2004 Saturn Vue Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the light on the instrument panel was abnormally dim. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds over a bumpy road surface, the rear end of the vehicle was swaying from side to side. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound at start up, and it was difficult to remove the key from the ignition switch after turning off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

GOING 40 MPH MADE A LEFT TURN, MEDIUM LOUD NOISE AND FRONT RIGHT CONTROL ARM TORE IN 2 (BEEN REPLACED AND HAVE PART) AND BACK LEFT TIRE NOW TILTED IN AT TOP ABOUT 1 INCH( STILL TRYING TO GET FIXED ).

I WAS DRIVING FROM PROVIDENCE RI TO ATHENS OH. I WAS IN WEST VIRGINIA AROUND MORGANTOWN, DRIVING FROM 68 WEST TO 79 SOUTH RAMP, AND I WAS DRIVING IN THE RANGE OF SPEED LIMITS. SUDDENLY IN THE RAMP, I FELT CAR IS TURNING UNWANTEDLY TO THE LEFT, AND I TRIED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE ROAD BUT I COULD NOT, AND THE CAR HIT ORTHOGONALLY THE JERSEY BARRIERS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE RAMP. MY AIRBAGS OPENED, ONE OF MY TIRES EXPLODED, AND FRONT OF MY CAR COMPLETELY WRECKED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME FROM SIDE AND BEHIND. I COULD REALLY DIE, I SEE DEATH IN FRONT OF MY EYES WHEN I WAS TURNING WITH THE CAR. I HAD REPLACED MY CONTROL ARM, SHOCKS ROTORS, BRAKE PADS, ALL IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT. BUT THIS CAR WAS TERRIBLY BAD IN THE TURNS AND RAMPS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK WELL IN THESE CARS IN COMPARE TO THEIR HEIGHTS, AND ALWAYS YOU HAVE THE CHANCE OF COLLAPSING. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT COLLAPSE. IT HAD HAPPENED A LOT FOR ME THAT I FELT THESE CAR IN NOT STABLE IN RAMPS AND TURNS, BUT I NEVER THOUGHT A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME. I ALSO DID NOT HAVE COLLISION INSURANCE, AND I HAD TO SELL MY CAR FOR A 100 $ TO A JUNK YARDS. I AM ALMOST SURE THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, AND I AM REQUESTING TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE IN THESE CARS.

TAKATA RECALL IT STARTING MAKING A WHISTLE NOISE AND IT FEEL THAT IT'S SLIPPING IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A STATE ROUTE (THANKFULLY AT LOW SPEED) THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED ON OUR 2004 SATURN VUE. THIS WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED IN 2004 UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN #04067001. HAD THIS BEEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED.

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN I HEARD A POP SOUND SO I PULLED OVER ON ANOTHER BLOCK SO I WOULDN'T BE IN TRAFFIC. ONCE I PULLED OVER I CAN SEE MY TIRE LEANING INWARDS. ONCE THE CAR WAS JACKED UP WITH THE CAR JACK WE COULD SEE THAT THE BRACKET BROKE OFF OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.

BEFORE WE PAID OUR 2ND PAYMENT OUR ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE FRONT BREAKS WERE CRUNCHING. IT THEN THREW OUT OUR WHEEL BARRINGS, BALLJOINTS AND ROTORS. THEREFORE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION WHEN IT WAS DUE FOR IT. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION THERE AND THEY NEVER CHANGED THE BREAKS. WHICH IS AN ILLEGAL PRACTICE. WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS WE RARELY DROVE THE CAR. TILL ONE DAY, LESS THAN HAVING IT UNDER 1 YEAR, IT WOULD NO LONGER START.WE LOST OUT OVER$5,000 ON PAYMENTS AND OUR LARGE DOWN PAYMENT TOO. THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING US EVER SINCE WANTING US TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT WON'T START AND WON'T PASS INSPECTION.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE AND SLANTED INWARD TOWARD GHE VEHICLE. SHE WAS LUCKY SHE WAS NOT KILLED. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE REAR SUBFRAME FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS IN DECENT CONDITION WITH LITTLE TO NO COROSION. THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE CAUSE TO THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND GM REFUSE TO ASSIST IN ANY REPAIRS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND THERE WAS AN ACTUAL DEARH INCIDENT DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. I HAVE A STRONG CONCERN THIS COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS LEANED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON MY 2004 SATURN VUE WAS AT AN ANGLE. I WENT AND LOOKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BAD BUSHING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER WAS ALL BROKEN. AS I GOT LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT GM KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING UNLESS YOU COMPLAINED AND BROUGHT IN IN TO THE DEALER. WELL SATURN IS NO LONGER AND I'M STUCK WITH FIXING THIS PART AND GM WILL DO NOTHING. I COULD HAVE LOST MY WIFE AND ALL MY FAMILY. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

I WAS GOING TO PARK INTO A PARKING SPACE OF A SHOPPING MALL AND WHEN I WAS GOING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VUE, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND SO DID THE IGNITION AND I COULDN'T STEER OR STOP IN TIME BEFORE IT HIT A CONCRETE BASE OF A POLE LIGHT FIXTURE (THAT MOST OF ALL SHOPPING MALLS HAVE THROUGHOUT THEIR LOTS). THE RIGHT, PASSENGER, SIDE TIRE WAS BENT SO BAD THAT IT COULDN'T BE DRIVEN AND HAD TO BE TOWED...IT SMASHED THE FENDER, GRILL, BOTTOM COVERING OF THE ENTIRE FRONT PLASTIC PART ALONG WITH TIRE ROD END, STRUT, STABILIZER BAR, ALIGNMENT, PAINT JOB AND COST...FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE COLLISION ON THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY HAD TO THE FIRST $1,000.00 FOR THE COMPLETE JOB.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION LINK WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FRAME RAIL TO FRACTURE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, BUT THE CONTACT COULD NOT LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000. UPDATED 09/30/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS HIS WIFE WAS COMING TO A STOP, SHE HEARD A NOISE. SHE SOON DISCOVERED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LATERAL STRUT HAD COME OFF THE FRAME, DUE TO THE BOLT HEAD SHEARING OFF, WHICH ALLOWED THE STRUT TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME CAUSING THE LEFT REAR TIRE/WHEEL TO SIT INWARD AT AN ANGLE. THE SAME OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON JULY 27, 2005, WHICH WAS PERFORMED UNDER A RECALL. UPDATED 10/05/11

WE HAVE A 2004 SATURN VUE, AND WHILE DRIVING HEARD NOISE, BUT DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING RIGHT AWAY. WHEN PARKED, REALIZED THAT THE TIRES WERE BOWED OUTWARD. BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC, AND FOUND OUT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS SHEARED OFF. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD "POP" FROM REAR OF CAR. AFTER PULLING OVER THE DRIVER SAW THAT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TIPPED IN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SATURN REPAIR FACILITY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE CAUSING THE MOUNTING FLANGE TO BRAKE OFF OF THE FRAME. THIS ACTION ALSO CAUSED THE FRAME TO BEND. IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FRAME, LINKS, CONTROL ARMS AND SHOCK ABSORBER. TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $1,602.00 SATURN SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY EXPENSES. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH, DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR OTHER OBJECT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THESE ARE NOT PARTS THAT REQUIRE PERIODIC MAINTENANCE OR UPKEEP. THE PARTS ON THIS CAR FAILED. IF THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE ROAD GOING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE OF SPEED, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES. THANK YOU.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. UPON EXAMINING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE IT WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH THE REAR TOE LINKS WERE BEING REPLACED BECAUSE A BOLT SHEARED OFF. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD "POP" FROM REAR OF CAR. AFTER PULLING OVER THE DRIVER SAW THAT THE TOP OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TIPPED IN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR STATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE MOUNTING BOLT BROKE CAUSING THE MOUNTING FLANGE TO BRAKE OFF OF THE FRAME. THIS ACTION ALSO CAUSED THE FRAME TO BEND. IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FRAME, LINKS, CONTROL ARMS AND SHOCK ABSORBER. TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $1,900.42. SATURN SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY EXPENSES. A RECALL ( CAMPAIGN #04067001 ) TO REPLACE THE REAR LATERAL LINKS WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE ON 5/21/2005. APPARENTLY, THIS RECALL WORK WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT SPEEDING, DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR OTHER OBJECT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THESE ARE NOT PARTS THAT REQUIRE PERIODIC MAINTENANCE OR UPKEEP. THE PARTS ON THIS CAR FAILED. THE MECHANIC AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE WORK SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS IN THAT AREA WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACED. IF THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE ROAD GOING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE OF SPEED, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

2004 SATURN VUE REAR SUSPENSION CAUSES WHEEL TO COLLAPSE DUE TO SHEARING OF BOLT UNDER CONSTANT LOAD. THIS PROBLEM SPURRED A VOLUNTARY GM RECALL IN 2004. MY VEHICLE HAD THE RECALL WORK COMPLETED. IN AUGUST, 2009, THE WHEEL COLLAPSED AGAIN WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY DROVE IT HOME WITH THAT CONDITION WITHOUT A ROLLOVER OR ACCIDENT. I HAD THE REPAIR MADE FREE OF CHARGE AT THE DEALER AFTER MUCH ARGUING BUT AM CONCERNED THAT IN 4-5 YEARS, BOLT FATIGUE WILL CAUSE THE SITUATION TO REPEAT ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE THE SHEARED BOLT HEAD IN MY POSSESSION. I AM WRITING DUE TO CONCERN THAT MANY MANY OTHERS WILL AGAIN SOON, THIS YEAR, EXPERIENCE THE SAME WHEEL COLLAPSE AFTER HAVING THEIR VOLUNTARY RECALL REPAIRS MADE IN 2004. IT SEEM LIKE A MANDATORY RECALL OF THE 2004 GM VOLUNTARY RECALL IS IN ORDER. EXCERPT FROM CAUG 5, 2004 ONSUMER AFFAIRS ARTICLE: GENERAL MOTORS IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING THE SATURN VUE TO FIX A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. IN DOING SO, IT MAY BE HOPING TO AVOID LITIGATION THAT COULD RESULT FROM ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WHILE GOVERNMENT SAFETY AGENCIES CONDUCT THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS. THE RECALL AFFECTS 246,433 VUES IN THE 2002-2004 MODEL YEARS, INCLUDING 231,123 IN THE UNITED STATES AND 15,310 IN CANADA. IT ALL STARTED WHEN A SATURN VUE OWNER WROTE TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO COMPLAIN THAT THE REAR WHEELS OF HIS CAR COLLAPSED ON A TIGHT TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. THE AGENCY DECIDED TO CONDUCT A TEST OF ITS OWN, TAKING TIGHT TURNS AT 45 MPH, AND SURE ENOUGH, THE REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AND THE CAR ROLLED OVER. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN A TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODEL OF THE VUE WAS PUT THROUGH THE SAME TEST. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/RECALLS04/VUE_RECALL.HTML#IXZZ0H1HXNUN0. *TR

2004 SATURN VUE REAR SUSPENSION CAUSES WHEEL TO COLLAPSE DUE TO SHEARING OF BOLT UNDER CONSTANT LOAD. THIS PROBLEM SPURRED A VOLUNTARY GM RECALL IN 2004. MY VEHICLE HAD THE RECALL WORK COMPLETED. IN AUGUST, 2009, THE WHEEL COLLAPSED AGAIN WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY DROVE IT HOME WITH THAT CONDITION WITHOUT A ROLLOVER OR ACCIDENT. I HAD THE REPAIR MADE FREE OF CHARGE AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT BUT AM CONCERNED THAT IN 4-5 YEARS, BOLT FATIGUE WILL CAUSE THE SITUATION TO REPEAT ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE THE SHEARED BOLT HEAD IN MY POSSESSION . I AM WRITING DUE TO CONCERN THAT MANY MANY OTHERS WILL AGAIN, SOON, THIS YEAR, EXPERIENCE THE SAME WHEEL COLLAPSE AFTER HAVING THEIR VOLUNTARY RECALL REPAIRS MADE IN 2004. IT SEEMS LIKE A MANDATORY RECALL OF THE GM VOLUNTARY RECALL IS IN ORDER. EXCERPT FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS ARTICLE, AUGUST 5, 2004: GENERAL MOTORS IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING THE SATURN VUE TO FIX A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. IN DOING SO, IT MAY BE HOPING TO AVOID LITIGATION THAT COULD RESULT FROM ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WHILE GOVERNMENT SAFETY AGENCIES CONDUCT THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS. THE RECALL AFFECTS 246,433 VUES IN THE 2002-2004 MODEL YEARS, INCLUDING 231,123 IN THE UNITED STATES AND 15,310 IN CANADA. IT ALL STARTED WHEN A SATURN VUE OWNER WROTE TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO COMPLAIN THAT THE REAR WHEELS OF HIS CAR COLLAPSED ON A TIGHT TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. THE AGENCY DECIDED TO CONDUCT A TEST OF ITS OWN, TAKING TIGHT TURNS AT 45 MPH, AND SURE ENOUGH, THE REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AND THE CAR ROLLED OVER. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN A TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODEL OF THE VUE WAS PUT THROUGH THE SAME TEST. READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/RECALLS04/VUE_RECALL.HTML#IXZZ0H1HXNUN0. *TR

1. BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED/CUT DOWN ON THIS CAR ON THE AVERAGE OF ABOUT EVERY 20K. I CONSIDER THIS ABNORMAL WEAR AND BEFORE YOU RESPOND WITH DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND MY OTHER SATURN SL NEEDED BRAKES ON THE AVERAGE OF 60K WITH THE SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN I QUESTIONED SOE THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY DRIVING HABITS, BUT AS OF THE RECENT EVENTS, I HAVE BEGUN TO QUESTION THEIR DIAGNOSIS OF ANY PROBLEMS RELATED TO MY CAR. 2. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING/WOBBLE/SHIMMY/VIBRATION. I HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE NEW THAT THIS TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED ROUGH, AND I WAS TOLD WORKING AS DESIGNED. NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG YET THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. 3. TIRE WEAR RELATED TO RECALL. I HAD TO REQUEST THAT MY VEHICLE HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED ON IT. YET, AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND WATCHING MY TIRES WEAR. SOMETIMES IN LESS THAT 15K SOMETHING I WOULD CONSIDER PREMATURELY, EVEN FOR PERFORMANCE TIRES, AND READING SEVERAL OWNER SITES MY WEAR IS INDICATIVE OF A SERVICE NOT BEING PERFORMED. 4. WHEEL BEARING WEAR. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 2X IN THE LAST 30K. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS AT 72K WHEN THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS MADE, AND THE 2ND WAS AT 99K IT WAS DURING THE 72K SERVICE I COMPLAINED MY ROTORS WARPING(SINCE I HAD 2 SETS REPLACED/CUT PREVIOUSLY) AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST WORN TIRES AND THEY WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER THE BRAKE ISSUE, UNTIL I PURCHASED NEW TIRES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND THE WOBBLY SOUND WAS LOUDER THAN NOW THAT THERE WAS NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. SO THEN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ROTORS, WHEN I ASKED ABOUT BRAKE PADS THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UNNECESSARY. SEEMINGLY ILLOGICAL, SINCE YOU HAD TO REMOVE THE BRAKE PADS ANYWAY, AND TIRED OF ARGUING I DID NOT PUSH THE ISSUE, AS I NEEDED MY CAR, AND LOANER AVAILABILITY SEEMED TO DRY UP SINCE I WAS OUT SO FAR OUT OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR