GM IS RECALLING 2,149 MY 2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RIGHT AND/OR LEFT FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE. AS A RESULT OF THE INCORRECT KNUCKLE AND RESULTING INADEQUATE CLEARANCE, THE TIE ROD BALL STUD COULD PULL OUT OF, OR FRACTURE, THE TIE ROD HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIE ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE.
Safety risk
ALTHOUGH STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE MAINTAINED AFTER A TIE ROD SEPARATION BY THE UNAFFECTED WHEEL ON SMOOTH ROADS OR DURING LIGHT BRAKING, WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT SUSPENSION OR BRAKING INPUTS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TURN OUT AND SKID. IF A VEHICLE BUILT WITH TWO INCORRECT STEERING KNUCKLES HAD BOTH TIE RODS SEPARATE AT THE SAME TIME, STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE(S) AND TIE ROD(S). THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
42,408
Reported to NHTSA
2008-09-17
Owners notified
2008-09-26
Defect description
GM IS RECALLING 42,408 MY 2008-2009 SATURN VUE VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY LOOSEN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THERE MAY BE A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
Safety risk
THE FLUID COULD CONTACT HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE NUT SECURING THE POWER STEERING LINE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IF THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A FLUID LEAK, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT. IF A FLUID LEAK IS PRESENT, DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT AND CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Steering
38
89,173 mi
Electrical system
32
56,000 mi
Power train
14
77,500 mi
Air bags
10
65,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
9
120,000 mi
Service brakes
9
109,000 mi
Engine
7
116,000 mi
Unknown or other
7
87,410 mi
Exterior lighting
5
59,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
5
93,700 mi
Structure: body
4
65,531 mi
Electrical system: ignition
3
78,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
3
53,000 mi
Structure
3
59,000 mi
Visibility/wiper
3
10,000 mi
Equipment
2
17,000 mi
Suspension
2
119,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
2
15,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch
1
85,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility
1
50,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
39,020 mi
Interior lighting
1
64,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
1
15,000 mi
Seat belts
1
100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
20,869 mi
Steering: column
1
85,000 mi
Steering: electric power assist system
1
85,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
The 2008 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2010 model has 19 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.