Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Saturn Vue problems
Owners filed 632 complaints about the 2003 Saturn Vue with NHTSA between Sep 2002 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is power train (321).
Complaints
632
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
30
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train321
- Electrical system127
- Engine and engine cooling62
- Suspension48
- Steering45
- Air bags41
- Engine29
- Structure23
- Fuel system, gasoline21
- Vehicle speed control21
- Equipment20
- Visibility18
- Service brakes, hydraulic16
- Latches/locks/linkages13
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
48
83
40
29
34
60
60
62
46
15
18
64
26
9
11
2
9
2
3
2
0
0
2
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 83 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 60 |
| 2009 | 60 |
| 2010 | 62 |
| 2011 | 46 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 64 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
321 reports5 crashes1 fire
“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”
Electrical system
127 reports2 crashes6 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
62 reports1 crash1 fire
“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”
Suspension
48 reports7 crashes
“BOTH OF MY REAR TIRES ARE LEANING IN AND LOOKS LIKE THE CAMBER BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF AND COULD REALLY CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT EVEN DEATH IF I DIDN'T SEE IT. I TRAVEL 1800MI A WEEK AND JUST HAD A BLOW OUT BECAUSE TIRES WORE SO BAD AND THEY ARE ONLY A YEAR OLD.”
Steering
45 reports2 crashes1 fire
“MY DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT THAT TRACTION CONTROL IS DISABLED. THE LIGHT COMES ON BRIEFLY WHEN I TAKE SHARP LEFT TURNS. THE WHEEL-SPEED SENSORS, WIRES, CONNECTORS, CONTROL MODULE AND OTHER COMPONENTS OCCASIONALLY CONK WITH INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS. THIS HAS CAUSE MY REDUCE POWER WHEN I DRIVE IT, USING MORE GAS.”
Air bags
41 reports13 crashes1 fire
“TAKATA RECALL. BRAKE FAILURE. MY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OFF A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP. I TRIED TO BRAKE AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD JUST HAD ROTORS AND PADS PUT ON THE VEHICLE THAT DAY. I STRUCK TWO VEHICLES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY LEFT KNEE ON THE DASHBOARD.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.