Is the 2004 Saturn Vue a bad year?
276 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 93, 3.9× a quiet Vue year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 3.9× the complaints of a quiet Vue year, spread over 45k–114k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Vue owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 93 (34%) | 45k–114k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 78 (28%) | 45k–126k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 33 (12%) | 33k–125k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Engine | 22 (8%) | 63k–143k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 18 (7%) | 38k–117k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 16 (6%) | 43k–132k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 11 (4%) | 17k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 10 (4%) | 12k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 5 (2%) | 16k–123k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (4%) | 27k–81k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (3%) | 11k–55k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 276 complaints: 23 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2004 Saturn Vue transmission failure estimated 150,000 cars have this failure faulty transmission wire installed in autos from 2002 thru 2005.
My 2004 Saturn Vue is on it's second transmission. After 50,000 miles the transmission went out and I had to get a new one.
While driving on interstate 84 at 70 MPH I lost my clutch and nearly had a collision with a tractor-trailer. The seals in my slave cylinder leaked and I lost the hydraulic power in my clutch.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Saturn Vue: 2
In the affected vehicles, it may be possible for the key to be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position…
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L V6 (L66) engines fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for vehicles other than passenger cars." The front and rear wheel rim size specifications on the tire/certification label are not correct. If the wheel rim size is incorrectly printed on a tire/certification label, a service technician who solely uses the tire/certification label for service information may attempt to replace a damaged wheel with an incorrect wheel.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Saturn: 129
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Saturn Vue. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Rear suspension toe control link
Neighbouring years
2003 Vue: 621 complaints, consider selling · 2005 Vue: 170 complaints, keep it.
Every Saturn Vue year
2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · All Vue years side by side
Other Saturn models: Saturn Astra · Saturn Aura · Saturn ION · Saturn LS · Saturn Outlook · Saturn SL · Saturn Sky. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Saturn Vue a bad year?
276 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 93, 3.9× a quiet Vue year. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 3.9× the complaints of a quiet Vue year, spread over 45k–114k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Saturn Vue?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (93), electrical system (78), suspension (33), engine (22), air bags (18). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 45k–114k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Saturn Vue have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-490), Equipment (NHTSA 03V-519). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.