2008 Saturn Vue: windshield wiper failure

Filed Jan 11, 2022 · Visibility · 125,000 miles · AK

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the passenger's side windshield wiper was inoperable. Upon investigation, the contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with windshield wiper linkage failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the last 8-digits of the VIN were recognized as another make and model vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 65,000 miles · OH

Over the past year and half I've had numerous electrical issues. Head lights dimming and flashing at very high intervals almost like a dim strobe. Radio not turning on. Interior lights not coming on. Odometer light dims. Random dinging noise. Turn signal not always working or working sporadically. Front windshield wipers not always coming on and when they do it's sporadic. Rear windshield not coming on but will after an engine restart. Key stuck in the ignition. Hazard lights not working when engine is off. All this has happened slowly over the last year and half. I've replaced the battery twice and have had it in the shop multiple times and they can't find an issue. Everyone with these problems will tell you that a mechanic can't run a test for the problem if it's not happening at that time. We also all know too well these problems come and go very quickly and sometimes temporarily fix themselves with just an engine restart, driving over a bump (which also brings on the issues) or shaking the wire harness on top of the battery. So taking it to a shop to run a test is almost meaningless unless towed and even then it's not 100% chance you're going to get a code(s) to read. The last few months the problems have gotten worse. The big occurrence came when I was just two minutes down the road from where I live, I had the vue not start up or even turn over and the key was locked in the ignition. I opened up the hood, tapped once on the black box on top of the battery and the vue started dinging and was able to turn the vehicle on. I then drove to my house and the vehicle completely shut off on me and restarted twice within that two min drive. I lost total power and very limited control of the steering wheel. This issue has been brought up and complained about hundreds of times on the internet and has yet to be investigated. Please investigate this electrical issue. -11.4.17

Filed Jun 1, 2016 · Visibility · 78,000 miles · KS

The passenger wiper arm disconnected from the motor while I was driving in the rain. Lucky I was near my home at the time.

Filed Mar 19, 2015 · Visibility · 85,000 miles · IA

On a rainy day the wipers will stop working then eventually start back up. While using the delay wipers they would work half the time, sometimes go fast, and even stop. You just never know if they will work which is really scary on heavy rains.

Filed Mar 21, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 63,000 miles · NY

We had problems before march 30, they were still under warranty. Sadly, the dealer never told us we would be stiffed with time in certified gm pre-owned warranty nor any of the issues we have had. Got car may 2011 and has been in and out of shops since approximately september of 2011. We have replaced sway bar links 3 times in less than 1 1/2 years. Tires, battery, windshield wiper motor linkage,electrical issues, replaced driver side air bag. The kicker was the transmission on march 30 2013 while husband was deployed. Had both of my children in the car when it just stopped- on the road. Had it towed to davidson in watertown ny. Diagnostic done 4/1/13 revealed 4 codes from tranny, had to remove it to test further. We have never received any recall info at any pint since 2011; most of them seem to be listed under 2008; we have no idea haow we would have known about them, or if the issues have ever been fixed. The tranny went right after power train warranty conveniently expired- it was the 3-5 wave plate , which I just read on internet was a recall. Gm case manager , [xxx],was supposedly trying to assist me. He also was in contact with [xxx], service manager @ davidson. As soon as they knew I had a loan secured for 4000.00 , no one could help all of the sudden! I was told by gm that I would get help with cost; either certificate with smaller amount for trade in, or 30% of repair cost. I said repair cost to lower my loan. Then neither would help me and both became unprofessional. I have sent letters to gm with no response. Also, I had to pay for rental car. It is noted that clutch spring and piston also damaged. I feel that we were given this car under false pretenses as far as safety and being gm certified pre-owned. Multiple issues. The dealership had to know these issues, prior to scamming us, to make this car certified gm advertised!! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 20, 2012 · Electrical, Visibility · 7,000 miles · MI

Electrical issues with rear wiper and heating element(defogger) system. Pressing the rear defogger switch to turn on the heating element would instead start delivering windshield washing fluid continuously. Pressing the rear wiper switch would start the wiper in a very erratic and scary way. Whole system works in a spooky way.

Filed Sep 21, 2011 · Visibility · 70,000 miles · IL

The saturn vue I own is a 4 cylinder and the heater core is cracked just as gm's document id[xxx] describes. I started to smell antifreeze coming from the vents, on about 9-3 we have gone to a restaurant that night and when we came out to go home, the inside of the windshield was fogged up, I tried to use the defrost setting to clear the windshield but it had no effect, I had no rag to wipe the inside of the windshield so I wiper it with my hand to get some visibility, I was forced to stop several times on the way home to clear the windshield by hand. I called saturn gm concerning the issue and they had me take the car to a gm dealer who confirmed that the heater core is cracked. Gm claims they have a customer satisfaction program to fix this issue so the heater core will not crack but they claim that my car is not in the programs group. The program reroutes the heater hoses so that internal pressure build up is reduced to a safe level and prevents the heater core from cracking the programs number is #09206a. From what I can find out the program started in 2009 and was to end 1-2011 but it has now been extended to 1-31-2012. As I said above they claim that the defect is for a group of vues with serial numbers 8s500002 to 8s645537 which would not include my car. If you read #09206a it describes what has happen to my heater. They state in this document " we have learned that your 2008 model year saturn vue, equipped with a 4-cylinder engine, may have been built with a heater core that could eventually fracture due to pressure fluctuations within the heater core. If the heater core fractures, you would notice a strong coolant smell, vapor or mist coming out of the heater vents, and or an oily film on the windshield." this is what is happening to my vue confirmed by the gm dealer and reported to gm. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 29, 2011 · Visibility · 81,782 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn vue. The contact stated that while driving, the windshield wipers stopped functioning and the driver began to hear a clunking noise. The contact inspected the vehicle and realized that the plastic bushing was cracked. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the wipers transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 81,782 and the current mileage was 81,800.

Filed Aug 9, 2011 · Visibility · 50,842 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn vue. The contact was driving 5 MPH when the passenger side windshield wiper overlapped the driver side wiper. The contact pulled into a parking lot to untangle the wipers. The passenger side wiper however, was no longer operable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,842 and the current mileage was 50,862.

Filed Apr 22, 2011 · Visibility · 40,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 saturn vue. The contact stated that when the windshield wiper was being utilized, the wiper arms would become tangled and would not operate properly. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised him to take the vehicle into a dealer and that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2011 · Electrical, Visibility · PA

When I'd use the windshield wipers, I lose all power to the drivers side headlight and the blinker would not work,all while the fluid is running out the back windshield wiper connection. I had the vue in for the same issue 4 times and was told this was a warranty issue at the beginning and when they finally fixed the grounding box and replaced the so called lifetime headlamp, I was charged 364.00. Not warranty covered. This started at around 36,000. Gm screwed us saturn owners big time.

Filed Dec 29, 2009 · Visibility · 35,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn vue. The electric motor on the windshield wipers failed. As a consequence the windshield wipers were inoperative. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the motor was replaced. The failure mileage was 35,000. Updated 01/26/10 *bf updated 01/26/10.