Problems · by component

2008 Saturn Vue electrical system problems

88 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Saturn Vue cite electrical system, 22% of all 406 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
88
22% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I noticed a few days ago that the wheel was getting harder to turn so I made a maintenance appointment for Saturday I was driving to work in Texas in Fort Worth coming from Arlington today and smoke started coming from under the hood I pulled over and it was smoking I was on the highway so to get off the highway in a safe area I had to drive about 5 more miles up the road to the next exit so I started driving it didn’t smoke right off so a couple of minutes into the drive it starts smoking so I finally get to the exit smoke is now coming through the vents , I hurry and pull over and go to open the door it wouldn’t open I then I climb over and get out the back door I go into the business parking lot at this point it’s engulfed in black smoke and then it starts burning.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2026Steering, Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11733687
“Alternator I changed the starter I changed the alternator brand new it ran but then it stopped in mid drive and I won't just start and that's how I crashed into something now my car is wreck in the fridge and it won't start and if it does it stops”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 5, 2024Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineCrash reportedODI 11612712
“2008 Saturn vue AWD. Steering wheel is very difficult to turn while driving. There is a lot of resistance. No leaking fluid visible and no visible loss of fluid levels. Transmission was torn down/repaired in 2017 for metal bits present at 95,000 (approximate) miles. It is currently at 107,600 miles. Transmission gets stuck in lower gear and rpms Rev up without the vehicle gaining acceleration. The tear down/rebuild was due to bad 3 5 wave plate also and seems to be replicating the issue again. Check engine light comes on amd goes off intermittently and cannot get issue to replicate at the mechanics. Key has also gotten stuck in the barrel. Took almost 2 hours to try numerous ways to get it to release-also had to unlock manually on the door handle, none of the lights inside worked and when it was able to get started it was very slow and deliberate. Battery appeared to be dead but after jump starting and taking to have it checked, battery was found to be fine. These are serious concerns regarding the vehicle as 1 or all could cause serious damage to the driver and others on the road. It happened again today with the high rpms and low gear/not shifting to next gear.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2024Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11612064
“OCTOBER 22 2020 MY HUSBAND AND I HAD PURCHASED A 2008 SATURN VUE (LIC PLATE # 6EZZ507)FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ON MARCH 25 2021 THE CAR SUDDENLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES THEN EXPLODED. MY HUSBAND MANAGED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN JUST SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR EXPLODED. WE'VE COME TO FIND OUT AFTERWARDS THAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR,MAKE,MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED. IS THERE ANYTHING COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2021Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 11412911
“THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE SOMETIMES ON, SOMETIMES NOT ON OR SOME OF THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT NOT OTHERS. WE THINK THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2020Electrical systemODI 11328783
“DROVE TO A STORE .5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE NOTICED MY CAR WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DROVE BACK HOME, PARKED, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN RAISED THE HOOD AND THE WIRE HARNESS BY MY STARTER WAS ON FIRE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2019Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11289378

Showing 6 of 88 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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