2006 SATURN VUE Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered violently. The contact's daughter lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road before coming to a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,973. The VIN was unavailable.

Mileage: 89,973

My car is very rusted out,underneath the body and no one will work on my car because they feel it's a hazard to drive and work on. I went to an iron works shop and mechanic said it's a common problem with Saturn Vue's,I took it back to where I bought it because they knew it before I bought it . All they wanted to do was put me ina sports car,my car is a hazard to drive it plus I have 1 more year to pay for it. Seems like something could be done about this

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND AVERAGED BETWEEN 100 TO 200 RPMS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED JOE HOLLAND CHEVROLET AND IMPORTS AT (304) 744-1561 (LOCATED AT 210 MACCORKIE AVE, SW, CHARLESTON, WV 25303). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE REFERRED TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, BUT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,693.

Mileage: 145,693

WHEN IT IS COLD, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. ITS TAKES APPROX. 30-45 MINUTES TO TRY AND GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. ALSO, ONCE THE CAR IS ON IT IS EXTREMELY EASY FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. MY TRANSMISSION ALSO SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY IN THE PARK OF BRAKE POSITION. WHEN GOING UP AND HILLS OR DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS MY SPEED DECREASES WITH OUT MY CONTROL. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. I HAVE HAD TO GO IT CHECKED BUT, WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE MENTIONED ARE NOT PROBLEMS AT ALL AND THEY CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON.

Mileage: 185,000

CAN NOT TURN ON OR OFF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG USING THE BUTTON IN ABOVE THE RADIO AND THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD TURNS ON EVERY TIME I PUT SOMETHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EVEN IF IT'S A BOTTLE OF WATER MY VUE IS A V6 AUTOMATIC WITH THE HONDA ENGINE, BUT THE TRANSITION BETWEEN GEARS IS NOT SMOOTH AT ALL IT FEELS MORE LIKE IT'S JERKING INTO GEAR. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I'M KNOW ONE DAY I'M GOING TO WALK UP TO IT AND IT WON'T BE THERE BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE ROLLED AWAY. MY VUE ROLLS BACK N FORTH IN PARK ON FLAT SURFACES. SO ON A HILL IT'S SCARRY. IT ROLLS MORE THAN MY OLD CAR THAT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANTI LOCK BREAKS. AND A LOT OF THE TIME USING THE E-BREAK DOSNT HELP ALL THAT MUCH

WHEN IGNITION IS LOCKED AND ENGINE IS OFF, YOU CAN MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO ANY GEAR. ALSO WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

FIRST THE VEHICLE HAS MADE A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE SUV. I THOUGHT IT WERE JUST THE TIRES BUT I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE BEARINGS ON ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER, WE WERE STRANDED ON A RAINY FLORIDA AFTERNOON AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE.THE TRANSMISSION CAN GO INTO REVERSE BUT NO FORWARD GEAR. COST TO REPLACE/ REBUILT $2500.00, MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. FURTHERMORE THE RADIO TURNS ON WHENEVER IT WANTS TO, IT FADES IN AND OUT OF ALL LOCAL STATIONS. WORST AMERICAN CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. THAT IS PROBABLY WHY THEY WENT BANKRUPT. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

SEVERAL ISSUES WITH 2006 SATURN VUE TO REPORT: - AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT - IGNITION - KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH WHILE MOTOR IS RUNNING - IGNITION - KEY IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN UNLESS IT IS CAJOLED REPEATEDLY. TYPICAL START UP TIME IS IN EXCESS OF 5 MINUTES TO FIND THE "SWEET SPOT". "SWEET SPOT" TENDS TO MOVE ON A DAILY BASIS. NO PARTICULAR TECHNIQUE WORKS EVERY TIME - IGNITION - KEY WILL BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. RESULTS IN A TWO TO FIVE MINUTE CAREFUL TUG OF WAR WITH THE CAR IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY. IGNITION SWITCH HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WAS REPLACED (AT OWNERS EXPENSE OF $214 DOLLARS) AND THINGS WERE FINE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. NOW THE SYMPTOMS (SEE ABOVE) HAVE RETURNED. - POWER LOCKS - UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS (ANY) WITH DRIVERS SIDE LOCK CONTROLS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

I BOUGHT THE IN JUNE 15, 2011 TWO WEEKS LATER HAD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM WHICH IS RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING THEN IT WAS FIXED 5 MORE TIMES, THE TOTALED OF 6X. NOW THE CENTER DRIVE SHAFT SUPPORT BEARING IS BAD. PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE 2007-2006 SATURN VUE V6, A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN HONDA/GM HAS THE SAME HONDA ODYSSEY DRIVE TRAIN AS HONDA'S CURRENT RECALL FOR FUEL PUMP COVER. IS THE SATURN MODEL AFFECTED AS WELL AND IF SO WHO WOULD FIX IT? *TR

Mileage: 95,000

CAR IS 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHILE SHIFTING STICK SHIFT DISENGAGED FROM SHIFT CABLE. UNABLE TO GET CAR BACK IN GEAR. PLASTIC ADJUSTER P/N 15212802 FAILED WHERE IT MOUNTS TO STICK SHIFT. TURNED ON HAZARDS AND ARM WAVING WARNED OTHER DRIVERS OF DIFFICULTY. OTHERS HELPED PUSH CAR OUT OF WAY. DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF PART CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. NO WAY TO PUT CAR IN GEAR. IF HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED RESULTS WOULD BE POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING. *TR

Mileage: 91,271

VEHICLE WAS DRIVING NORMAL. MPH BEGIN TO DECREASE AS THE RPMS INCREASED. EVENTUALLY STOPPED PULLING ALL TOGETHER. APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION RELATED. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006, 6 CYLINDER SATURN VUE. JAN 2011 I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALER. LANNAN CHEVROLET IN LOWELL, MA BECAUSE THE COOLANT LIGHT WAS ON. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID THE COOLANT HAD TO BE FLUSHED, I GOT THIS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. AUGUST 11, 2011 I WAS COMING OUT OF BOSTON AND AT A FEW RED LIGHTS THE ENGINE DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO GO. AS I WAS EXITING THE TUNNEL GOING ONTO THE ZACOME BRIDGE MY CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND DIED IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND CALL 911. I WAS TOLD TO STAY IN MY CAR AND KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. PEOPLE WERE BEEPING AND I WAS SCARED I WOULD DIE FROM BEING HIT. THE POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED AND TOLD ME I HAD TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE SPEED LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. HE KEPT TELLING ME SHUT OFF AND START IT AGAIN, SHUT IT OFF AND START IT AGAIN, AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE RIGHT LANE BEFORE IT FINALLY DIED. THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR ON THE FLATBED BECAUSE THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE IGNITION TURNED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SOUTH BOSTON STATE POLICE BARRACKS. FROM THERE I HAD TO GET A TOW TO SOMEPLACE LOCALLY AS THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY TOW. I FINALLY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LANNAN CHEVROLET IN LOWELL WHERE I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING DAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. I CALLED STAURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED A CLAIM. THE CAR HAS 53,076 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF LANNAN CHEVROLET SAID "I MUST HAVE ABUSED THE CAR AND REVVED IT" I WAS TOLD SHE TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER DARYL THAT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT MY VEHICLE. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THE CLAIM WOULD BE ESCALATED TO THE "NEXT LEVEL" AND THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. UPON LOOKING UP THE VEHICLE ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FORM SATURN OWNERS CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION AND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. GM? *KB

Mileage: 53,076

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR TORQUE CONVERTER. WHILE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CENTER SUPPORT BEARING FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMING APART, IE: RUBBER BUSHING WAS SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WAS ALSO TOLD THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE SEPARATING. THE COST FOR THE BEARING WAS BETWEEN $450. AND $500. DOLLARS, THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPAIR WOULD BE $280. DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 53,731 MILES ON IT. THE BEARING DEFECT WILL CAUSE A VIBRATION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AS IT BECOMES WORSE. THE CONTROL ARMS WILL CAUSE A CLUNK WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *KB

Mileage: 53,731

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR TORQUE CONVERTER. WHILE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CENTER SUPPORT BEARING FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMING APART, IE: RUBBER BUSHING WAS SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WAS ALSO TOLD THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE SEPARATING. THE COST FOR THE BEARING WAS BETWEEN $450. AND $500. DOLLARS, THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPAIR WOULD BE $280. DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 53,731 MILES ON IT. THE BEARING DEFECT WILL CAUSE A VIBRATION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AS IT BECOMES WORSE. THE CONTROL ARMS WILL CAUSE A CLUNK WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *KB

Mileage: 53,731

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FILED THE BRAKES DOWN YET THE GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH DRUM AND BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS MAKING A NOISE. UPDATED 05/20/11

Mileage: 40,000

GEAR SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE SHIFTER, A PIECE OF PLASTIC BROKE. *TR

Mileage: 58,200

VEHICLE: 2006 SATURN VUE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TWICE IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE SHIFTER SEPARATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN GEAR. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON AN I-95. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP REPLACED AND END CLIP THE FIRST TIME AND THE SHIFTER CABLE THE SECOND TIME. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE OCCURRENCES ARE UNRELATED - DIFFERENT PARTS AND BALKING AT FIXING THE DEFECT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL INTERNET SITES IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME FAILURE OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS IN THE SATURN VUE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS FAILURE - ESPECIALLY THE SECOND TIME ON I-95. *TR

Mileage: 74,999

CARRIER BEARING REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 52,145

CARRIER BEARING REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 52,145

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CARRIER BEARING IS DEFECTIVE ON MANY OF THESE VEHICLES, ENOUGH SO THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFORMULATED THE PART. THIS HAZARD OCCURS IN MANY VEHICLES WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, BUT AS OF YET, HAS NOT BEEN BY SATURN. THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS PART IS NON-EXISTENT AT THIS POINT. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANYONE IS INJURED BY THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 47,000

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CARRIER BEARING IS DEFECTIVE ON MANY OF THESE VEHICLES, ENOUGH SO THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFORMULATED THE PART. THIS HAZARD OCCURS IN MANY VEHICLES WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, BUT AS OF YET, HAS NOT BEEN BY SATURN. THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS PART IS NON-EXISTENT AT THIS POINT. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANYONE IS INJURED BY THIS DEFECT. THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 47,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE GOES TO MOVE FROM ONE SHIFT TO THE NEXT. THE SHIFT GEAR BECAME STIFF AND BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TWICE FOR THE FAILURE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE IS 61,000. UPDATED 09/17/09.*JB

Mileage: 61,000

MY WIFE'S 2006 SATURN VUE HAS A TRANSMISSION DEFECT THAT IS NOT IN THE NEWER MODELS. YOU CAN SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE WHILE THE KEY IS IN ACC. I TOLD SATURN AND THEN SAID GM SAID THAT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK. THEY DID CHANGE IT ON THE NEW MODELS AND EVERY OTHER CAR YOU MUST PUT YOUR FOOT ON BEFORE SHIFTING. I HAD IT BACK FOR IT AND THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME LIMP AND FELL OFF IN HIS HAND. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE LINK PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM AT LEAST TWO TIMES. THE LINK PARTS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND DO NOT LAST WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Mileage: 67,000

SHIFT CABLE ON 2006 SATURN VUE BROKE AFTER ONLY 47,000 MILES. HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY HARD TO SHIFT BUT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

NOISE FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPORADICALLY AROUND 30K BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT 41K THE NOISE BECAME MORE CONSISTENT AND THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR CLUTCH AND WOULD COST $1,500 TO FIX AS THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 36K. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

VEHICLE ENGINE REVS BETWEEN 30-40 MPH AND SURGING IS FELT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE ALSO SLUGGISH AT TIMES UPON ACCELERATION. CAR WAS IN SHOP FIRST TIME AND THEY IGNORED MY CONCERN. THE SECOND TIME (NOW) CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 30 DAYS AND THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. THEY ARE CONTACTING GM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WILL HAVE AN ENGINEER EXAMINE THE CAR NOW. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

STRANGE NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR. IT IS CONSTANT. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 500