SATURN VUE · model year

2005 SATURN VUE

215 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005SATURNVUE carries 215 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 3 fires, 18 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 VUE is electrical system with 55 filings, followed by power train (17) and steering (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2005 VUE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

215
Complaints
19
Crashes
3
Fires
18
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

215 filings

Crashes Reported

19 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
POWER TRAIN17
STEERING17
UNKNOWN OR OTHER13
AIR BAGS13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
ENGINE9
SERVICE BRAKES6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
EQUIPMENT3
SUSPENSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3

Recent Complaints

20230508CrashAIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a vehicle began doing donuts in the intersection, causing a multi-car accident and crashing into her vehicle. The air bags had failed to deploy. The contact sustained back and knee injuries, and both her son and grandson had body pain. A police report was available. The vehicle had not been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

20210331STRUCTURE:BODY

THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN VIEWS IT IS WHERE THE ENGINE CARRIAGE BOLT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME THE WATER FROM THE ROAD IN EVERYTHING SHOOTS RIGHT UP ON IT AND RUST THIS AREA WHERE I HAD TO WORK ON THIS AREA AND REMOVE THE BOLTS IN THE FRONT THERE WAS SO MUCH RUST THAT NOW THE BOLT CANNOT BE REATTACHED THIS WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD IF IN A WRECK IT WOULD FOLD UP NOW I'M TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY TO FIX IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OF THE CARS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON. THE FRAME OF A CAR SHOULD NOT RUST OUT LIKE THIS. SHOULD B THE LAST THING TO RUST OUT.THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME WAS REPLACING SWAY BAR COMPONENTS.

Mileage: 20,000

20201228UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE FRAME TO SUBFRAME AREAS THAT HOLDS UP MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION RUSTED AND BROKE LOOSE. AS I WENT OVER A LARGE BUMP ON A CITY STREET THE WHOLE SUBFRAME SEPARATED. I WAS ON A BUY HERE PAY HERE LOAN FROM TNT MOTORS IN OREGON ILLINOIS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THEM AND I'M WORRIED THEY WILL TRY TO PUT IT BACK ON THE ROAD

Mileage: 144,000

20200727STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHAMROCK AUTO BROKERS, LLC (322 B NH-104, NEW HAMPTON, NH 03256, (603) 548-3165) TO GET THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE PERFORATIONS ON THE SUBFRAME DUE TO RUST. GREENWOOD AUTO (6 FARRARVILLE RD, BELMONT, NH 03220, (603) 528-0158) WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,540.

Mileage: 169,540

20200507STEERING

I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT AND I OUT MY KEY IN IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO 1 PAST THE ACC AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IT STILL BEING TURN TO 1. WHILE IN PARK. I CAN ALSO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE IT'S RUNNING WHILE IN DRIVE OR PARK ON THE 1 MARK AFTER ACC. *TR

Mileage: 150,319

20200507UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS SITTING IN DRIVER SEAT AND I OUT MY KEY IN IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO 1 PAST THE ACC AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE IT STILL BEING TURN TO 1. WHILE IN PARK. I CAN ALSO TAKE MY KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE IT'S RUNNING WHILE IN DRIVE OR PARK ON THE 1 MARK AFTER ACC. *TR

Mileage: 150,319

20200429POWER TRAIN

WHEN TRAVELING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHETHER IT'S IN TRAFFIC OR GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKS VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH AND CLUNKING SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS SLIPPING THE CAR WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST DIED AND STOP RUNNING.BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR WILL COME TO A STOP THE JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION RELEASING THE GEARS

Mileage: 255,000

20190910CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 20TH 2019 OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT IMPACT. WE WERE IN MOTION GOING 60MPH ON COURNTY ROAD 799 GOING TOWARDS GEORGE WEST TX WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS HEADED TOWARDS A COVERT AND JERKED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE DITCH BUT THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK TO THE RIGHT SENDING US ON THE 2 SIDE PASSENGER WHEELS AND THEN ROLLING OVER 3 TIMES I BLACKED OUT AND WHEN WE STOPPED THE AIR BAGS STILL DIDNT DEPLOY.

Mileage: 155,000

20190824ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE IGNITION IS NOT IN THE "OFF" POSITION. THERE WAS A RECALL (#14V490000 ON 08/08/2014) FOR 2002-2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, TO APRIL 6, 2004, HOWEVER, I HAVE A 2005 SATURN VUE THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO RECALL OR REMEDY AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 143,000

20190610UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION EVEN AFTER JIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL AND FLIPPING THE KEY BACK AND FORTH. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YOUR ARE ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND CONTINUE DRIVING

Mileage: 83,000

20190303FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASHBOARD FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR TWO AND HALF HOURS BEFORE IT WAS NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE.

Mileage: 200,000

20190301STEERING

EVERY TIME THE CAR HITS A BUMP THERE A SEVERE RATTLE FROM THE FRONT END. I HAD NEW STRUTS INSTALLED AND THAT IS WHEN THE MECHANICS TOLD AND SHOWED ME THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WERE GOING BAD. I HAVE CHECKED SINCE THEN AND NOBODY SEEMS TO SELL THE BUSHING. THEY WANT YOU TO BUY A NEW UNIT FOR 600ISH DOLLARS OR A REMANUFACTURED ONE FOR AS MUCH AS 300ISH DOLLARS. NOW WHEN YOU PURCHASE EITHER OF THESE UNITS IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU ALSO BUY THE NEW BOLTSAND CASTLE NUTS FOR IT WHICH LESS THEN 29 DOLLARS. THE UNITS HAVE NEW BUSHINGS INSTALLED SO I KNOW SOME ONE IS PRODUCING THEM AND YOU CAN BUY THE BOLTS FROM ALMOST ANYONE. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED SOONER THEN LATER WOULD BE BEST AS RACK MAY COME LOOSE FROM FRAME AND CAUSE A SEVER LOSS OF STEERING WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SEVERE BODILY HARM OR DEATH. AND GM DOES SELL RACK AND PINION MOUNT BUSHING FOR THEIR OTHER VEHICLES JUST NOT THE SATURNS FOR SOME REASON! START DATE IS APPROXIMATE THE FORUMS HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLA

20181119ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY WONT TURN IN IGNITION. BOUGHT NEW KEY BUT PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. CAR IS OFF AND IN PARK WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

Mileage: 87,000

20181015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION WHEN IN MOTION

Mileage: 65,000

20180924SERVICE BRAKES

I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM SHOPPING WHEN I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MY DRIVEWAY AS I WAS DRIVING UP TO THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE. SINCE I WAS MOVING VERY SLOW I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY SHIFTING THE TRANS INTO "PARK". I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BREAK FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY AT EACH REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY A TOWING SERVICE AND DELIVERED TO AUTO-LAB OF TROY, MI 48084. THEIR INSPECTION FOUND THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES AT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALLOWED THE FLUID TO SPAY OUT OF THEM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED.

Mileage: 88,367

20180730FireSERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, BRAKING REGULARLY WITH THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, MY BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET BACK UP TO 50 MPH. EVENTUALLY I WAS CLOSE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BUT THE CAR WASN'T SHIFTING CORRECTLY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, AND WE BEGAN REPLACING PARTS ON THE BRAKES. THEN, WHILE DRIVING AGAIN, THE BRAKES LOCKED DOWN AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. ONCE LOCKED, THE BRAKES DID NOT RELEASE, OR DO NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY. AND WE DISCOVERED - ULTIMATELY, ONCE THIS HAPPENS YOU SIMPLY CAN'T FIX IT. THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID IS WE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, TIE ROD ENDS AND BOOTS, BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE PADS WERE GOING BAD AND THE ROTOR WAS WARPED (THE FRONT END HAD STARTED HAVING A SHIMMY AT HIGHER SPEEDS SOMETIMES ALSO). THAT SEEMED TO FIX ALL BUT THE SHIMMY SO WE THEN REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES AND HAD THEM REBALANCED AND REALIGNED. AFTER THAT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP RATHER HARD. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY, BUT THE V

Mileage: 145,000

20180425ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY, AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME. SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL TURN, OTHER TIMES IT JAMS AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN. MY MECHANIC HAD TWO NEW FACTORY KEYS MADE LAST SUMMER AS HE WAS CERTAIN IT WAS THE KEYS, THOUGH I DID NOT BELIEVE IT AND IT CERTAINLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KEYS. MY MECHANIC IS NOW CHECKING ON GETTING ANOTHER SATURN VUE IGNITION SWITCH (HAS HAS MY VIN). MY MECHANIC HAS SAID (LAST SUMMER AND STILL NOW) THAT HE BELIEVES THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM ON SATURN.

20180306UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TIMING CHAIN LOOSE/DANGER OF EXCELARATION ON HIGHWAY

20180103STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (SOUTH POINTE CHEVROLET, 9146 S. MEMORIAL DRIVE, TULSA OK, 74133) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

20171125STEERING

KEY IGNATION WILL NOT TURN OVER STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED

Mileage: 77,000

Compare 2005SATURNVUE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 SATURN VUE have?
The 2005 SATURN VUE has 215 NHTSA complaints, 19 crashes, 3 fires, 18 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 SATURN VUE?
The most-complained component for the 2005 SATURN VUE is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 55 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and STEERING.
Is the 2005 SATURN VUE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.