Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Saturn VUE, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system52
- Engine and engine cooling31
- Power train24
- Steering18
- Engine16
- Air bags15
- Suspension10
- Vehicle speed control6
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Structure4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2002 VUE vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Saturn VUE failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 138,639 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.7–12.4 L/100 km (about 19–22 mpg US), CO₂ 246–285 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vue · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 9.0 | 10.7 |
| Vue · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.5 | 9.1 | 11.0 |
| Vue AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 9.8 | 11.4 |
| Vue AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 10.2 | 12.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Saturn VUE.
| 2014342 11 Aug 2014 | Other On certain vehicles, a defect may allow the ignition key to be removed from the ignition switch when the key is not in the "OFF" position. This could result in … |
| 2008077 4 Mar 2008 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) resistor may crack. If water and road salt enters the crack, it could corrode the resistor. This could res… |
| 2002203 8 Nov 2002 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the front seat belt assemblies do not include the statement required by CMVSS 209 for certain load limiting retractors. Correction: Deale… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Saturn told its dealers about the 2002 Saturn VUE: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635741 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING ELIMINATION OF AUXILIARY WATER PUMP AND INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL 2ND DESIGN HEATER OUTLET HOSES IN PLACE OF THE 1ST DESIGN WATER PUMP AND HEATER OUTLET HOSES. *TT |
| 635737 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWERTRAIN VIBRATION AT IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON AND TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. *TT |
| 633540 | SOME CONSUMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SQUEAK NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT BACK WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. *JG |
| 633535 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING INSTALLATION OF 12V ACCESORY OUTLET TO LEFT REAR INTERIOR WHEEL OPENING SERVICE REPLACEMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY. *JG |
| 633533 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY PART NUMBER CHANGE. *JG |
| 633529 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUNK POP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TRANSITIONING BETWEEN ACCELERATION AND DECELRATION (TORQUE BOTH FRONT AXLE NUTS) *JG |
| 633528 | SUBJECT REGARDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE TURNING (MODIFY THE ROSEBUD FASTENER AND INSTALL SECOND DESIGN PILOT RINGS). *JG |
| 633520 | SUBJECT REGARDING RECREATIONAL AND DISABLED VEHICLE TOWING INFORMATION. *JG |
| 633512 | SQUEAK NOISE FROM FRONT INNER DOOR ARMREST/PULL HANDLE. *JG |
| 633510 | SUBJECT REGARDING STARTER REMAINING ENGAGED AFTER ENGINE START UP AND/OR ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES BEING INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY. *JG |
| 633506 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUNK NOISE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN REVERSE. *JG |
| 633503 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR CHASSIS SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS. *JG |
| 633484 | SUBJECT REGARDING IDLE VIBRATION AT IDLE AND/OR CLUNK AT START UP. *JG |
| 633474 | SUBJECT REGARDING HVAC MODULE CONDENSATION LEAK INTO DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL AREA- SEAL HEATER CORE COVER AND EVAPORATOR CORE COVER. *JG |
| 633464 | FUEL GAUGE IS DISPLAYING A FALSE LOW READING OR STUCK ON EMPTY. THIS MAY BE INTERMITTENT. A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0461 - FUEL LEVEL SENSOR PERFORMANCE- MAY ALSO BE SET IN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MEMORY. *JG |
| 633449 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INFORMATION ON NEW OIL COOLER COVER SEALANT. *JG |
| 633446 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION STRUTS AND FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINKS SERVICE PARTS UPDATE. *JG |
| 633441 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE FOR BODY REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION SERVICE MANUALS REGARDING REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION PROCEDURE FOR LIFTGATE EMBLEMS. *JG |
| 633434 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUNSHADE NOT LOWERING OR ROTATING TO FORWARD MOST POSITION. *JG |
| 633430 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INFORMATION ON TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. *JG |
| 633428 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INFORMATION ON TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. *JG |
| 633426 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE FLARE DURING 2-3 UPSHIFT DURING PRE- DELIVERY INSPECTION (PDI) ROAD TEST (INSTALL NEW TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION). *JG |
| 633420 | SUBJECT REGARDING ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) SOFTWARE UPGRADE - UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE USING GENERIC (NON TECH 2) SCAN TOOL (INSTALL NEW TCM CALIBRATION). *JG |
| 633419 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR SEAT CUSHION COVER LOOSE WITH DRAWSTRING CUT. *JG |
| 633418 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP SERVICE ENGINE SOON TELL TALE IS ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND/OR P0174. *JG |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE
REAR SUSPENSION TOE CONTROL LINK
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation