Saturn · Vue · 2009
2
Recalls
125
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2009 Saturn Vue has 2 recalls and 125 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: steering (34 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE(S) AND TIE ROD(S). THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
GM IS RECALLING 42,408 MY 2008-2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A FLUID LEAK, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT. IF A FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT, DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT AND CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn and was inoperable while attempting to reverse. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
Stalls stops, with Engine power reduced, stabilitrak off. After turning or braking. Engine light with down arrow. Accident probability. DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF ON HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY RD!
Vehicle has lost power steering. Difficult to steer especially in reverse and sometimes in turning left. If wheels are not completely straight, you have turn with all the strength you can muster. Reluctant to turn left unless you have twice as much time as you should need to avoid an accident.
I have only 68,329 miles. My transmission lost reverse. When first driving it will only go up to 10 mph and over time the maximum speed is 30 to 40 mph. Even if it gets to this speed it hesitates. The car is a danger and not drive able. I took the car to a GM dealer requesting a Policy Evaluation according to the Service Bulletin Warranty. The evaluation showed GM will not help me with any repairs or replacement of transmission. A car should not have a major component fail like a transmission especially with such low mileage. It is expected to have maintenance and repairs on a vehicle. What is not expected or normal servicing is transmission repair or replacement. It was estimated from the GM dealerships Policy Evaluation it will cost $5,500 to replace the transmission. My car is in great shape other than the transmission failure. I love my car and anticipated to have this car many years. This is an unaffordable repair and essentially makes this a throw away car. I feel extremely disappointed in GM's decision to not remedy this major problem.
For the third time since purchasing my car in 2009 I am having problems removing the key from the ignition cylinder. On 11/16/17 the floor shifter was replaced. On 09/11/20 another one was replaced. On 10/07/22 having problems again removing the key. Will take car in for service again.
The power steering goes out especially at lower speeds are from take off ,it takes every thing you have to turn wheel it has almost caused me two accidents, fluid level is fine, makes no unusual noise steering just goes out making it very dangerous to turn to the right are left & very difficult to turn from a complete stop .No one has figured the problem out & its my only vehicle there is definitely a Manufacture problem with the steering in this vehicle
Vehicle is a Saturn Vue XE, 3.5 liter AWD, ~84,000 miles. Problem Statement: Extensive corrosion of the subframe located at the midpoint of the vehicle on the driver and passenger sides. This is NOT surface rust - the frame corrosion has resulted in sections of the frame rotting through, severely compromising the structural integrity of the frame and safety of the vehicle. I have documented at least 6 formal complaints for the same problem from various websites, including some with front end and engine mounts cross members literally rotting away. My vehicle is only 12 years old and has only 7000 miles average miles per year but will not pass a safety inspection in Massachusetts due to the extensive rust through. The NHTSA has several corrosion related service bulletins documented involving several General Motors vehicle models but they only call out surface corrosion. The NHTSA needs to investigate FRAME RUST THROUGH on Saturn Vue and other GM vehicles as OWNERS ARE HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO REALIZE THE LOOMING SAFETY HAZARD if they have no other reason to inspect underneath the vehicle.
the car stable trak light comes on for service then the power steering service light comes and I lose power steering and power of my car this happened at 60mph on the highway, shut the car off for 5 mins and everything went back to normal then it happened again proceeded to do the same thing and it went back to normail
WHILE I AM DRIVING I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED. "STABILITRAK" WARNING LIGHT HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING TWICE BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE DASH. WHEN I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL GETS VERY HARD TO TURN AND WILL TURN OFF THE RADIO. THIS WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THEN WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OR TURN THE VEHICLE ON. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE AND THIS HELPED FOR 2 MONTHS THEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL SENSORS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE TAKEN TO 3 MECHANICS BUT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, I WILL TRY TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND THEN JUST TAP ON THE BRAIN COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE BATTERY AND SOMETIMES THIS WORKS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT. WHILE DRIVING IF THE ISSUES ARE REALLY BAD AND IF I HAVE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE I WILL TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROLL BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE.
THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 122,000 AND IS IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION, YET THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS OFTEN THE CASE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR AFTER 120,000 MILES. WE BROUGHT IT INTO OUR LOCAL GM DEALER/SHOP AND THEY TOLD US IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH RANGES FROM REBUILT AT $2500 AND NEW FOR OVER $4000. THIS SEEMS VERY WRONG CONSIDERING KBB SAYS IT BOOKS FOR $4500?
CARE WAS PARKED IN STORE PARKING LOT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, KEY WOULD NOT MOVE FROM ACC TO PARK. CAR WOULD START, BUT NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED, I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. DROVE TO DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE SHIFTER. GAVE ME A WORK-AROUND: MOVE AUTOMATIC GEAR TO M (MANUAL) THEN PUSH UP HARD TO P (PARK.). THE KEY COULD THEN BE REMOVED. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE IF WORK-AROUND WAS NOT KNOWN. THERE'S A DANGER TO LEAVING THE CAR, UNABLE TO LOCK IT AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A CRASH WITH THE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE VEHICLE, THERE WOULD BE A RISK TO PASSENGERS, NEARBY PEDESTRIANS, OTHER DRIVERS AND PROPERTY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER TO CONFIRM SERVICE NEEDED AND SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT WAIT AND COME IN IMMEDIATELY.
TRACTION CONTROL STAYS ON AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGES THEN RELEASE SLIPPING ..ALSO HYBRID SYSTEM NIT WORKING AT ALL NEVER TURN OFF AND ANY STOP LIKE A HYBRID .
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING
VEHICLE HAS A HIGH WHINING SOUND ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AS WELL AS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION YOU CAN TELL SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE STEERING ALMOST LIKE IT'S GETTING STUCK IN EITHER DIRECTION
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S STILL HAVING SOME PROBLEMS DUE TO THE RECALLS..THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT IS ON..
IT STARTED RAINING IN AN AREA I WAS NOT FORMILLIA WITH. WHEN I HIT THE GAS SOMETIMES IT ENGAGED OTHER TIMES IT DID NOT. THEN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I COULD ONLY GO FORWARD IN LOW, WOULD NOT SHIFT INTTO 2ND OR DRIVE.
KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT AFTER PUTTING CAR IN PARK. TOOK IT TO MYERS AUTOWORLD, THEY FOUND THE SHIFTER SWITCH WAS BAD.
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DIFFICULT TO CONTROL OR TURN WHEEL. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY WAS DRIVING 25MPH ON CITY STREET WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF ON INTERSTATE.
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 2009 SATURN VUE I LOOSE MY POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IT TAKES TWO HANDS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN.
POWER STEERING LOCKED FROM TIME TO TIME. DEALER SAYS MODULE AND MOTOR AT THE POWER STEERING IS CAUSING THAT. THAT CAN HAPPEN WHETER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. VERY UNSAFE
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2009 Saturn Vue has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 125 owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Saturn Vue.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2009 Saturn Vue.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2009 Saturn Vue are steering (34 reports), electrical system (18 reports), air bags (6 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2009 Saturn Vue. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.