Automatic Transmission Torque Converter Problems of Saturn VUE

May have a torque converter condition that could result in a transmissions vibrations or shaking motion (judder) while driving at speeds of 25 to 45 mph.

See all problems of the 2007 Saturn VUE 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2008 Saturn VUE 🔎.

Driving 65mph on the freeway my vehicle would not down shift (automatic) and started making a terrible loud vibrating noise. Letting off the gas hoping and thinking it would down shift, the car started to totally slow down. Scared being on a freeway we pulled to the side, put on the hazard lights - we put the car in neutral and tried starting again but the car would never get above 40mph. We crawled along at about 30mph to find an exit ramp, called a tow truck ($300 for being out of town) to be towed back to our mechanic shop. Found the torque converter went bad which "toasted" the transmission. We ended up replacing the transmission with a same year and model as the old one. I never received any notices that there had been prior issues and I am now terrified that this one will go bad as I have recently read that these have had problems.

See all problems of the 2005 Saturn VUE 🔎.

I bought this 2007 Saturn Vue v6 awd in July 2012 from brighton Ford, brighton mi noticed a slight vibration when test driving. Less than a week after I buy it the ac goes out, and the shuttering gets worse. Take it back to them to look at and get referred to a tire shop. Was told the ac coil had a huge leak, and was probably "topped off" at by the dealer and that there was some tire wear issues. Brighton Ford refused to fix anything. Drive it for about a year the shuttering gets worse and worse take it in to bud kouts Chevrolet, lansing, mi for a check engine light that came on, it was because of a miss fire in two of the cylinders. Told them about the shuttering, was told nothing was wrong. 28 days later I have a tire explode, told there was nothing wrong. Take it back after finding a huge hole in the shock absorber casing. This time speaking with the dealership owner directly, after two days they finally found the cause of the shuttering, a bad torque converter. They admitted that this is an issue on the these vehicles, but still want about $2000 to fix it. If there is not a recall on this there should be. I will never by a gm made vehicle again. I've owned three now and have had nothing but problems with them. The Subaru I owned had well over 200,000 miles and no issues the same goes for a Mazda I owned.

On many occasions my 2004 Saturn Vue v6 awd appears to shudder when the automatic transmission is shifting from a lower gear at speeds usually less than 40mph. When this happens it is unnerving to say the least. I have read accounts of similar problems from other Saturn owners and have found that a service bulletin was issued 2/09/06. Concerning torque converter shudder. I believe that a recall should be issued as my vehicle had only a bit over 50000 miles when the problem first occurred. I subsequently took it to the local Saturn dealer and they could not find a problem although they had access to the service bulletin information. Shortly thereafter my extended warranty ran out and although they advised me to bring the vehicle back should the problem reoccur it is not at all clear whether the repair will be made at no cost to me. I believe that gm should fix this problem for all vehicles on a case by case basis whether under warranty or not, especially for vehicles under 100k miles. Any suggestions or assistance would be most helpful. ( the service bulletin number is 3713).

See all problems of the 2004 Saturn VUE 🔎.

My 2004 Saturn Vue that has 54600 miles on it and the automatic transmission is slipping when I drive at a constant speed in a range form 35 - 55 miles per hr. I had in for a diagnosis at a Saturn dealership. They said it is the torque converter that is faulty and it will cost $2100 to replace it. This part has to be defected. I never had an automatic transmission problem in 40 years of driving cars.

There is a terrible whole vehicle shudder a low speeds and low rpm. It seems like the transmission goes into "lock - up torque converter" mode at too low rpms(about 1000 to 1200). This happens constantly at low speeds and is very distressing and distracting. You have to step down harder on the accelerator to kick the transmission into a lower gear which tends to make the car speed up. This is very distressing and distracting and must cause undo wear and tear on the drivetrain. There are many Saturn Vue (2004) owners nation wide with this problem. This and the wheel bearing and brake problems should be nation wide recalls. No wonder people are buying imports at an incredible rate.

My 2004 Saturn v6 Saturn Vue has started a shudder/growling noise in the drive train that's prevalent in the 20 -25, 30-35mph, 40 -45mph and now at 50-50mph. Or when moderately acceleration or coasting. The vehicle had about 100k miles on it now but started around 70k. I purchased the car at 68,500k miles. The frequency of occurrence is difficult to predict but seems to be happening as often as those specific conditions (mph/coasting) present - does not happen when accelerating quickly. I have taken my car to numerous shops engine repair, transmission, and other well names repair places. All of them tell me my car is fine,but the last shop which did the transmission check on computer said the engine had over 1,000 miss fires. I called to Saturn and there tech said " u don't have to explain no more" it is the torque converter and I have replaced many. " if this is such a well occurring problem why isn't Saturn paying for these repairs. My concern now is when it rains and the car stutters I lose all wheel traction going up heels and on turns. I feel like I have no control. I have read online and found may issues that are the same I believe Saturn needs to fix these manufacturing issues and not leave them on the consumer. I spent $10,000 on my Saturn and just finished college I do not have $4,5000 to spend on a car that is only worth $9,000 -$7,000 blue book.

I own a 2005 Saturn Vue with 54,000 miles and have, for the past year, experienced a shudder in the transmission between 25 and 40 mph. The shudder occurs regularly during slow acceleration. The dealership hasn't, until recently, been able to diagnose the problem. The dealership has now told me that I need a new torque converter, which will be installed tomorrow. In addition, I've been experience squeaking in my suspension everytime I turn or go over a bump in the road. My car is only 3 years old and shouldn't be experiencing these problems. I will now be taking my car back to the dealership to have the suspension looked at.

Problem 1: my 2004 Saturn awd v6 Saturn Vue has developed a "shudder" in the drive train that's prevalent in the 20 -25 and 30-35mph range under moderate acceleration or coasting. Hooked up to a code reader, no codes appear; however, the torque converter is slipping as it displays a read out of over 8,000 rpm's when this occurs and the tachometer bounces back and forth with the shudder. Frequency of occurrence is higher in hotter weather and when car has been driven for several minutes. Slight whine also noticed by the transmission mechanic. Problem 2: this problem was noticed on 03-28-08. Vehicle was also purchased with defective horn. Two + weeks after the car was purchased I was hit in the rear quarter panel by a careless teenager that did not look before he backed out of his parking space. I realized shortly after that my horn was not properly working. There was no way I could have sounded the horn to alert him that he was about to back into me if had wanted to. Had it repaired recently in which the horn was found to be completely non-operational. Once repaired, it was apparent that all was working well with the horn as it honks when the doors are locked. We did not realize that the car would do that at the time that we purchased it. That should have been a big clue to the dealership that it was not functioning properly. I've been told that selling a car without a properly functioning horn is a safety violation. I'm appalled that this was not caught by the dealership! more over, they stuck me with an expensive bill to replace something that should have been operational at the time of sale! problem 3: repaired on 05-22-08. Also, both lower control arm bushings had to be replaced as they were found to have separated. Major front end noises heard prior to this getting fixed and slop in the front end when driving. Felt like car might loose control when cornering!.

Delayed in shifting, no warning car will shift out of gear at freeway speeds transmission failure x4, replace old one with new one failure x2 at 15,000 miles,called dealership and corporate office no help, found out there is a class action lawsuit regarding this make and model, im surprised nothing has been done about this problem.

See all problems of the 2003 Saturn VUE 🔎.

Transmission slips, auto suddenly stopped on freeway, it did not speed at all but 30 to 40 miles per hour after a pull-over 30 minutes break. It continues slipping and shaking during stops.

O3 Saturn Vue purchased with 48,555 miles. 3/20/07 took to independent transmission mechanic due to transmission going out. I was told he could not do a thing to it because of a recall. Took to Saturn of mesquite TX, 3/21 assuming that they were going to take care of problem. Customer states veh will not shift gears properly found code po606 in tcm followed doc# 1200876 to check fluid after fluid check found trans a little low on fluid flushed trans and put in additive. 3/26 took back to dealership. Cust states hearing a noise coming from under the hood. Found vehicle to be extremely noisy with intermittent no gear operation. Followed bulletin # 04-07-30-24e to replace case cover, filter and torque converter. After completing bulletin, test drove vehicle. Pulled hard to the left, aligned vehicle, all is fine. The cover assembly, variable drive and driven pulley a repaired. At this time I assumed the transmission had been replaced. 6. 4. 08 car back to Saturn customer states vehicle slipping, light is on. Tech says no light is on and found veh driving and shifting per design. Went back in summer 09, slipping once again, after 5 days they could not find a problem but car was fine. 2. 19. 10 car towed to Saturn, told transmission has to be replaced this time I thought that was what they did in 07. Contacted support to be turned over to gm employee . He contacted me on 2. 22. 10 to advise he was working on prob. . Saturn informed me 2. 25. 10 afterward that 2500. Is what I could pay for new transmission. I already had a letter dated 11. 09 stating the same thing after class action lawsuit. Tanner called 2. 25 to update I could pay 2500. 00. If I had used my ext warranty contract in 07 I would not be out money and had a new transmission. Said he gm could not help me and if I was not satisfied I could take it up with dealership. They put a bandaid on a recall and now I am to PA.

I purchased a 2003 Vue on 12/02 there was a recall in 03/03 the problem was fixed, but lead to other problems. (1) the check engine light would not go out took it in 2 times. (2) the car was lurching when coming to a stop. (3) the car did not get enough gas when taking off. (4) there is a knocking sound when I turn a corner. (5) the car had to be towed in just 1 day after picking it up for other problems because it would not start.