NHTSA vehicle safety data
2003 Saturn Vue Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2003 Saturn Vue has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 622 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Saturn dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Saturn Vue, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2003 Saturn Vue owner complaints
Owners have filed 622 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Saturn Vue, describing incidents dated July 2, 2002 to September 2, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Power Train 316 complaints
- Electrical System 124 complaints
- Engine 90 complaints
- Suspension 48 complaints
- Steering 45 complaints
- Air Bags 41 complaints
Of the 622 complaints on file, 29 report a crash and 9 a fire; across all 622 complaints, owners report 27 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11761762 · Filed
This is more information related to Complaint 11761129: After online researching of other '03 2.2L Saturn Vue-owners stalling experiences, it appears that this vehicle has a long history of others like me: an unsafe, unpredictable stalling problem which carries no warnings or logging of error codes…
ODI #11761129 · Filed
Car stalled while driving in traffic XXX. Engine died. Warning lights ON. Restarted. Stalled 3 more times in traffic but luckily had space to pull off & engine restarted. Made it into my garage. Restarted, Check Engine Light was ON, but went OFF after time. Car would NOT move in gear. Retried…
ODI #11750294 · Filed
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V490000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed the recall repair; however, the new ignition keys provided under the remedy failed to start the vehicle. The contact had…
Owner-reported
2003 Saturn Vue mileage at failure
479 of the 622 complaints on file for the 2003 Saturn Vue give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | Median 75,000 miles | Middle half 30,000–100,000 miles | Based on 259 complaints |
| Electrical System | Median 80,000 miles | Middle half 40,000–125,000 miles | Based on 90 complaints |
| Engine | Median 80,000 miles | Middle half 25,000–105,000 miles | Based on 68 complaints |
| Steering | Median 80,000 miles | Middle half 12,000–125,000 miles | Based on 34 complaints |
| Air Bags | Median 65,000 miles | Middle half 40,000–120,000 miles | Based on 35 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Saturn Vue in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Preliminary Evaluation PE06-006: TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
Closed June 6, 2006
- Preliminary Evaluation PE04-052: REAR SUSPENSION TOE CONTROL LINK
Closed November 1, 2004
Ignition Key Can Be Removed When In On Position
NHTSA #14V490000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice
Reported August 8, 2014 · General Motors LLC
Potentially affected: 202,155 vehicles
Repair completion: 36.5% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 14506 · Owners notified October 20, 2014 · Vehicles built April 11, 2002 – August 25, 2003 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Saturn Vue model years
Check your 2003 Saturn Vue VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Saturn Vue at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Saturn VIN