Got my letter today. Will give the dealer a call next week and see what the service department has to say...

 

Thanx for the reply!! It's not real bad, kinda intermittent, I just hate going to the dealer as I work out of town and getting in on a Saturday just about does in the whole day. If it gets worse tho, it's off I go!!

 

Got my letter today. I also have seen this problem but when I got back in the car it reset itself.

 

If you got the letter, you really ought to make the trip to the dealer. The fix is not intended to impact your hybrid operation one way or the other UNLESS your vehicle is one that has the wiring / alternator issue. In that case, your overall satisfaction with the vehicle should improve. To over-simplify, the wiring harness can intermittently mis-communicate with the alternator. The alternator says "I don't know what you're trying to tell me to do, so I won't do anything". That includes charging the batteries. The fix is a more robust harness to alternator interaction via the replacement harness. Again, I am over-simplifying, but hopefully now you get the gist.

Peace,

Martin

 

Hats off to Saturn for being proactive! I am just stopping by here, without even a Prius key in my pocket. But it's always great to read about *any* hybrid manufacturer doing right by the customer.

DAS

 

Had the recall done. Two tanks later no improvement in MPG so now at 22.3 - totally unacceptable. Now the key is sticking for the second time so it's got to go back in again so more inconvenience. We've lost use of the VUE for a total of 6 weeks in less than a year now thanks to problems. What the hell is next?

What a piece of worthless junk. I've gone from dedicated Saturn owner to absolutely never again.

 

I had the same ignition problem. One morning the key just wouldn't move and I couldn't get it started until later in the day.
I took it in and the dealership replaced the ignition module and re-keyed it.

 

I had the same problem with my ignition key not turning on my 2007 Vue. Over time (after a year) it got worse where I had to physically turn the steering wheel right to left, over and over, till the key turned. Talk about frustration! I even put lithium grease on my key and it did not help. Upon a visit to the dealer for an oil change, I mentioned the problem to the customer service rep who told me that many Vues are experiencing the same problem. Apparently, the manufacturer of the ignition cylinder locks were sent to the assembly plant without properly lubricating them according to the rep. The solution was a future two hour service visit where the mechanic has to take out the lock cylinder, lubricate it and then put it back in. The rep told me on the next service appointment to have it done. Even in the waiting room, I found two other Vue owners with the same problem. Do I hear recall or what? Well, growing impatient about it later I went to a locksmith shop where the techs told me to not use lithium grease or graphite. The Grease attracts dirt over time and can cause further problems. They also told me that Saturn vehicles are second on their list for problems with the ignition cylinders. Btw, their solution is to replace the lock cylinder completely with a new one. That sounds like an expensive way to fix it to me. The cheaper solution is to use WD-40. Now squirting it into the cylinder won't work....yes, I did that. For those brave enough to attempt it, you have to remove the covering around the steering column and a few screws, unsnap the wiring connections and remove the whole cylinder lock mechanism. Why? Because the problem is a lever on the cylinder lock that locks the steering wheel when you take the key out and can't be reached with lubrication from inside the key hole. This lever is not lubricated enough and sticks almost in a locked position. After spraying WD-40 all over and on all the moving parts of the cylinder while holding it in my hand and working the key in and out and then letting the WD-40 run-off on a paper towel, it performed beautifully after I reinstalled it. It's been two months now and it works like a charm. But, I do recommend letting the dealer do it if you feel unsure about it.

 

I suspect their reasoning is that if the lock has frozen up enough to make it difficult to turn then corrosion and wear may have already set in. Lubricating such a lock, might only be a temporary fix to a damaged mechanism.

Sure it makes them more money too... but the last thing you want to have happen is for a customer to come back in two months yelling at you because its broken again.

 

It didn't sound to me like the recall had anything to do with improving MPG... It was to fix the system not charging the 12V battery and making the vehicle shut off and possibly not start. As for your MPG there can be a lot of reasons for that, it might just be that the GM system doesn't help much on your commute. Last I knew its not a two mode hybrid.... it really is of most help in stop-and-go traffic where the engine can shut down. The system in the Vue probably won't help alot if your drive is mostly freeway.