2008 Saturn VUE Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other VUE years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 406 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Saturn VUE. That ranks 2nd out of 9 VUE model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (120 complaints, 30%), typically at around 73,233 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 11 fires, 14 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 406owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Saturn VUE problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 120 | 30% | 73,233 | “wave plate” (17%) | — |
| Electrical System problems | 88 | 22% | 87,000 | “ignition switch” (8%) | — |
| Steering problems | 86 | 21% | 96,000 | “steering pump” (10%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 44 | 11% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 38 | 9% | 89,212 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 25 | 6% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 4% | 101,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 4% | 76,300 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 15 | 4% | 90,115 | — | — |
| Structure | 15 | 4% | 92,612 | — | — |
| Visibility | 15 | 4% | 52,421 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 3% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 3% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 2% | 7,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 9 | 2% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 2% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 1% | 152,728 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 1% | 14,035 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 1% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 151,456 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 0% | 18,785 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0% | 66,716 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 8,283 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 129,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Saturn VUE recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Gm is recalling 44,451 my 2008 saturn vue vehicles with body color outside door handles. The outside door handles may stick or bind. If this were to occur, the door may not latch when closed.
Risk: Driving with an unlatched door could result in an unbelted occupant falling out of the vehicle, causing increased risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the outside door handles with chrome door handles free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before august 18, 2009. Owner may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Problem: Gm is recalling 42,408 my 2008-2009 saturn vue vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the nut securing the power steering line to the power steering pump may loosen. If this were to occur, there may be a power steering fluid leak.
Risk: The fluid could contact hot exhaust components resulting in a possible engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the nut securing the power steering line to the power steering pump. If there are no signs of a fluid leak, dealers will tighten the nut. If a fluid leak is present, dealer will tighten the nut and check the fluid level. The recall began on september 26, 2008. Owners may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Gm is recalling 26 my 2008 saturn vue vehicles equipped with a 6t70 6-speed automatic transmission. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the transmission case side bore that holds the park pawl pivot pin may have a casting porosity. This condition, coupled with normal operating stresses, could lead to failure, eliminating the ability to secure the transmission in 'park' position.
Risk: If this happens while the vehicle is parked on a non-level surface, the vehicle could roll without warning and cause injury to people in its path.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission free of charge. The recall began on may 5, 2008. Owners may contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Outside door handles stick unlatched (PE09016) — opened Mar 10, 2009, closed Jul 2, 2009, led to recall 09V233000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I noticed a few days ago that the wheel was getting harder to turn so I made a maintenance appointment for Saturday I was driving to work in Texas in Fort Worth coming from Arlington today and smoke started coming from under the hood I pulled over and it was smoking I was on the highway so to get…
the transmission will not shift out of first gear
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from under the dashboard on the passengerâs side. The contact stated that the abnormal grinding sound was also…
Excessive frame rust at 107,000 miles. Major holes and chunks of supporting materials are missing. This is near the rear subframe on both sides of the vahicle. Makes it dangerous to drive and should be recalled by GM
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V470000…
Other Saturn VUE years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 VUE | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 VUE | 118 | 2 |
| 2008 | 406 | 3 |
| 2007 VUE | 286 | 0 |
| 2006 VUE | 300 | 0 |
| 2005 VUE | 170 | 0 |
| 2004 VUE | 276 | 2 |
| 2003 VUE | 622 | 1 |
| 2002 VUE | 167 | 2 |
See all Saturn VUE problems by year, every Saturn model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saturn models
Embed this 2008 Saturn VUE badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn VUE?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, steering problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 120 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Saturn VUE?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Saturn VUE a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other VUE model years, the 2008 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.