2003 SATURN VUE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
872
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
58
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 SATURN VUE
The 2003 SATURN VUE has received a total of 872 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. 58 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (200 complaints), Power Train (88 complaints), and Electrical System (81 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 SATURN VUE
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 2003 SATURN VUE, potentially affecting up to 202,155 vehicles.
Recall 14V490000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 202,155 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 SATURN VUE
872 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 SATURN VUE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
2003 Saturn Vue ignition switch. The switch was replaced under a recall with a switch that has the same defect; the key can be removed while the vehicle is in operation. The dealers refuse to replace it saying the car had the recall completed. They do not acknowledge the replacement has the same problem as the original. I feel they are required to do a second replacement under the recall if it the same problem -- a dangerous one at that. AI shows a number of the replacement key switches were defective like the originals. Can you help me?
The contact purchased a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood and from the gas tank location. A service warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while pulling to the side of the road, a bystander alerted the contact that there was a fuel leak. The contact and the other passengers of the vehicle immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire started at the gas tank location and extended to the front of the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the vehicle was significantly burned. The contact could not confirm that a fire department report was filed. There was no property damage. Neither the contact nor the other passengers of the vehicle sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot by the registered owner. The contact could not confirm whether the vehicle was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact purchased a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood and from the gas tank location. A service warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while pulling to the side of the road, a bystander alerted the contact that there was a fuel leak. The contact and the other passengers of the vehicle immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire started at the gas tank location and extended to the front of the vehicle. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the vehicle was significantly burned. The contact could not confirm that a fire department report was filed. There was no property damage. Neither the contact nor the other passengers of the vehicle sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot by the registered owner. The contact could not confirm whether the vehicle was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
While driving the engine lights kept coming on, so we decided to get it checked by a mechanic and he told us that we have a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor and that the IMRC actuator valve is not working at all.
October 12, 2020 IG Burton stated the recall was complete, given original keys. I went to Willis Chevrolet & Buick recall was completed on April 15, 2022, new keys were issued.
Safety Rating for the 2003 SATURN VUE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 SATURN VUE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 SATURN VUE
General Motors, LLC has issued 58 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 SATURN VUE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
14319A — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
14319A - SPECIAL COVERAGE (REVISED MODEL YEAR VEHICLES). SOME 2005-2006 MODEL YEAR (MY) CHEVROLET EQUINOX, 2006 MY PONTIAC TORRENT AND 2002-2007 MY SATURN VUE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE IGNITION KEY MAY BE REMOVED WHEN THE IGNITION IS NOT IN THE OFF POSITION. IF THE IGNITION KEY...
070235001 — STEERING
INFORMATION ON SERVICING VEHICLES USING NEW IGNITION START SWITCH HOUSING (IGNITION LOCK MODULE) WITHOUT STEERING COLUMN LOCK. *KB
030845003C — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REDUCED VEHICLE POWER, NO TRANSAXLE DOWN SHIFT, SES LIGHT ON, BUZZ NOISE FROM DOOR SPEAKERS/SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR INOPERATIVE, VARIOUS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) SET. *TT
040843008 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE-WIPER/WASHER SYSTEMS SCHEMATICS. *SC
040604008 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DTC P0135 HO2S HEATER CIRCUIT PERFORMANCE BANK 1 SENSOR 1 AND/OR DTC P0155 HO2S HEATER PERFORMANCE BANK 2 SENSOR 1. *MR THIS BULLETIN REPLACES PREVIOUS 04-06-04-008. *EH
030730052A — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE FLARE DURING 2-3 SHIFT, MOST NOTICEABLE DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY AERATION OF TRANSAXLE FLUID, RESULTING IN A DELAYED APPLY OF 3RD CLUTCH. CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 03-07-30-052 *MN
030858005 — STRUCTURE:BODY
WIND NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM BASE OF DRIVER SIDE (LEFT) A-PILLAR NEAR VIN PLATE AREA. *TT
040417002 — POWER TRAIN
VIBRATION FELT IN SEATBACK OR ARMREST AT VEHICLE SPEEDS BETWEEN 48 TO 89 KM/H (30 TO 55 MPH). *TT
040730032 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GRIND/RATTLE NOISE FROM TRANSAXLE IN PARK AND NEUTRAL AFTER AN EXTENDED COLD SOAK FOLLOWING CASE COVER REPLACEMENT OR OTHER INTERNAL TRANSAXLE OVERHAUL. *TT
040605009 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING A POP/CLUNK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON INITIAL COLD START AND/OR DURING THE WARM-UP DRIVE CYCLE. *TT
Showing 10 of 58 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 SATURN VUE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SATURN VUE
- 2002 SATURN VUE — 220 complaints
- 2003 SATURN VUE (current)
- 2004 SATURN VUE — 360 complaints
- 2005 SATURN VUE — 215 complaints
- 2006 SATURN VUE — 433 complaints
- 2007 SATURN VUE — 417 complaints
- 2008 SATURN VUE — 572 complaints
Other SATURN Models
- SATURN ION — 5,467 total complaints
- SATURN SL — 2,891 total complaints
- SATURN AURA — 2,222 total complaints
- SATURN OUTLOOK — 1,939 total complaints
- SATURN LS — 1,885 total complaints
- SATURN SKY — 623 total complaints
- SATURN SC1 — 554 total complaints
- SATURN SC — 379 total complaints