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2003 Saturn VUE Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026

200Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints
32.3%Of all 619 complaints
#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION200 · 32.3%
POWER TRAIN88 · 14.2%
STEERING30 · 4.8%

Share of the 619 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Saturn VUE overview page.

What owners report

“SECOND COMPLAINT: ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE WORK, AT BUSY INTERSECTION ATTEMPTED TO PULL INTO INTERSECTION. VUE HESITATED, DROPPED ALL POWER, RPM'S STUCK AT ABOUT 4000 AGAIN…”NHTSA complaint 10086295 — filed 08/06/2004
“FIRST MY ENGINE BLEW BECAUSE SATURN DID NOT PUT OIL BACK INTO MY VUE DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE NEXT MY CONTROL COMPUTER IN THE…”NHTSA complaint 10082877 — filed 07/28/2004
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE COMMENCED TO LOSE POWER FROM 50 MPH TO LESS THEN 5 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOW TO THE DEALER, WHO…”NHTSA complaint 10081548 — filed 07/08/2004

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

15200328200492005820061220073320083020094220102120111201212014

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Saturn VUE have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 2003 Saturn VUE: 200 of 619 complaints on file (32.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Saturn VUE have in total?

619 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 27 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.