In october 2016 my son was driving home from work. As he turned a corner in the city he heard a crack and the vehicle steered into a curb. Fortunately there were no pedestrians nor other vehicles near by. He was able to gingerly drive the vehicle home (1 mile). During a test drive, it was apparent the vehicle had a significant issue with the suspension. Investigation indicated all ball joints, sway bars and equivalent were in good condition. After taking it into a suspension shop they advised that the driver side front sub frame rusted through causing the unstable steering. They noted the passenger side is almost rusted through and the vehicle is not road worthy. Likewise with the amount of rust under neither replacing the sub frame was not recommended. Researching this condition on the internet it appears to be a common issue in certain regions of the united states. Up until this summer I used to drive this down the interstate daily. I'm thankful I stopped and likewise that my son was not on an open road. The consumers need to know about this condition and all mechanic shops should be investigating for this premature frame failure. Injury accidents will be a guarantee at higher speeds.
2003 Saturn Vue: ball joint or control arm failure
5 of the 622 complaints about the 2003 Saturn Vue describe ball joint or control arm failure.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 0
Ball joint or control arm failure by model year
- 20082
- 20071
- 20061
- 20051
- 20047
- 20035
- 20021
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn vue. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, a bolt broke off the rear driver side wheel causing the sub frame to crack and the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and stated that the lower control arm and the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 83,000. The VIN was not available.
Dt*: the contact stated there was a clunking noise coming from the front suspension at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for inspection. The dealer determined the front control arm linkage and bushings needed to be replaced. The service department performed the repair as instructed by the dealer. The problem was with the rear suspension lateral link assemblies. Updated 04/06/06.
I have problems with the following in my 2003 v4 manual saturn: cd player stopped working, my sunroof fell apart. I have had all four tie rod ends replaced at individual service dates, my rotors were ground last nov and now they been replaced. My tires needed to be replaced last year after about a year of ownership.
Saturn vue experiencing problems with the transmission, catalytic converter shield, windshield, accelerator, rear suspension, defective passenger side ball joints, struts and bushings.***no answer required***. *mr the defective catalytic converter shield was replaced, there was noise under the vehicle in the exhaust area of the vehicle due to a defective muffler. The windshield rattled at high speeds. The accelerator pedal stuck resulting in sudden acceleration. The driver's door would not open from the inside.
Service bulletins that may apply
- These 2 SKUs are Front Left/Front Right Stabilizer Links
- Information Regarding the Differences Between Fluid Leakage and Seepage
- Suspension
- Information on identifying proper design level and torque spec change for front lower control arm
- Rear suspension torque specifications
- Service manual update - lower control arm ball stud nut torque specification changes
- Replacement of rear lateral link assemblies
- Squeak noise from front of vehicle
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2003 Saturn Vue ball joint
Is ball joint or control arm failure a common problem on the 2003 Saturn Vue?
5 of 622 owner complaints about the 2003 Saturn Vue (1%) mention ball joint or control arm failure. The model year with the most reports is 2004.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 Saturn Vue?
There are 0 recalls and 10 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2003 Saturn Vue
Transmission failure 107Stalling 58Loss of power 46Grinding brakes 36Check engine light 33Hesitation 22Jerking 21Won't shift 19Slipping 18Wipers 17Door locks 14No deployment 11Airbag light 10Fire or smoke 10CVT failure 9Knocking 9Power steering loss 9Won't start 9Engine failure 8Adaptive cruise 7Fuel smell 7Headlights 7Whining noise 7Fuel gauge 6Pulling 6Harsh shifting 5Steering noise 5
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Saturn Vue?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history