general problems of the 2008 Saturn VUE - part 1

I noticed a few days ago that the wheel was getting harder to turn so I made a maintenance appointment for Saturday I was driving to work in texas in fort worth coming from arlington today and smoke started coming from under the hood I pulled over and it was smoking I was on the highway so to get off the highway in a safe area I had to drive about 5 more miles up the road to the next exit so I started driving it didn’t smoke right off so a couple of minutes into the drive it starts smoking so I finally get to the exit smoke is now coming through the vents , I hurry and pull over and go to open the door it wouldn’t open I then I climb over and get out the back door I go into the business parking lot at this point it’s engulfed in black smoke and then it starts burning.

2008 Saturn Vue awd. Steering wheel is very difficult to turn while driving. There is a lot of resistance. No leaking fluid visible and no visible loss of fluid levels. Transmission was torn down/repaired in 2017 for metal bits present at 95,000 (approximate) miles. It is currently at 107,600 miles. Transmission gets stuck in lower gear and rpms rev up without the vehicle gaining acceleration. The tear down/rebuild was due to bad 3 5 wave plate also and seems to be replicating the issue again. Check engine light comes on amd goes off intermittently and cannot get issue to replicate at the mechanics. Key has also gotten stuck in the barrel. Took almost 2 hours to try numerous ways to get it to release-also had to unlock manually on the door handle, none of the lights inside worked and when it was able to get started it was very slow and deliberate. Battery appeared to be dead but after jump starting and taking to have it checked, battery was found to be fine. These are serious concerns regarding the vehicle as 1 or all could cause serious damage to the driver and others on the road. It happened again today with the high rpms and low gear/not shifting to next gear.

Alternator I changed the starter I changed the alternator brand new it ran but then it stopped in mid drive and I won't just start and that's how I crashed into something now my car is wreck in the fridge and it won't start and if it does it stops.

October 22 2020 my husband and I had purchased a 2008 Saturn Vue (lic plate # 6ezz507)from a private party. On March 25 2021 the car suddenly engulfed in flames then exploded. My husband managed to exit the vehicle in just seconds before the car exploded. We've come to find out afterwards that this particular year,make,model had been recalled. Is there anything could possibly be done?.

I push gas pedal no accel then it would take off. I hit a tree from this doing this and sl mm ost got hut by another car from behind.

Vehicle hasn't retained correct amount of fuel. Vehicle has electrical and mechanical issues out of no where. Driver seat has issues that will not allow for the seat to incline but only recline which happened while driving on city street. I'm scared to drive vehicle and I've only had it for almost 2 years.

The lights on the dash are sometimes on, sometimes not on or some of the lights come on but not others. We think there is an issue with the electrical/computer system.

The key will not release from the ignition when the shifter is put in park. The key stuck in the key lock cylinder and would not turn. All lights stay one in the vehicle.

When my vehicle is stopped I cannot rotate the ignition key to the off position. The problem was identified by the dealer as a faulty transmission park shifter. The car doesn't know what position the shift selector switch is "in" and doesn't signal the ignition. The windows won't come down with the car started, because the position of the car is not correct or not recognized. This is a dangerous defect, when you can't lower your windows or must leave the car running, for fear of auto theft. The other safety implications are not known as far as driving and can't lower windows or other mishap based on the unknown transmission selector switch position. There is a bulletin out #14633c, but it didn't cover my VIN #, but I believe the recall or special adjustment should be expanded.

Car goes into redused engine power on the highway. Engine shuts down completely. Pull over shut off car wait and restart car. Sometimes it happenes again right away sometimes it doesnt happen for months later.

While the vehicle is stationary in parked like mode, when going to start the engine, there is nothing. No clicking, no sound. Other times it will start but struggle and other times within seconds of the first 2 examples above, it will start right up.

A/c unit will stop blowing hot air, this will fog up windows in mornings and on rainy days causeing you not to see and crash no visable out of windshield, can not see. . Very dangerous.

After sitting for awhile, I tried to use the key fob to unlock the car. It did nothing. I used the key then to unlock the doors and the dome lights did not work. However, the car started up with the second turn of the key. After driving home, the key fob worked again along with the dome lights. While driving at several other times, the radio will shut off and the clock will reset to midnight and the calendar will reset. This will happen while driving as well as when the engine is first started. This will happen at least once a week. This has been happening for several months now.

Now this is like the 5th time I think I have wrote a letter to this company and no one has answered me I've had problems with my car being parked on a hill and it rolls backwards when no one's inside of it and other little things thats on the Saturn recall but my car is not on the list. But now I'm having a problem with my back door not shutting when I shut it it opens unexpectently. In the words of car talk it's called 1. Transmission case porosity at park pawl 2. Outside door handle sticks/bind. Also the interior lights on the trans stick is out, my warning dash boards light come in for no reason 1st it was oil light which I received an oil change a month ago and now it's the check engine light, car alarm goes off when the back door acts up. Now I hope to here from someone soon. I might go to the news cause I need help and you people not helping so that might make u move faster. But if I die of my car rolls away and kills one of these kids outside I will sue you people so hard. Waiting for an awser bye. Fyi ive been having problems with this car since I bought it in 2014.

Takata recall this afternoon, the airbag warning light came on and stayed on. I was not moving. Previously, the electrical system went out and was costly to repair, had to be towed from pittsburgh to cleveland.

Over the past year and half I've had numerous electrical issues. Head lights dimming and flashing at very high intervals almost like a dim strobe. Radio not turning on. Interior lights not coming on. Odometer light dims. Random dinging noise. Turn signal not always working or working sporadically. Front windshield wipers not always coming on and when they do it's sporadic. Rear windshield not coming on but will after an engine restart. Key stuck in the ignition. Hazard lights not working when engine is off. All this has happened slowly over the last year and half. I've replaced the battery twice and have had it in the shop multiple times and they can't find an issue. Everyone with these problems will tell you that a mechanic can't run a test for the problem if it's not happening at that time. We also all know too well these problems come and go very quickly and sometimes temporarily fix themselves with just an engine restart, driving over a bump (which also brings on the issues) or shaking the wire harness on top of the battery. So taking it to a shop to run a test is almost meaningless unless towed and even then it's not 100% chance you're going to get a code(s) to read. The last few months the problems have gotten worse. The big occurrence came when I was just two minutes down the road from where I live, I had the Vue not start up or even turn over and the key was locked in the ignition. I opened up the hood, tapped once on the black box on top of the battery and the Vue started dinging and was able to turn the vehicle on. I then drove to my house and the vehicle completely shut off on me and restarted twice within that two min drive. I lost total power and very limited control of the steering wheel. This issue has been brought up and complained about hundreds of times on the internet and has yet to be investigated. Please investigate this electrical issue. -11. 4. 17.

My airbag light won't turn off. My dashboard lights won't reset. The staircase light is on, the oil light, the suspension light. I've had electrical problems since purchasing the car which now has 99,972 miles on it.

It's my turn signals my locks and my flashers headlights.

All of my dashboard lights including my brake light is on my emergency brake light beeps while I'm driving but it's not engaged my shifting is very choppy and I'm having a hard time with the tire pressure as well a few weeks ago I noticed that there was lights on my dashboard I went to a automobile place they erase all the codes so we could figure out what's going on with it and every single thing that could go wrong with it they're saying it's wrong with it but it still drives it has a hard time shifting and this is an automatic so I'm not in charge of the shift it's very choppy when it shifts into different gears the automobile place that it's either the computer or the transmission this car has mile number 134380 on it it always has the right amount of fluids in it I always get oil changes on time I have no clue what's going on with this car.

There was a recall bulletin issued for my model year vehicle:. . Read more...

I have had electrical and climate control problems since I bought this car. Most of the a/c components have been replaced. Now I don't have any a/c at all. I've also had heating problems that required two different repairs which were very expensive. My car is garage kept, well maintained and it only has 30,000.

The key stuck in the key lock cylinder and would not turn. The Saturn Vue 08 had to be towed to the dealer, and the key lock cylinder drilled out and replaced. The new key lock assembly is performing similar to the one that failed. The key sticks in the cylinder and requires 4 or 5 tries to turn the ignition on. It will not pull out easily, but jams at the inside edge where the metal shank of the key meets the black plastic key casing. The new key lock assembly metal cover on the steering column appears to be catching, and shows bending. The new key shows severe scratches. The replacement key lock assembly silver rectangular opening where one inserts the key does not appear to be sturdy enough, and it bends easily causing the key to catch. The problem is progressing, and the key is starting to stick as before, making it impossible to turn and start the car. This has happened in a poorly lit parking lot, in line at drive throughs, and at the filling station. The problem is worsening. The dealer promised that the initial $700-plus repair is under warranty, but did not keep the scheduled repair date.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving in a parking lot, the contact noticed extensive smoke entering into the vehicle without warning. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over into a parking space and a fire erupted under the hood. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire, but the flames were too intense. A fire truck arrived to extinguish the flames. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a yard to be inspected by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. Also, the doors would suddenly lock and unlock and the lighting on the instrument panel flashed. The contact stated there were many other electrical malfunctions that would occur without warning. In order to get the vehicle to function correctly, the contact had to turn the vehicle on and off several times. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

After driving my car the ignition key would not turn to the "off" position once the car is stopped and the shifter in park. The key was stuck the after driving ? had power but I couldnt remove my key , its stuck , couldn't move my steering wheel its locked. I tried moving back into the park position several times before the ignition key would release allowing the key out so can leave. Key in "off" position. I couldnt remove the key, steering wheel locked up, this happened twice now ? both times after driving in on slightly bumpy road fwy. ?.

The heater core went bad in the vehicle. It started to smell like chemicals and the windows always fogged up when the heater was on.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving at any speed, the brakes seized, all of the calibers seized, and the anti-skid and abs warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was contamination in the brake fluid. As a result, the brake pads, the hoses, and the brake fluid were replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however; the contact stated that the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the brake fluid was flushed and the booster and master cylinder were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Transmission stuttered once accelerating from a stop light, again later driving apprx 35 mph changing lanes; slight acceleration. Then noticed the engine light was on, so I pulled into a parking lot, stop the car and began checking the vehicle manual which indicated possible emission issues +++. Began researching where the closest gm dealer was located. I turned the engine on, put it in reverse, checking for clearance behind me then stepped on the accelerator. . . . The engine revved and the car started to drift forward towards the vehicle parked in front of me. "no reverse?" good thing I left plenty of parking clearance. I then researched were a transmission shop was located. After the vehicle ahead of me pulled out I was able to drive out of the shopping center. . . Once on the main road had to put the emergency lights on because the shifting into 3rd gear would like slip, going into a high rev, letting up off the accelerator allowed shifting to progress. Thank goodness the tranny shop was only 1/2 mile away. A couple of hours later the shop called that a couple of codes indicating possible electronic faults may be the cause. Now waiting for follow up.

Driving at freeway speed my car turned off briefly locking the steering wheel. The car started again and we where able to pull over safely. I checked and evaluated the car and we continued on. 35 miles later it did the same thing. When we stopped this time I removed the ignition key from the key ring and we traveled 500 miles to home. I had the ignition evaluated at victory layne chevy and they determined the ignition was worn and replaced it but would not cover it under the active gm ignition recall. It should be expanded to include Saturns.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. After the vehicle was turned off, the ignition key would not release until after numerous attempts. The failure became progressively worse and, most recentlt, the ignition key could not be removed from the ignition cylinder. The battery was disabled and reconnected whenever the vehicle needed to be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. While driving 65 mph, smoke started to emit from the air vents. The contact stated that the firewall under the hood was damaged by fire. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000. The VIN was unknown.

Got in car and noticed that my radio had been reset, and that my car wouldnt start. I got a jump from my insurance company, and sortly after turning on the air, the odometer panel faded off. You can no longer see the odometer reading or the outside weather temp. The car also delays when it starts. Sometime it wont even start the first time around, unless you pump at the pedal a few times. This car has had several recalls in the past, and I am almost certain none of the recalls were fixed by the gm dealership that sold it to me in 2011.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact attempted to start the ignition however, the key failed to turn in any direction. An independent locksmith was in the process of replacing the ignition key tumbler. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

Last summer the air worked on and off. Problems were when you first started driving and in traffic but otherwise worked well. This year it has not worked at all. It blows fine but it's only hot air. Mechanic said freon was fine and could not correct the problem after trying everything he could. He replaced a switch or something which I can't recall right now but it didn't help. He is a well respected mechanic in the same place for over 20 years. I live in a very hot and humid area of the country and have medical issues which make driving the car a concern for me. I have read this is a common complaint with this car.

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while driving the instrument panel lights suddenly shut off. The audible turn signal, fuel gauge signal also failed and the air bag and tire pressure sensors illuminated. The contact indicated that after turning the vehicle off and on multiple times the vehicle began to function normally. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.