Don't buy 2002-2005 Vue

[jprice30]

Don't buy 2002-05 Saturn Vue or Ion! VTI transmission failure expected by GM but no recall issued. I have a 2003 Vue with 67k miles that is now worth scrap metal because I cannot afford the $5500 rebuilt transmission. My car is only worth $6500. I never received written notification or was notified by the Saturn Dealership during routine maintenance. I cannot afford a new car payment; which is why I took care of my Vue - so I wouldn't have to. GM lost class action to replace these transmissions but filed for bankruptcy and received government (taxpayer) bailout before owners notified. Class action re-filed with "new" GM to compel to provide owners with relief.

[Leonard1818]

We can all understand and sympathize with you. It stinks.

BUT... One thread is sufficient to alert us (the forums) to the issue.

AND... You're a little late... Almost everyone on these forums knows of the issues with the VTI transmission. As I said in your other thread, all it took was a quick google search of "Saturn Vue Problems" and I was made aware of the issue/models effected and was able to avoid it.

I'm sorry about your vehicle, I hope you get it worked out.

[VTchemist]

I have a 2003 V6 AWD. It is not a VTi.

I am quite happy with my 03. It has 134,000 miles on it.

[surfstar]

Learn to drive a stick. My '05 2.2L should go a long time without any transmission problems.

I agree it does suck for original owners who bought VTi's before any reliability reports came out. GM should have extended the warranty on them to 100k miles and sucked it up.

[Leonard1818]

Originally Posted by surfstar

GM should have extended the warranty on them to 100k miles and sucked it up.

Yeah, especially since it really would have come out of uncle sams pocket eventually anyway...

[XRL]

Originally Posted by surfstar

Learn to drive a stick. My '05 2.2L should go a long time without any transmission problems.

I agree it does suck for original owners who bought VTi's before any reliability reports came out. GM should have extended the warranty on them to 100k miles and sucked it up.

They did. People still weren't satisfied. Go figure.

[neilpilot]

Originally Posted by jprice30

I have a 2003 Vue with 67k miles that is now worth scrap metal because My car is only worth $6500.

I'm surprised that it's worth $6500; you should be happy with that. Scrap value isn't much above $250.

[mikec]

Wasn't GM giving 5K trade in of VTi Vues towards something else? I'd check into that. Your only other alternative is to junk it, trade it in or park it in the worst part of town unlocked and pray that it gets stolen.

[youknowme]

Why can't he just pop in the manual transmission? There's gotta be plenty available in the junk yards. No computer issues that way.

[Jess Lookin]

My wife and I love her 02 V6 AWD. I believe the 4 bangers were the only ones with the VTI.

[Vue in Ontario]

Originally Posted by Jess Lookin

My wife and I love her 02 V6 AWD. I believe the 4 bangers were the only ones with the VTI.

Yeah, title is very misleading should read 4 cylinder automatic Vue from those years.

If you bought yours new, or before all the problems started I feel for you, you really got the shaft.
However, those people who have bought them used in the last couple of years and then come here and ask after the fact if there is anything to worry about......well I don't have quite the same level of sympathy, when buying a used car you must do your homework FIRST.

[col_dude190]

Originally Posted by Vue in Ontario

Yeah, title is very misleading should read 4 cylinder automatic Vue from those years.

If you bought yours new, or before all the problems started I feel for you, you really got the shaft.
However, those people who have bought them used in the last couple of years and then come here and ask after the fact if there is anything to worry about......well I don't have quite the same level of sympathy, when buying a used car you must do your homework FIRST.

AMEN. I have never understood why people always wonder if they made a good vehicle choice AFTER they buy it.

I always at minimum do a google search for problems before I buy any used vehicle. Considering it takes virtually no time and it can save you a world of problems down the road, there is no reason to not research before you buy.

[andyr13]

We purchased a 2003 VUE with VTI and we didn't have it long. We only put 19K on ours before we starting having issues (well documented on these forums). Our transmission blew up once and IMO was on the way out again. But the lemon laws really do protect the auto makers. Unless the dealership says you have an issue you don't have any. We took a hit and traded it for a 2004 5 speed VUE. We still have it and it has 178K on it and still going strong. The only unexpected repair we have had was when the ICM went out but that was due to my lack of maintenance when we didn't get our 100K tuneup.

So the 75K warranty on the VTI is no longer valid?

[XRL]

Originally Posted by col_dude190

AMEN. I have never understood why people always wonder if they made a good vehicle choice AFTER they buy it.

I always at minimum do a google search for problems before I buy any used vehicle. Considering it takes virtually no time and it can save you a world of problems down the road, there is no reason to not research before you buy.

When we bought the Outlander I went in knowing more about the vehicle than the salesman (not a hard thing to do). When we took our extended test drive and went to IKEA, I was on my phone looking up everything I could about the car and what issues it could have.

We liked the car, I found no major issues to worry about, and so we bought it.

[jnuss2000]

Saturn sent out letters about the transmissions and the extended warranty on them. Not sure if the extended warranty has lapsed, but the GM dealers should know about it. We got one on my Vue and my son got one on his Ion.

[ejscarfo]

I'd always wanted a Vue, but wasn't in the mood to pay for the V6 or deal with the AWD. I wanted utility and fuel economy so that meant 4cyl and FWD. I did my google search and found the Vue's I was interested in had tranny problems so when I came across my 04 with a 5spd, I jumped on it. Its great fun to drive, gets double the mileage of my old Exploder and hopefully will last.

[Leonard1818]

Originally Posted by ejscarfo

I'd always wanted a Vue, but wasn't in the mood to pay for the V6 or deal with the AWD. I wanted utility and fuel economy so that meant 4cyl and FWD. I did my google search and found the Vue's I was interested in had tranny problems so when I came across my 04 with a 5spd, I jumped on it. Its great fun to drive, gets double the mileage of my old Exploder and hopefully will last.

What's there to "deal with" in regards to the AWD? (Besides better go in the snow)

[vuefrommidwest]

Couldn't you just swap in the 4 speed hydramatic?
There are plenty of these in salvage yards.. looks like it wouldn't cost any more to do this than to buy a rebuilt...probably lmuch less if you have a good independent mechanic...

[Midnight13]

I knew I wanted a Vue...but I did my research first, and had a buddy that worked for Saturn and he shared his experiences with the reasons they came in for repairs.

The Honda powertrain was the only way i'd go. being in NY, i just need the AWD, too. It took a good month of looking at online inventories and driving around to find the one I did. And for the price, I bought it, and brought it home the same day I went!

I've gotta say i'm extremely happy with it. I knew of the front end creaks, but there are worse issues with other vehicles, and I've been replacing what I have to as it's got 121K now, and want it to last longer.

It's been a pretty cheap fixes, up until the point i've been lately, but that was another mechanics fault, and i opted to pull it out that shop and take it somewhere else and start over. $400+ for my Vue to finally be done, and done right!

[gumbyrun]

WE bought a 2003 new with the VTI while living in South Carolina. My oldest daughter now has it and it has about 130k. At 98k or so, she said the tranny was cting up and took it to the dealer. Guess what. No problem found. Now it is toasy and the local trans shoip quoted her 4k to fix it.
I contacted Saturn cust service via email and got a phone call in less than 24 hours. I was told that there is a "special department" handling these claims. Its possible they will cover 50%, even at 130K, assuming the dealer she took it to logged the repair order in the computer. Time will tell.
The woman in customer service was very polite and personable. Time will tell.