Window & Wiper complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While on a trip driving from central arkansas to wisconsin, the wiper motor went out and caused the front wipers to stop in the middle of the windshield. And of course this started happening while it was raining. There was no way for the wipers to go back down to their proper position. While in wisconsin I tried to schedule an appointment while the local certified Saturn dealership but they said it would be over a week before they could get me in. We had to drive all of the way back to arkansas with the wipers not working and stuck in the middle of the windshield, obstructing the view. The cost to have it fixed was over $500 and had to drive 1 hr away to get the car to the certified Saturn dealership.
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that the passenger's side windshield wiper was inoperable. Upon investigation, the contact self-diagnosed the vehicle with windshield wiper linkage failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the last 8-digits of the VIN were recognized as another make and model vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
The heating and ventilation is not functioning properly. This vehicle has automatic climate control. This same condition occurred under the extended warranty. The fan is able to be variably controlled for speed. The cold/hot selector does not change the temperature. The mode selector for the air distribution is stuck on vent mode. I have no heat or front defroster. The warranty fix was a computer re-flash the the h.v.a.c. Programmer. This has been ongoing for 7 days. Static or moving matters not. I do believe all motor vehicle ventilation systems should default to defroster mode! Regards, m4rk
While I was sitting in my car waiting for my daughter to get out of work, the car was running, when there was smoke pouring from the steering column. I immediately shut the car off and the smoke dissipated. This was 2 days ago and now my wipers do not work. My mechanic said that the air bag wires had caught fire and burned out the wipers.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the air conditioning and heater blower caused the front window of the vehicle to fog and freeze on several occasions. The contact was unable to see out of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the evaporator temperature sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.
I own 2 Saturn SUV and both have recently experienced cracking from road debris. The dealer stated it was not a stress crack. It would seem to me that quality of the glass was the problem. I have experienced this twice with my cars being driven by different drivers.
Air conditioning system stopped working. Electronic switch will not turn on blower motor for heat or cold. Causing it not to work and my car not able to drive in humid or raining conditions. Failure has not been corrected.
Dt: there was a problem with the windshield fogging up. This happens when the weather was very humid. Between the layers of glass there were stains. When the consumer took the vehicle to be repaired, they told him there was nothing they could do. The consumer had to turn the heat on to get the stain out. The incident occurred on July 4, 2005. There had been no accidents as of yet. (12/02/05) this problem would occur each day when it was hot and humid with or without the windows open.
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn Vue years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (20), 2008 (20), 2004 (7) and 2006 (6) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Saturn Vue window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof 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 window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles; 51% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the windshield wiper/washer (8 mentions), followed by the glass, side/rear (6).
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.