2005 Saturn Vue Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 18%of 170 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Saturn Vue, 18% of the 170 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 am recently having problems getting my 2005 Saturn VUE into 1st gear. Called a transmission company who looked it up and said there were a lot of complaints about this very issue, yet there is no recall for it. I only have 60,000 miles on my vehicle. The problem is that Saturn put in a rubber type shifting linkage.”
NHTSA complaint #10425575, filed 2011-09, 60,000 miles“I own a 2005 Saturn VUE all wheel drive that when the roads are icy or snow packed is very hard to control. When you try to turn a corner you do not know if it is going to turn or not. The rear wheels kick in when the front wheels slip and I have had it slide sideways close to hitting a curb. All four tires are turning and there is no control. The braking is also as bad some of the same problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10373781, filed 2011-01, 44,000 miles“My transmission in my 2005 Saturn VUE has failed. I was in traffic and the car just stopped as I pressed the gas pedal the engine just revved and the car took a few secs to engage. I have 65,001 miles on the vehicle and I have not had any luck in finding the transmission to fit this vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10351413, filed 2010-08, 64,990 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 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11001321May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
- 10245395Nov 6, 2023This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing…
- 10234619Apr 6, 2023This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- 10222770Sep 16, 2022This service bulletin provides information on OEM and Remanufactured Engine and Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Identification.
- 10224273Sep 1, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician to not remove the torque converter bolts and start the engine as this may cause damage to the…
- 10200152Jun 7, 2021This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- 10194079Apr 30, 2021This Warranty Admin service bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required to Contact the PQC for engine or transmission assembly replacement and…
- 10191207Mar 11, 2021This bulletin provides information on Policies Applicable to All U.S. Dealers for Engine and Transmission Assembly Replacement Under Warranty, Policy or Customer Enthusiasm and…
- 10178949Jul 28, 2020This Bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required to Contact the PQC for engine or transmission assembly replacement and explains the PQC…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Saturn Vue
72 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsEngine
9 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Saturn Vue
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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