VUE strut noises

[RojoVue]

Very new to the Saturn community, having recently purchased a VUE, red, V6 AWD, most options except OnStar and sunroof. I installed the brush guard, mud flaps, rear wind deflector and cargo cover myself, all pretty straight forward and easy installations. We really liked the looks of the VUE and the couple of test drives we took, as well as the reputation we've heard about Saturn, which helped influence our purchase.

However, the odometer just turned 200 miles and I have an appointment tomorrow morning to have the front struts and exhaust checked out. When turning the steering wheel there is a clicking, groaning sound from the left side while turning left and from the right side when turning right. There is also an occasional exhaust rattle from the tailpipe area while stopped at intersections. I drove to the dealer yesterday but there are no mechanics with VUE training available on Saturday. (Makes us wonder about that sales pitch of having service hours available on Saturdays). The service manager could hear the strut noise from outside the vehicle, but we couldn't replicate the exhaust rattle right then. In the meantime the service manager recommended just turning the radio up really loud.

We're truly hoping this all can be rectified quickly and remain so. This is our first true American car purchase since 1978. We got rid of a '99 Toyota Sienna XLE (although a Japanese brand, it's built in Kentucky) before purchasing the VUE. We kinda gave up on American cars way back in the late '70s because of poor quality and reliablity. Will post back after the service appointment.

[sweet2002sc2]

If they can't figure it out, have them check the upper strut mounts, we have had 1 at our retail facility that had the same concern, and we changed the left upper strut mount.

Hope this helps!

[ricksLS1]

Hopefully you get this fixed to your liking. If someone who did their own modifications like this wanted to use the 30 day 1,500 mile return policy would Saturn do it? How would it be handled?

[wild&scenic]

I have a VUE with about 300 miles, and have also noticed a squeaking noise from the driver's side rear shock/strut. It occurs when travelling slow over bumps etc. You can push up and down on the rear bumper and replicate the noise. Is this something typical that will go away once it is broken in, or do I need to have the dealer take a look at it?

[ricksLS1]

I would get it checked out. Little noises can turn into big problems.

[RojoVue]

I just received word from the Saturn service department that both of the upper strut mountings are the source of the frontend noise in our new VUE. They called engineering at Saturn and where informed that Saturn is aware of this issue and is working on a fix, although no estimate as to timeframe has been established. Saturn also told the service department replacing the mounts at this time is not advisable as the probability of the noise recurring is quite high. They don't believe there would be any problem to go ahead and continue driving it.

They also concede that the fix will come well after the 30 day return policy passes. We have no plans to exercise that right as we bought the car because we truly liked it and hope to keep it for a few years. It drives well and we feel it fits our needs. The dealer also said my consumer added options do not affect the 30 day return policy. I just wouldn't get reimbursed for my labor.

So, although the service manager's original suggestion to just crank the radio up was tongue-in-cheek, it now seems to be his best suggestion.

The rattling tailpipe problem we had 'could not be duplicated' by the service department. It was raining when we first noticed the rattle. Today's dry and relatively warm and, of course, no rattle.

As an aside, I've often wondered how manufacturers (and not just Saturn) can extensively test drive new vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles, in every conceivable condition on every type of road surface before offering them for sale to the public, and it only takes the consumer a few miles to begin finding problems.

[BobL]

Simple answer - they don't properly test.

Learned that with my 2000 LS.

Hope this isn't like the infamous "L" series steering wheel vibration at 70-75 mph. Many fixes but lots of early "L's" still have the vibration to a lesser degree.

[Qlara]

Sometimes the switch of parts suppliers may also contribute the problem too. The Test/Prototype vehicle may not using the same components as in the mass production one. It's very difficult to catch everything just with the prototype only, but will be expensive to spot-check the production cuz it's already too late. Guess that's what TSB and newer model years for, to wash out those bugs with volumn and time.....

Strut mount noise will eventually show up after years of driving, very typical on Saturn cars. But your VUE is just too early to show that sign of aging though....

[ricksLS1]

As anyone who reads this board should know don't buy a first year vehicle unless you have or want time spend time getting things fixed (Hopefully). I guess everyone has to learn the hardway. Some people have to be the 1st with everything. This is the price you pay. I wonder if they all do it? If not you can take the 30 day 1,500 mile turn in. That's your choice .

[RojoVue]

I suspect the strut problem relates to Saturn nickle-and-diming the cost from the vendor for the strut mounts down to save a few cents on production costs. The vendor in turn, with agreement from Saturn Engineering, supplied a mount using lesser grade materials than what were tested on the prototypes.

Saturn undoubtedly has the fix in hand to this issue but there's a lot of explaining, excuses and fingerpointing going on throughout management to warrant using the more expensive, original mount. That mount is not in the marketing plan and fixed costs of production. They are also busy trying to determine how to recoup the cost incurred thru TSB and which department is going to eat that cost.

I'm not quite a greenhorn at buying cars. Yes, I am very aware of the perils of first year cars. We did not purchase the VUE with the intention of being the first on the block. I don't particularly view (no pun intended) this car as a to-die-for sort of vehicle. It seemed like a reasonably nice car that fits our immediate needs. If we had been trying to impress people we would have been better off to have bought the BMW X-5. We decided to save the $18,000 price difference so as to add another stall to our garage. One can never have too many toys. My wife is also very fond of the VUE and the much smaller car payments.

I do have to admit that we have dodged the first model year curse in the past, having purchased a 1990 VW Corrado G60, a 1993 Volvo T5R wagon and a 1997 BMW 528i, all first years of introduction. All were very good cars, especially the Volvo (after the modified ECM and Brembo brakes). So there is a chance our Saturn could break our lucky streak. Our VUE is going to be a severe duty vehicle as far as oil changes are concerned, because it will probably be driven about 7,000 miles annually. Unless it does, indeed, spend an inordinate amount of time in a service bay at my friendly dealer.

[Qlara]

Is it just Saturn or other GM cars also suffering the first year model bugs wash down? It's hard for those first on the block buyers, but as long as Saturn keeps responsive enough in debugging the new models, those buyers were actually our heros.

[wmacblue]

I appear to have a strut mount glitch, too... The steering started making a noise like plastic rubbing when the wheel was turned; it was intermittent and didn't affect the handling at all. The car has just turned 2K miles.

They actually showed me the problem while it was taken apart - -I'm a bit of a car tech dolt, so I'm not sure I entirely understood what the exact problem is but I could SEE what was making the noise: the top of the strut spring is pressing into the rubber ring where it meets whatever it is it attaches to... when it "catches", it makes the rubbing noise. The mechanic said that the to of the spring should be fractionally shorter (mis-machining?). Again, pleaes realise that these are car-idiot impressions of what was being said/shown to me, so I may be misunderstanding things terribly!

I dont' know what they've done to adjust it, but they kept it overnight because they had to wait for a part. I'll try to find out exactly what they've done when I pick it up tomorrow.....

Have to praise the dealer again, though: did everything to timetable as promised, and gave me a loaner car the second they knew they'd have to keep it into the afternoon. They live up to the reputation!


As for the first year thing, it's quite simple: nothing to do with being "first on the block", and everythign to do with the VUE being the vehicle that best fit our needs at the best price. Nothing more or less.

[pkschul]

Hmmmm....
My wife just called me when she got to work. She said that she noticed a "rubbing" sound from the front of the car whenever she made a left turn. Our VUE has just over 1,000 miles on it now. I wonder if this is the same problem. Please share details about the strut problems when you find out. I've already used my 30 day money back guarantee for a replacement so I'm screwed if this turns out to be a major problem.

Paul

[davidjw]

Hello,

I have a VUE with almost 1000 miles on it, and I notice a loud pop from the right front when turning left. I'm assuming that this is the infamous strut problem that everyone is talking about, but my question is this:

-Is it limited to just the front struts?
-Is it limited to just the right side when turning left? (I get no noise from the left side, or when I turn to the right)

So, the answers to these questions will tell me whether I need to insist on having more than just that one strut worked on, when I eventually end up taking it in for repair.

Other than this, I love the VUE. I have the 4cyl/5-speed Sport Package, and am extremely happy with it.


Thanks,

David Wagner
Cincinnati, OH

[davidjw]

Oh, it's me again....

One other thing...

People describe the sound as a "rubbing" sound...mine is a definite and loud POP. Is this even the strut which is at fault here?

What are your thoughts?


Thanks,

David

[billchez]

I`ve noticed that all of you seem to have a noise from the front . I just got my VUE and it just hit 150 miles and while I was driving in the bank parking lot the horrible creaking noise was coming from rear passenger . It creaked over bumps & at the light when I drove off so I got out and pushed down on rear bumper and it creaked. Do you think that`s strut noise??? I even pushed down on rear bumper before I bought it and no noise ,now it`s driving me nuts.I ask old Gary from Saturn if he heard about the strut problem but he said he did know of any.. I guess I`ll take it in monday whis me luck

[BobL]

Was at dealer today with my SL1. Discussed VUE issue with some of the service team. They think they've got it cured on the VUEs they've seen for this glitch.

These guys are top notch techs and can probably do better than the factory engineers.

Hopefully, will be fixed soon not like the infamous "L" steering wheel vibration at highway speeds (i Still have it to a small degree after all TSB's were done). If the techs at my dealer can't fix it, nobody can.

[Badger_Vue]

I'm awaiting delivery of my Vue and these posts have been enlightening. I'll have to spend my first 30 days minus the sound system so I can detect all the creaks, clunks and squeaks! Perhaps the test vehicles Saturn uses should have any radios removed so the drivers pick up on odd noises.

Hopefully I won't have to face that decision, but the info about owner installed accessories and the return policy is interesting. I have been considering purchasing an extended warranty as a safeguard for the first production year blues, but rather than spend another grand, I think I'll treat the Sport package savings as my buffer.

I agree that finding a good dealer with innovative techs is often a better option than waiting for the factory to come up with a solution.
Keep on sharing your tips and information!