2004 Saturn VUE from North America - Comments

Problem with Rear axle in reverse. Dealer recall.

Roll over accident (2.5 times). Side curtain airbags did not deploy. Front Driver, and Front Passenger airbags did not deploy.

This car performed admirably.

The Maker set self imposed recalls to address safety concerns.

I had plenty of room, and the cabin was very efficient.

I paid extra for Side Impact Curtain airbags and they did not deploy when I felt they should. Which causes me to ask: Just how much force is required to set these airbags off? Is a multi-rollover accident not enough?

Roll over accident (2.5 times). Side curtain airbags did not deploy. Front Driver, and Front Passenger airbags did not deploy.

I would suggest you check with Saturn. My parents rolled a Jeep Limited and had the same issue. After some research we learned that it is not uncommon for airbags to not deploy during a rollover regardless of the vehicle. Somehow you would think this would be exactly when they intended them to work.. Who knows…

As a note I love my AWD V6 2004 Vue. My only complaint is problems with the quality of work done by my local Saturn service department.

I think the air bags are for an intrusion type impact. Roll-overs are nothing like getting broad-sided by a concrete truck.

Side Airbags are not made to deploy in rollovers. The only ones I know of that do that is the "Safety Canopy" system in Ford Motor Company (Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Mazda, Jaguar, Volvo...) Vehicles which detects an impending rollover and deploys them. I saw an Expedition in front of me get broad-sided at ~60MPH, skid, hit a curb and roll and the people inside got out fine, thanks in part to the airbags.