2008-2010 Saturn Vue Reliability Score: 6.2 out of 10

530 NHTSA Complaints

4 Recalls

15 Fire Reports

24 Crash Reports

Reliability Score

6.2 / 10

Reliability score

More complaints of failed or replaced engines and transmissions than similar compact SUVs

A score of 7.0 means as many complaints as similar vehicles. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Complaints of a failed or replaced engine, transmission or drive unit run well above similar vehicles and pull this score down.

Owners filed 187 powertrain complaints. A typical compact SUV fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 246.

Scores this low have often eased: the three years after looked about 1.7 points better in the typical case.

Breakdown

Complaints overall187 complaints against about 246 for similar vehicles

7.7

Last three years

n/aNot enough data

Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced64 complaints against about 37 for similar vehicles

5.5

Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating4 complaints against about 25 for similar vehicles

9.6

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is 7.0, as many complaints as similar vehicles. A line shows a number once similar vehicles would draw at least 5 of its complaints (20 for the last three years).

What owners describe

Of the 64 complaints of a failed or replaced engine, transmission or drive unit, 55 describe a failed or replaced transmission; 6 describe a failed or replaced engine; 3 describe a failed hybrid or electric drive system. One complaint can describe more than one.

“My transmission failed as i was accelerating off a stop line. The vehicle would not go above 30 miles an hour and was at 3000 rpm. When attempting to park and back into a parking spot the car would not go into reverse. There appears to be a recall on this model. Is my car under…” 2008 model year

By model year

20085.9
20098.3
2010n/a

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

By engine

2.4L 4-cyl 8.7/10

About 67% fewer powertrain complaints than this generation's other engines, per vehicle built. (42 powertrain complaints, about 76,000 built) Complaints of a failed or replaced engine, transmission or drive unit run at a higher rate than this engine's complaints overall, so they pull the score down (10 against about 17 for similar vehicles).

3.6L 6-cyl 5.7/10

About 2.5 times as many powertrain complaints as this generation's other engines, per vehicle built. (101 powertrain complaints, about 59,000 built) Complaints of a failed or replaced engine, transmission or drive unit pull this score down: 32 against about 13 for similar vehicles.

3.5L 6-cyl 6.9/10

No clear difference from this generation's other engines. (23 powertrain complaints, about 15,000 built)

A complaint counts toward an engine only when its VIN names the engine. These are powertrain complaints only, so they are fewer than the engine-code counts further down, which take complaints of every kind. Each score is that engine on its own against similar vehicles, worked out the same way as the score above.

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

Every complaint of any kind (brakes, airbags, electrical and the rest) whose VIN names the engine, across all model years. The score above counts only engine, transmission and drivetrain complaints, so its figures for the same engine are smaller. Fire, injury and death figures count complaints that report one.

LY7

3.6L 6-cyl

220 complaints 73.3 per year Gasoline

9 fire reports

View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission

electrical

steering

engine

other

Same engine used in

GMC Acadia (2007-2016)CADILLAC STS (2005-2011)CADILLAC CTS (2003-2007)CADILLAC CTS (2008-2013)BUICK Enclave (2008-2017)BUICK LaCrosse (2005-2009)

+4 more

CHEVROLET Malibu (2008-2012)BUICK Rendezvous (2002-2007)CHEVROLET Equinox (2005-2009)CADILLAC SRX (2004-2009)

LE5

2.4L 4-cyl

167 complaints 55.7 per year Gasoline

4 fire reports 1 complaint reporting a death

View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering

electrical

transmission

body

other

Same engine used in

CHEVROLET HHR (2006-2011)CHEVROLET Cobalt (2005-2010)CHEVROLET Malibu (2008-2012)

Saturn Vue Unidentified Engine

79 complaints 39.5 per year

2 fire reports

View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical

steering

transmission

other

safety systems

LZ4

3.5L 6-cyl

53 complaints 26.5 per year Gasoline

View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission

electrical

steering

other

brakes

Same engine used in

CHEVROLET Malibu (2004-2007)CHEVROLET Impala (2006-2016)CHEVROLET Malibu (2008-2012)

Show 3 additional engine variants with limited data

These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

LAT

2.4L 4-cyl

9 complaints 4.5 per year Gasoline

View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical

transmission

safety systems

steering

engine

Same engine used in

CHEVROLET Malibu (2008-2012)

LH9

5.3L 8-cyl

1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline

View details

Complaint Breakdown

other

L61 ALUM

2.2L 4-cyl

1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline

View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Saturn Vue, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical System: 141 owner complaints

Transmission: 134 owner complaints

Steering: 125 owner complaints

Engine: 63 owner complaints

Safety Systems: 35 owner complaints

What to check on a used 2008-2010 Saturn Vue

On a used 2008-2010 Saturn Vue, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the electrical system (141), the transmission and drivetrain (134) and the steering (125). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-09. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints on the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue about the electrical system.
Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 134 owner complaints on the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue about the transmission and drivetrain, all engines combined.
Turn the wheel from lock to lock while parked, then drive straight on a level road with a light grip.Safety. NHTSA has 125 owner complaints on the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue about the steering.
Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 63 owner complaints on the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue about the engine, all engines combined.
Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 35 owner complaints on the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue about the airbags and driver-assist systems.

Open the full inspection checklist for the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue

Recalls (4)

09V233000Jun 25, 2009serious

Latches/Locks/Linkages

GM IS RECALLING 44,451 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES WITH BODY COLOR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES. THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES MAY STICK OR BIND. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DOOR MAY NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED.

08V616000Nov 24, 2008serious

Steering

GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.

08V470000Sep 17, 2008serious

Steering

GM IS RECALLING 42,408 MY 2008-2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.

08V200000May 5, 2008serious

Powertrain

GM IS RECALLING 26 MY 2008 SATURN VUE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6T70 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION CASE SIDE BORE THAT HOLDS THE PARK PAWL PIVOT PIN MAY HAVE A CASTING POROSITY. THIS CONDITION, COUPLED WITH NORMAL OPERATING STRESSES, COULD LEAD TO FAILURE, ELIMINATING THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE TRANSMISSION IN 'PARK' POSITION.

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall Not Rated

Frontal Crash

—

Side Crash

—

Rollover

4/5 (15.9% risk)

ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Overall Not Rated

Frontal Crash

—

Side Crash

—

Rollover

4/5 (15.9% risk)

ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Overall Not Rated

Frontal Crash

—

Side Crash

—

Rollover

4/5 (15.9% risk)

ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Overall Not Rated

Frontal Crash

—

Side Crash

—

Rollover

4/5 (15.9% risk)

ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

All Generations

1st2002-2007 2nd2008-2010

Alternatives in Compact SUV

1 engine / 3,730 complaints

7 engines / 1,695 complaints

Lexus

2015-2021

9.6/10

3 engines / 217 complaints

Lexus

2022-2025

9.6/10

4 engines / 114 complaints

2 engines / 31 complaints

3 engines / 153 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2008-2010 Saturn Vue complaints?

Owners have filed 530 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue. The systems they name most often are the electrical system, the transmission and the steering.

Is the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 530 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue have?

NHTSA has 530 owner complaints on file for the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2008-2010 Saturn Vue?

NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering some 2008-2010 Saturn Vue vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Saturn Vue?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the electrical system, the transmission and the steering, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Vue?

The 2010 Saturn Vue received an overall N/A-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: N/A stars. Side crash: N/A stars. Rollover: 4 stars (15.9% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 530 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-18.