NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2008 Saturn Vue (Page 1 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 1 of 6)

problem #103

Dec 132021

Vue

  • miles

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

Just backed out of my driveway and drove 2 blocks down my street. Stopped at the stop sign and the car wouldn't move. It was still running, however it wouldn't move. The car coming up behind me didn't notice my flashers and had to slam on his brakes which caused him to be rear ended. Everyone was ok. Car was pushed back to my driveway and there it sits. Tried to start it and it still won't go anywhere. The check engine light is on, but it was not on before it stopped, or while being pushed back. I can't afford to have it towed anywhere right now to be checked out. The used dealership I bought the car from gave me an obd scanner. Transmission codes P0700 and P2723 came up.

- Leander, TX, USA

problem #102

Jul 102021

Vue

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the transmission felt like it was slipping while driving at various speeds. The transmission failed to shift gears or lock into the desired gear. The contact had not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

- Hamptonville, NC, USA

problem #101

Aug 052021

Vue

  • miles
My 2008 Saturn vue Engine size 3600cc, 6 cylinders has been feeling like the transmission is slipping when you get up to a certain speed and this could be very harmful to other drivers that are driving.. Sometimes the car won't go into park or reverse and I feel that since there are 3 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE GM PLACE SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS Because someone could get hurt really badly if the transmission locks up while going down the road.

- Hamptonville , NC, USA

problem #100

Apr 012021

Vue

  • 176,000 miles

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

It is hard to turn when it sit idle, and the steering wheel only loosenes up when I press on the gas pedal, witch makes it hard to park or turn when at a green light or stop sign and when I reverse or need to go forward and turn a little bit in small spaces to adjust the placement of which my vehicle is in its to dangerous because in order to move the steering wheel you have to press on the gas pedal and the vehicle has to be in motion for the steering wheel to move without having to use so much strength to force it to turn.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #99

Feb 122021

Vue

  • 177,787 miles
I was on a straight street parked and my engine light came on my girlfriend came outside I go to pull away I out the car in reserve and went no where I turned her off for a couple mins. And tried again it worked but I had the peddle to floor only going like 2mph backing up. Finally I got out out her in drive and again we was not moving I was able to pull over in a lot I turned her off sat for 10-15 minutes turned back on she was okay till I got home and tried to park I was 15 mins away from home. So I got my obd reader thing to check engine light and it popped up something with my transmission.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

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problem #98

Jan 122019

Vue

  • 240,000 miles
Without any warning in forward gear the car would not go.I would go into gear on the lever but would only move a little. It made the motor seemed fine. I was on flat ground I my driveway

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #97

Mar 212018

Vue

  • miles

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

My car steering goes in and out loud whining noise like I'm gonna lose control got ran and pinion replaced and power steering pump so what can still be the problem also just replace control module for transmission and now light just came back on 3 months after getting fixed same code P0700

- South Chicago Heights, IL, USA

problem #96

Sep 142020

Vue

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while reversing at 5 mph, she had placed her gear shifter into drive, however, the vehicle continued to reverse without warning and failed to operate as needed. Due to the failure, the contact hit her coworkers vehicle at a low rate of speed. The contact was able to reverse the vehicle into a park space and parked the vehicle. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced, diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 136,000.

- Scranton, PA, USA

problem #95

Sep 052020

Vue

  • 91,560 miles
Put it in gear, goes about 6ft and then stops and won't go any further

- Anderson, CA, USA

problem #94

Aug 022020

Vue

  • miles
The transmission was slipping between 45-50 mph at about 1500-2000 rpms the only way to avoid it was using the manual mode. It was only happening after the vehicle was warmed up too by the end of my 200 mile drive today it was slipping bad and it has fluid I topped it off this morning hoping that was the problem but it was not and I consistently checked it throughout the drive and it did not go down or lose fluid.

- Ellensburg, WA, USA

problem #93

Mar 012020

Vue 4-cyl

  • 160,000 miles

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

I have replaced my headlights 4 times(both sides) and wire harness keeps melting. I have made a complaint before and received no response. I have now purchased the wire harness and I hope this will not burn also. 2. the car jumps when shifting in reverse which indicates the parking pawl. This has been an issue for over a year now and no response returned. 3. water is leaking into my car. The front and backseat floors are soaked. Looks like the seal around the firewall is not sealing properly. I saw multiple people have the same issue on the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue. Why isn't there a recall? this could cause a major electrical issue.

- Hilo, HI, USA

problem #92

Apr 082020

Vue

  • 116,000 miles
Transmission does not shift out of first gear unless the engine is shut off and restarted

- Reminderville, OH, USA

problem #91

Aug 012017

Vue

  • 110,000 miles
I bought a 2008 Saturn Vue used and immediately noticed a vibration. Had it checked by 4 mechanics including a transmission specialist who concluded it was the torque converter. I noticed a recall on the 2007 model but this vehicle was manufactured in 2007 and has the same problem but no recall. When vehicle is in motion it vibrates mainly when picking up speed.

- Red Level, AL, USA

problem #90

Dec 282019

Vue

  • 156,000 miles
The transmission just up and stops working. The car must be turned off, wait 10-15 minutes and it will continue again, up until it stops working again. It happens under power or cruising. It happens whenever & wherever it wants.

- Orrtanna, PA, USA

problem #89

Dec 012019

Vue

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While operating the vehicle, a knocking noise was present coming from the engine compartment and smoke was visible coming from under the hood. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to websmart Chevrolet (5049 West ridge rd, spencerport, NY) where it was diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. The transmission was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #88

May 152016

Vue

  • 0 miles
Both headlight wiring melted. Replaced both side headlights and after 2 years the wire harness melted again the parking pawl gets stuck often. When putting the car in reverse the parking pawl gets stuck. Then it will eventually go into reverse but the car jerks and makes a clunking noise. The light issue I've been dealing with for the last 3 years now. The parking pawl issue has been like this for over a year now.

- Hilo, HI, USA

problem #87

Oct 042019

Vue

  • 94,000 miles
I just bought an 08 Saturn Vue V6 xr with the 6 speed automatic 94K miles and I’ve been reading a lot of complaints about the 3-5 wave plates I where the transmission won’T shift out of first gear when the car is warm. I experienced the first signs of it the day I bought it and took it to the shop and they said it was just the sensor but after I got it back I had the same problem and the shop said the whole transmission needs to be replaced which is a 3-4K job. GM does not take responsibility for it although many many many people have had the same problem and it leaves people like me stuck with no solution as I had just spent all my money buying the car.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #86

Feb 132019

Vue

  • 123,000 miles
Since we have had this vehicle the transmission keeps messing up. The transmission slips after it is put in gear. Once put in gear and the accelerator pedal is pressed there is lag between the sound of the engine RPM increasing and the gears engaging and the car taking off. The vehicle also rolls backwards a worrying amount when it is placed in park. Also when you go to drive the vehicle doesn't wan to go out of the low gear. This has happened not once or twice this is consistent. We have kept it maintained since we bought it. The most recent was just 2 days ago.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #85

Nov 022018

Vue

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the transmission failed. While the vehicle was stationary in the park position, the vehicle rolled forward. The contact applied the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. While the vehicle was stationary in the reverse position, the vehicle was able to move partially and stopped. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to move any further in the reverse position. In addition, the rpms increased rapidly on more than one occasion and the vehicle would not accelerate beyond 30 mph. A dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

- Pinckney, MI, USA

problem #84

Jun 192018

Vue

  • 94,000 miles
Vehicle rolls while in park.

- Southington, CT, USA

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