2004 Saturn Vue Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION, FUEL MILEAGE, AND THE BRAKES BEING WORN OUT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

I PURCHASED A SET OF BRAKE PADS FROM "CARQUEST AUTO PARTS" IN BETHLEHEM, PA ON 6/23/09. UPON THE ADVICE OF ONE OF THE SALES REPRESENTATIVES, I DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE CARQUEST BRAND BRAKE PADS LISTED ON THE INVOICE AS, "RED CERAMIC PAD." I INSTALLED THE PADS ON MY 2004 SATURN VUE. UPON COMPLETION, AS ALWAYS I TOOK THE CAR ON A ROAD TEST. I EXPERIENCED SOME EXCESSIVE BUOYANCY IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND CONTINUED THE ROAD TEST. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A TOTAL OF NO MORE THAN FIVE MILES. (NOTE THAT THE ROTORS AT THIS POINT WERE ALMOST NEW, AND HAD NO UNUSUAL WEAR OR DAMAGE.) AS I STOPPED THE VEHICLE DURING THE TEST, PLUMES OF BRAKE DUST EMANATED FROM BOTH FRONT TIRES. I INSPECTED THE PADS ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT 90% OF THE PAD SURFACE HAD DISINTEGRATED IN LESS THAN 5 MILES. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE STORE TO NOTIFY OF A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND A DEFECTIVE BRAKE PRODUCT, THEY MOCKED ME FOR "PURCHASING SUCH GARBAGE IN THE FIRST PLACE INSTEAD OF USING DEALER PARTS." THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN OR SURPRISE OVER WHAT HAD HAPPENED, DESPITE HOW CLOSE I CAME WITH DEATH. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PADS FOR YOUR ANALYSIS AND HOPEFULLY TO IMPLEMENT A RECALL. *TR

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. *TR

MY VUE WAS PURCHASED IN 2004 AND HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE IS THE FRONT END SHAKES, SOMETIMES IT SHAKES SO BAD IT SCARES ME. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THIS TO A DEALER IN DENVILLE AND MOUNT OLIVE; BOTH IN NJ, AND THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. LAST WEEK I WAS TOLD I NEED NEW FRONT BRAKES AND NEW TIRES. THE TRUCK IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD, NEW BRAKES NEW TIRES ??? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SINCE. THE GUYS AT THE SERVICE NEVER TOOK IT FOR A SPIN, I'M APPROACHING 36K MILES AND I'M SCARED ONCE I PASS THE WARRANTY TIME I WILL BE OUT OF LUCK. I'M NOT SATISFIED AT ALL AND WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. MY WIFE THINKS THE CAR IS FALLING APART, IT SHAKES AND MAKES WEIRD SOUNDS. THE FIRST YEAR I WAS RAVING ABOUT THIS CAR NOW I TELL PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM SATURN. HELP ME CHANGE MY OPINION ON SATURN BY GETTING MY CAR FIXED ! *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH NOISE FOR THEM TO MAKE AN UNSPECIFIED REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DESPITE THE NOISE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE COMPUTER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NOISE SOUNDED AS IF A COMPONENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES DURING THE TEST DRIVE, BUT THEY HEARD THE NOISE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/31/09.*JB

2004 SATURN VUE UNDERWENT COMPREHENSIVE VEHICLE TEST INCLUDING BRAKS AT SATURN OF NEW BRUNSWICK ON 6/4/05. ON 6/24/05 WHILE AT FULL STOP IN TRAFFIC ( SLIGHT INLINE IN ROAD), VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL WHILE BREAK ENGAGED. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS TO PRESS HARDER THEN PUMPED SEVEREAL TIMES WITHOUT RESULTS. MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT IN THE REAR AT WHICH TIME I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED OF THE IGNITION. THE DISTANCE OF THE ROLL WAS APPROX 8 FEET AT APPROX 3 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE BRAKES WERE OPERATIONAL AFTERWARD BUT REPORTED THE FAILURE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SATURN OF NEW BRUNSWICK. THE FINDING ON THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES, "TECH VERIFIED LOW PEDAL, FOUND PEDAL TRAVEL TO BE TOO MUCH. TECH REMOVED REAR DRUMS TO CLEAN AND ADJUST REAR BRAKES, REINSTALLED AND FOUND TO BE OK AT THIS TIME. TECH ALSO CHECKED FRONT BRAKES AND CALIPERS, BRAKES OK".