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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system72
- Power train30
- Steering20
- Air bags15
- Engine9
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Service brakes6
- Structure5
- Suspension4
- Exterior lighting3
- Seats3
- Visibility3
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
10
4
6
10
6
11
2
1
61
23
5
5
7
5
4
1
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 61 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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
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.”
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”
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”
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.”
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.”
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”
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.