This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Saturn Vue body problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 13 body complaints filed for the 2006 Saturn Vue, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Saturn Vue we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 13.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a loud tick or rattle noise under the hood at all operating conditions. Technician will need to check the lower and oil pressure to the upper end oil pressure. Technician will need to inspect the oil feed orifice in the cylinder head. Technician will clean out and debris found in the orifice.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN THE STEPS ON DIAGNOSING THE CONCERN. VEHICLE'S SUNROOF OPERATION INTERMITTENT, BIND, NOISE, AUTO-REVERSE, AND/OR WATER LEAKS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vibration complaints that are one of the most challenging complaints to accurately diagnose and repair. Technician will need to use Pico Oscilloscope Diagnostic Kit to effectively diagnosis vehicles. Technician should drive the vehicle will using the Pico Oscilloscope to record data. After the data is recorded it should be reviewed to determine the root cause of the concern. If a repair attempt made the concern better but not eliminated or had no affect at all, and are requesting assistance from General Motors Technical Assistance Center record another Pico file and save it to the computer. After the new
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a pattern of door failures on 2006 Saturn Vues, split between locking/closing issues and opening issues. The most common complaint centers on rear door latches that seize—particularly in cold weather—and refuse to catch closed. Several owners describe taking 30 minutes to manipulate handles, locks, and windows to force the door shut; others say the latch works from the outside but won't hold the door, or locks and unlocks audibly but won't physically engage. One owner reports the latch seized entirely and won't open, trapping occupants. Owners emphasize the safety hazard, especially with children aboard—doors can swing open mid-drive.
Front door failures also appear: driver and passenger side doors that won't open despite power locks operating, and driver-side door locks that stick when cold or air conditioning runs. One owner applied lithium grease as a temporary fix; another says the manufacturer scheduled an appointment but never completed repairs.
A separate structural concern emerges: multiple owners report unibody frame rust, particularly the front K-member, despite factory undercoating. One mechanic found the entire frame rusted; repair quotes exceeded $10,000, rendering vehicles undriveable and unsalable. Owners call these known defects but report no manufacturer response or recalls.
Same Saturn Vue body reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Driver-side door lock sticks in cold weather
Door lock becomes stuck or inoperable when temperature drops or air conditioning runs on high. Lock functions normally in warm weather but freezes up in cold conditions, preventing both opening and closing.
When: 80,000–88,000 miles; temperature-dependent
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking noise from lock; Lock stuck when cold or AC on high; Lock opens/closes only in warm weather
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Appointment scheduled but vehicle not repaired
Rear door latch fails to catch or hold closed
Rear passenger or driver-side door latch mechanism seizes or fails to engage, preventing the door from closing or locking properly. Problem is temperature-dependent (worse in cold), and can leave door unsecured while driving.
When: Summer 2003 onwards; intermittent, worsening over time
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not shut or catch; Latch mechanism seized; Door lock and unlock heard but latch does not engage; Door swings open while driving; Requires prolonged manipulation to close door
Repairs/costs cited: Owners applied lithium grease; repair cost cited as $250 by one owner; one temporarily strapped door with duct tape
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite owner research indicating frequent problem
Front door lock or handle inoperable
Front driver or passenger door fails to open, either due to lock mechanism jamming or handle linkage failure. Lock button operates but door will not open from inside or outside handle.
When: 114,084 miles (driver side); mileage unknown for passenger side
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not open despite lock operation; Door remains locked even after key opening; Inside and outside handles ineffective; Power locks function but handles do not work
Unibody frame rust causing structural failure
Severe rust develops in unibody frame, particularly K-member, despite undercoating. Rust compromises structural integrity, creating safety hazard and causing vehicle to fail inspection.
When: Mileage not specified; known problem per local mechanics and body shops
Symptoms owners cite: Unibody rust to front K-member; Frame failure; Vehicle unsafe to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Repair estimates exceed $10,000; vehicle made undriveable
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tamara recall. The back driver's side door stopped latching when closed. When driving, the door will randomly swing open. The latch to lock the door has to be manually tuned and then the door has to be held in the closed position and locked from the inside to latch.
Had body trouble with your 2006 Saturn Vue?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2006 Saturn Vue?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 80,000 and 114,084 miles, with the median around 107,044. A quarter of owners report trouble before 80,000; a quarter make it past 114,084. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Saturn/Vue.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.