Saturn VUE Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,351 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file for the Saturn VUE, across 9 model years (2002–2010). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (622). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Saturn VUE years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical VUE year: 2003. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 VUE: 622 complaints, 1 recall
- 2008 VUE: 406 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2006 VUE: 300 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 VUE: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2009 VUE: 118 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2002 VUE: 167 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Saturn VUE problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 683 | 9 | 15 |
| Power Train problems | 649 | 8 | 20 |
| Air Bags problems | 307 | 8 | 68 |
| Steering problems | 286 | 9 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 148 | 8 | 1 |
| Engine problems | 143 | 9 | 7 |
| Suspension problems | 129 | 8 | 17 |
| Structure | 93 | 8 | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 76 | 9 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 53 | 8 | 1 |
| Visibility | 53 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 51 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 50 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 50 | 8 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 43 | 8 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 40 | 7 | 0 |
| Equipment | 38 | 8 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 38 | 7 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 29 | 8 | 4 |
| Seats | 29 | 6 | 6 |
| Wheels | 26 | 8 | 4 |
| Tires | 23 | 8 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Saturn VUE problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2008: power train (120) · electrical system (88) · steering (86)
- 2007: electrical system (128) · air bags (90)
- 2006: electrical system (103) · air bags (93)
- 2005: electrical system (72)
- 2004: power train (93) · electrical system (78)
- 2003: power train (316) · electrical system (124) · engine and engine cooling (62)
- 2002: electrical system (52)
All Saturn VUE model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 VUE | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2009 VUE | 118 | 2 | — | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 VUE | 406 | 3 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 VUE | 286 | 0 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 VUE | 300 | 0 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 VUE | 170 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 VUE | 276 | 2 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 VUE | 622 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 VUE | 167 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Saturn: all Saturn models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn VUE years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (622) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical VUE year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Saturn VUE?
Electrical System, with 683 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Saturn VUE have?
7 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.