The Saturn VUE, where do I start? I guess I would start by saying that after my experiences dealing with the Saturn Corporation, I would never own another one of their products. We had so many problems with this vehicle that not only did I not trust it, but I felt it was also endangering the lives of my family.
First, when we got the vehicle home there was a rather annoying squeak. This normally shouldn't be a problem, but he nearest Saturn dealer (the one we bought it at) was forty-five minutes away and in a different state (South Bend, Indiana). This being the case, every time there was a problem, we would have to both drive down there, drop it off, and then drive back. Then do the reverse to pick it up. However, apparently Saturn is used to having a lot of problems with their vehicles that they have found a clever way to help them get around the lemon laws (they are different in each state). In our particular case, the lemon laws stated that if the vehicle was in the shop for something like 30 days in a 90 day span, then the owner was entitled to something under the law. The way Saturn gets around this is they don't have the dealers/repair centers stock any parts for the vehicles. By doing this they have you make two trips in for every issue but the vehicle isn't in the shop for any extended periods.
Anyway, the first time is it was a squeaky strut. They replaced that after they diagnosed it on trip A and serviced it on trip B (remember each trip for us is 45 minutes each way and takes both cars to do it).
A couple weeks later another squeak started up (another strut). While they were replacing the second strut they noticed an oil leak from the transfer-case. Instead of troubleshooting the leak, because it was under warrantee, they would just replace the transfer-case. So they order the transfer-case and we go back home. A week or so later we get a call that the new transfer-case has come in and we can bring the vehicle down for replacement. This was only about a two day turn-around so we pick it back up and all seams to be good.
About six days later, I get a phone-call from my wife. She and my six-month old son are stranded on the side of Interstate 94 and the VUE won't move. I head out of work to go meet them at the tow center. The tow-truck driver hooks it up and looks under the SUV and notices that the transfer-case is split in half and it is not leaking. This explains the vehicle not moving. Apparently Saturn Parts Department ships transfer-cases with no oil in them. This makes sense to me as the oil could be added at the service center. However, because they ship dry, apparently the service techs send them out dry (didn't come in with oil, must not need oil).
By this point in my ownership of this new Saturn, I am not at all happy with the vehicle. Most of the miles on the car are to and from the dealer for repairs and I have absolutely no faith in the service center. At this point I figure I just have a bad car and ask them to swap me my V6 with one of the less expensive 4 cylinder models. The manager informs me that there is no way he is going to allow me to switch vehicles. Needless to say, I am more than a little annoyed. We take the vehicle home even though we don't trust it. What are we going to do; we still owe $16,000 on this SUV that isn't three months old.
A couple weeks later we had to take it in for something and they say there is something wrong with the breaks and that they will order the parts and we can just bring the vehicle in for repairs when the parts come in (their standard line). Ok, with as many cars as I have owned, I know a thing or so about cars. A problem with the breaks on a vehicle that my wife and some are going to be the primary occupants of? I don't think so. I inform them that for any problems that are diagnosed, the vehicle will stay with them until the repairs are complete, starting with this one.
By this time, the way the law goes, I only need about 12 or 14 more days in the shop for the lemon law anyway. By the time they got it fixed I only needed about 7 days. However, by this time I am out-right angry and have given up dealing with the dealership, I am now on a first name basis with the people at Saturn Corporate. After about two weeks of me calling them at least once a day, usually more, they agreed to purchase this wonderful Saturn VUE back from me for the price I paid for it plus tax, title and plates. The only thing I am really out is insurance and my time. However, to be away from this VUE and all things Saturn, it is more than acceptable.
In short, from everything I had heard, Saturn was the best American made car on the market. I am glad to hear this because I now know to make it a point to purchase foreign if I want a vehicle I can depend on.