Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Saturn Vue problems

Owners filed 170 complaints about the 2005 Saturn Vue with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (72).

Complaints
170
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system72
  2. Power train30
  3. Steering20
  4. Air bags15
  5. Engine9
  6. Engine and engine cooling8
  7. Service brakes6
  8. Structure5
  9. Suspension4
  10. Exterior lighting3
  11. Seats3
  12. Visibility3
  13. Latches/locks/linkages3
  14. Equipment3

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 Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20057
200610
20074
20086
200910
20106
201111
20122
20131
201461
201523
20165
20175
20187
20195
20204
20211
20220
20231
20240
20250
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

72 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2005 Saturn VUE. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ignition key fell out of the ignition switch and the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the key failed to fit back in the ignition switch. The contact turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts were discontinued. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2026Electrical systemODI 11751633

Power train

30 reports1 crash
“WHEN TRAVELING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHETHER IT'S IN TRAFFIC OR GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKS VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH AND CLUNKING SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS SLIPPING THE CAR WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST DIED AND STOP RUNNING.BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR WILL COME TO A STOP THE JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION RELEASING THE GEARS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2020Power trainODI 11322715

Steering

20 reports1 crash
“I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT AND I OUT MY KEY IN IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO 1 PAST THE ACC AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IT STILL BEING TURN TO 1. WHILE IN PARK. I CAN ALSO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE IT'S RUNNING WHILE IN DRIVE OR PARK ON THE 1 MARK AFTER ACC. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2020Steering, Unknown or otherODI 11323779

Air bags

15 reports10 crashes
“The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a vehicle began doing donuts in the intersection, causing a multi-car accident and crashing into her vehicle. The air bags had failed to deploy. The contact sustained back and knee injuries, and both her son and grandson had body pain. A police report was available. The vehicle had not been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11521041

Engine

9 reports
“THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS IT'S SELF VERY OFTEN. I THROTTLES THE SPEED RANDOMLY AND WHEN YOU FINALLY GET STATIONARY IT LOCKS UP THE FUEL SO THERE IS NO WAY TO START THE CAR UNTILL YOU DO THE RELEARN PROCESS WHICH TAKES 30 MIN OR LONGER AND YOUR LUCKY IF THAT WORKS. YES THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVING WAS THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME AFTER BUYING IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2015Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10806820

Engine and engine cooling

8 reports
“I OWN A 2005 SATURN VUE AND IN JUNE 2011 I EXPERIENCED A/C FAILURE THAT TOOK MY MECHANIC SEVERAL WEEKS TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. WE ORDER THE PARTFROM MILTON RUBEN CHEVY DEALER AND THE PART WAS REPLACED ON MY VUE AT THE END OF JUNE 2011. AS OF YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMOKE STARTED TO RISE OUT FROM UNDER MY VUE. I PULLED OVER AND NOTED AS LONG AS THE MA/C WAS OFF THAT THE SMOKE STOPPED. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WERE THE SAME PART AT THE SAME PLACE SPLIT AGAIN NOW MY A/C DOES NOT WORK AND IT IS STILL 100 PLUS DEGREES AND THE PART IS NOT EVEN NINETY DAYS OLD. I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ON THE A/C SATURN PROBLEMS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10423142
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.