Saturn Vue harsh shifting problems

Filed Apr 29, 2020 · Transmission · 255,000 miles · CA

When traveling at 65 miles an hour on the freeway for an hour and a half and come to a complete stop whether it's in traffic or getting off the freeway the car suddenly jerks violently back and forth and clunking sounds like something is slipping the car will all of a sudden just died and stop running.by putting the car into neutral the car will come to a stop the jerking of the transmission releasing the gears

Filed Oct 5, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · HI

Both headlight wiring melted. Replaced both side headlights and after 2 years the wire harness melted again the parking pawl gets stuck often. When putting the car in reverse the parking pawl gets stuck. Then it will eventually go into reverse but the car jerks and makes a clunking noise. The light issue I've been dealing with for the last 3 years now. The parking pawl issue has been like this for over a year now.

Filed Jul 6, 2018 · Steering · 90,136 miles · MI

I bought the car with 62,301 miles on it. At 90k miles, I'm on my way to work, and while driving around a curve I noticed a tug like feeling in my steering wheel. I thought I was imagining it. Besides of that little s curve, it's a strait shot to work. I needed gas, so I went to turn into the gas station and almost hit a truck parked there because I had no steering. I turned the wheel a full 360 and luckily managed a turn enough to miss the guys truck by inches (literally). In my complete embarrassment, I jump out apologizing and told him the issue. He stated he seen me cranking the wheel and figured as much and offered to check the steering fluid for me. Astound to find there was nothing to check. I took it to laclairs in chesaning mi, and this is what the repair order reads : power steeringquit while driving. And now steering binds and clunks and can barely turn, scanned system, but no codes stored, contacted tech assist center..unpowered steering assist motor then steering module. Condition no duplicated, replaced steering gear assembly and performed front and rear alignment as needed reset front and rear toe. $672.33. I chose the remanufactured part hoping that what ever the problem was with the original would have been fixed before they could put it back on the shelf, now, at 131 k miles, only 42 k miles since that repair, the same issue has returned. Now, I have to once again pay to have it looked at, and once again pay for the repairs. I have seen several complaints from many different years from people with this same year with the same complaint and yet there has not been a recall made. I looked up the recall information when I first had this problem and like everyone else my VIN was not part of the recall, yet my car has the same issue. It's not just the power steering that failed, it was all the steering. A full 360 turn and only moved little inchs

Filed Jun 10, 2015 · 123,000 miles · NY

I bought my 2005 saturn vue in december 2013 and have had nothing but problems since. When I first bought it I noticed a problem with the brakes. They have always worked poorly. I replaced the pads, then both front calipers 3 times. Then finally the hoses which helped somewhat. I recently had to replace the carrier bearing which helped the shaking and clunking I have read about in other posts. Just last month though right after I had spent the money on the carrier bearing I attempted to leave my driveway and when I tried to shift it hesitated then once it did start moving there is a loud grinding sound and jerking. My transmission now needs replaced. I have researched recalls and have found none that will help me with this. I regret ever buying this vue and now I still owe 2000 to the bank for a vehicle I cannot afford to fix.

Filed Nov 4, 2013 · Transmission · 47,500 miles · WA

Shortly after departing our home on october 27, 2013, our 2008 saturn vue vehicle began to exhibit hard shifting, over-revving before finally "clunking" into gears. These symptoms went away after a few minutes worth of driving. The symptoms recurred the following day so we took the vehicle to dealer for inspection. Diagnosis is a broken 3-5-r wave plate. After conducting some research on the internet, it appears this failure is not uncommon with the saturn vue and related gm stable mates (chevrolet equinox / gmc acadia / pontiac torrent...). A total failure of the 3-5-r wave plate has the potential to strand drivers at inopportune times; fortunately we were able to get the car to the dealership under its own power.

Filed Jan 10, 2012 · Suspension, Wheels · 102,000 miles · IA

While driving 20 MPH heard a clunk by the back rear passenger tire, the top of the right rear tire was tilted in. Appeared to have a broken lateral arm which was attached to the frame. If I would have been going any rate of speed this could have been a serious issue. I feel this is a serious safety hazard. I contacted saturn who took my claim and admitted there was a recall on the lateral arm in 2005. This supposely was taken in to a dealership and fixed. I didn't own this vehicle then. Saturn refuses to be responsible for this issue and said it very likely couldve been a faultly part but since it has been taken care of in 2005 no longer responsible. I feel I could have killed myself, lost control and/or hurt someone else if I would have lost control.

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 Jul 21, 2011 · Suspension, Transmission · 53,731 miles · MI

Vehicle was recalled for torque converter. While in the repair shop it was found that the center support bearing for the drive shaft was coming apart, ie: rubber bushing was separating and needed to be replaced. I was told this is a common problem. Was also told the front lower control arm bushings were separating. The cost for the bearing was between $450. And $500. Dollars, the control arm bushings repair would be $280. Dollars. I believe these parts are defective as the car only has 53,731 miles on it. The bearing defect will cause a vibration of the drive shaft as it becomes worse. The control arms will cause a clunk when going over bumps.

Filed Mar 3, 2008 · Transmission · 59,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn vue. While driving 50 MPH and greater, the transmission makes strange noises, hesitates, jerks, vibrates, hops, slips, and slams into gear. The transmission slams into gear upon take off. The dealer has replaced the transmission four times on the following dates: 12/05/2007, 12/08/2007, 01/09/2008, and 02/11/2008. The tires were also balanced during the fourth repair, but this did not correct anything. One of the transmissions had to be replaced after the vehicle had only been driven 50 miles. The next time the transmission was replaced, the dealer had the vehicle for twenty one days. The dealer offered him a $1,000 certificate to trade the vehicle. Currently, the vehicle is experiencing the same failure and the transmission needs to be replaced a fifth time. The current mileage was 64,000 and failure mileage was 59,000.

Filed Mar 20, 2006 · Suspension · 75,000 miles · TN

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.