2008 Saturn Vue Problems, Recalls & Reliability
575 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Saturn Vue, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 67/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 73,400 miles.
Below average
Where 2008 sits among all Vue years
What owners report
“Transmission does not shift out of first gear unless the engine is shut off and restarted”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Vue
“The key will not release from the ignition when the shifter is put in park. The key stuck in the key lock cylinder and would not turn. All lights stay one in the vehicle”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Vue
“Power steering intermittently stops working making very difficult to steer vehicle”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Vue
“My airbag light won't turn off. My dashboard lights won't reset. The staircase light is on, the oil light, the suspension light. I've had electrical problems since purchasing the car which now has 99,972 miles on it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Vue
“Needed a new transmission now every time i kill the engine i have to start the vehicle with a jump starter camshaft and timing advances problems”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Vue
“, a passenger airbag light constant come on when you sit something in the seat i have had it checked two times and it still comes on i think it's a defect in that system”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Vue
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 442 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 83,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 51,000 and 118,140 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
GM IS RECALLING 44,451 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH BODY COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES MAY STICK OR BIND. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WITH CHROME DOOR HANDLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT…
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.
Fix: 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…
GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 09V233000.
Technical service bulletins
965 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2008 Saturn Vue. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Saturn Vue reliable?
The 2008 Saturn Vue drew 575 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 67/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2008 Saturn Vue problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Saturn Vue are transmission & drivetrain (120 complaints), electrical (100), and steering (88).
At what mileage do 2008 Saturn Vue problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Saturn Vue problems around 83,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 51,000 and 118,140 miles.
Does the 2008 Saturn Vue have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Saturn Vue. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.