2003 Saturn VUE AWD from North America - Comments

At 16,000 miles started to shimmy when applying the brakes at highway speeds. 1st visit to the dealer they turned the rotors. Within 1 month the shimmy started again only at lower speeds. 2nds trip to the dealer they replaced the rear drums (they really only resurfaced them). Within 2 months the shimmy started again. The 3rd trip to the dealer they replaced the rear drums, replaced the rotors. The mileage is now at 28000 miles, the shimmy is happening again. I've had it in twice for the shimmy and they say they are unable to reproduce the problem.

The steering column makes a terrible noise when turning. I've complained about this since I bought the vehicle, the dealership has yet to acknowledge that there is a noise to fix.

My gas display is not showing the correct amounts. They are replacing the part today.

I'm extremely disappointed with the vehicle. I like the car, however there seems to be too many problems for it to be available to the public.

I bought a VUE (4cyl AWD) late last year and it only has about 5000 miles on it. The dealer has already replaced the front wheel bearing and the rear differential. That solved the odd grinding noises. My fuel gauge is now totally useless. I filled up the tank and it says its only 1/2 full. The VUE drives fine, but I'm worried that I bought a lemon. I just read on another website that GM has extended the warranty on the CVT (continuously variable transmission). GM has said that it has fixed the problem. I think CVT's are great in a snow mobile, but I don't think they are going to last in the car.

I have a thought regarding the fuel gauge problem:

My wife and I also own a 2003 L300 and we had a similar problem. Apparently there is an oxygen sensor in the fuel tank that gets eaten away very quickly, in turn giving you false readings on your fuel gauge. My Saturn dealer indicated to me first that they needed to replace this part (by removing the gas tank ect) they did and the issue was resolved for the time being. Apparently it gets eaten away by the high oxygen content of todays fuel.

Wow, I thought I was reading a post I had written about my own Vue. Failed gas gauge, shaking at highway speed due to the rotors, replaced the transmission at 10,000km, and the lastest, DOA in my drive due to a failure of the BCM - the computer that apparently controls everything (must be a Windows OS). Anyway, I am fed up with this piece o' crap and plan to unload in September when I have at least a shred of equity in it.

I purchased a 2004 V6 AWD Vue at the end of September 2002 and everything was fine at first, but in October of 2003 I noticed that the transmission is slipping and they just can't seem to recreate the problem. On Halloween of 2003 the axle bolts were coming out and had to be re-torqued, they seemed to think that this was no big deal. Go thing it was discovered before my 3 hour ride to Long Island later that day. My steering column also makes the scraping and grinding noise - something that Saturn does not have a fix for. There is something wrong with the boot at the end of the steering column and it needs to be removed, sanded and lubed to stop the noise, but this is only temporary (mine is now making that lovely noise again and is getting worse). Ever since they touched the steering column the car now pulls to the left.

I have had the rotors re-machined, a bushing replaced the rear differential mount was replaced. There is a shimmy and a shaking at highway speeds. It is also present when I step on the brake. It makes these loud clunking noises and after that there is a new noise present. I think they just don't want to know if there is a problem. I am in the process of filling out a lemon law complaint in CT.

I bought a 93 Saturn SL1 and love it. I am an Aircraft mechanic and do all my work myself. Most of the problems I hear about is due to poorly trained mechanics that learn on the fly and not from knowledge or good teachings. The biggest mistake with getting your rotors or drums turned is that it does not fix the problem. The problem is the calipers that stick to the drums or rotors. When properly lubricated on the guide pins they release completely from the rotors/drums. When not lubricated. they make constant contact on the rotors/drums, causing them to heat up to a point that they begin to warp. This gives the pulsating in the brake peddle and a shimmy in the steering wheel.

I agree to a certain point the real reason for the rotors warping is proper wheel torque if the wheel is not torque right then the wheel travels in a shimmy and the brake pads wear the rotors in a shimmy and cause rotors to be turned this is the same problems they have with aleros and malibu and grand ams we had to shim the rotors and torque them the right pattern.