Does the 2003 Saturn VUE have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2003 Saturn VUE, the most recent reported on August 8, 2014 (Electrical system: ignition). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Saturn VUE?

Owners have filed 622 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is power train (316 complaints), followed by electrical system (124).

How many 2003 Saturn VUE complaints mention a crash or fire?

29 of 622 complaints report a crash and 9 a fire; 27 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2003 Saturn VUE recalls and problems

1 recall and 622 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2003 Saturn VUE.

recalls

622

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2003 Saturn VUE recalls

Electrical system: ignition

NHTSA campaign 14V490000 · reported August 8, 2014 · General Motors LLC · 202,155 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Saturn Vue vehicles manufactured September 11, 2001, to April 6, 2004. In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the key can be pulled out when the ignition is off. If it can, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and keys, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14506. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Power train316
Electrical system124
Engine and engine cooling62
Suspension48
Steering45
Air bags41
Engine29
Structure23
Vehicle speed control21
Fuel system, gasoline20

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Sep 2, 2026 · Engine
This is more information related to Complaint 11761129: After online researching of other '03 2.2L Saturn Vue-owners stalling experiences, it appears that this vehicle has a long history of others like me: an unsafe, unpredictable stalling problem which carries no warnings or logging of error codes to trace the TRUE…

Aug 31, 2026 · Engine
Car stalled while driving in traffic …. Engine died. Warning lights ON. Restarted. Stalled 3 more times in traffic but luckily had space to pull off & engine restarted. Made it into my garage. Restarted, Check Engine Light was ON, but went OFF after time. Car would NOT move in gear. Retried several times. Presently…

Jul 14, 2026 · Electrical system · 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V490000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed the recall repair; however, the new ignition keys provided under the remedy failed to start the vehicle. The contact had to use the old key…

Dec 9, 2025 · Unknown or other
2003 Saturn Vue ignition switch. The switch was replaced under a recall with a switch that has the same defect; the key can be removed while the vehicle is in operation. The dealers refuse to replace it saying the car had the recall completed. They do not acknowledge the replacement has the same problem as the…

Feb 26, 2025 · Fuel system, gasoline · 110,000 miles · fire reported
The contact purchased a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that two days after purchasing the used vehicle, the vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood and from the gas tank…

VUE model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2002	2	167	13	5
2003	1	622	29	9
2004	2	276	23	5
2005	0	170	15	3
2006	0	300	18	6

Across all years, the 2003 VUE has the most complaints (622). All Saturn VUE years →

Questions

Does the 2003 Saturn VUE have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2003 Saturn VUE, the most recent reported on August 8, 2014 (Electrical system: ignition). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Saturn VUE?: Owners have filed 622 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is power train (316 complaints), followed by electrical system (124).
How many 2003 Saturn VUE complaints mention a crash or fire?: 29 of 622 complaints report a crash and 9 a fire; 27 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received September 2, 2026.