2005 Saturn Vue Problems, Recalls & Reliability

216 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Saturn Vue, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 80,000 miles.

216Complaints
28/100Trouble index
0Recalls
76,854Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2005 sits among all Vue years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 76 complaints (35%) · typically ~80,000 miles
“The key can be removed from the ignition while the vehicle is running or not in the off position. The vehicle can be stationary or moving. It has been doing this for months.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Vue
Transmission & drivetrain 31 complaints (14%) · typically ~54,000 miles
“I was driving in 4 lanes of traffic when the transmission just stopped working.the car rolled and i was very lucky to get to the curb. The highway patrol came up behind me. And due to the traffic, choose to stay parked behind me with flares, until the tow truck arrived. I consider myself lucky that…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Vue
Steering 21 complaints (10%) · typically ~101,000 miles
Other 18 complaints (8%) · typically ~110,000 miles
Engine 18 complaints (8%) · typically ~84,662 miles
Airbags 15 complaints (7%) · typically ~97,500 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 158 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 76,854 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls

No recall campaigns on file for the 2005 Saturn Vue.

Technical service bulletins

535 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2005 Saturn Vue. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2005 Vue TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2005peak 78 in 20142026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2005 Saturn Vue reliable?

The 2005 Saturn Vue drew 216 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 28/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).

What are the most common 2005 Saturn Vue problems?

The top reported problems for the 2005 Saturn Vue are electrical (76 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (31), and steering (21).

At what mileage do 2005 Saturn Vue problems show up?

Owners most often report 2005 Saturn Vue problems around 76,854 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 110,000 miles.

Does the 2005 Saturn Vue have recalls?

No recall campaigns are on file for the 2005 Saturn Vue. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.

← 2004 Vue All Vue years 2006 Vue →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.