NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2008 Saturn Vue (Page 4 of 6)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,948 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Saturn Vue drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Saturn Vue Owner Comments (Page 4 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #43

Mar 262009

Vue 6-cyl

  • 3,165 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Manufacturer recall to reprogram the BCM, then they replaced the power train control module at the same visit. How and where do I attach an excel spreadsheet with the 30 repairs, some major since ownership of this vehicle?

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #42

Aug 112014

Vue

  • 90,470 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,470.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #41

Mar 182013

Vue 4-cyl

  • 93,099 miles
I'm experiencing an engine light on all the time. Regardless of, the weather and after having my vehicle check for maintenance work. Had a vehicle diagnostic done and the results was a code 10. Which means cam actuator solenoid, 2008 Saturn Vues are known for this problem. Replace that part the engine have to be taken apart. This engine light stays on constantly. It been on since March 2014, if this problem is not handle my vehicle will start having problems starting and shutting down without my control while driving. This is a power drive and ignition/starter problem. Can you please research this issue and assist me with this matter. All the dealer did since I couldn't buy a new vehicle was sent me on a test drive and while I was gone they went under the hood and made the light go off. That work for only a hour. Please response. Thanks.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #40

Jul 082014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While accelerating to enter freeway engine speed increased to high revs and would not shift into higher gear for higher speed had to pull out of fast traffic as car would not accelerate. When car was parked and started again, could not get it to go in reverse. This has happened several times since then.

- North Aurora, IL, USA

problem #39

Jun 242014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 71,693 miles
This car was purchased on 4/4/2009 with 13,936 miles on it. As of the date of the incident, there are 71,694 miles on the car or 57,758 miles driven (average 11,550 per year). This car was well kept and had the appropriate maintenance done. The first thing that failed on the car was the keyless start. It failed less than seven months after purchase. Last winter, we noticed the electronic stability failed and no longer worked. On 6/24/2008; the transmission failed. We get the transmission fluids checked every oil change and everything seemed to be working fine. Two weeks ago, the car started making rubbing noises until now the transmission actually failed. Car transmissions should last at least 100K miles. With the history of Saturn Vues having transmission issues, this one has now failed us.

- South Euclid, OH, USA

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problem #38

Oct 082013

Vue 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
My 2008 Saturn Vue steering failed and almost got into accident with only 40,000+ miles back in Oct 2013, got it fixed that cost me close to $1000 and now June 2014 transmission failed with only 50,000 miles and was quoted $4,500 worth of repair which is to replace transmission, checked online regarding problem and looks like its a common issues on this model and other models as well of GM which have the same transmission, just wondering how come no one issues a recall on this. Thanks...

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #37

Jun 122014

Vue

  • 52,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving on highway, pulled into get gas, came back out and transmission would not get out of second gear. Lucky for us, we were not far from home. Took car into a reliable transmission specialist, he indicated the 3-5 reverse drum wave plate was our problem. He has seen many of these come in with the same problem. No recalls, so the bill ended up being $3500. He indicated this is a know problem with this year vehicle, did not know why GM has not sent out a recall. Was an excellent car up until now. Knowing this is a problem it should be addressed. Only 52,000 miles driven.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #36

May 152014

Vue

  • 100,000 miles
Driving at speed and the transmission jerks causing the vehicle to slow down in traffic. Very scary feeling to not know what is causing your vehicle to suddenly fail and loosing control of your speed during travel. To have such a vital part able to fail in such a critical functioning of the vehicle is dangerous and potentially dangerous to drivers on the roads as well as the occupants of the vehicle. Please don't allow this to become a fatality before action is taken. The wave plate on these GM vehicles is breaking inside the transmission. Causing complete in motion failure of vehicle at speed. Thank you for what you do.

- Clarksville , TN, USA

problem #35

Jun 142014

Vue 4-cyl

  • 45 miles
First incident- as I tried to park my car on a street going up hill, the car even though it was on drive kept moving backwards I had to right away stepped on the brakes and hit the gas so it would go forward making the car jump and almost crash into the car parked in front of me. Second incident - I parked in a parking lot going up hill as I tried pulling out of the spot, my car was in reverse, as I hit the gas pedal the car went forward, I had to again hit the brakes really bad and place the car in park then in reverse again.... and hit the gas very very slowly to make sure this time my car was going backwards at the reverse. Third incident- to get home I have to go thru a steep hill which has a traffic light at both ends, when ever I get stop going up he hill on the light the car goes backward when it's on drive and when U get stuck going down the car stops when I got the gas pedal all the way in and the car keeps rolling.

- Maspeth, NY, USA

problem #34

Jun 022014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 89,212 miles
Upon trying to accelerate, the "kicked" and jerked, then slowed slightly. When traveling uphill, and parking, transmission seemed not to have enough power. Rolls backwards while idle before taking off.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #33

Apr 122014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 54,383 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On April 12, 2014 I was driving on a major boulevard towards interstate 5 when the transmission shifted itself into neutral and revved the engine to an extremely high RPM. It was hovering quite close to the red danger zone on the gauge. As it was doing this I lost forward power and was moving forward on momentum only. It then felt like it dropped in and out of gear several times in quick succession. I was close to a parking lot so I hit the brakes lightly to decrease my speed and managed to turn the car into the parking lot and into a parking space just as the transmission appeared to re-engage. I immediately turned the car off and called emergency roadside service to tow the car to the dealer. The dealer was able to drive the car forward into a service bay but advised me that reverse was completely gone. Although I did not crash or sustain an injury, it was only because I got lucky and had a safe place to turn into. If this had happened 5 minutes later on the freeway, I would have likely died as that section of interstate 5 has construction work and no shoulder, so I would have been stranded and blocking traffic on a freeway with other vehicles and big rigs traveling between 55 and 80 miles per hour. It would have taken a miracle for no one to hit me in that situation. The vehicle is a 2008 with just over 50K miles on it - way too soon for such a major transmission failure.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #32

Apr 262014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 76,300 miles
I was driving with my family in the car, going around another stalled vehicle on the highway when I was not able to accelerate past 25 mph. My vehicle acted like it went into neutral, when it should have gone into 3rd gear. I was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road with only brakes and steering. If this had happened while trying to merge onto the highway, I could have been rear ended. From the research I have done online it appears that GM is aware of a faulty 3-5-R wave-plate used within many of their 6 forward gear transmissions used on vehicles from 2007 to 2009. I believe this part should be replaced through a recall to avoid any serious future injuries in all vehicles using this transmission with the faulty wave-plate. I believe this includes 6T70 and 6T75 transmissions in vehicles from 2007-2209.

- Otsego, MN, USA

problem #31

May 052014

Vue 6-cyl

  • miles
I bought my 2008 Saturn Vue brand new Aug. 2008. I have 70,000 miles on it and the transmission has gone out and they want 4,000 dollars to fix it!! I am sooo disappointed in this this. I never received recall information or anything about the Saturn Vues having this issue. I still owe on it and do not have that kind of money to fix it!! just 70,000 miles really!!

- Broomfield, , CO, USA

problem #30

May 042014

Vue

  • miles
My power steering and transmission doesn't work, I just found out that my vehicle is on recall and the dealer never told me.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #29

Feb 182014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 73,233 miles
Vehicle had no reverse and had the feeling of missed gears. Found 3-5-R went out and the wave plate snapped and had to have the transmission replaced as it was too costly to have it repaired.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #28

Oct 142011

Vue

  • 38,370 miles
Issue #1 ~ transmission while merging from one freeway to another, driving at a steady pace, the vehicle began to slip. When the slipping began, the delays were short, maybe lasting 10 seconds. However as I kept driving, they began to get longer and longer, in this particular incident. I was able to put my emergency flashers on and move over to exit the freeway. Since the initial time, this has happened several more times with the vehicle. And, because the slipping doesn't occur every time I drive it, I'm being told the issue can not be duplicated... issue #2 ~ power steering as long as the vehicle is being steered straight, I have no complaints. However, the moment the vehicle is steered either left or right, it begins to make a loud roaring like sound. The roaring is especially prevalent when being steered to the left. I've taken the vehicle in twice now to be attended to. Each time I've taken it in, the power steering pump and fluids are replaced. The problem is still present.

- Ellenwood, GA, USA

problem #27

Apr 142014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
My '08 Vue will no longer shift into reverse. The transmission handle does physically go into the reverse detent but the gears do not engage and the vehicle does not move. Depressing the accelerator only increases the engine rpms. The first indication of a problem was some stuttering in reverse two days ago. There didn't seem to be any issues with the forward gears. Today, the transmission reverse gear will not engage. This seems to be a common problem with the GM/for 6T70 6spd transmission reverse gear wave plate. A quick google search revealed that virtually every GM brand that uses the transmission has the exact same issue. This seems to be a well known and well documented problem, a recall should be made. A tsb already exists for the issue, please refer to tsb #09-07-30-012B.

- Northborough, MA, USA

problem #26

Oct 282011

Vue 6-cyl

  • 41,225 miles
While on our family trip our vehicle came to a complete stall. We had no power, no acceleration no power steering.

- Norwalk, CA, USA

problem #25

Apr 082014

Vue 6-cyl

  • 26,247 miles
I pulled into a stall at the bank, and put the vehicle in park. The vehicle continued to roll, jumped the curb on to the sidewalk, and hit a pole.

- El Sobrante, CA, USA

problem #24

Mar 302013

Vue

  • 63,000 miles
We had problems before March 30, they were still under warranty. Sadly, the dealer never told us we would be stiffed with time in certified GM pre-owned warranty nor any of the issues we have had. Got car May 2011 and has been in and out of shops since approximately September of 2011. We have replaced sway bar links 3 times in less than 1 1/2 years. Tires, battery, windshield wiper motor linkage, electrical issues, replaced driver side air bag. The kicker was the transmission on March 30 2013 while husband was deployed. Had both of my children in the car when it just stopped- on the road. Had it towed to davidson in watertown NY. Diagnostic done 4/1/13 revealed 4 codes from tranny, had to remove it to test further. We have never received any recall info at any pint since 2011; most of them seem to be listed under 2008; we have no idea haow we would have known about them, or if the issues have ever been fixed. The tranny went right after power train warranty conveniently expired- it was the 3-5 wave plate, which I just read on internet was a recall. GM case manager, [xxx],was supposedly trying to assist me. He also was in contact with [xxx], service manager @ davidson. As soon as they knew I had a loan secured for $4000, no one could help all of the sudden! I was told by GM that I would get help with cost; either certificate with smaller amount for trade in, or 30% of repair cost. I said repair cost to lower my loan. Then neither would help me and both became unprofessional. I have sent letters to GM with no response. Also, I had to pay for rental car. It is noted that clutch spring and piston also damaged. I feel that we were given this car under false pretenses as far as safety and being GM certified pre-owned. Multiple issues. The dealership had to know these issues, prior to scamming us, to make this car certified GM advertised!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fort Drum, NY, USA

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