2008 Saturn Vue
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 123 of 417 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 312 in 2007 to 417 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,300 | 2,400–3,300 | 2,250–3,650 | 2,250–3,450 | 2,250–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–23 | 19–26 | 17–28 | 18–28 | 19–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–20 / 23–27 | 17–23 / 23–29 | 15–25 / 22–32 | 16–27 / 23–32 | 16–25 / 23–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–468 | 342–468 | 317–523 | 317–494 | 317–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 300 | 312 | 417 | 125 | 6 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 18 | 11 | 17 | 8 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Saturn Vue have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Saturn Vue?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 123 of 417 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Saturn Vue get?
EPA rates it 17–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Saturn Vue?
EPA estimates $2,250–$3,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 19 mpg | 26 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg | 22 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg | 22 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 25 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 52 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 123 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 94 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| Brakes | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 87 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 35 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 18 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 48 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · Campaign 09V233000 · Jun 25, 2009
Defect: 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.
Consequence: DRIVING WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES WITH CHROME DOOR HANDLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS · Campaign 08V470000 · Sep 18, 2008
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A FLUID LEAK, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT. IF A FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT, DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT AND CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 08V200000 · May 6, 2008
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN ITS PATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .