2002 Saturn VUE AWD review from North America

I've learned a few lessons -- never buy a first year car. Second lesson might be never buy a Saturn!

I Bought my Vue AWD in January '02. In May '02 I had to have the wheel bearings and hub assemblies replaced.

In June of '02 I have to have both rear spring insulators replaced.

In January of '04 I took my Vue in to the dealer because while driving at approximately 25 -35 mph the rpm's would shoot up than drop back down. No surge in acceleration, but only rpm's. According to the dealer they could not verify abnormal shifting.

On the same trip to the dealer, I advised them that when driving around 45 - 55 mph and accelerating normally I would experience the rpm's sticking at 3K. That would continue until I would let my foot off the gas and the rpm's would drop and I would then re-apply pressure to the gas pedal. Saturn dealer could not verify abnormal shifting.

Come February of '04 I took my Vue in because when I would turn left there would be a creaking noise, which sounded like it was coming from the front. You would also hear it when coming to a stop and there was a slight dip in the front end. Took it in to the dealer who once again "could not verify abnormal noise when turning."

Suffice it to say the noise didn't get any better so I took the Vue to a friend who has an auto repair shop. He put the Vue up on the hoist and saw that the carrier bearing was broken.

I called the Saturn dealer and explained what had gone on and made an appointment to take the Vue out that night to be worked on the next day. I left a note on the key drop-off asking them to call the repair shop that had found the carrier bearing problem.

The next a.m. Saturn called to say they lubed the strut rubber; replaced the left front sway link; replaced the right front sway link. Also, they found that on further inspection and removing the strut to inspect the bearing that the bearings were rubbing on the bearing plate. So they replaced the upper front strut bearing.

When I asked if they found the cracked carrier bearing the service advisor said no, they didn't think that was the problem. I asked if they had called the repair shop that identified the problem to me and was told no, they had not. I requested they do so.

They called the repair shop and said the Saturn tech didn't find any problem. The repair person said to put it up on the hoist and they would be able to see the problem. Saturn finally did and then called me back to say they found the center prop shaft bearing was bad.

I went out and picked up my car and was not even one mile from the dealership when I heard a new clanking noise! Still from the left front... so I guess they didn't get it right.

The next day while driving my Vue on the highway the entire car started to vibrate at 62 mph.

Yesterday I sat at the dealership while they replaced the carrier bearing assembly. They had to replace the shaft cover as it was too rusted!

I asked them to extend the warranty and they said no. Needless to say, I'm NOT a happy camper!

I'm glad that I found this site to confirm that I'm not a whack case when it comes to the noises and problems that I am having with my VUE.