Most common 2006 Saturn Vue problems
Share of the 300 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saturn Vue complaints by model year
Best Vue years: 2010, 2005, 2009. Years to avoid: 2003, 2008, 2007, 2006. Compare all years →
What 2006 Saturn Vue owners say
Electrical system all 103 →
ignition gets stuck with key and locks steering wheel, now it wont shut off all the way to left and kills my battery looks like there has been MANY ignition issues and recalls with saturns which this is pretty important to have working to drive and be safe esp as a female in this world ..getting stuck or with a dead battery isnt good $300-400 at a gmc to fix this issue I feel personally this should be considered a recall fix
The key can be removed from the vehicle while being driven. Also the ignition doesn't "click" off when vehicle is parked and key is removed causing the battery to drain. There have been several recalls for this issue but not with the 2006 year model. This is a dangerous problem and there are very limited resources to get it resolved.
Air bags all 93 →
The contact owned a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed under the 50 MPH speed limit, the vehicle slid on a patch of black ice; the contact was able to correct the vehicle. The contact stated that there was snow on the ground. Soon afterwards, the vehicle slid on another patch of black; the vehicle slid across the road and hit the embankment head-on. The vehicle went up the embankment and down to the ditch below, where the vehicle landed on the driver's side, where it came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. Afterwards, the contact and the contact's daughter stopped by the clinic. The contact suffered minor injuries to the chest caused by the seat belt. The contact had bruises across the chest. …
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 43,097.
Steering all 29 →
My car is very rusted out,underneath the body and no one will work on my car because they feel it's a hazard to drive and work on. I went to an iron works shop and mechanic said it's a common problem with Saturn Vue's,I took it back to where I bought it because they knew it before I bought it . All they wanted to do was put me ina sports car,my car is a hazard to drive it plus I have 1 more year to pay for it. Seems like something could be done about this
The ignition was locked and key wouldn't go in, to get it to unstick I put key in as far as it would go and noticed I could start it without the key being fully inserted. This happened a few times before but this was the first time I realized I didn't need the key to be in the ignition to start nor does it need to be in the ignition to drive. I was able to reproduce problem in driveway. I made a video but think only photos can be uploaded
2006 Saturn Vue engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Saturn Vue a good car?
Based on 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Vue rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Vue at the same age. It is one of the Vue years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Saturn Vue?
The electrical system — 103 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the air bags (93) and steering (29).
How many recalls does the 2006 Saturn Vue have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2006 Saturn Vue. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saturn Vue?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2005 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2008, 2007 and 2006. See the full Saturn Vue years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Saturn Vue problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.