Model year report

2006 Saturn Vue: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2006 Saturn Vue

On the 2006 Saturn Vue, the failure owners report most often is ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure, and the reports cluster around 67,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other powertrain problem, reported by a median of 55,000 miles. Overall it scores 63 out of 100, high risk for a 2006.

High risk for a 2006 — 292nd riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. 433 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model.

What owners report breaking

Owners have reported 47 named failure modes on the 2006 Saturn Vue, and the three most-reported carry 30% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.

Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure leads with 56 reports, about 0.8 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 46k to 100,000 miles.

Other electrical problem follows with 40 reports, usually reported between 25k to 120,000 miles. 2 of those reports mention a fire.

Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault follows with 35 reports, usually reported between 70k to 130,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (117), airbag (59) and body (41).

The mileage the reports cluster at

338 of the reports on the 2006 Saturn Vue came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 78,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 29% by 50,000 miles, 66% by 100,000 miles and 94% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 7 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 100,000 and 110,000 miles, which alone holds 11% of the dated reports.

19% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.

In the order they tend to show up: other powertrain problem around 55k, ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure around 68k, other electrical problem around 80k and other body or interior problem around 80k.

Median

Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure

68k
Other electrical problem

80k
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault

100k
Other body or interior problem

80k
Other powertrain problem

55k
Other steering problem

84k
Alternator or charging system failure

100k
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash

86k
Seat belt or retractor failure

86k
Door latch or handle failure

77k
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure

25k
Other engine problem

85k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 47. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 78k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 7 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

How bad it is when it goes

Across the named modes, 20 mention a crash, 12 a fire and 3 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.01, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure at $250–$1,500, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault at $300–$1,600 and other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

12% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	56	42	46k	68k	100k	0.8	$250–$1,500	High
Other electrical problem	electrical	40	35	25k	80k	120k	0.6	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	35	23	70k	100k	128k	0.5	$300–$1,600	High
Other body or interior problem	body	29	25	70k	80k	111k	0.4	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Other powertrain problem	transmission	20	18	47k	55k	94k	0.3	$400–$4,500	High
Other steering problem	steering	19	12	59k	84k	113k	0.3	$350–$2,400	High
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	13	13	63k	100k	108k	0.2	$450–$1,600	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	11	7	—	86k	—	0.2	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	11	10	72k	86k	109k	0.2	$200–$900	High
Door latch or handle failure	body	11	7	—	77k	—	0.2	$250–$1,200	High
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	9	7	—	25k	—	0.1	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Other engine problem	engine	9	8	57k	85k	98k	0.1	$300–$4,000	High
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure	electrical	8	6	—	141k	—	0.1	$700–$3,000	High
Steering column or shaft failure	steering	8	6	—	131k	—	0.1	$600–$2,500	Critical
Other lighting problem	lighting	8	7	—	25k	—	0.1	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Other speed control problem	adas	8	4	—	84k	—	0.1	$250–$2,000	Critical
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	7	5	—	30k	—	0.1	$200–$1,800	Moderate
Other suspension problem	suspension	7	5	—	58k	—	0.1	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	7	5	—	66k	—	0.1	$200–$1,500	High
Torque converter failure	transmission	5	5	—	54k	—	0.1	$1,100–$3,200	High
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	4	4	—	2k	—	0.1	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Fuel pump failure	fuel	4	4	—	91k	—	0.1	$600–$2,600	High
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	4	3	—	27k	—	0.1	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Other fuel system problem	fuel	4	4	—	108k	—	0.1	$300–$2,200	High
Other brake problem	brakes	4	3	—	107k	—	0.1	$300–$1,800	High
Catalytic converter failure	emissions	3	3	—	7k	—	0.0	$900–$3,500	Moderate
Other driver assistance problem	adas	3	3	—	130k	—	0.0	$250–$1,800	High
CV axle or driveshaft failure	drivetrain	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$450–$2,200	High
Differential or transfer case failure	drivetrain	2	2	—	40k	—	0.0	$900–$4,200	High
Master cylinder or brake booster failure	brakes	2	2	—	44k	—	0.0	$450–$2,200	Critical
Premature brake pad or rotor wear	brakes	2	2	—	10k	—	0.0	$300–$1,400	Moderate
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	2	2	—	63k	—	0.0	$0–$0	Critical
Loss of power steering	steering	2	1	—	112k	—	0.0	$600–$2,800	Critical
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	2	2	—	162k	—	0.0	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Tail light, brake light or signal failure	lighting	2	2	—	50k	—	0.0	$100–$900	Moderate
Wiper or washer failure	glass	2	1	—	40k	—	0.0	$120–$800	Moderate
Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure	transmission	1	1	—	75k	—	0.0	$250–$1,400	High
Wheel bearing or hub failure	drivetrain	1	1	—	80k	—	0.0	$350–$1,200	Moderate
Infotainment screen failure	infotainment	1	1	—	79k	—	0.0	$400–$2,600	Low
Parking brake failure	brakes	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,300	Moderate
Cruise control failure	adas	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$200–$1,400	High
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure	steering	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$700–$2,600	High
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	1	1	—	8k	—	0.0	$400–$2,200	High
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	Critical
Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure	body	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	Moderate
Air conditioning failure	hvac	1	1	—	119k	—	0.0	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Other visibility problem	glass	1	1	—	48k	—	0.0	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Unclassified problem	other	57	44	55k	72k	98k	0.8	—	Moderate

This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2006 Saturn Vue draws about 6.4 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 84th percentile of complaint rates among 2006 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model.

The working figure is 67,385 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2006 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure

Multiple occurrences of keyed ignition switch locking up and no allowing vehicle operation (more than 6). Thank god there was no emergency necessitating immediate use of our vehicle. Just episodes of being late to work and getting home from work. Finally the vehicle as towed to the dealer. We were informed this was known issue with the saturn vue. But there was no recall they manufacturer just lets its customers swing in the wind until it fails for good presumably they think they are saving money but not so if they are on the hook for the towing while under warranty. Which is why they manufacturer's failure to notify owners and recall for this problem is inexcusable! *tr

20,000 miles NHTSA complaint 657216 filed 2008-02-11

Ignition switch is difficult to operate, added graphite lubricant but only partial relief. Other models of same year having same problems. Gm should recall and replace switch. *tr

45,200 miles NHTSA complaint 825900 filed 2010-11-15

Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault

Constant air bag light indicator on dash for driver side comes on goes off....several times per day but everytime I would drive to dealership light would go off, which per tech could not pinpoint problem with machines used to show problems until light is on and stays on 1.5 years later still dealing with air bag light issues, after replacement of sensor found air bag malfunction with drive side curtain which was finally replaced may of 2008 . Now having issues with molding that houses side curtain air bag which is now exposed. *tr

4,478 miles NHTSA complaint 678458 filed 2008-07-16

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 saturn vue. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed that the air bag warning light appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the front passenger air bags would not deploy due to a malfunction in the front passenger seat heating mechanism. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 49000. Updated 4/13/10 *cn the air bag light would also illuminate when someone sat in the front passenger seat. Updated 06/17/10*jb

49,000 miles NHTSA complaint 769156 filed 2010-03-02

How it ranks in the 2006 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2006 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

Where 2006 sits in the model line

High risk for a 2006 — 292nd riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.

Across the 8 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2007 comes out best at 62 and 2003 worst at 73, with 2006 itself at 63.

No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2006, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.

Within the 2002–2007 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 62 and 2003 the weakest at 73.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 2002-2007 generation, 2007 Saturn Vue scores best at 62 and 2003 Saturn Vue worst at 73.

What to look at before buying one

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other electrical problem from about 25k, ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure from about 46k, other powertrain problem from about 47k and other engine problem from about 57k.

On a 2006 Saturn Vue with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.

The limits of complaint data

433 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 433 reports, 338 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 78% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Saturn Vue?

The most-reported failures are ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure (56 reports, median 67,500 miles), other electrical problem (40 reports, median 80,000 miles) and airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault (35 reports, median 100,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 2006 Saturn Vue problems start?

Other powertrain problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 55,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 45,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 78,000 miles.

Is the 2006 Saturn Vue reliable?

It scores 63 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 292nd riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2006 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Saturn Vue is best?

Within the 2002–2007 generation, 2007 scores best at 62 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 73. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 20 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed