28th Mar 2008, 21:40

I've got a 2002 Vue (4 cyl manual) and I have 131,000 miles on it. I bought it used with 29,000 miles on it. I have had no real problems. I change the oil religiously, drive it reasonably (that doesn't mean slow, but I don't abuse it either), and I never wash it!

It has the original brakes... has some minor brake shudder, but it's done that for 100,000 miles. It uses no oil, gets 24 to 29 mpg... can't complain at all.

The interior is cheap, the seats stain easily, but for the money, it's hard to beat.

This is the first Saturn I've own, and only bought it because a good friend worked at the dealership and someone he knew traded it in. I have no doubt it'll brake 200,000 without a problem. Pretty good for a first model year vehicle!!!

31st Mar 2008, 07:52

I have a 2002 Saturn Vue I just bought a few days ago 4cylinder) No problems drives nice and great gas mileage, I am about to go over 100,000 miles!

14th Apr 2008, 17:44

April 15, 2008...I have a 2003 Saturn VUE (109,000 miles.) My transmission just went out. I know that the transmission is out of warranty but it is sure disheartening to learn that a 5 yr. old car is not drivable anymore. I looked up the trade-in value on a 2003 VUE, in fair condition, was valued at $4,400. The local Saturn dealership wants to charge me $7,000 to install a new transmission, which I think is downright unfair. Putting $7,000 on a $4,400 vehicle is unspeakable and a waste of money on a vehicle that old. The Saturn Corp. knows of the challenges with the CVT transmission and yet they want to stick their customers with an outrageous fee to install a new transmission. I was also told by someone who had faced the same challenges with her VUE, that all she was offered was a $1,500 trade-in on a new vehicle. When I was told about the $7,000, which I could not afford on a car that was valued so low, I sought the help from private mechanics who thought they could guarantee a rebuilt transmission, only to find out weeks later that the CVT transmission cannot be rebuilt.

When I called the Saturn HELP line I was never told that the transmission could not be rebuilt. I have talked to numerous associates trying to get help with the transmission.

Now, because I went to other than the dealership, Saturn will not even consider my problem.

When I called Saturn at the onset of my problem no other explanation was offered. There was no explanation that the transmission could not be rebuilt or a used one could be installed.

I hope through this posting of my problem with my 2003 Saturn VUE, I will be able to help someone from going through the nightmares I have been faced with.

Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

..."D" in Tn.

30th Apr 2008, 17:24

I have a 2002 Vue AWD V6 Automatic. No problems to report yet, but I am concerned because I bought the car with 70 miles.

Now, I wonder if it is better trade the car now to save money later, or just drive it until breaks.

2nd Jul 2008, 12:10

I too have at 2002 V-6 AWD Saturn Vue. It's been a reliable vehicle, but a noisy one. During the first year, I found the steering quite loose and complained regularly to the service techs. I was told that this was normal. Before my car was a year old, I had to replace a tire. The cause, the car was not in alignment. Once they fixed that, the loose steering was gone. When I asked Saturn to cover the tire since I had raised this as an issue, they would not and blamed it on me as the driver.

I've made sure that it's had all it's regular maintenance, which is the first time I've done this with a new vehicle. I've never spent so much on a car in all the years I've had a vehicle. Recently I thought my tires were giving me trouble, since the road noise was quite loud, but I've been told that 3 of the wheel bearings need replacing. That's an expensive venture. It has also had a creaking noise for most of it's life, which Saturn has not found a cause for. I'll have the "carrier bearing" investigated, now that I've read some comments.

My vehicle has 195,000km's on it, so it's not worth trading. I'll hold on to it for as long as I can.

While I love the vehicle, size, comfort and gas mileage, I wouldn't buy another Saturn. It's a shame since I'd like to support the local auto industry. I will most likely purchase a Toyota or Honda next time.

29th Sep 2008, 10:56

2002 Saturn VUE AWD 148,000 miles Auto - I just got this car about 3 months ago and I absolutely love it. I read the above comments and don't have any of those problems except ONE.

The steering does make that grinding noise, like when you are turning into a parking spot or something. Oh and I would much rather the window buttons be all on the driver side door instead of the center console.

Honestly it was a good price and in AMAZING condition for being 6 years old. It's fully loaded and has a smooth ride. All my friends love the look of it and even my fiance agrees it's a nice little SUV.

I'm not going to let one little problem like this allow Saturn to have a bad rep. All cars break down. That's a given. This has been a wonderful car and I would most likely recommend it for someone looking for an inexpensive, fun, cute, car.

11th Jul 2009, 00:02

Glad to hear the previous poster has had minimal problems with the '02 Vue. I posted in 2007 regarding my '02 Vue issues. Since that time ($2000 in repairs from 46K - 56K miles), I've spent another $3,000 in repairs on front wheel bearings (right front replaced twice), replacing the timing belt and tensioner early (@75k miles - didn't want to run the risk of having it break) and the exhaust catalytic back to the muffler and exhaust pipe.

I replaced the timing belt, accessory belt and coolant hoses earlier than recommended by Saturn. The components put into the Saturn were cheap and didn't hold up. Especially, the ignition lock and wheel bearings. Saturn is still putting junky lock cylinders in the Outlook 7 years later.

Don't buy the Saturn Vue. Look at an Escape or Nissan Rogue first.