above average
2006 — this page300060Above average
2005170030Routine
2004276250Above average
2003622190Above average
2002167250Routine

Compare every Vue year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.