Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
' tamara recall' when coming to a stop, the brake pedal goes to the floor and sticks and when released the car darts away and makes it hard to stop. I have been in an accident because of this and have received two tickets because of the brakes .
While driving down road acceleration slowed, all instrument panel lights came on, loss full power steering & brake functions, no turn signals, brake lights, fuel gauge went to empty, messages on driver air bag, stabilitrak,tire air pressure,ABS, everything was flashing. All instrument panel lights were on, radio stopped, sudden increased acceleration then decreased again. I got pulled over to a parking lot (which was very hard with brake pedal going to floor & steering almost impossible), turned off car & removed key. Still had all (4) open door lights on and all the doors were shut. They stayed on more than 5 minutes before finally going off. I sat there 30 minutes before trying to start the car again. When I started it everything was working again as if it had reset itself. Yesterday August 31, 2015 was the third time this same thing has happened to me while driving at 45 MPH or more. …
I purchased a Saturn Vue 2008 automobile which was purchased on feb.18,2008. I've had two accidents with this vehicle, both due to brake failure. The first accident occurred on June 27,2008, at approximately 7:15 am. I was maneuvering my vehicle in a garage area when I stepped on the brake , the peddle went to the floor and the car crashed into the garage thus "stopping " the car, the car was moving 5-10 m.p.h. The second accident occurred on July 17, 2008 at 4:15 pm. I was 3 car lengths behind another vehicle traveling 25 m.p.h when I stepped on my brake peddle which "again" went down to the floor and I crashed into the car in front of me. My vehicle was towed to the Saturn dealer on the 17th of July 2008 and as of this date, August 26, 2008, Saturn still retains possession of my vehicle alleging to be having it repaired. …
Our 2008 Saturn Vue xe recently started locking up the ABS and brakes while driving. It happens in stop and go traffic and most frighteningly at freeway speeds. The vehicle will apply the brakes at will for no reason and the ABS and traction control indicators come on. We have had the vehicle serviced multiple times and we have replaced all brake hardware and the issue still exists. We have done countless hours of research and have found that hundreds of Saturn, Chevrolet, and commodore vehicles exhibit the same issues and general motors dealerships do not even have an answer. The vehicle brake issues render the vehicle inoperable and cause immediate slowness and inability to maneuver on the freeway when it locks up. We cannot use the vehicle and have exhausted all resources and options trying to fix the issue. It cannot be traded in with these issues either. …
Driving along at highway speeds had to avoid hitting a vehicle after being cut off. This resulted in using greater than usual brake forceat that moment, heard pop noise which came from rear of vehicle then vehicle veered to right at the same instant steering wheel started to move clockwise and counter clockwise rapidly. Had to bring vehicle under 35 MPH to get steering under control (almost lost control into cement barrier) when trying to accelerate back to speed limit vehicle vibrated violently for almost 2 miles until I was able to get off highway. When braking on off ramp vehicle veered to right ! Later that day had vehicle checked and tech found rear subframe bolt had lost its head (literally) appeared to be badly rusted below depth of subframe.. …
Tl contact owns a 2007 Saturn Vue. After purchasing the vehicle in July of 2007, the contact had to take the vehicle back to get a new one three hours later. When he took the vehicle to the dealer for 5,000 mile servicing, the dealer discovered a recall, informed the contact, and made the repairs. Within twenty days, the contact had to have three hybrid electrical wiring harnesses replaced, the entire vehicle was re-wired, and a new transmission was installed. All the instrument panel and air bag lights illuminated intermittently. The dealer stated that if the air bag light is illuminated, it is inoperable. On two separate occasions, the contact had to have the failures repaired again. The dealer stated that there was a new recall related to the emission, but they could not perform the repair. …
On my 2006 Saturn Vue I had to replace the entire front breaking system. Plus the master cylinder to the breaking system with less than 44,000 miles on the vehicle. The problem that there no warning system on it at all. The vehicle just stop and would not go at all. It just stop dead. Luckily I was not on the interstate when this happen, because I was just going and it just stop complete and would not move at all. To me that is a safety issue to me. I found out that they know about these issue with the breaking system do not want to do anything about them either. That it involves vehicles from 2004 -2009. Because of them using cheaper products.
Hitting 2 deer going 60 miles an hour and the passenger air bag never opened. The red light for passenger airbag has been on since we purchased the vehicle. We also have problems with electrical being the dashboard lights always flicker and the left side lights and blinker do the same. We also have had problems with the ignition being the key will not turn over, we have to be very patient and after quite sometime it will finally work after you remove the key several times and try try again. We have had to have brakes done numerous times at least twice a year. I sure do not understand why this vehicle was not on the recall list.
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn Vue years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (22), 2003 (21), 2006 (13), 2004 (10) and 2009 (10) model years. Brake complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Saturn Vue brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for any Saturn Vue model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Saturn Vue brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 43% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the foundation components › disc › rotor (10 mentions), followed by the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5).
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.