Your vehicle report
2002 Saturn VUE
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 167
- Received May 2002 to Feb 2021
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Timing chain fails and destroys engine21 complaints · 13% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Horn fails with airbag warning light13 complaints · 7.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Ignition key sticks or will not turn9 complaints · 5.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #14V490000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
- Recall #01V386000Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." some vehicles were produced with rear outer seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were incorrectly installed.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 13 crashes, 5 fires, 7 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 17 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning
- Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly
- Suspension struts and shocks wear out early
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 167 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 21 | 13% | – | |
| Horn fails with airbag warning light | 13 | 7.8% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 9 | 5.4% | – | NHTSA recall #14V490000 |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 5.4% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 7 | 4.2% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 5 | 3.0% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 5 | 3.0% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 4 | 2.4% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 4 | 2.4% | – | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 4 | 2.4% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 4 | 2.4% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 3 | 1.8% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #14V490000August 8, 2014202,155 vehicles affected
electrical system: ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
NHTSA recall #01V386000December 18, 2001327 vehicles affected
seat belts: front: anchorage
Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages." some vehicles were produced with rear outer seat belt shoulder guide anchor bolts that were incorrectly installed.
If these bolts were incorrectly installed, they would not withstand the load requirements of the standard. If an anchorage failed in a crash, the occupant would not be properly restrained and could have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear shoulder guide anchor bolts. Owner notification began december 19, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Saturn VUE.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN