Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Saturn Vue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall. Brake failure. My brakes went out while I was making a right turn off a freeway exit ramp. I tried to brake and pushed the brake pedal to the floor but nothing happened. I had just had rotors and pads put on the vehicle that day. I struck two vehicles and the airbag did not deploy. I struck my head on the steering wheel and my left knee on the dashboard.
My dashboard warning light that traction control is disabled. The light comes on briefly when I take sharp left turns. The wheel-speed sensors, wires, connectors, control module and other components occasionally conk with intermittent problems. This has cause my reduce power when I drive it, using more gas.
Occasionally, sometimes frequently, (I can go a month without it happening), I step on the brakes and just before the final stop, there is a loud groaning sound and then the brakes let the car roll forward a little more before they grab for the final stop. I can feel the pedal pushing back against my foot. I hold constant pressure on the pedal, but the car still rolls forward slightly no matter how hard I push. Twice, the car has actually gone into an intersection several feet more than I expected it to. My husband was with me for one of those incidents. We have taken the car to the dealer for service several times. On each trip, they tell us there is nothing wrong with the brakes. We finally just told them to do a complete brake job and paid $500 for that work. Last week-end, it happened again. Can this be an example of the problem being investigated by NHTSA action number : pe05020?
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Saturn Vue. The contact was driving 10 MPH on a snow and ice covered road surface when he applied the brakes and the entire instrument panel illuminated. There was a complete loss of the power steering and brakes. The contact engaged the brakes several times before the vehicle stopped. When attempting to exit the front driver side door, the automatic door locks would not release. All of the interior door locks became inoperative. The contact was able to exit the front driver side door by applying excessive force with a hammer to the door lock mechanism. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they informed him that the failure was related to a computerized system malfunction. The technician attempted to repair the vehicle but to no avail. The failure mileage was 172,000.
2003 Saturn Vue (2.2l) fuel line failure driven in nw indiana - corrosion of line under the plastic sheath.that ended in perforation and steady drip of fuel. This fuel line connects the downstream side of the fuel filter to the engine fuel injection rail. Corrosion occurred within 2 feet of the filter. 1. Gasoline odor outside the vehicle when parked in one place for awhile up to 30 days prior to discovery. 2. After driving the vehicle a few miles and parking it, upon returning to it dampness and a steady drip of gasoline was seen dripping steadily. 3. All new replacement line was ordered and replaced. Vehicle has approx 30K miles and, curiously, shows a fair amount of undercarriage rust for its age and mileage. Brake lines also show some external rust. Old perforated fuel line still available.
While braking the vehicle vibrates significantly. The Saturn dealership in hickory, nc looked at the automobile and told me that there was nothing wrong with it. The problem continued to occur and I took the vehicle back to the Saturn place where this time they said the rotors of the vehicle were warped. When I had a local mechanic with more than forty years of experience to "turn" the rotors as suggested it was found that the diagnosis of warped rotors was correct, but the solution of "turning" the rotors wouldn't be able to fix the problem. I now am purchasing new rotors for the vehicle. Please note that there are less than fifty thousand miles on the vehicle and that there were no apparent reasons as to why this situation would occur.
Coming home after a 300 mile highway drive the ABS activated on dry pavement at the end of the off-ramp. This happened just as the car was coming to a stop. The brakes came on very hard and unexpectedly. The problem continued while driving home through residential areas. I shut car off at home then took it out again and the ABS activated hard and unexpectedly at every stop. I let the car sit the next day, Sunday, and took it in to dealer Monday. On the way to the dealer, the brakes operated normally. They could not find the problem. I've had cars with ABS for the past 8 years and never experienced this before. I am concerned about this happening again in heavy traffic and causing loss of control.
Cv joints were replaced at 22000 now againat 37000 I need to replace them. Front rotors were replaced at 22000 and again at 33000 timing belt at 20000 needed replacement I replaced the main computer controller in aug 2006. This car is a piece of crap and I will never buy a Saturn again I bought this brand new off the lot in jan 2003 and have had major things go wrong. I also need to now replace the tires ( dullers) at 37000 because I am hydroplanng all over the place.I had a loud sound from my passenger window that took 2 years to diagnosis and repair and the rear end was recalled and the cooling fan replaced at 24000.
My 2003 FWD Saturn Vue has had constant front-end, steering, and braking issues that could result in a crash. The Vue has 34,000 miles on it. Since 10,000 miles, it has been in the shop nearly every month for loose front end suspension parts, loose steering parts, loose brake parts, etc. The dealership claims they cannot duplicate the problems. Once they are duplicated for them, they claim to replace parts and that the issues are resolved, although there is little or no change in symptoms. The vehicle does not feel safe when driving it, and the current problems May result in a crash.
Dt: 2003 Saturn Vue. The front sway bar links and torsion bar have been replaced three times and the problem recurred. The suspension and steering made grinding sounds and the car handled differently. They were replaced on March 8, 2004, March 3 2005, and July 27, 2005. The vehicle has 29,000 miles on it. Saturn told the consumer to see the dealership about the problem. The ABS activated under normal braking conditions. The wiper switch was replaced due to a short. The steering shaft needed to be lubricated.
Brake complaints in other Vue years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2003 Saturn Vue?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Saturn Vue, 3% of the model year's 622 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Saturn Vue brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2003 Saturn Vue, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Saturn Vue brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles, and 53% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.