New Saturn VUE Green Line Owners -Give Us Your Report

melisab

oh i have spent hours talking to both the US headquarters and GM Canada. Neither party wanted to take responsibility. US will not help me as I have a Canadian address and Canada won't help me as the car is from the states and the recall was done in California. I must say though, the representatives in the US were very sympathetic and tried to help but I the Canadian reps were very rude, abrupt and frankly quite mean. It was a horrible experience dealing with them and added to the frustration with the vehicle. I honestly want to put a sign on my car stating it is a lemon and warning other drivers to never buy a Saturn Hybrid. :lemon: :sick: :lemon:

pfine

OK just a second here. YOU bought essentially a grey market car across the border because you wanted to save a few shekels. [...]You stole Fizzy Lifting Drink, and bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and sterilized, so no, you're wrong! You lose sir!...

While I certainly don't have a problem with bringing cars over the border to get a better deal [the US's current laws are terrible in restricting buyers' choices from importing from the UK/Europe and other countries], but you DID know that it would void your warranty or parts of it before you did this. Doesn't the warranty booklet tell you this? Didn't the dealer?

I have sympathy for your situation, but when you bring in a grey market car, that is unfortunately the penalty you have to pay -- no or a more limited warranty. I would think that if you sold the vehicle to an Amercan across the border the warranty may still be effective, but that would require taking a loss on the sale due to the battery failure, etc. Unless you can blame the dealer for not telling you or something, or can convince GM to help (or you just come to a US dealer and lie about your address), I think you you won't really get help for a repair. No one wins with this one.

dmathews3

I agree with everything you said. I have no feelings for those who try to circumvent the system and then when it comes back to bite them they want everyone to feel sorry for them. The old saying of you get what you pay for and in this case they did. :P

chmsomm

Much sympathy, but most know that when one gambles the house almost always wins. You gambled on the border and lost.

hybridvue

How much did you really save by buying the Hybrid in the US?

- If it was more than $2600 - then you can get the battery fixed for $2600 and still make out.
- If it was less than $2600 - then you have a decision to make. Fix it for more than it would have cost to buy it straight from Canada or live with it as is.

Either way, it is a lesson learned.

joncanada

I thought customs required lemons to be in sealed containers to cross the border! :lemon:

camks

ok, mine just did this today (all the warning lites went on and the car power went off)!! What did you ever do to resolve this problem? I am reading about battery charging ciruit replacements and re-changing the battery on this site and even bad alternators.

I already had the harness replaced and battery changed on the recall several months ago (took 4 trips to get them to finally get it correct so the engine warning lite would stay off) when I had no issues w/ the car prior to the recall except the ignition switch prob.

I have been happy w/ my Vue Hybrid and now my hubby w/ his hybrid Camry is making fun of my "lemon". Of course he also gets at least 5 mpg more than me.

dmathews3

He should since it is more streamlined. They are 2 different vehicles. Like comparing apples to oranges. At least you can tell him your hybrid option is a whole lot cheaper than the hybrid option on his Camry.

melisab

my car's power never truned off completly. At on point it would not go over 30 km/h so that I could drive it to a service station. I had saturn fix a wiring issue as they used a too small/ gauged wire when they put in the new battery during the recall. It took a while to figure out. After that my engine light would go on and off. I started using chevrons high grade fuel only and the light went off and stayed of. But just as this problem seemed to be fixed, my hybrid battery stopped working. the green eco light would not go on and the battery gauge on the right hand side of the dash would not move. At first i would pull over, stop the car and restart it again. the hybrid function would work again until the next time I drove it. This went on for a few days then i could not get the hybrid function to work at all, and i brought it to my local Saturn dealership and had to pay almost $4000 to get a new battery put in. They stated that they had no issues or complaints with these new batteries and would not warantee it for me. i bought the car in California so i am lucky as I am covered by a lemon law which does not exsist in Canada. I have a Lawyer who is pleased to take on my case as he has already received many settlements from Saturn over the 2007 Vue hybrids!!
I have also found that Saturn HQ does not seem to talk to the individual Dealerships so it is up them to try to figure out the problems on their own, even though the problems seem to be quite similar. I found it easier to call the HQ and talk to them directly and open a customer complain case ( when the car would not go over 30km/h). They looked into it directly and put extra pressure on the dealership too to get the job done correctly. that is how i have all the codes for the wiring issues and work completed.

joncanada

Hi camks. The battery harness replacement solved this issue for us.

We had another trip to the dealership a few weeks ago and they fixed the sticky ignition, again updated the battery, and made whatever other changes I'm sure they have a list of - likely including computer reprogramming. Though they said our hybrid and truck was working fine, mysteriously we have gone from 19MPG to 27MPG. Barring any other breakdowns before the next servicing we'll have them fix the rattling of the window that occurs at high speeds.

lemmonvue

Like you, I have been searching for this "TSB notice" both with US NTSB and the Canadian TSB (that doesn't appear to be concerned with highway vehicles). I beileve it doesn't exist. fordfan_17 must be laughing his butt off at this...... so sad.

lemmonvue

Like you, I have been searching for this "TSB notice" both with US NTSB and the Canadian TSB (that doesn't appear to be concerned with highway vehicles). I beileve it doesn't exist. fordfan_17 must be laughing his butt off at this...... so sad.

vue2many

We've taken our 2007 Vue Hybrid in 3 times with the same cruise control problem. Saturn says all Hybrid cruise controls work like ours.

When we put it in cruise control between 30 and 45 mph, and most natably at 40 mph, the RPM's jump 1000 to 1500 RPM's up and down almost continuously. Does this whether engine's going in and out of eco (hybrid), or whether it is continuously staying in eco.

So, I'm asking you, fellow Hybrid Vue owners if your car does the same?

Thanks!
:lemon:

kallop

I have made this vary same complaint for over a year now. All I have been told is that "the Greenline operates as intended!" I of course know better and continue to be frustrated :sick: same as you.

kallop

Hello,
I am interested in speaking to your source regarding my '07 Greenline :lemon: @$#@%^.
Thank you,
Harry P

sjd6

I also have an 07 vue hybrid and when i told saturn service about it, they told me, "uh, it's an suv OF COURSE it's going to do that". Like I was stupid.

sjd6

I have an 07 Hybrid Vue. I've had all the usual problems with the battery and they've been swell about fixing it, etc. Now I have this unusual Loud Metallic pinging noise coming from the rear, underneath (muffler or gas tank area?) on the outside of the car at startup. Is anyone else having this problem? It is very noticeable and happens about 3 out of every 5 times I start the vehicle. It sounds like someone has thrown a rock at an empty metal barrell. I took it into service and they told me it was a cellinoid venting and it was a normal safety feature. If that is so, then why hasn't it been doing it all along? Why did it start over a year after I've owned the vehicle? I go to pick it up on Saturday and I'm trying to find someone else with the same issue.

sjd6

Sorry....solenoid...not cellinoid...lol

vue2many

we could almost do a David Letterman top 10 list with all the bizarre and contradictory explanations we've been given over the past 2 months.

1. we tested another hybrid that was in for repair and it does the same thing. Therefore all hybrids are designed that way, it's supposed to do that.
2. we fixed it
3. we can't duplicate the problem
4. cruise is not designed to be used under 55 mph
5. it's because the battery is in the back of the car
6. Where (in Houston) can you drive 40 mph and use cruise, anyway?
7. it's just the engine shifting between electric and gas. don't worry about it.
8. we have no idea what to do next. maybe we'll check with Saturn Tech support (duh!)
9. it could be in the car's computer system and that can't get updated until Saturn discovers there is a problem and programs a fix for it.
10. and my favorite - He'll "personally test drive it and we'll keep working on it until you're completely satisfied". (Of course "he" still hasn't stepped foot near the car and it was returned to us same as it was when we started.)

not completely satisfied or anything near it... :mad:

tackepj

I can't say I've experienced the cruise control problem you discussed because I've never tried to engage it at such a low speed. However, I would suggest that perhaps it is working as designed, since that speed is roughly where the transmission is deciding whether to remain in 3rd or 4th gear. Given any changes in grade and/or vehicle load, it will likely cycle between the two gears (not to mention assisting/charging), causing the RPM to fluctuate considerably. You may want to try putting the car into "I" (just below drive), which will keep the VUE in a lower gear. At that point, if the VUE is in fact just cycling between the two gears, it should be smooth as it will be "forced" into 3rd gear. Of course, MPG in third at this speed won't be as good.

While I like all other aspects of our VUE GL and it has been a very good car to own, I would agree that the cruise control feature is very poorly integrated into the car. I find that I can achieve far better gas mileage when not using the cruise control. It tends to use a LOT of throttle to maintain speed, and often overshoots by a few MPH. Fortunately, I prefer not to use the cruise anyway. Guess it's just my preference.

Otherwise, our VUE GL has performed well and my wife loves it. Her last tank MPG was nearly 29, during the coldest week we have experienced, reaching -20 F. Very happy owners!

chmsomm

I was waiting until I take the GreenLine in for routine service to wait to have the battery replaced.

Unfortunately, the engine light came on, turned out it was due to the battery.

They are replacing it.

ewitte

You can try "M" and manually set the gear.

Vue2many - I see your in Houston. Did you recently trade your car in? That would be funny if the 2008 I got was yours. I did notice that last person got an average of 20.7MPG. Probably why they traded it in. Its is closer to 30 with the distances I typically drive during the week (~20 during the weekend). Actually yesterday I got closer to 36MPG using mild pulse and glide... pulsing when going down. It was over 45-60MPG more often than it was under 25.

Anyway I'm a computer tech so tweaking things is in my nature. For someone that drives short distances and does not like to tweak I can see this vehicle being a very bad choice for them.

joncanada

We've had constant power issues where the hybrid stops engaging and then starts sucking power away from the vehicle itself. Last week my wife was driving and the vehicle lost power entirely causing her to roll backwards down a hill. Second recall has been done but it's having the same problem. Anybody else experiencing this?

dougmg

Our 2009 Vue Hybrid's battery failed, check engine light came on, then it started to drain the car battery. The car almost died on the way to the shop. Now it's been at the dealership for 2 weeks waiting on a new battery. Anyone else with this problem?

joncanada

[quote]Our 2009 Vue Hybrid's battery failed, check engine light came on, then it started to drain the car battery. The car almost died on the way to the shop. Now it's been at the dealership for 2 weeks waiting on a new battery. Anyone else with this problem?[/quote]

On our 2007 yes. The first battery we waited for 3 weeks for. The second battery required recently came in a week (much faster than we had anticipated of course).

joncanada

GM said we had a short in the 12-volt battery, and that the 12-volt battery weakness may have been causing the other modules, including the hybrid system, to not fire up, suggesting that with the recall done and the 12-volt battery replaced, things should now be ok. They said they tested as much as they could and didn't have any issues.

Given having to deal with these recalls, and the dealings with GM, we felt it time to walk away. I had all Honda's prior to this and LOVED them, so I had every intention of purchasing a Crosstour. We looked at Hyundai because of their reviews, value, and 5yr warranty. When evaluating our trade-in Hyundai called Saturn/GM dealerships many of whom - including the dealership we purchased from originally - told them to, and I quote, "run away from the vehicle".

Needless to say we didn't get much trade-in for the Saturn, but we enjoyed dealing with Hyundai, and loved the Sante Fe even without the reduced cost in comparison to the Crosstour, and went with Hyundai instead of Honda. Absolutely love it so far and comparing dealing with Hyundai to Saturn/GM is like comparing apples to lemons.

dmathews3

So let me get this straight. You had a bad 12V battery and they replaced it and said all is well and you weren't even willing to wait a few weeks to find out if that was true. You run down to your nearest foreign car dealer and get hosed, which I have to laugh at and then think after owning this new car a few days or week think it is the greatest thing to happen to you in your life. I'm glad you're so happy and I too am happy and thanks for the laugh. :P

Kirstie_H

Well, that's a bit unfair. joncanada has been reporting issues with his Vue for several years now. I think most people can understand the frustration associated owning a fairly new vehicle, then having multiple problems, and perhaps having less-than-stellar resolution & service. Regardless of which manufacturer, I can also understand the frustration of wanting to wash your hands of the vehicle AND the manufacturer, and feeling some sense of relief when that's done.

It really doesn't seem laugh-worthy to me at all, and it'd be nice to see a little more respect and empathy for someone who may have had a very negative experience - an experience that might differ from your own.

joncanada

We had a 3-year old vehicle that's been to the dealership countless times, towed three, has died dangerously in traffic twice, and at least monthly we would have to pull over and park for an hour or two to let the hybrid battery charge in order to get home safely (the rest of the time wondering if today was going to be that day). All of the problems were related to the hybrid system.

Saturn/GM must have known through the process of our complaints that there was an issue with the hybrid system in order to formulate the second recall - but when did we learn about the second recall? When we took the vehicle into the dealership after it died and rolled backwards down a hill. I could go on for days about our issues and fights with Saturn/GM to have something done.

After the second recall and an additional issue with the battery (which was shorted due to the constant drain from the hybrid system but which they wouldn't cover under hybrid warranty), we were told it "should" be ok. That's not enough assurance for the safety of my family and I'm not willing to wait to find out if the second recall is going to actually fix the problem. Just wait another year and try and find somebody other than a scrap yard to buy a GL Vue. Then you'll realize it's GM that's laughing. Saturn and GM both know these cars are lemons and have admitted it to other dealers while telling us the cars are fine.

My wife and I did our research over the course of almost 8-months (this last recall just gave us the final push to take the loss) and did negotiate well with a dealership willing to work with us, so we're happy with our cost.

Currently I can only comment on the sales process which was night and day compared to Saturn. Time will tell on the new vehicle itself, but I tell you it feels good to be free of GM. Personally I hope GM's IPO tanks, doesn't cover their debts, and they end up scrapped like the vehicles they manufacturer.

dmathews3

Why does Hyundai have to offer such a high warranty? 10 years. Because no one would buy them without it do to building such shoddy vehicles for so many years. :lemon: Hopefully you do better, but there are many many happy G.M. owners out there and because you had problems does NOT make all of G.M. vehicles bad. They still sell more cars here than anyone else. So does that make all those millions of people stupid? I think not.

marcb80

I am having the same issue

1) I notice the check engine light on and worse gas mileage, recall notice comes in the same week
2) I bring the car to the dealer, they tell me they have to order new hybrid batteries and it is safe to drive my car while I wait
3) 3 days later all power to my car is lost while driving, I lose steering, and find my way off the road
4) Trying to work with Saturn for a rental and to fix all the batteries, I got stuck at the "regional help desk", hoping twitter support will help out
5) All batteries appear to be backordered throughout the US

I am kind of getting the feeling that GM tells you that you can keep driving the car so they don't have to pay for a rental, yet people are almost crashing when the batteries drain due to the voltage imbalance

joncanada

I am kind of getting the feeling that GM tells you that you can keep driving the car so they don't have to pay for a rental, yet people are almost crashing when the batteries drain due to the voltage imbalance.

You are absolutely right and they know by now these vehicles are not safe but won't admit it.

hybridveuowner

i am having trouble with my air conditioning. it stopps putting out cold air in autostop, then does not start again when the car is put back nto motion, i have had the main control computer chip replaced about 6 months ago, now it is doing it agan.

dougmg

Wait until you see how long the wait is for a battery. we are at the start of week 3, and counting.

dougmg

What year is your car?

marcb80

2007

marcb80

For all you having the same issue with1
1) Recall notice on battery voltage and having a check engine light
2) Dealer telling you that it is safe to drive the car while you wait for a new hybrid battery
3) Power dieing to the car, losing steering etc

Please call the National Highway Safety Administration, if enough is reported it could cause a federal investigation of how GM is causing safety issues with their handling of this recall

Call National Highway Safety Administration - 1800-424-9393
http://www.nhtsa.gov/

i tried getting help from GM's help desk and they told me they would not acknowledge this issue

taltman

I have a 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid, I've taken it in twice since I bought it in 2007 for recalls on the hybrid battery. Now, I have to take it to the GM dealership because the mechanics from the former Saturn dealership didn't get the warranty contract. My Vue's 36 month warranty expired in April and since then, my car has started losing mileage, and yesterday it stalled in the school parking lot dropping my boys off. Completely dead, had to tow it to the GM dealership because the Saturn mechanics really felt like it was something to do with the hybrid battery. Turns out I had to pay $200 to replace the 12 volt?? And that was a discount (the original quote was $265, including labor). I've had a dead battery in a car before, and it was NOTHING like I experienced with this car at this time. Honestly, it was more like my car was taken over by aliens--the radio and the lights kept flickering the whole time I was driving, there was a revving sound but no acceleration. After reviewing these forums, I obviously did not get in on the recall this summer for the hybrid battery, and yes, I had to pay for the 12volt since that wasn't part of the hybrid warranty. I'm ticked off. I only have 27,000 miles on it, I drive primarily in the city, and was happy with my 25-26 mpg, and having room for my boys and dogs. I've owned 8 cars, never had an issue with the battery being completely dead and having to be replaced at this low of a odometer reading, and I'm a very safe/economical driver (no rabbit starts, etc.). And, I feel taken on the 12 volt battery cost. Any suggestions?

joncanada

The last time we took our Saturn in we had to pay for our 12volt battery to be replaced also. Reading through the first recall notice you will see it mentions that the hybrid system drains the 12volt battery. I explained until they could no longer deny that the hybrid system caused the 12volt battery to need replacing, but they still would not cover it under warranty. I also explained that fixing this problem with a new 12volt battery is like fixing a plumbing leak by replacing the bucket catching the drips - to which they literally shrugged. The problem is in the hybrid system and I can't see any reason why the problem wouldn't persist down the road and a new 12volt battery will be needed yet again causing the vehicle to again die an untimely death (ours died in the same fashion as yours [our cd literally ejected itself in the process]). We were getting 24MPG. We now drive a 3.5L V6 non-hybrid that is getting the same 24MPG as our V4 Hybrid Vue was.

endlssummr

Hi, I have a 2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid. Received my notice about the recall on the batteries. Took it to to dealer, they said they are on order. I'm out of town right now, went into the market, came back out, tried to start the car and no power whatsoever.

Onstar called someone out to jump started the car. It seems to be running all right, but the battery light is on and the check in light is on. I'm afraid to drive home (about 250 miles) and get stuck on the road.

taltman

I owe about $2600 on my 2007. do you think I should consider trading it in? I really didn't want to have another car payment, but I need a reliable car. What car did you end up getting?

joncanada

That's a personal decision I really can't answer for you. We were told that the second recall would fix our Saturn issue, BUT, we were told that the first time. We learned to deal with the inconvenience of the vehicle - the visits to the dealership, the failing of the hybrid system, sometimes having to park for periods of time to let the battery recharge, having the vehicle break down at inopportune times etc. When the truck lost power in traffic and rolled backwards down a hill with my wife and child in the vehicle, and we found out about the second recall then -> that was the last straw. In my opinion the vehicle was not safe. Given the dealership who sold us the vehicle told other dealerships the vehicle is a lemon and to "run from it" pretty much confirmed to me that the recall wouldn't fix the issue and it would continue to be an unreliable lemon.

At that point we felt it was time to cut our losses.

We bought a 2010 Hyundai Sante Fe and love it. Wasn't expecting to buy a Hyundai but took it for a test drive and it was amazing and the 5year warranty + road side assistance is reassuring after our experiences with the vue. It feels almost like a luxury vehicle and drives great - best of all it made it past the 300mile mark without breaking down like our Saturn Vue did.

What a difference it is to drive in a vehicle and not have a constant worry it will break down - that to me is worth the monthly payment.

huskymom1

My 2007 Saturn GL Vue has had a SES (check engine) light problem for months. The first time it happened, the dealership tried to brush it off by saying I had not fully turned the Vue off while using the accessory feature. Ha. The second time, they told me I needed a new starter module, which took 7 weeks to arrived. The light was still when I picked up the Vue after installation of the new starter module, and the explanation was that a code had not been fully cleared after the post-installation test drive. The codes were cleared, and the light reappeared the very next day. The explanation that time was that the fuse for the cooling fan was cracked. A replacement fuse bought about 8 days, after which point the light reappeared yet again. The diagnosis this last time was a problem with the cooling fan itself, which the dealership has just now replaced. When I called today to inquire about whether that job had been completed, I was told that I would be "getting" a new hybrid battery, but no explanation as to why was tendered and there was no mention of a recall. I was told the Vue was perfectly safe to drive while I waited for my new hybrid battery. It was only after I did an Internet search that I found this forum. And of course now I don't believe that the vehicle is safe at all. I purchased the extended warranty when I bought my Vue new in November 2006. With a year yet to go on payments I feel like I'm paying for something that will hold no value as a trade in. Seriously bummed for sure, and feeling like Saturn/GM took me and other GL Vue owners for a ride. (My late father worked for GM and would be aghast at the company's recent shenanigans.)

jansheana

I never received a recall notice and didn't know there was a problem until my Check Engine light came on. Took it to the dealership and was told there was no problem but that there had been problems with the hybrid battery. I drove for several hours and the light came on again. The charge indicator was acting more like a windshield wiper. ECO light was flashing on when it shouldn't have been. I went back to the dealership that afternoon - they gave me a rental and kept my VUE. No word on when the battery will be coming - they're on back order. I've also contacted customer service at GM - people were very nice but they didn't have a clue!

This is my third VUE - I got the hybrid because the first two VUE's were wonderful to drive. I had ignition issues with both but other than that - no problems at all.

Added bonus for the new VUE design - based on the Open Antera - Adam VonOpel - the original owner of the Opel cars was my great-grandfather.

PF_Flyer

Adam VonOpel - the original owner of the Opel cars was my great-grandfather.
kewl... an automotive legacy in our midst!

gmcustsvc

Hello Jansheana,
How long have you been waiting for your parts? Also, have you had a case set up? If so, can you please e-mail me the case number? You can get my e-mail by clicking on gmcustsvc. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service

djim

Yesterday I turned the key and absolutely nothing. The radio went on and would not stop even after exiting the vehicle. The steering would not lock up after removing the key. Towed to GMC. Went to get some items from the car this morning (Sat. AM). I was informed of a battery recall. I had this done several times before. I asked for a copy of my service history and this will be the 5th battery pack. The service manager stated if that was the problem, the packs are on back order and he has one lady who has had a rental paid for by them for two months. I have about 42K on this since purchased off the showroom floor. When does this fall under the lemon law?

gmcustsvc

Hello Djim,
How long have you been waiting for a new battery? Do you currently have a case with GM? If so, can you please e-mail me the case number? You can get my e-mail by clicking on gmcustsvc. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service

exorcist

My 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid has been at the Chevy dealer for a month now for the hybrid battery recall. They tell me it could be another 2-4 weeks before the part even comes in and another 3 days to do the work when it does. I'm thinking of cutting my loses and trading it in.

gmcustsvc

Hello Exorcist,
Can you please e-mail me your VIN so I can look into you situation further? Did the dealership say for certain it will come in within the 2-4 weeks? You can get my e-mail by clicking on gmcustsvc. Thank you,
Mariah GM Customer Service