NHTSA — Power Train: Manual Transmission Problems

3.6

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,252 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.

2003 Saturn Vue transmission problems

transmission problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Saturn Vue:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2003 Saturn Vue Owner Comments

problem #6

May 272010

Vue 4-cyl

  • 53,510 miles

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

I purchased a used 2003 Saturn Vue 2.2L in 2006. In May 2010 with 95,000 miles on it, it started running rough. I was leaving for work one morning and it died as I left my driveway. Called my auto shop and was able to drive it to the shop for diagnosis. The whole way there the "service engine soon" light was flashing. The diagnosis was that 2 cylinders were misfiring and had failed and that meant the ignition control module needed to be replaced. Along with that the spark plugs needed to be replaced because of the damage done by the misfiring. Total cost: $350. Picked up the car and "service engine soon" light came on again and was steady. It happened to be memorial day weekend so I couldn't take my car back in right away. Took it in on the following Wednesday, mind you I got it back on Friday night. Now it is the downstream O2 sensor, upstream O2 sensor and possibly the catalytic converter. Was advised to definitely replace the downstream O2 sensor, but was told that the upstream O2 sensor and catalytic converter could repair themselves after running a while. After finding a recall on my year, make and model called the Saturn customer service and was told my VIN was not included in the recall and because I had purchased it used they would not replace or help me in any way, shape or fashion. With the same exact issue as the recall, I do not understand why my car would not be included.

- Camas, WA, USA

problem #5

Nov 222009

Vue

  • 50,000 miles
Normal driving when manual transmission - without warning - shifter linkage became disconnected, leaving me unable to shift out of the current gear, rendering the car undrivable and leaving me stranded in traffic on a busy street. Mechanic reports that this is a known problem on Saturn with manual transmissions but that no safety recalls have ever been issued. Saturn should be required to fix this problem at no cost to owners and to reimburse people that have experienced this problem and had to pay to get it fixed.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #4

May 012009

Vue

  • 93,000 miles
There was no warning just took off from my house in 2003 Saturn Vue and when I went to shift the transmission seemed to let go. It won't go out of first gear and gearshift just moves freely.

- Ardmore, OK, USA

problem #3

Feb 122008

Vue 4-cyl

  • 15,000 miles

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

Repeated manual transmission problems. Shift cable bindings and clips/adjusters broke, leaving the car undrivable. This has happened twice in less than 4.5 years of ownership. The vehicle had about 15K miles when the first incident occurred, and about 43K miles the second time. The vehicle has always been very difficult to get into gear at times, even after repairs have been done to fix the manual transmission. The shift cables and adjusters have been replaced twice in 4.5 years.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #2

Nov 172006

Vue 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Transmission shift failures.

- Yuba City, CA, USA

problem #1

Nov 172006

Vue 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Transmission shift failures.

- Yuba City, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?