Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–118 of 118

2009 Saturn Vue complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2009 record →

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Jul 17, 2013NJ

2009 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEATER CORE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL BECAME STRONGER AND THEN A SMOKY HAZE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE DEFROSTER. THE HAZE FOGGED UP THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. SHE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY WIPE THE WINDSHIELD, BUT IT SMEARED, BECAUSE OF THE RESIDUE THE SMOKE LEFT. NOT ONLY DID THE SMELL GET STRONGER, BUT THE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HEATER VENTS AND FOGGING UP THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TOO. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/04/13

EngineFire
Filed May 14, 201397,000 milesCA

GOING ONTO 105 FWY, NOTICED SMOKE FROM REAR VIEW MIRROR, PEDESTRIAN WAVING ME DOWN, 2 PEOPLE CAME UP W/EXT. FIRE IN ENGINE CAR WENT UP IMMEDIATELY, FOUND THERE WAS RECALL OF HOSE BECOMING LOSE THAT CAN CAUSE FIRE IN CAB, INS. DETERMINED THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, WENT THROUGH GM, REP. SAYING THERE NOT SURE WHAT THERE GOING TO DO, I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD STAND BY THERE NAME AND REPLACE MY VEHICLE, I HAD JUST DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OFF BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED AND BARELY ESCAPED MYSELF. I WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL COUNCIL IF I'M NOT HAPPY WITH GM SOLUTION. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SETTLE WITH GM AS I TOLD REP. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 15, 201315,000 milesNJ

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. *TR ...UPDATED 07-24-13 *BF 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.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 3, 201249,094 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH PARTS OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THIS INCLUDED THE SPEEDOMETER, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE DID NOT CORRECT THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY A MILE TO HOME AND SHUT OFF. STARTING THE VEHICLE LATER RESULTED IN THE COMPONENTS WORKING PROPERLY. NOTE THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS THE DIC (DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER) HAS RESET ITSELF. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS MAINTAINED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *TR

Steering
Filed Sep 21, 201258,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWERING STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE HOSE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 08V470000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Structure › Body1 injured
Filed Sep 19, 201265,531 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR CHROME DOOR HANDLES EXHIBITED A SHARP POINTED EDGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SEVERE LACERATION TO THE LEFT FINGER FROM THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,531.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 14, 201253,000 milesTX

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. *TR

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Aug 14, 201139,020 milesNC

I PURCHASED MY 2009 SATURN VUE XR V6 A YEAR AGO. AFTER DRIVING MY SATURN DURING THE 1ST MONTH I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE A/C WAS BLOWING WARM AIR WHEN I WAS NEEDING TO COOL THE INSIDE OF THE CABINET . WE HAD VERY HOT CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN N.C WITH TEMPERATURES REACHING IN ACCESS OF 100 DEGREES. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LET THE WINDOWS DOWN TO SURVIVE THE HEAT. I AM ANGRY WITH GM NOW AS THEY ARE APPEARING TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM WITH NO RECALL IN SIGHT TO DATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM HAS REPORTED TO HAVE REPAID AT LEAST 30 PERCENT OF TARP MONEY THEY RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT BAILOUT AND REPORTED BILLIONS IN PROFIT. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ADDRESS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN VUE. THE FASTEST AND CHEAPEST FROM OF ADVERTISING IN STILL WORD OF MOUTH. I WILL EXPRESS TO MY FRIENDS , FAMILY AND STRANGERS I MEET WITH MY DISPLEASURE WITH THE GM PRODUCT. THE A/ C PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN VUE OCCURS EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE UNIT. A CABIN SENSOR UNIT WAS REPLACE ONCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM ; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I AM NOT HAPPY MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR MY SATURN VUE WITH THIS PROBLEM CONTINUING TO EXIST WITH MY A/C. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 16, 201120,869 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO FORCIBLY DISLODGE THE PEDAL WITH HIS FOOT. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TEN TIMES AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE EACH TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AFTER DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,869 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 18, 201164,000 milesAL

2009 SATURN VUE XR. IN DECEMBER 2010 I NOTICED INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD OCCASIONALLY START FLICKERING, APPROX. 2 HZ RATE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT; SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS SAID "PROBABLY A SHORT..." BUT I NEVER HAD ANYONE ACTUALLY TRY TO TROUBLESHOOT. ON JAN 15 2011 I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SPINDLE WAS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH. I WAS CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT GET HOT ENOUGH TO START A FIRE. I TOOK THE VISOR DOWN FROM THE HEADLINER, HOPING TO FIND A CONNECTOR FOR THE WIRES, BUT IT WAS HARD WIRED, SO I SNIPPED AND TAPED OFF THE WIRES AND REMOUNTED THE VISOR. THE FLICKERING PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED, SO I BELIEVE THE TWO TO BE RELATED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 29, 201019,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 24, 201019,000 milesGA

MY 2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID WAS PURCHASES IN JAN 2009. SINCE THAT TIME MY CAR BATTERY HAS DIED 4 TIMES. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALER IN SAVANNAH THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY BUT MY HYBRID BATTERY HAD A RECALL. AFTER 10 DAYS THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED BACK TO ME WITH A NEW HYBRID BATTERY HOWEVER, THE 12 V CONTINUES TO DIE. THE GM DEALER IN HINESVILLE GA SAID THAT BATTERIES WILL DIE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS. I LIVE IN SE GEORGIA. I HAVE NO GPS, RADAR DETECTOR, MPS PLAYER , DVD PLAYER ETC PLUGGED INTO MY VUE TO ACCOUNT FOR WEATHER OR BATTERY DRAIN. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO DOC APPT, SOCCER, SHOPPING AND DAYCARE KNOWING THAT BY USES A HYBRID I WAS BEING KINDER TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN MY BATTERY DIED LAST NIGHT I CONTACTED ON STAR TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. ON STAT DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE BATTER HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THE BATTERY OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VUE HYBRID AND MY DEALERSHIP IS NOT BEING FORTHRIGHT ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUE. EVENTUALLY MY WARRANTY WILL RUN OUT AND THEN I WILL BE STUCK WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE LEMON! PLEASE HELP! *TR

Structure › Body › Door1 injured
Filed Oct 20, 201015,000 milesCO

1. THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE IS "CHROME" COVERED AND HAS CAUSED CUTS THAT REQUIRED A 'BUTTERFLY' STITCHING. 2. EVERY TIME I OPEN THE DOOR I GET CUT 3. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN FOR ALMOST A YEAR TO REPAIR THIS TO NO AVAIL. 1. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS ARE ON BACKWARDS. IF MY LEFT FRONT TIRE IS GOING FLAT THE SENSORS AND LIGHTS SAY IT'S THE LEFT REAR TIRE. 2. THIS HAPPENS EACH TIME MY TIRE GETS LOW AND I JUST FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM 3 MONTHS AGO. IT CAUSES ME TO OVER INFLATE THE INCORRECT TIRE AND THE LOW TIRE IS STILL LOW ON AIR. 3. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN FOR ALMOST A YEAR ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE NOT HELPED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 5, 201019,000 milesIL

MY 2009 SATURN VUE HYBRID HAS HAD 2 CAR BATTERIES DIE AND THE HYBRID BATTERIES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I PURCHASED THE VUE IN JULY OF 2009. THE FIRST CAR BATTERY WAS REPORTED DEAD BY THE LOU FUZE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER MY PURCHASE AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE HYBRID BATTERIES WERE DEEMED "DEAD" BY THE LOU FUZE DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2010 AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN OCTOBER 2010, THE CAR BATTERY WAS AGAIN DEEMED "DEAD" AND REPLACED BY THE LOU FUZE DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THE CAR BATTERY WAS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT BATTERIES WILL DIE QUICKLY IN EXTREME CONDITIONS. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE ST. LOUIS AREA QUALIFIED AS EXTREME IN TERMS OF WEATHER. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER DURING MY THE OCTOBER 2010 INCIDENT THAT I SHOULD BE HAPPY IT WAS ONLY MY CAR BATTERY THAT WAS DEAD BECAUSE THE HYBRID BATTERIES ARE ON BACK ORDER. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THE BATTERY OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VUE HYBRID AND MY DEALERSHIP IS NOT BEING FORTHRIGHT ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUE. EVENTUALLY MY WARRANTY WILL RUN OUT AND THEN I WILL BE STUCK WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE LEMON! PLEASE HELP! *TR

Equipment
Filed Mar 30, 201017,000 milesTX

WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE, THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED SCREW-TYPE JACK COLLAPSED, AND BENT ALMOST IN HALF. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS SET AND THE JACK WAS PROPERLY LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 1, 20105,266 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE PIECES OF METAL IN THE OIL FILTER. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T MALFUNCTION OR AFFECT HIS ABILITY TO DRIVE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ON 03/02/2010. HE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,325. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,266.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 13, 201011,000 milesNJ

I WAS HIT ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR..HIGH SPEED IMPACT.. FIRE DEPT NEEDED TO USE JAWS OF LIFE TO GET ME OUT.. I WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND TAKEN TO TRAUMA..NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED..HITS WERE ALSO NOTED TO FRONT PANEL AND REAR..CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

Structure
Filed Oct 17, 2009NV

NO ACCIDENT. I'M REPORTING DESIGNFLAW: SATURN VUE SERVICE MANUAL STATES NOT USE TIRE CHAINS, BUT NO SUGGESTION OF WHAT TO USE IN SNOW. AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS I FOUND SATURN SELLS SPIKE SPIDERS FOR $470 TO MORE THAN $500 A POP. THESE SPIKES ARE SAID BY THE SPIKE SPIDER MANUFACTURER, NOT TO INTERFERE WITH SENSORS, BRAKES, SUSPENSION ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. MY SATURN DEALERSHIP WAS CAREFUL NOT TO RECOMMEND THESE VERY EXPENSIVE SPIKES. I HAD TO ASK THEM. BUT SATURN DOES SELL THEM AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS. WHEN CALLING THE NATIONWIDE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER, THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER AT ALL FOR ME. IN FACT, THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT MY QUESTION. SO, IT IS EITHER PAY FOR VERY EXPENSIVE AFTER MARKET PRODUCT OR USE NOTHING. I FEAR THE LATTER. HOW MANY FOLKS WILL GO WITHOUT THIS WINTER DUE TO COST AND AVAILABILITY. ALL DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. SOMEONE WASN'T THINKING. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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