2004 SATURN VUE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 271 complaints · 2 recalls
Most-reported system: POWER TRAIN (79 complaints · 29.2%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 22
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 18
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2003 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution POWER TRAIN appears in 79 of 271 owner complaints (29.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. POWER TRAIN: 79 complaints, 29.2% of reports POWER TRAIN 79 · 29.2% · 4 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 64 complaints, 23.6% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 64 · 23.6% · 2 fire reports SUSPENSION: 26 complaints, 9.6% of reports SUSPENSION 26 · 9.6% · 6 crash reports ENGINE: 18 complaints, 6.6% of reports ENGINE 18 · 6.6% STEERING: 13 complaints, 4.8% of reports STEERING 13 · 4.8% · 2 crash reports AIR BAGS: 10 complaints, 3.7% of reports AIR BAGS 10 · 3.7% · 7 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 8 complaints, 3.0% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 · 3.0% · 1 crash reports 2 fire reports VISIBILITY: 7 complaints, 2.6% of reports VISIBILITY 7 · 2.6% SERVICE BRAKES: 6 complaints, 2.2% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 2.2% · 2 crash reports 1 fire reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 132 complaints, 48.7% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 132 · 48.7% · 12 crash reports 4 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
POWER TRAIN 79 29.2% 4 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 64 23.6% 0 crashes · 2 fires
SUSPENSION 26 9.6% 6 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 18 6.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 13 4.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 10 3.7% 7 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 3.0% 1 crashes · 2 fires
VISIBILITY 7 2.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 6 2.2% 2 crashes · 1 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 132 48.7% 12 crashes · 4 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2003; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2003. 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2004-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2005-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2006-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2007-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2010-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2014-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2014-Q4: 24 owner reports 24 2015-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2003 Jul 2025 Recall campaign 03V519000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V519000 Recall campaign 14V490000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V490000 Investigation PE04052 ● Investigation PE04052
  • Campaign 03V519000 was reported 19 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V490000 was reported 3,547 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 2
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q3 Owner reports 8
2004-Q4 Owner reports 9
2005-Q1 Owner reports 6
2005-Q2 Owner reports 4
2005-Q3 Owner reports 5
2005-Q4 Owner reports 5
2006-Q1 Owner reports 4
2006-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 8
2007-Q1 Owner reports 2
2007-Q2 Owner reports 2
2007-Q3 Owner reports 4
2007-Q4 Owner reports 2
2008-Q1 Owner reports 4
2008-Q2 Owner reports 8
2008-Q3 Owner reports 6
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 3
2009-Q2 Owner reports 7
2009-Q3 Owner reports 4
2009-Q4 Owner reports 5
2010-Q1 Owner reports 9
2010-Q2 Owner reports 8
2010-Q3 Owner reports 2
2010-Q4 Owner reports 3
2011-Q1 Owner reports 5
2011-Q2 Owner reports 4
2011-Q3 Owner reports 5
2011-Q4 Owner reports 7
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 2
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q1 Owner reports 4
2014-Q2 Owner reports 14
2014-Q3 Owner reports 14
2014-Q4 Owner reports 24
2015-Q1 Owner reports 7
2015-Q2 Owner reports 5
2015-Q3 Owner reports 3
2015-Q4 Owner reports 3
2016-Q1 Owner reports 3
2016-Q2 Owner reports 6
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 3
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 4
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 4
2019-Q2 Owner reports 4
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q3 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 03V519000
Recall campaign 1 14V490000
Defect investigation 1 PE04052
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (2)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 03V519000

    Report date
    Component:
    EQUIPMENT
    Consequence:
    IF THE WHEEL RIM SIZE IS INCORRECTLY PRINTED ON A TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL, A SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO SOLELY USES THE TIRE/CERTIFICATION LABEL FOR SERVICE INFORMATION MAY ATTEMPT TO REPLACE A DAMAGED WHEEL WITH AN INCORRECT WHEEL.
    Remedy:
    OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CORRECTED LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V490000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    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 "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
    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 this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-22
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 271 complaints · page 1 of 11

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-22.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources