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Saturn Vue Transmission Problems

405 messages,  Last post on May 28, 2013 at 10:13 AM

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What is this discussion about? Saturn VUE, SUV

Messages Page 29 of 41

#275 of 405 2004 Saturn Vue Transmission, Any Help Available? by usedcarqueen

Apr 05, 2012 (4:30 pm)

By the looks of this forum, I probably don't have a leg to stand on. I recently purchased this vue from a private owner. Ran perfectly fine no problems. Today, I went to back out of a parking space and it felt like I ran over something. Now reverse does not work at all. I paid $3000 for this vehicle and feel like a fool. Based on all the information I'm reading it looks like I will have to try to come up with over $3500 to replace the transmission. Really ticked. Any suggestions?

#276 of 405 Re: Saturn Problems [ajjones1322] by gmcustsvc

Apr 06, 2012 (7:03 am)

Replying to: ajjones1322 (Apr 05, 2012 1:42 pm)
ajjones1322,
Thank you for your post. What is your VIN and current mileage? Have you spoke with your dealer regarding this concern? Please feel free to email me directly.
Christina
GM Customer Service

#277 of 405 2004 V6 Redline Tranny Issues by 94mark94

Apr 06, 2012 (7:19 am)

Our Vue seems to be running fine since having the transmission replaced but if it was replaced with the same defective TQ and program mapping won't I have the same issue down the line?
 
I finally got to talk to my CSR at GM the other day and GM is not willing to help any further and I asked why the 2004 Vue's are not part of the recall on the TQ. He really had no information for me and just gave me the basic line about recalls being VIN specific and based on the parts and the assembly plants.
 
He said the TQ in the 2004 Vue is most likely a different part compared to the 2005-2007 models. To me that doesn't make much sense since the equipment came from Honda so the engine and transmission would be exactly the same.
 
Just frustrated knowing that we had a perfectly good transmission before and our issue may have been solved if we were part of the recall and just changed the transmission fluid. It could have saved me $3,200.
 
This car was my first and only American product I have owned and I went against my better judgement buying it but my wife loved it. While it has been relatively good to us, it will be my last GM purchase. We're just not happy with how this all played out and why we aren't included in recall notifications if we have the same exact car and equipment. As seen throughout the thread, there are many 2004 owners that have issues with the V6 TQ.

#278 of 405 2004 V6 Redline Tranny Issues by 94mark94

Apr 06, 2012 (7:28 am)

Our Vue seems to be running fine since having the transmission replaced but if it was replaced with the same defective TQ and program mapping won't I have the same issue down the line?
 
I finally got to talk to my CSR at GM the other day and GM is not willing to help any further and I asked why the 2004 Vue's are not part of the recall on the TQ. He really had no information for me and just gave me the basic line about recalls being VIN specific and based on the parts and the assembly plants.
 
He said the TQ in the 2004 Vue is most likely a different part compared to the 2005-2007 models. To me that doesn't make much sense since the equipment came from Honda so the engine and transmission would be exactly the same.
 
Just frustrated knowing that we had a perfectly good transmission before and our issue may have been solved if we were part of the recall and just changed the transmission fluid. It could have saved me $3,200.
 
This car was my first and only American product I have owned and I went against my better judgement buying it but my wife loved it. While it has been relatively good to us, it will be my last GM purchase. We're just not happy with how this all played out and why we aren't included in recall notifications if we have the same exact car and equipment. As seen throughout the thread, there are many 2004 owners that have issues with the V6 TQ.
 
The car has always been noisey in the front end and we burn through brakes like their nothing. I never understood why a truck this size and that has a 256 HP engine has drum brakes in the rear. We replace rotors and pads at least once a year, sometimes 2 times a year. We've had to have the wheel bearings replaced at our expense, multiple wiring harness connections associated to the ABS system, the AC compressor went and while the dealership was replacing the transmission, they went to remove the sway bar and endlinks in the front, and the endlinks just completely fell apart in the techs hands. Makes me feel real good knowing that my wife and 2 little girls travel in this 80 miles each day...
 
Tech said that the endlinks also are known to go bad in these, they eat through wheel bearings and brakes also. If these are common problems, shouldn't GM address them?
 
Again, I will not buy GM again in the future because I feel since Saturn is gone, GM really doesn't care. I don't want to take a chance again in the future when that division of GM might dissolve or GM as a whole may go under and I'll be left with no support once again.
 
Sticking to the foreign cars which have always treated me well.

#279 of 405 Re: 2004 Saturn Vue 3.5 L V6 FWD Transmission? [12eign] by 442dude

Apr 06, 2012 (8:08 am)

Replying to: 12eign (Apr 04, 2012 3:39 pm)
Your Vue has a Honda engine and Honda 5 speed transmission...its not a VTi - they were only in the 4 cylinder models...
 
I'm really surprised that you're having this kind of problem with the Honda engine, they're typically really good...
 
Good Luck

#280 of 405 Saturn Vue 2003 2.2 vti by vueowner99k

Apr 13, 2012 (4:08 pm)

Add me to the list of people regretting buying this car.... second owner just shy of the 100k mark on mileage, just had a quote given to me by a local shop for over 4k to repair the transmission. my symptoms was what I could only describe as a whirring grinding noise that tended to get loudest while downshifting.... around the 20 mile per hour range while decelerating. I had bought this vehicle from a private owner just 8 months prior and loved it, but obviously didn't see all the warnings on forums about this vehicle. it is still running but could go at any time. the shop I took it too even showed me an opened transmission they had been working on for a while, as the owners son has the same model on the lot right now for the same reason. I have researched the recall but fear that I wont get any assistance in the the repairs. I will be contacting the dealership in the am, hopefully someone will have compassion and help me out with this. I just fear to sink the money into the repairs when there is no guarantee the transmission will even go another 30k miles befor needing to be replaced again

#281 of 405 Re: Saturn Vue 2003 2.2 vti [vueowner99k] by gmstinks

Apr 15, 2012 (10:03 am)

Replying to: vueowner99k (Apr 13, 2012 4:08 pm)
Good luck with the dealer...I am on my second transmission and the dealer said that GM will not replace it...they did however offer me 3000.00 off a NEW car which is pretty much BS because I don't want a car payment I want my car fixed! So I can either pay for a new transmission myself or take their deal or get away from GM all together and go buy a used vehicle made by a company that is willing to stand behind their vehicles. You would think that a company who took government bail out money and filed for bankruptcy would be a little more concerned about their reputation...guess not. Use your money to buy something dependable and stay away from GM!

#282 of 405 Re: Saturn Vue 2003 2.2 vti [vueowner99k] by msfits

Apr 21, 2012 (4:18 pm)

Replying to: vueowner99k (Apr 13, 2012 4:08 pm)
We too are on our 2nd tranny and the check engine light had been on and it wasn't shifting when hot. It would also not drive in drive at times. Somebody suggested to add 14oz of Lucas Transmission Additive and after being told the only thing we could do was put in a new tranny at $4-5K, we were willing to try it. It seems to have helped somewhat. The light is now not on all the time and it has only been hesitating in drive once in a while - almost always when it is hot or we have done several short trips. Might be coincidence or luck but we are just happy we seem to have some extra time to decide what to do. We already know we aren't going to spend the money on a new transmission but debating whether to try to sell it now. We don't want a car payment and had planned on having this car for years.

#283 of 405 Re: Saturn Vue 2003 2.2 vti [msfits] by bismarck318

Apr 27, 2012 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: msfits (Apr 21, 2012 4:18 pm)
ajjones1322 & vueowner99k do you have the Honda V6 Powertrain or the the I4 CVT setup? msfits I didn't not any change with the Lucas product, unless it was that subtle of a change.
 
Both of these seemed to be a fail with engineering & durability issues.
 
For those of you with the Honda V6 you are likely not going to get anything out of GM. I stress change (or displace the 4.8 quarts) of transmission fluid religously on a yearly basis with a Honda Z1 approved fluid! This is not a hard procedure for the do it yourselfer & can cost under $20 depending where you get the fluid from.
 
GM did NOT specify the correct service interval on this & the PCM programming only made the fluid wear issue worse.
 
I to do not want a car payment, as I'm one of the long term unemployed.. a shame GM is farming out it's CS overseas.
 
94mark94, good to hear it's running well, a shame you spent needless $$!
 
I will return to a foreign car on my next purchase.

#284 of 405 Second transmission in 2 years by booklover1

May 02, 2012 (6:18 pm)

I purchased a 2003 Vue and have had 2 transmissions. I had the last one installed just 2 years ago and it has 34000 miles. It will run really nice but only in reverse. Why was I never informed about the "soft recall"? If I had been I would have sold it before this issue came up. I always thought Saturn was a quality vechicle. I have owned 3 and the Vue is the only one I am having major issues with. Got a call into GM customer service since the dealership that installed the last transmission won't do anything.

Messages Page 29 of 41

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