The 2003 Saturn Vue has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 202,155 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 872 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Consequence
If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the…
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for…
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
200
2crashes3injuries
POWER TRAIN
88
2crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
81
2crashes5fires2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
38
1crashes1fires
STEERING
30
1crashes1fires
AIR BAGS
28
7crashes1fires11injuries
ENGINE
27
1crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
20
SUSPENSION:REAR
18
6crashes5injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
1fires
Total complaints872
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“2003 saturn vue ignition switch. The switch was replaced under a recall with a switch that has the same defect; the key can be removed while the vehicle is in operation. The dealers refuse to replace it saying the car had the recall completed. They do not acknowledge the replacement has the same…”
“The contact purchased a 2003 saturn vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to autozone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood…”
“The contact purchased a 2003 saturn vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to autozone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood…”
“While driving the engine lights kept coming on, so we decided to get it checked by a mechanic and he told us that we have a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor and that the imrc actuator valve is not working at all.”
“October 12, 2020 ig burton stated the recall was complete, given original keys. I went to willis chevrolet & buick recall was completed on april 15, 2022, new keys were issued.”
“Knocking/grinding noise from under vehicle and shift problems. Taken to automotive service provider for diagnostic and they're evaluation revealed internal fail in the cvt vti transmission.”
“Both of my rear tires are leaning in and looks like the camber bolts have broken off and could really cause a bad accident even death if I didn't see it. I travel 1800mi a week and just had a blow out because tires wore so bad and they are only a year old.”
“My dashboard warning light that traction control is disabled. The light comes on briefly when I take sharp left turns. The wheel-speed sensors, wires, connectors, control module and other components occasionally conk with intermittent problems. This has cause my reduce power when I drive it, using…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE04052 Opened 2004-07-22 · closed 2004-11-01
REAR SUSPENSION TOE CONTROL LINK
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE…
InvestigationPE04052 Opened 2004-07-22 · closed 2004-11-01
REAR SUSPENSION TOE CONTROL LINK
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE…
InvestigationPE06006 Opened 2006-01-24 · closed 2006-06-06
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
ON DECEMBER 12, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.2L (L61) ENGINE. ODI OPENED PE06-006 ON JANUARY 24, 2006, WITH 24 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Saturn Vue as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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