2006 Saturn Vue: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 300 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (26% of complaints); the 2005 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
300
owner complaints
6
fire reports
76,375
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaignsWeak spot: air bags (26%)6 fire reports
Common problems
Computed from 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)26% · 75 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)25% · 73 complaints
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)7% · 20 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)6% · 17 complaints
Latches/Locks/Linkages (door locks, latches, hood release)4% · 13 complaints
Structure (body, frame, doors, rust)4% · 13 complaints
“The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Vue. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered violently. The contact's daughter lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road before coming to a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,973. The VIN was unavailable.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2024
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2023
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2022
“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”Owner report · Steering · Dec 2021
“Stability Bar / Stabilizer Bar broke on the passenger side. Upon going to the salvage yard we found in almost all the same vehicles were broke in the same area on the same passenger side.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2021
“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”Owner report · Steering · May 2021
“When making a turn (any direction) or just turning steering wheel the car will cut off and lock the steering wheel while in the middle of the turn. This happened on city streets or highway while in motion. *tr”Owner report · Steering · May 2020
“While drive southbound in the middle lane on I-95 during morning rush hour traffic. I noticed a slight shake in the steering for approximately 2 seconds before my vehicle started to fishtail towards the left and right with tractor trailers on both sides of me. I pushed in the clutch and the brake and placed my vehicle in neutral to slow my vehicle down while attempting to move over to the right shoulder of the road.”Owner report · Wheels · Sep 2019
“Engine goes into 'low power mode' resulting in the vehicle limping along. This can be dangerous because when it goes into this mode no matter how hard you depress the accelerator it goes no more than 5mph. This often occurs just after starting the vehicle. The service engine soon light and the low power mode lights come on.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 18 of these complaints and injuries in 10 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2006 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Body stylesSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
How other years compare
Check your exact Vue by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Saturn Vue reliable?
NHTSA has 300 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Saturn Vue. The most complained-about area is air bags (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Saturn Vue problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 76,375 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.