2005 Saturn Vue Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Saturn VUE most often describe ignition lock problems — a key that is hard to turn, sticks, or comes out while the vehicle is running — and transmission complaints such as shuddering, slipping, or losing power in traffic. Steering complaints often involve a wheel that is hard to turn or locks, and airbag complaints generally describe bags that did not deploy in a collision. Reported mileages in the sample range widely, from under 40,000 to well past 150,000, so many of these issues appear at higher mileage but some show up early.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Ignition key hard to turn or comes out while running

   • 73 complaints (43%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $505 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2026

   Complaints describe an ignition cylinder that becomes stiff or seizes, so the key must be jiggled for some time before the vehicle will start, and in some cases the key can be pulled out while the engine is running or the vehicle is in gear. Owners also report the key failing to release after the vehicle is shut off, and a few had the cylinder or housing replaced at their own cost. Several say the dealer or manufacturer told them the vehicle was not included in any ignition-related recall campaign. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 165,000 miles, with many complaints between about 50,000 and 120,000 miles.

   What to check: Try starting the vehicle several times and check whether the key can be pulled out with the engine running; ask whether the ignition cylinder or housing has been replaced and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the freeway when my Saturn VUE's key fell out of the ignition. There is nothing on my key ring but they key and the keyless remote. I was able to re-insert the key and regain steering control. When this happened, it moved from the run position to the acc position and locked my steering column. The engine also shut off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10649845, filed 2014-10, 105,000 miles

   “I was sitting in driver seat and I out my key in ignition and turned it to 1 past the acc and I was able to take my key out of the ignition while it still being turn to 1. While in park. I can also take my key out of ignition while it's running while in drive or park on the 1 mark after acc.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323779, filed 2020-05, 150,319 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, slipping, or loss of drive

   • 39 complaints (23%)
   • median 64,990 mi at 6.3 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2020

   Owners describe a shudder or vibration at low speed, often between about 25 and 40 mph under light acceleration, and some were told a torque converter replacement was needed. Others report the transmission slipping out of gear, jerking or clunking, failing to downshift at highway speed, or losing power entirely while driving, in some cases requiring a tow. Complaints also mention hard shifting into first gear and, in some vehicles, a failed clutch slave cylinder on manual versions. Most often reported between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, though some appear past 150,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive slowly at light throttle in the 25–40 mph range and listen and feel for shudder or clunking, check the transmission fluid condition, and ask whether the transmission or torque converter has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving in 4 lanes of traffic when the transmission just stopped working.the car rolled and I was very lucky to get to the curb. The highway patrol came up behind me. And due to the traffic, choose to stay parked behind me with flares, until the tow truck arrived. I consider myself lucky that the police arrived to prevent a serious accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10414548, filed 2011-07, 50,000 miles

   “I traveling on rural highway and when I pressed the clutch to begin slowing down at stop light it was not working. Auto almost caused accident which I was lucky to avoid. I had to have it towed in and the slave cylinder had gone out. I had less that 40,000 miles on the auto and just turned over 39,000 recently on this 2005 Saturn VUE.”

   NHTSA complaint #10202494, filed 2007-09, 39,500 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a collision, or deploying

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • median 98,057 mi at 7.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2023

   Several complaints describe front-end collisions in which the airbags did not deploy, including cases with injury, and owners say the dealer or manufacturer offered no explanation. Other complaints report side or door airbags deploying while the vehicle was parked or driving with no collision, and in those cases owners were told the repair would not be covered because the vehicle identification number was not part of a recall. Reported from about 24,000 to 150,000 miles, including both low-mileage collisions and high-mileage deployment complaints.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been checked for stored fault codes and whether any airbag or sensor has been replaced or serviced; confirm the airbag warning light comes on at startup and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter was driving through the target parking lot in humble texas when side airbags deployed without an apparent reason. In previous minor accidents no airbags deployed. Car now has issues with damaged headliner and other expensive parts without a collision therefore I appear to be out the most to repair and to be frank and relatively certain tat vehicle may be worthless due to the deployment of the safety gear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10594178, filed 2014-05, 121,000 miles

   “As entering the intersection of hwy 173 and bi pass 534. Other vehicle turned left in front of me. I had the green light. My daughter was driving my 2005 Saturn VUE. We were going between 40 and 50 miles per hour in a 55 MPH zone. The front center to the left front corner collided with the other vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The insurance company said sometimes they just don't. At the seen of the accident the emt told me I should get out of the car if I was able to. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10171010, filed 2006-10, 24,657 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering wheel hard to turn or locks up

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 11.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2018

   Complaints describe the steering wheel becoming very stiff or locking, sometimes after parking with the wheel turned, and some owners link it to difficulty turning the ignition key. A few report the wheel seizing while driving, and one describes loss of control during a panic stop. Owners say they were told the condition was not covered by a recall for this model year. Reported from about 88,000 to 150,000 miles in the sample, generally at higher mileage.

   What to check: With the vehicle parked, check whether the steering wheel can be turned freely after the ignition is switched off and back on, and ask whether the steering column lock or ignition cylinder has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2005 Saturn VUE has had problems for years with the steering wheel locking after parking and turning it off, such that it takes quite a bit of jiggling of the wheel in order to enable the key to turn in the ignition column. Additionally, the key is able to be removed while on. I had not thought to see if it was recalled, but was told that my father's 2003 Saturn VUE did have the steering/ignition column recalled and replaced for exactly the same issues as I am experiencing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10808465, filed 2015-12, 100,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2005 Saturn VUE. The contact stated while traveling approximately 20 MPH attempting to avoid crashing into another vehicle, the contact had to apply force to the brakes and the steering wheel locked. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle crashing into a metal ground wire which flipped the vehicle over. A police report was filed no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to a body repair shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10630841, filed 2014-09, 102,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Rusted subframe and front-end structural corrosion

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 116,183 mi at 14.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2021

   Complaints describe heavy rust in the front subframe and at the engine cradle mounting points, in one case the subframe separating after hitting a bump and in another failing a state inspection for perforation. Owners describe the repair as difficult or impractical, in one case because the mounting bolt could no longer be reattached after removal. Reported on vehicles from about 20,000 to 170,000 miles, suggesting condition and climate matter more than mileage.

   What to check: Inspect the front subframe and engine cradle mounts from underneath for perforation or flaking rust, especially on vehicles from road-salt states, and have a shop check before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The frame to subframe areas that holds up motor and transmission rusted and broke loose. As I went over a large bump on a city street the whole subframe separated. I was on a buy here pay here loan from tnt motors in oregon illinois. The vehicle was returned to them and I'm worried they will try to put it back on the road”

   NHTSA complaint #11385259, filed 2020-12, 144,000 miles

   “At 24,000 miles this 2005 Saturn VUE needed the entire brake system replaced. Then when backing up and then putting the car in drive it would not speed up. I had to stop, put it in park, put it in drive again before it would move. This was at 28,300 miles, turns out the transmission went and had to be replaced. Now at 35,533 the drive shaft is rusted and center support is blown out. I asked Saturn what the life expectancy of this vehicle is and received no response. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10349547, filed 2010-08, 35,533 miles

Buying note. Check the ignition cylinder and steering column carefully on a test drive and confirm any prior repairs, since these are the most frequently reported complaints. Also test the transmission at low-speed light throttle and inspect the front subframe for rust before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.