2003 Saturn VUE Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2003 Saturn VUE, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 82,400 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (10% of reports).
- 124electrical system complaints
- 82,400median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 23%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 13 of 124 complaints (10%)
- Service engine: mentioned in 9 of 124 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2003 Saturn VUE at $1,250, and half of them between $1,250 and $1,350.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2010), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 91 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 124 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 1 an injury.
Saturn VUE electrical system complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V490000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed the recall repair; however, the new ignition keys provided under the remedy failed to start the vehicle. The contact had…
October 12, 2020 IG Burton stated the recall was complete, given original keys. I went to Willis Chevrolet & Buick recall was completed on April 15, 2022, new keys were issued.
When my horn fuse in my horn is non stop blaring also my front wipers fuse in good and my wipes are not working
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Saturn VUEs have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 124 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2003 Saturn VUE (20% of the 622 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Saturn VUE electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 82,400 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2003 Saturn VUE?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,250 (half paid between $1,250 and $1,350), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2003 Saturn VUE?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 13 of 124 complaints, followed by “service engine” (9).
Other 2003 Saturn VUE problems
See all 2003 Saturn VUE problems or electrical system problems across all VUE years.