OVERALL FOR LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE LOCK CYLINDER WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALSO WILL SOMETIMES JAM AND NOT ALLOW THE REMOVAL OF THE KEY WITHOUT RESETTING THE LOCK CYLINDER TO THE LOCK POSITION. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT GM HAS ISSUED RECALL# 14506 FOR 2003 SATURN VUE'S. CONTACT WITH GM DEALER CONFIRMS THE PROBLEM. GM EXECUTIVE CUSTOMER RELATIONS REFUSES…
2005 Saturn Vue electrical problems
moderate 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
IGNITION CYLINDER - KEY CAN COME OUT WHEN NOT IN "OFF" POSITION. FOR NOW, IT'S JUST HAPPENING WHEN PARKED AND DRAINING THE BATTERY, BUT IT'S UNSAFE
KEY WILL COME OUT OF IGNITION WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. THE KEY IS NOT LOCKED INTO IGNITION AT ALL. *TR
KEY WONT TURN IN IGNITION. BOUGHT NEW KEY BUT PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. CAR IS OFF AND IN PARK WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS TO GET THE IGNITION FIXED. I COULD PULL THE KEY OUT WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY TO TURN ON THE CAR IT GOT TO POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT TURN AND WORE THE KEY DOWN. AS I STATED - THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT IS NOT A CHEAP FIX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE IGNITION KEY WAS ABLE TO BE EJECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURN TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN ON, EVEN WITH THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…
IGNITION TUMBLER DOES NOT WORK APPROPRIATELY AND KEY IS EASILY REMOVED WHEN CAR IS ON AND WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION TO START THE CAR. LAST WEEK AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE IGNITION TUMBLER FAILED TO OPERATE IN THE PROPER MANNER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES FIDDLING WITH THE KEY TO,TRY TO …
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2005 Saturn Vue?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 60 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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