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Comments
You aren't missing a thing. Your dealer is. I have a 2003 AWD6 and the dash is lit from behind and the front. If you take a look at your dash display from, say, wheel level you should see two screws on the top left and right side of the visor. About two inches directly behind the screws there are two 3 inch slits (the slits are behind the glass). If your lights are on, there should be light shining through those slits and pointing towards the display.
Crank your dash lights all the way up and look, you should see the lights even during the day.
Rsgatua -I can see our gauges fine. Might want to get that checked. Sounds like something is fused.
Any insight anyone?
It's going in to the dealer Saturday morning.
the first was a leaky a/c into my floorboard, which soaks my passenger floor. i had to leave my car for a full day so they could fix it. it still is not fixed but cannot be fixed again until summer.
a couple months ago it had to be towed to saturn because the ignition coil went.
this week i need to bring it back for creeking in my steering.
i love most everything else about the vue, however i am concerned about the problems i am having within the first year. it seems everyone else is extremely pleased with their new vue.......i wish i was.
It seems like the V6 models are the best and the CVT models still have some issues with the new transmission. I guess new technology always has some bugs.
It's too bad because our Vue has been great, we love it. Even my mom wants to get one now.
(on it's way up),now I hear it when the pedal is going down also.
Hit some ice last night and the AWD kicked in nicely. Just love the Vue in the winter, we just feel so secure in it.
In the meantime any feedback on the issues I've encountered would be appreciated.
"seized front sway bar end link"
Squeaky brake pedal just needed some lubrication.
All in all I'm pleased and relieved.
They replaced the seized end link on the sway bar and that seems to have been the answer as the clunking noise has disappeared.
I don't think i've had the rear end lock up. What would be the signs of this happening?
Also no rear shakes or sluggishness in reverse.
;-)
Seriously though, do you have a 4 or 6 cyl.? I have never heard of the problems you are having with a V6 before. In fact I've heard a lot of praise for the 5 speed auto.
The electric steering-great, can't really tell the difference from hydraulic. All cars seem to have a different feel, some harder than others, but after driving them you adjust to whatever it is. [hydraulic system has foamed over on me at very cold temperatures [-42]and always sounded a little sick afterwards.]
Wired throttle? I have had cables stick etc., some have recalls. I suppose here it would be a bad connection for trouble, but which is more likely? The sensitivity or resistance to your foot should not have anything to do with the method, they are all spring loaded.
Ride, exceptional. I believe I could follow anyone around corners. I don't notice body lean or dive at all contrary to some reports. Soaks up bumps quietly compared to my wagon.
Window switches? Like any, takes getting used to, but, now I prefer it. Door locks are handy also, inside door handles also.
Driver seatback tilt? Kind of hard to locate while driving. Seat lifter-great idea. Not electric? even better [not stiff in cold weather]
Seats? perfect for me. I find seats that are designed to grab sideways cripple me. They pull my shoulders in [6 ft tall] Seats should not be made like shoes unless they can be sized. I find it easy on my back, and I had a lumbar support in the last vehicle.
Shifting? It certainly is aggressive, responsive. fast to pass and go. I would like a switch to select quick or slow shifting. re gas milage. D1 is 3rd gear, wrong for pulling trailers or cottage roads, right for deacelleration. Reading around, 5 speeds and hanging on are the wave of the future but....
Back seat? I don't hang out there. I can get the crosscountry skiis in kitty corner. Not level when down, but I don't know what concern this is.
Cargo hold? Well...I would have a more substantial floor for sure if I was designing it. Heavy loads would require a plywood floor. I suppose it is for weight reduction.
Motor? Much stronger than the specifications would have you believe. Thrums at 1900-2000 rpm like a 4 cyl does. Otherwise quiet while cruising. Looks like a tuned intake manifold. Mine does not get dirty like some say.
AWD? Charges through snow like it was not there! Caused some torque steer when pushed, but not normally. Con? Sounds like a shudder in parking lots when turning sharply. Might be common to all SUV'S with this type of control. It applies like ABS brakes with a differential speed between front and back [re inside wheel!]
Oil filter? expensive.
Cold? Feels it...noisy until it warms up compared to a car, then quiets down. Shifts are later until the tranny warms up meaning higher revs. Must take 10 minutes to warm up for overdrive engagement.
Cruise control? I like the light on the wheel, it does not blind like the Taurus. Handles well on a flat, or nearly flat highway. Can get very confused on dipsy doodles. Can gear way down for no reason...like 5500 revs! Switches are good but action coupled with the transmission is not foolproof.
Windshield washers? Good. Lots of fluid. Same bucket for the back. Drools at the back to keep it on the glass. The back window collects crap very quickly. I will have to do something about that in this climate.
Block heater? Where is it? Should be the law in Canada. Had trouble starting at -26 C. Have filled it now with synthetic oil. [First change cost $90 Canadian!]
Plastic sides? Should keep its looks better and no surprise body work. I wonder what all those beefs are about fit? Looks fine to me. Screws or clips? I have broken a lot of clips and found them loose too.
Customer relations? excellent+
Optional accessories? Why so expensive? I remember when a ski rack was $12. Whats with that silly claim about integrated roof rails...below the level of the sides! Anyway, all I ever do is damage the tops.
I noticed that the Vue has no recalls as yet, TSB's but no recalls. This must be a rare vehicle!
Brakes? I read that it stops in the shortest distance. Drums? I prefer them, never had warped drums and they always stopped fine. No road film on them. I like the high position of the pedal. Brake pedals that drop lower than the accelerator, like Ford Taurus, are extremely dangerous for big feet. I know!
I have to say that I am now over 21 000 km's and have not had a problem what so ever. I love my VUE, gas mileage is great and even without the AWD, it is great in the snow. We've had quite a bit more this year than in previous years so if I've made it this far, it will be fine.
It is obvious that GM knew there were issues with the VTi transmission or they wouldn't have put off production of the 4 Cyl. automatic VUEs as long as they did. Coincidentally, production had never been cut at my dad's plant and he's still working 6 days a week so they obviously haven't used that transmission in all the vehicles they originally planned. I hope all of you keep on them until the issues are completely resolved! When running properly the VUE is a great vehicle and great value but I fully understand your frustration with a new vehicle not meeting your expectations.
We almost ordered a CVT VUE so after hearing your story I know if we get a VUE we will with the FWD V6.
It's too bad, because the Vue is a fantastic little SUV,.
Here in Wisconsin our Lemon law is very specific as to how it is applied and how you qualify but it is very much in the consumers favor. Most dealers shudder when you can prove that you qualify and usually will find a way to make you happy (swapping out the vehicle, giving a break on a new model etc...) instead of going through the legal wranglings.
No issues with ours, they perform very well and we have had a snowy winter so I'm thankful we got them.
The abs engages right before the vue comes to a complete stop. If I just slow down for a turn, the abs does not engage. I have had this happen on bone dry pavement. The abs in general does a great job and had no problems dealing with the snow we've had in NJ.
1. Could they possibly use any cheaper plastic for the center console? The little door to the storage area, was sticking and when inspected looked like the plastic catch was about to snap off. They of course replaced the door and catch, but it took the mechanic upwards of 45 minutes to get those little parts installed.
2. The sunroof does not retract fully into the body. It stops about 2 inches short, apparently to "cut down on wind noise". I test drove a 2002 before I purchased the 2003 and I distinctly remember it retracted fully, and the manual indicates it should retract fully as well. When the dealer looked at it, they said it wasn't supposed to go all the way back. When pressed the Service Manager he gave me a made up answer that it physically can't because of the curvature of the roof. Nice try. I told him earlier models did it, and my manual states it does. So he gave in and let me talk to the service tech who actually worked on my car (wish I could have just talked to him directly...way more knowledge than the managers). We actually walked around the service area opening roofs of VUEs. All stopped two inches short. And then we found that my owners manual was different from others. "Looks like they changed the design to get rid of the wind noise...I have to admit we never look at these things..." Oh well. My wife thinks we should get a refund on the sunroof proportional to the two inches of sky we will be missing out on...
Other than that I have been very happy. Over the last couple of weeks we have had a few good snows here in Wisconsin and the AWD makes it a great ride. The wife hates it the way I can just fly up our driveway while the Sentra struggles...
If you then push and hold the button, it will open the rest of the way. But you get some awful buffeting while driving.
A towing question I could use some advice on. Problem is this: which of my two vee-hickles do I haul my Dad's boat with? The boat is 1500 pounds including motor and gear.
I have a 2003 4 cyl vti Vue, the specs give it a 1500 pound max tow load. I also have a 1993 Camry Le V6 with a tow load of 3500 pounds. So, go with the Vue, max out the tow load on a suspect transmission (I wont be doing hills and the towing distance is pretty local), or put it on the camry, that is lower to the ground so tougher to launch with, and has 200,000 KM on its transmission? Both have solid pros and cons!
I wish they had those discounts up here. Right now the only offer on the VUE is 3.9% for 48 months. Not much!
The fees are negotiable, always remember that. I got mine cut from $250 to $120 on our last car.