no report yet
Doors: latch
Risk. DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
2008 Saturn VUEProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 406 owner complaints about the 2008 Saturn VUE, most often about the power train. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 24, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Saturn VUE has problems
406 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
120Power train4 crash/fire/injury
88Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
86Steering3 crash/fire/injury
38Engine8 crash/fire/injury
25Air bags
18Service brakes
18Vehicle speed control
15Structure
15Electronic stability control (ESC)
10318 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 120 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 88 | 9 |
| Steering | 86 | 3 |
| Engine | 38 | 8 |
| Air bags | 25 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 2 |
| Structure | 15 | 3 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 15 | 0 |
| 18 other systems | 103 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2008 Saturn VUE recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Risk. THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN ITS PATH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saturn.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
73kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 103 power train complaints. 74% were reported before 100,000 miles.
14under 30k miles76under 100k miles27100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other VUE year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the VUE median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Saturn VUE safety ratings
2008 Saturn VUE 4-DR w/SAB (Later Release) in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Saturn VUE, and the recalls they led to.
- OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHEDLed to recall 09V-233
In owners' words
What VUE owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Excessive frame rust at 107,000 miles. Major holes and chunks of supporting materials are missing. This is near the rear subframe on both sides of the vahicle. Makes it dangerous to drive and should be recalled by GM
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…
When you drive the car the transmission fails. less than 48 hours ago I just bought this 2008 Saturn vue certified pre owned and I’ve been reading a lot of review’s about the specific model of car and a lot of other people that have had this car has had the same common experience I will attach a…
Own a 2008 VUE?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.