2002 Saturn Vue: won't start

Filed Sep 30, 2016 · 155,000 miles · CA

Started the car, turned around in my driveway and started pulling out onto the road, vehicle just stalled and refused to start again, engine cracks and turns over but wont start. Thank god there wasnt any traffic or I would have been t boned. I was able to push the vehicle back offf the road. Vehicle still wont start

Filed May 12, 2015 · Engine · 145,000 miles · OH

Loss of power and eventually just stopped running. Towed it home. Suspected timing chain. Took off valve cover and tc cover. Noticed that black plastic guide was broken in main pieces and must have been for some time, for chain wore into some bolts and cover. Chain looks brand new and no issues with it. Replaced all timing components (two sprockets, chain, guide, tension arm, tensioner, cam sprocket, etc)., but it would not start. Checked compression (0 psi at all cylinders), double checked timing and was correct. Roller rockers were loose when cam is not pressing on them, so suspect all valves are bent. Fix is to rebuild the "head". I presume that if the black plastic chain guide did not break, it would not have gotten out of time and bent valves. The recall should not be on the timing chain but the plastic guide that is used for the timing chain. Had this part been metal, this would not have happened. Have picture to send if needed.

Filed Mar 19, 2009 · Engine · 140,129 miles · IL

I had just left a stop light on a busy street in chicago driving about 15 miles an hour and the engine just died. I tried to restart the car and it would not start. I called a tow truck to have it taken back to my repair shop. The next day I was told that the timing chain had broken and crushed the casing and valves and that I would need a new engine at a cost of $3,200.00. I spoke with the saturn dealership in tinley park, il and they agreed to put a new engine in for $2,200.00. I spoke with the saturn main office of consumer complaints and they stated that no recalls were made on the 2002 saturn vue's and would not help with the cost of the replacement engine.

Filed Jun 16, 2008 · Body, Engine · 92,000 miles · MA

Over the past year, I have had several instances where the "check engine" light comes on and the car just shuts down and won't start up. I have also had the low coolant light come on and was leaking anti-freeze, which I kept on filling up. Once it was towed to the dealer and when they went to look at it the next morning, it started right up and they could not figure out what was wrong. Another time I left it and when I came back, it started right up. In both of those instances, I was driving less than 40 MPH and was able to get to the side of the road safely. The 3rd time that the car died, I was traveling 65 MPH on an interstate when the car suddenly died, without any warning. I had just enough time to pull over to the side of the road and avert an accident. I bought a new car, because I was afraid to drive this one and it has been sitting in my driveway for 8 weeks. I recently had the vue towed to a different dealership. They said that I need a new timing belt and water pump. They also say that I need to have an I-bolt pulley, belt tensioner, alternator, and serpentine belt replaced. Other repairs that are needed are a front sway bar links and the bearing on the drive shaft. This car has only 92,000 miles.

Filed Jan 19, 2008 · Engine · 117,000 miles · NY

While driving my 2002 saturn vue 2.2l 4cyl last night at approx. 55-60mph, my reduced power light came on, along with the service engine soon. I had no forewarning noises or indication my car was going into failure. I immediately put my car into neutral, shut the ignition down, and pulled off the road as safely as I could, still at approx. 50 MPH speed as I had my 3 children in the car with me. After the car was shut down for 5 mins and speaking to my gm dealership, they advised me to try to turn the car over in case it was just a "glitch" in the computer system, to no avail. It wouldn't turn over. After being towed to my gm dealership, I was told my vehicle had a "zero tolerance" engine, and that my timing chain had broke. I was told my engine was most likely blown, and that I needed to have my engine replaced. The minimal cost of this timing chain error is $3,000 even with a used engine going into my car. I see many complaints about saturn's 2.2l engine in the approx. 2001-2002 range, and I believe my vehicle is part of this. I am contacting saturn on monday the 21st to see if I can get some sort of help in replacing my engine, as this is apparently an obvious problem with their engines.

Filed Sep 28, 2006 · Engine · 65,000 miles · CA

2002 saturn vue (65,000 miles) making noise. Would not start, towed to mechanic. Timing chain failure causing engine damage. Estimated cost is $3000; loss of vehicle for at least a week while being repaired. Currently at the mechanics awaiting repair.

Filed Sep 9, 2005 · Electrical · 53,239 miles · CA

In the morning my wife attempted to start the car and it did not start. When I got home from work I started the car, but the idle was very rough. I drove the car around the block (standard transmission) and it was very difficult getting the car to accelerate in first gear. As I drove the car to the dealership, the "service engine soon" light was flashing. The idle was rough, the engine was underpowered, and when I came to a complete stop, the engine would stall. The parts replaced were #12587426: coil asm, #12580215: module as, #12569190: spark plug. I do not know if the parts are available. The repairs were done at saturn of national city in san diego county. This vehicle is a 2002 saturn vue. It has the 2.2l (l4) engine. The parts and the engine are the same ones found in the saturn l-series sedan, which had a recall for the ignition control module. I believe that recall is 03-c-06. I called saturn's national customer service line and they said that the recall does not affect my vehicle, even though it has the same engine and same part numbers that were subject to recall for the l-series sedan.

Filed Jan 22, 2004 · Fuel system · MI

I purchased a new saturn vue in 3/02. It ran great until 1/7/03 at which time the car lost power and wouldn't start. I called saturn, and they had someone pickup the car and tow it to a dealership in saginaw. When I picked it up, I was told the car had too much gas got in the cylinder. I've been driving cars for 20 yrs &never had a problem like that, so I thought it might have just been a quirky thing...until it happened again 2 wks later (1/23/03). I called the saturn, and they picked it up. I was now concerned about the car breaking down when my wife was driving it with my 3 sons. I picked up the car from the dealership, and they told me the same thing happened as the 1st time. I voiced my frustration to the svc mgr who gave me his bus card and told me to have my wife call him if she ever broke down...I don't think he works 24x7. The same thing just happened again on 1/13/04. I asked dealership happened this time - they said it was the same thing. I pressed this person for more info and he asked me how far I had driven the car before it broke down. I told him just a short distance. He said there's a quirky thing with saturns - in cold weather you have to let them run for 2 or 3 minutes even if you're taking the car for a short drive or the car will get too much gas in the engine and break down. The svc person I worked with, got the svc mgr (terry mckee) who echoed the same thing. Keep in mind, I have a wife and 3 little boys. If my wife uses our car, I can't expect her to have to follow this procedure for fear of being stranded! I got the customer care # at saturn filed a complaint (reference #110098470). Brian from saturn said they won't do anything to help me out. His only solution was for me to let the car run for 2-3 minutes before I drive it. I wouldn't have bought the car if I would have known about this! I don't want the car anymore, but I can't sell it to someone in good conscience. Can you please help????