NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 632 owner complaints for the 2003 Saturn Vue. Most complaints involve power train (321) and electrical system (127). The EPA rates it 19–22 mpg combined.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“This is more information related to Complaint 11761129: After online researching of other '03 2.2L Saturn Vue-owners stalling experiences, it appears that this vehicle has a long history of others like me: an unsafe, unpredictable stalling problem which carries no warnings or logging of error codes to trace the TRUE ORIGIN of problem. (How much did others spend on repairs that appeared to fix the problem by elapsing time enough for the problem to return to normal without the "repair"?) I stress that when all is working fine, the driver feels secure because there's no sign of a problem or trace left of the problem. The vehicle did run for years-at-a-time in a stable, reliable fashion. Once the stalling episodes pass, it felt OK to continue driving for years because everything is fine again. Looking back at the times when the stalling occurred, I was always lucky enough to recover and continue driving normally and trustfully for years before the next occurrence. Now I wonder what could have happened if the stall occurred while in more split-second decision, critical situations. I feel really stuck right now because I'm older with an undrivable vehicle. Please advise”
“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 to use the old key to start the vehicle. Additionally, the battery was replaced twice because the vehicle failed to turn off, causing the battery to drain. The vehicle needed to be jump-started. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to have the vehicle towed to the dealer for assistance. The contact stated that she was disabled and had returned the license plates to the DMV. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE VALVE COVER ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VAVLE COVER GASGET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/16/16*JB”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vue FWD Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Vue FWD Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.2 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Vue AWD Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,050 | 423 |
| Vue FWD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,200 | 444 |
| Vue AWD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,400 | 468 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Oct 31, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 632 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (321), electrical system (127), engine and engine cooling (62). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2003 Saturn Vue at 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).