Problems · by component
2002 Saturn Vue power train problems
28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Saturn Vue cite power train, 16% of all 177 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
28
16% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE TIMING CHAIN RUINED THE ENTIRE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF THE CHAIN TENSIONER FAILING FROM LACK OF OIL BEING APPLIED. APPARENTLY AS SOON AS I HEARD THE CLANGING SOUNDS IT WAS TOO LATE. I AM BUYING A WHOLE NEW ENGINE WHICH HAS REPLACED THE OILING MECHANISM THAT WAS FAULTY IN THE 2002-2003 MODELS OF THE SATURN VUE. *TR”
“I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. SHOCKS, STRUTS, REAR SUSPENSION, BRAKES, ELECTRICAL, OIL HAS BEEN EITHER LEAKING OR BURNING TO THE EXISTENT I PUT SOME IN EVERYOTHER DAY BECAUSE IT IS LOW, THE SWAY BAR AND THE STEERING COLUMN, THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE TRAIN, AND THE TIMING CHAIN. THERE ARE MANY OTHER UNSAFE ISSUES I HAVE HAD AND I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION FROM DAY ONE BECAUSE I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, BUT HE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN ON ME AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE . *TR”
“I WAS REFERRED TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSIONS,WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT MY PARTICULAR MAKE,MODEL,&YEAR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON 2002 TO 2005 VUE AND 2003 TO 2004 IONS VTI TRANSMISSIONS WERE DEFECTED,I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES TO INFORM ME OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM A STAY AT HOME MOTHER,TWO KIDS WITH AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND NOW NO CAR,CAUSE MY TRANSMISSION IS RUINED AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO WORK ON.THOUGH GM FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT/SETTLEMENT FOR THE SATURN OWNERS,ALL I WANT /NEED IS MY VEHICLE BACK,MY HUSBAND HAS HIS AND HOURS AT WORK IS LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN IMPORTANT PLACES LIKE DMV,POST OFFICES,AND MY KIDS DOCTORS OFFFICES.I HAD MY SATURN FOR 6 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE DID I HAVE A PROBLEM THIS SERIOUS,TO WHERE I HAVE TO SELL IT OR JUNK IT,CAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF GETTING IT REBUILT,OR IF I WOULD BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND A MECHANIC TO DO THE JOB.I AM SO FURIOUS WITH GM AND SATURN,THEY DIDN'T CONTACT ME,I DON'T WANT MUCH,JUST TO HAVE MY VEHICLE AND MY FREEDOM TO DRIVE.I DON'T WANT THEM TO REPLACE IT JUST GIVE ME WHAT IT'S WORTH,SO I CAN PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. *JS”
“I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM NIGHT CLASSES ONE NIGHT AND MY CAR WOULD START TO SHAKE AT THE STOP LIGHT (WHILE IDLING) WHEN I PROCEEDED TO GO THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND WOULD PUTT THROUGH THE INTERSECTIONS. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS GOT WORSE AS I DROVE AND I PRAYED ALL THE WAY HOME THAT I WOULD NOT ENCOUNTER ANOTHER RED LIGHT. WHEN I GOT HOME I REMEMBERED THAT SATURN HAD SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT " THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT SOME 2002 MODEL YEAR SATURN VUE VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH A VTI, MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE NOISE OR REDUCED PERFORMANCE." SO THEY ARE AWARE THAT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY. IF YOU GOOGLE "2002 SATURN VUE TRANSMISSIONS" YOU WILL FIND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. IF THIS HAD OF HAPPENED A DAY EARLIER MY CHILDREN AND I COULD HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND DIED DUE TO THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I STILL OWE 7000.00 ON THIS CAR AND IT WILL COST ALMOST THAT MUCH TO REPLACE. IF SATURN OR GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO FIX IT, UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE NOT. *TR”
“PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2002 SATURN VUE 6 CYLINDERS 3.0 ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACED EVERY ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IN THIS VEHICLE. COMPUTER, ACCELERATOR SENSOR, TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHTS IS CONSTANTLY ON. THEREFORE, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND A BRAND NEW HARNESS SINCE THE NEW THROTTLE BODY WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EXISTING WIRES. THEY WANT $3,000.00 FOR THIS. WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD I MADE THE DEALERSHIP AWARE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY REPLY THAT THIS SUV WAS OPERATING NORMAL. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. NOW THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER WANTS $860 FOR THE PART PLUS PROGRAMMING CHARGES. *TR”
“CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVE WAY WITH KIDS IN IT. MY FINDINGS WERE THAT IN MY 2002 SATURN VUE WAS IN THE ACC POSITION ON THE KEY THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY THAT REQUIRES YOU TO PUSH THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO SHIFT IS UNLOCKED. I FEEL THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS LUCKY NO INJURIES TO MY KIDS JUST THE CAR. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND NO REPAIR I COULD DO. *TR”
Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.