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Engine coolingPart report

2003 Saturn Vue Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
62about this part
Share
10%of 622 total for the year
Median mileage
53,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 62 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2003 Saturn Vue, 10% of the 622 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Cv joints were replaced at 22000 now againat 37000 I need to replace them. Front rotors were replaced at 22000 and again at 33000 timing belt at 20000 needed replacement I replaced the main computer controller in aug 2006. This car is a piece of crap and I will never buy a Saturn again I bought this brand new off the lot in jan 2003 and have had major things go wrong. …”

NHTSA complaint #10168187, filed 2006-09, 1 miles

“Driving car started to blow oil from the cam cover gasket caused by moisture/water entering engine because of moisture build up in pvc hose. Water in engine froze causing gasket to blow. Total loss of oil in engine. I had my car towed to dealer. They rerouted pvc hose to prevent moisture build up again. Gasket was replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10150959, filed 2006-02, 56,699 miles

“First my engine blew because Saturn did not put oil back into my VUE during a routine oil change next my control computer in the VUE had to be replaced because it did not work. Now my transmission cover needs replaced. I also hear about potential problems with the rear end suspension now. I bought a new VUE for its reliability and it is not reliable all on saturns fault.”

NHTSA complaint #10082877, filed 2004-07, 18,900 miles

“I have a 2003 Saturn VUE and the transmission went on may 5 went to the shop to be repaired on may 20 got vehicle back on the 23 and on may 25 the transmission went again took it back to Saturn of albany n.y. And they told me it was the catalytic converter picked it up on may 27 got about 5 miles away from Saturn tried to cross a 4 lane intersection and vehicle would barely move due to transmission problems again it is a good thing there was very little traffic.”

NHTSA complaint #10270166, filed 2009-05, 89,405 miles

“While driving my son noticed a sound coming from the engine that was not normal. When we stopped I opened the hood and investigated. When idiling it sounded like a chain slapping, at 1000 rpms the sound was like a whir instead of a slap. After listening for a few moments I decided it sounded like the timing chain. The next day my wife brought the vehicle to a chevrolet dealer and they determined that the tensioner had failed and the chain was indeed slapping around, but it had not damaged a valve. …”

NHTSA complaint #10393271, filed 2011-03, 49,765 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200933%
2008133%
200783%
200672%
200585%
2004166%
20036210%
20023119%

Other parts of the 2003 Saturn Vue

Transmission and drivetrain
316 complaintsElectrical system
124 complaintsSuspension
48 complaintsSteering
45 complaintsAir bags
41 complaintsFuel system
33 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsEquipment
15 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Saturn Vue

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology