Vehicle lost power when accelerating to make a left turn. Almost had collision from oncoming vehicle. Vehicle hesitated again with loss of power while attempting to accelerate vehicle to speed. Took to dealer and was advised it was the vti transmission and they were aware of the problem. They serviced the transmission as per service bulletin, however, the following day same hesitation when accelerating with loss of power. Next step was to replace transmission as per dealers comment.
2003 Saturn Vue transmission complaints
Page 11 of 12: complaints 281 to 310 of 316, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The vehicle stalls in traffic, rendering it a safety hazzard.
The continuously variable transmission of a 2003 saturn vue vti started to make screaming noises, when accelerating up a ramp onto a highway. The vehicle could only enter the highway at a reduced speed.
While driving 25 MPH consumer heard a loud grinding noise coming from the transmission. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Transmission disengages and looses power. This causes the vehicle to decelerate to a complete stop. This occurs when vehicle goes over a bump or an imperfection in the road while accelerating. Although the dealership is aware of the failure a remedy has not been found.
My saturn vue has a vibration/shudder at various speeds which is caused by a problem with the vti transmission and which started at about 6,600 miles. This is a well-known problem with the vehicle and transmission. Called my dealer and he offered to replace the transmission since so many vti transmissions have failed. The dealer said that they have replaced about 6 vti transmissions already (and that's only one dealer) so probably hundreds ot vti transmissions have had to be replaced nationwide. My vue has had two recalls for the vti--including replacement of bolts and a software upgrade. The constantly variable transmission (vti) has been a problem transmission ever since it was introduced in the new 2002 vue and hundreds of owners have had problems. The vti tranmission was delayed several times because of pre-production problems. Now thousands of saturn vue owners have many transmission problems, including on-the-road transmission failures which is dangerous. This is a proven defective transmission which has an impact on safety as well as resale value and/or saleability of the vehicle. Saturn needs to either buy back those vue's with vti' transmissions or offer to replace the vehicle with a non-vti transmission model.
During acceleration and while the gas pedal is depressed, the car rapidly decelerates for approximately one or two seconds and maintains a slow speed before again responding to the driver's input. There is no stalling. Time of day and temperature appear to have no affect. Engine temperature also appears to have no affect. This has happened to me 5 times in 10 days. Twice the situation created a near-tragic result. This is a vue with a vti transmission.
While driving 35 MPH vehicle stalled. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, and technician determined that automatic transmission was built with the vit which control the wheel traction. Consumer indicated there is no information in the manuals book what to do in this situation.
I have brought my car back a total of 5 times to saturn of morristown with a complaint of a shimmy/shudder in the car at highway speeds. Initially the complaint was from 50-75 but after their 4th fix, the shudder began at 45a nd was really bad at 65. Saturn is in its final attempt to fix the car, denies the car is a lemon, has told me saturn knows of the problem with the car but has tried every fix and then some and my car won't respond to any fixes and that they can't fix the car yet they refuse to buy it back claiming they are within their alloted time as a final fix. February 15 is the 12th consecutive day without my car and the 24th cumulative day. They will not contact me, I always have to be the one to contact them and the woman I am speaking with at saturn at the customer care center refuses to allow me to speak to anyone else. The shimmy/shudder has been in the car since day one and every time they gave it back to me they said it was road tested good yet I could immediately upon reaching highway speeds feel the shudder. I don't understand how they could have given it back to me 4 times saying it was good and yet keep it for this length of time and refuse to acknowledge it as *aka lemon considering they know of the inherent defect.
My complaints are several . All of which have been described in technicakl bulletins. I have had my vehicle back to the dealer no less than 10 times since I ourchased it. Now, I live with the issues because I can't afford to lose additional work , the worst problem is the vibration in the drivetrain at idle (when in drive and the vibration driving at 60-65. In addition, the front drivers door squeeks ( I belive its the insulation) my luggage bolts broke, the seat cushion on the drivers side would not stay attached on the front edge, there is a popping noise when the truck is idling, when you close the rear liftgate, the plastic interior seperates from the door, whe it is cold my steering column make noise.
Vti transmission failed at 27650 miles.
This is the second complaint I have had to file. This car keeps breaking down on me and it is not even one year old! On 1/12/04 I needed to drive to rocky mount, nc then on to roanoke rapids, nc school. After arriving in rocky mount, my car would not go into gear, but started fine. When I attempted to put the car in gear the care stalled and turned off. I then attempted to start my car again and place it into gear one more time. It started and went into gear and seemed to drive fine. I called saturn of greenville and they told me that the battery is likely to be the problem and to not turn my car off for one hour, I then stated that I would continue to drive to roanoke rapids. After arriving at my final destination, my car again stalled and turned off when I placed it into gear. I had to get my car towed and get a rental car which were both huge inconveniences to me. Finally, on 1/16/04, I called saturn to find out what was wrong with my car and they said that air was trapped in the transmission line and that during the repair process, damage was done to a drain bolt ("stripped"). I was then told I could pick my car up on 1/17/04. After getting my car back, it is still making a grinding noise in the steering column when I turn the steering wheel, it makes weird noises constantly, and the rpms are messed up. They rev up when I tap the pedal, but when I need to accelerate, they do nothing. Something is seriously wrong with the saturn vue and their transmissions need to be recalled!
I detected a roar/rubbing sound in the engine or drive train when the car was in park or neutral. I called saturn of greenville (nc) and was told to bring the care in to be checked. I did this and was told that the care sounded normal, to continue driving the car, and to bring it back if it got worse. The roaring/rubbing noise continued to become worse. I again took the care in for evaluation by the service manager of saturn of greenville on 12/26/03. This time, at my suggestion, the technician accompanied me on a test drive and was able to hear the noise. The service manager also heard the noise. I informed the service manager that I planned to take a trip to florida the next day and did not feel comfortable driving my car. He told me that he did not believe that the noise was serious nor was the car dangerous to drive, and that no further damage would be done to my car if I drove it to florida. I asked that he put this in writing and if I could speak to the owner. The owner agreed to provide me with another car and to fix mine. I was told that there was a problem with a belt in the transmission rubbing against the trans-case, which was what was causing the noise. I received my car back on 1/10/04.
1. Recall transaxle 2. Same day ---check ingine light would not go out. They fixed it and same day it came on again, they fixed it again 3. Same day car is lurching shen coming to a stop. They fixed it. 4. Next week the car is not getting any gas when press the excelerator. 5. Car had to be towed in becasue it would not start at all.they fixed it. 6. Same day after pick up hear knocking sound when turn a corner and then rattle when increase in speed. They said they donot hear anything.
The vehicle experienced a hard hesitation, lack of power in the engine and lost of acceleration when the pavement was wet or uneven. *jb there was also a possible transmission problem. *sc
During highway driving with my v6 awd vue I was at 72 MPH on cruise control and started a long incline. Initially RPM's were about 2500, car downshifted to 3500 RPM then again to 4500 RPM. After incline the terrain became flat and the RPM stayed at 4500 and would not upshift automatically as I would expect. I waited for about 2 miles and then took one MPH off of the cruise control and then car upshifted to 2500 RPM. Took car into dealer next working day and they could not find the problem. I've been driving for 25 years and never experienced this before. I have concerns about the drivetrain.
While driving in snow and accelerating automatic transmission failed. *ak
The vehicle experienced a problem with the transmission. While the vehicle was on an incline, the transmission shut down. The vehicle has front wheel drive which was effected by this method. Provide further details................................................................
2003 saturn vue 4 cyl vti has transmission problems. Transmission has been repaired twice, continues to make rumbling noise along with apparent loss of performance. Saturn admits that the problem appears to be a defect in the model, but cannot repair.
While driving the transmission failed without warning. The cause has yet to be determined. Please provide additional information.
Vti transmission failed at highway speed. Could have caused accident, vehicle could not hold speed in the middle of higway.
The headlight and daytime run lights burn out when it rains... Instead of finding out the cause of the problem is, the dealer just replaces the bulbs and sends me on my way. The following rainy day, there I am back at the dealer with the same problem. So far this will be the third time, not including the problems with the drivetrain/rear diff that had to be replaced, the dash and cabin rattles that none can seem to fix, and the transmission that once left me stranded at a stop sign.
Consumer stated after shifting gear into drive while going down hill transmission would not engage. Dealer had been contacted.
Odi 10039640 (related?) while stopped on a hill, the vehicle slides back very,very quickly while accessing the gas pedal. Numerous accidents averted by using left leg for the brake. Transmission replaced once, starting to do the same again.
The consumer stated water leaked into the passenger cabin through the roof of the vehicle. This caused an unsafe distraction when driving in inclement weather.*ak consumer also had transmission problems and her main concern was the all wheel drive. The consumer was scared of the vehicle and had a bad experience with the dealer. She would like saturn to buy the vehicle back. *ph
Transmission failed, dealer had repaired vehicle six times.
Consumer drove 2003 saturn vue with the variable speed transmission on a dirt road which LED to the top of chelan butte, in chelan county on july 6, 2003. This was a frequently used road because the top of the butte was used to launch hang gliders. Consumer had driven on the same road with 1986 audi, the previous day july 5, 2003, and it completed the climb with no problems. The saturn vue almost stalled in negotiating any grade above 5%. Transmission would reduce the rpms to 1500 and below while being driven with foot to the floor, asking for more power. There was no response. Then, suddenly a very low ratio would allow the engine to rev to over 2000 rpms, only to repeat this cycle at the next turn or grade. The factory and dealer have maintained that transmission was operating "as designed." consumer contended that having transmission control the speed of the car was actually a car out of control. Could have easily stalled with no way to continue up the grade. Vehicle was carrying 4 passengers on the incident date. After taking the car to the dealer, who did nothing to the transmission, consumer took it up the butte alone as an unloaded vehicle. It repeated the above three times in the course of 5 miles.
When the vehicle was on an incline, it rolled back. The dealer told the consumer the vehicle was designed that way.
The variable drive unit transmission in my 2003 vue had to be replaced when the car had 10,229 miles on it. Work took place at delray beach, fl dealership on 7/17/03. Dealership acknowledged that the transmission was faulty.
While driving vehicle at 35mph at the california highways automatic transmission failed, forcing the consumer to pull out of the road. Dealer will fix the transmission.
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