2002 saturn vue transmission problems on highway. The car made a loud sound and the speed dropped down quickly to 5 miles/hr. Over the past 4 weeks I had to replace the alternator and pulley belts because they stopped working as well.
2002 Saturn Vue transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 24 of 24, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Sudden, massive transmission fluid leak came into contact with hot exhaust manifold. While trying to get it off of the road after a stop, clutch failed. Managed to drive to a safer location about 1/4 mile away. So much smoke was pouring out from under the hood that I was afraid to open it. Retreated to a safe distance and called a tow truck.
Leaking right axle seal.
I have a failed transmission, on a 2002 saturn vue with 56k miles on it. I brought it in three months after I bought because the transmission was slipping they claimed they changed the fluid, did a tune up etc., but the ride really didn't change. Well the transmission finally went out, and they're ordering parts to "fix" the transmission instead of replacing it. In fact they don't make the transmission anymore (which is understandable, who would continue to make something that doesn't work) but now if mine goes out I have to either have parts replaced, or get one out of a wrecked one.
9/15/04 vehicle lost power when accelerating to make a left turn. I almost had a collision from an oncoming vehicle. Vue hesitated again and lost power while attempting to accelerate to get up to posted speed. I had the accelerator floored, rpms shot up to 6000 and I was only able to go 20 - 25 miles per hour down the road. Attempted to drive home at the end of the day, but vue wouldn't exceed 20 - 25 miles per hour. With 21,937 mile, I drove to saturn of rochester (mn) and dropped off advised dealer that transmission slipped and engine raced. 9/16/04 saturn of rochester (mn) technician drove car and felt transmission slip. Technician drained fluid and found metal in fluid and belt slipping. Dealership called to advise that transmission needed to be replaced! Returned to owner on 9/23/04. 9/27/04, with 22,060 miles, brought vue back to saturn of rochester (mn) because service engine soon light was on. Saturn vie was only able to go 20 - 25 miles per hour down the road '' once again, had to take back roads to safely get to dealership. Technician indicated that they had to rebuild the transmission that they had replaced! When I asked if they had any problems with the saturn vie the sales person said he hadn't heard of anything. The general manager made the same statement. Using the internet I discovered numerous listings on the federal safety agency web site. I printed out the information and provided it to the general manager - - he plead ignorance. While my vehicle was being repaired I asked the shop manager if they had experienced any problems and he told me that they had replaced several transmission and that it was widely know that there was a problem.
Dt: contact states the clutch became disabled while driving approximately 75 MPH on the interstate. Vehicle was towed to a service dealer, and mechanic determined that clutch cable snapped or there was problem within the hydraulics. The VIN was not available because the vehicle was in another state.
The transmision down shift very hard in stop and go driving condition. I have taken the car many times to saturn. However, they insist that this automatic transmision is designed properly. My car downshift so hard I do not let my wife drive.*ak has anybody else complaint about it?
While trying to stop by applying the brakes when approaching an intersection, the accelerator would not disengage and caused the vehicle to be unstoppable in that short distance. The transmission on this vehicle has had several problems of this type and has been reported on the internet and by other owners. The result was a collision that totaled the saturn and another driver's volvo.
The consumer insisted the 2002 saturn vue was a potential death trap for anyone with significant driving requirements. According to vue owner's manual all-wheel drive (awd) system has the following fatal flaw. If vehicle is exposed to extended heavy usage, the awd system will shut off to protect the system from over heating. When the system cools, the awd system will activate itself again automatically. Cool down period can take up to 20 minutes depending on outside temperature and vehicle use. Consumer presented the following arguments to saturn, and they refused to do anything about them. *ak
When shifted from reverse to first gear, the shifter had broken. Ts there had been a chatter in the shifter when the clutch was released, also when the gas was applied, sometimes causing a surge in the first gear. The dealer stated the shift cable and adjuster had broken. Scc
In july I bought a 2002 saturn vue. Over christmas holidays I noticed it was leaking transimission fluid from a connection in front of the vehicle. I was amazed to find these lines totally unprotected and vulnerable to road hazard damage. Due to their proximity to the exhaust I'm concerned with a rupture and fire. I have pictures available to show the location of these lines but am unable to attach them to this type of file. This is an accident waiting to happen!
I have also found a metal clanking sound coming from the front driver''s side of the vehicle when shifting the car out of park, or reverse. It still continues to have problems between the speeds of 12 to 30 MPH, again the problem presents itself mostly when the vehicle is coasting and losing momentum. The vehicle would be slowing down without any aid of braking of any kind and as the vehicle would attempt to down shift, it would sometimes make a clanking noise, or buck, or in the most extreme cases completely stall out. Also the wiper sprayers have broken twice, and the dealer expects them to break again.
I had my 2002 saturn vue parked in a neighbor's driveway. Twenty to thirty minutes later, my car popped out of gear, backed up, turned, and rolled off an embankment, landing in between trees and onto shoulders. When I called the week before the acccident, I explained to the service department I had been experiencing problems getting my car into gear. I asked them to check that out and I also scheduled an oil change at that time. While servicing the vehichle, they told me that the gear problems had been a fluke of the vue. Prior to that, I had no gear problems other than a noise when I shifted that I reported to the dealer in september. The dealer told me that the front axle nuts were not torqued properly. They were retorqued per bulletin 02t52. The house that my car had been parked at has a sensor in the driveway, so I know the car took at least 20-30 minutes before it popped out of gear. I reported the porblem on the morning after my accident and was told by the dealer to call the customer service center to report the problem, I have recommended that someone from the saturn corporation come to look at my vehicle, and the scene of the accident. I believe that there is a problem with my transmission/ and perhaps the transmissions of other saturn vue's. Dt
When coming to stops, the vehicle would surge as if being hit from behind. After the initial surge the vehicle acts like it is going to stall, stop or cut off. The problem has been looked at on several occasions. Consumer doesn't feel this vehicle is safe to operate, consumer belives this is transmission releated ,however the dealer is stating it is a computer chip that is causing the problem.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2002 Saturn Vue?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history