Ask the Car People.SM


Saturn Vue Transmission Problems

403 messages,  Last post on May 15, 2013 at 8:44 AM

You are in the Saturn VUE Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saturn VUE, SUV

Messages Page 11 of 41

#100 of 403 2004 Saturn Vue by angryvueowner

May 10, 2011 (12:47 pm)

My story of problems is much like others. While taking off from a stop light, the transmission went out. I just had enough speed to make it to the center median. The car has not moved on its own since that day, January 2008!!!! It has been sitting in my parents driveway. 104,000 miles!!!
I was waiting on the settlement that was supposed to take place two years ago but got canceled. any idea if GM is fixing their bad transmissions? It went out while I still had payments on it and I had to roll the remaining balance on the note into a new car.
My daughter is getting ready to go off to college and needs a car, and I don't know whether to fix the VUE or not or to junk it. I think SATURN/GM should do something about this.
 
HELP!!

#101 of 403 saturn vue 2004 by vueowner90

May 13, 2011 (8:58 am)

Me and my mom saved up money to buy a car and we went and bought this car in a mechanics shop for 3500 and 118,000 miles. We thought it was a good buy the car looks brand new and when I drove it for a test drive nothing seemed wrong. Now the problems started showing up. I was driving it last week and all of a sudden it didn't want to move anymore it started making this noise when I would step on the the accelerator. I called GM and they told me to take it to a GM dealership and get it diagnosed. I took it and they told me that something that has to do with the transmission stopped working and its going to cost 4500 to fix it plus tax. I called GM customer service again and the representative told me that a specialist is going to call me in two days. The specialist called and told me that theres nothing they can do since I"m passed the 100,000 miles and he advised not to fix it either. The sad part I only got to drive it for two weeks I don't even have a month with it! So now I'm stuck with this car can't fix it or sell it. I'm so mad closed to tears because this is my first car and all the hard earned money went to waste. I cant pay to get it fixed because I'm in college and I have to pay my classes too. I'm don't know what to do all I know is I want to get rid of this car.

#102 of 403 Re: saturn vue 2004 [vueowner90] by 442dude

May 14, 2011 (10:04 am)

Replying to: vueowner90 (May 13, 2011 8:58 am)
Don't get it fixed - the VTi transmission in the 2002-2004 4 cylinder Vues has been a giant sized wart on Saturn/GM.
 
There is a wealth of information on the internet about the failures of this transmission. Search "saturn VTi transmission". Its always a good idea to check around on the internet before buying any car. I wish I had good news....Unfortunately, the place that sold it to you either didn't know or stuck you with it hoping that you wouldn't find out before you bought it....
 
Do you have a regular mechanic that you deal with? He won't be able to fix it but talk to him about it. If you can find a 2005-2007 Vue in a junkyard maybe he can do a transplant of sorts as they were different transmissions which were much more reliable and will bolt right up to your engine without modifications.. Or maybe convert it to a manual transmission which was available in 2004. Might be 1/4 the price of replacing the one that is in there now. There might be nothing that he can do but you won't find out till you ask. You might even have to talk to a couple of mechanics.
 
Here's a discussion about just such a project: link title
 
Search around that site - there's a wealth of Vue info there.
 
I've also read that for a while GM dealers were offering decent trade in value for Vues like yours with the problem transmission. I suppose it was a peace offering of sorts. Might want to check around at local dealers if that's something that would be doable for you.
 
Best of Luck...

#103 of 403 Re: vue trans [gmcustsvc] by neworleanslady

May 14, 2011 (10:23 am)

Replying to: gmcustsvc (Apr 14, 2011 2:06 pm)
I bought my Saturn VUE in 2003, new off of the car dealership lot and it has been really great to me. I have 63,322 miles on it and it lost power exiting off the interstate 40 mph. and my service engine soon light came on. I brought it to Custom Built Transmission 7525 Westbank Expwy in Marrero,La. on 10-28-10 and they told me that it would cost $2285.54 to replace main control valve body,remove and replace automatic transmission,transmission oil, and pan gasket. The computer gave a code P0971 P.C. Solenoid 3 control. I then took my Saturn VUE to Don Bohn Westbank 3801 Lapalco Blvd. in Harvey,La. on 01-09-11 and they said my vehicle was fine. I have not drove it since Jan. 2011 because it smells like something is burning up when I start the vehicle and drive just around the block. My husband has been out of work for the past 2 years and we cannot afford $2,285.54 to replace the transmission. Where can I go for help? My vehicle is paid for and I would like to keep it because I cannot afford any more bills at this time. Please tell me where to bring my vehicle for help? Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thank you

#104 of 403 Re: vue trans [neworleanslady] by gmcustsvc

May 16, 2011 (11:28 am)

Replying to: neworleanslady (May 14, 2011 10:23 am)
neworleanslady,
 
Could you please email me your VIN? I would like to look further into your situation.
 
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service

#105 of 403 2004 Saturn Vue Transmission problem by hny1161

May 16, 2011 (12:02 pm)

I purchased a 2004 Saturn Vue on Oct.25,2010. from a used car dealership that I was working at. The car had 79442 miles on it. When I asked about the car I was told by my boss (the owner) that the car was in great shape. He said it had a new battery, new tires, and a new transmission. I test drove the car and all seemed to be well with it. I did not take an extended warranty on the vehicle because he said everything he sold had a 3 month/3,000 mile warranty and since it had a new transmission it was under warranty for 12 months. Hindsight being 20/20 I wished I had never purchased this car. Within 2 weeks of owning the car the transmission began slipping, the warning light came on in the dash. I called him and explained my concern but he told me that this type of transmission just shifted differently and the light might be on for a number of reasons and he did not warrant engine light repairs as that is usually just some censor failing. I had less than 500 miles on the car at the time. He said just keep driving it it would be OK. I couldn't afford to take it in for repair anywhere else so I kept driving it. Eventually the shifting seemed to get better but the light did not go off. I called him again twice more in Dec 2010 and Jan 2011 the car had not reached the 3 month/ 3,000 mile limit at that time. I was put off and phone calls not returned. I was laid off Feb 4,2011 and tried to contact the owner to no avail. In March we took an extended road trip and the warning light went off but the car shook really bad jumping during shifting.When we returned home I called and spoke to the dealership owner who advised me the transmission was still warranted and to let him contact the person he had purchased it from and I could take it to him for repair. It was stll covered. I never got a phone call back and numerous attempts went unanswered.I was told he was out of town or some other excuse each time.The mileage on the car was 86,257 when we had to park it because it would not move.I did some research online and found there were known problem with this cars transmission. A rep from GM phoned me back and gave me a case #. She said I could take it to a GM dealer and the cost to replace the transmission would be $4000. and I would have to pay half. Again I tried the Dealer..no response. Then I went to the person who he bought the car from...a local automotive transmission repairman. There I was told the transmission was not warranted and he had put a used transmission in it before he sold it to the dealer.So now I have a car with a known problem made worse by so called professionals that I cannot drive. I am still obligated to pay the loan company which I cannot pay because I can't work because I have no transportation. My credit is being ruined. I spoke to an attorny who advised me to file a small claims suit. The maximum is only $3000. and that's not enough to repair ransmission or pay off the car. he then suggested to just tell the loan company to repo. What options do I have? Is there anything you can suggest? I can't afford a lawsuit but it seems that this car should not have been on the road with the known problems especially being sold at a licensed used car dealership.

#106 of 403 Re: 04 vue trans problem need answers [kthayer] by hny1161

May 16, 2011 (12:12 pm)

Replying to: kthayer (Nov 06, 2010 3:34 pm)
There is not a dipstick for the transmission. I found that out the hard way

#107 of 403 Re: saturn vue 2004 [vueowner90] by gmcustsvc

May 16, 2011 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: vueowner90 (May 13, 2011 8:58 am)
vueowner90,
 
You stated you spoke with GM Customer Service; do you have a case set up? If so, could you please email me the case number? I would like to look further into your situation.
 
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service

Messages Page 11 of 41

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement