2003 SATURN VUE Complaints

FAILURE OF THE VTI TRANSMISSION ON THE 2002 - 2005 SATURN VUE. I WAS NOTIFIED BY A FELLOW VUE OWNER THAT THEY ARE HAVING SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASE AND HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT I AGAIN BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERS ATTENTION AT 55,000 MILES. UPON RESEARCH I FIND THAT THE NOISE MY CAR IS NOW MAKING IS PROBABLY NOT THE WHEEL BEARINGS BUT THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND AT APROX. 30-35 MPH ENTER BUSY URBAN INTERSECTION WHEN A CAR TRAVELING WEST BOUND RAN A RED LIGHT. I COLLIDED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON (T-BONED). CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BRUISING AND SORENESS FROM THE IMPACT. MY VEHICLE THE SATURN VUE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2003 SATURN VUE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JUNE OF 2008 BECAUSE I KNEW SATURN HAD A GOOD REPUTATION AND MADE VERY RELIABLE AND SAFE CARS. ON MAY 10, 2009 MY HUSBAND, MYSELF, AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE LEAVING A GAS STATION PARKING LOT. MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND PULLED OUT INTO THE ROAD TO BEGIN OUR TRIP HOME. AS HE PULLED OUT INTO THE ROAD AND PRESSED THE GAS THE CAR'S RPMS REVVED UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. WE CHECKED TO SEE IF ONE OF US HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT IT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT IT WAS IN FACT IN DRIVE. WE HAD ENOUGH FORCE TO COAST BACK INTO ANOTHER ENTRANCE OF THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT AND GET OUT OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL (NOT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE). WE HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY SENT IT TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THE SATURN DEALER CONTACTED US AND SAID INDEED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. SATURN GAVE US A QUOTE FOR REPAIRS WHICH WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD ALSO GET A DISCOUNT AS THIS VTI TRANSMISSION WAS NOW THE CAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. EVEN IF WE COULD AFFORD IT, THE FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION CAN ONLY BE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FAULTY VTI TRANSMISSION WHICH COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. FORTUNATELY WHEN OUR TRANSMISSION DID GO OUT WE WERE SAFE. HOWEVER WE HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND ARE EXPECTING OUR SECOND CHILD IN A FEW WEEKS AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE FOR US TO PUT OURSELVES, AND ESPECIALLY NOT OUR CHILDREN, IN SUCH A SITUATION. IT IS A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL SATURN REPS, DISTRICT REPS, AND SATURN ASSISTANCE. ALL ARE UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY. THE LOCAL SATURN REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US HE WOULD NOT BUY THE CAR HIMSELF AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO PURCHASE IT FROM US IF WE FIXED IT. THEY KNOW IT IS UNSAFE AND STILL THEY WILL NOT HELP. WE ARE LEFT WITH A PARKED CAR IN OUR YARD THAT WE STILL OWE $5000 ON. WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE ENOUGH PUT OUR CHILDREN IN OR ANYONE ELSE. *TR

SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED, WHEN THE BEARING ON THE IDLER SEIZED. V6-AWD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES. AT 75,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN IN RIGHT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE, WHICH INCLUDED A 18,000 MILE/ONE YEAR WARRANTY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED UPHILL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE RELEASED THE PEDAL AND ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE BACK INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC SEARCHED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE WITH THE SAME WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THREE OF FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2006 FOUR MONTHS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE. THEN JUST TWO MONTHS AGO A SWAY BAR LINK BROKE AND BROKE A STRUT SO I HAD TO REPLACE THEM. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A 2003 SATURN VUE IN MY DRIVEWAY STILL PAYING FOR IT WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GOOD AFTER THE STRUTS I THOUGHT I HAD IT ALL FIXED BUT THEN MY GIRLFRIEND WENT TO LEAVE THE DRIVEWAY AND THERE IS NO REVERSE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

2003 SATURN VUE W/ VTI PURCHASED JULY 30, 2003. REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION TO DEALER ON 12/14/05. DEALER REPLACED ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AT THAT TIME. MILEAGE WAS 59,721 AT TIME TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ON 5/1/09 WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHUDDER AND JERK AS IF NOT GETTING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR, IT WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE THE DRIVE OR REAR GEARS. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED AND CHECKED OUT, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED MUST GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS CURRENT TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SLIP INTO GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,909 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,900.

THERE WAS NO WARNING JUST TOOK OFF FROM MY HOUSE IN 2003 SATURN VUE AND WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LET GO. IT WON'T GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND GEARSHIFT JUST MOVES FREELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO OR DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.