AT removal helpful hints please
2005 Vue torque converter failed and I'm looking for any helpful hints on removing the transmission. It's a FWD, 2.2 ltr ecotech engine.
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2005 Saturn VUE Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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In 2005, Saturn decided to focus on addition by subtraction. The new year saw the Saturn VUE SUV abandon its signature Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) in the FWD 4 cylinder trim in favor of more traditional technology. The limited switch to 4 speed automatic transmission showed Saturn's willingness to focus on maximizing a more established system. Other updates included 3 new body colors, revised upholstery and interior highlights, a passenger-side sunshade, and standard OnStar telecom technology.
Otherwise, the 2005 Saturn VUE SUV remains the same. The VUE still comes in 4 different trims: FWD 4 cylinder (now with the optional 4 speed automatic transmission), AWD 4 cylinder, FWD V6, and AWD V6. The 4 cylinder trims use a 2.2 L, 143 hp engine while the V6 trims have kept the powerful 3.5 L, 250 hp that Saturn introduced in '04. Gas mileage remains around 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway.
Based on the previous couple years, it appears that the 2005 Saturn VUE SUV settled into its niche as a solid product in the competitive compact SUV market. However, consumers looking for premium materials and a unique style walked away disappointed. The response to this model told Saturn that it had an important decision to make. More specifically, the time had come for the Saturn VUE SUV to either remain content with giving consumers what they needed, or lavishing new customers with everything they could want.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2005 Saturn VUE
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by laura j
Mar 18, 2023
Great looking like car love the year. Great price too.Mar 18, 2023
by Milton M
Jul 26, 2021
Good! color nice . Body in good shape! nice features.Jul 26, 2021
by Bryan E
May 09, 2021
Needs a bunch of work to be a dependable vehicle. May 09, 2021
User rating:
by laura j
Mar 18, 2023
Great looking like car love the year. Great price too.Mar 18, 2023
by Milton M
Jul 26, 2021
Good! color nice . Body in good shape! nice features.Jul 26, 2021
by Bryan E
May 09, 2021
Needs a bunch of work to be a dependable vehicle. May 09, 2021
by Anonymous
Dec 05, 2020
The 05 was the last year Saturn vehicles were made with the polymer panels. Also, great gas mileage and a sporty look. in 06 and later the vue took on more of a station wagon look, which I think to look ugly. The Vue seats fold down flat offering great space for hauling boxs, etc. Just an all around great vehicle. FYI I was a salesperson for Saturn in 05. I love them.Dec 05, 2020
by Andrew H
Mar 14, 2015
This was the first car I bought myself, and I have never regretted it. Bought it used with about 30k miles, it's up to about 150k now and while I have had to put some money into it on routine repairs, it has help up wonderfully to the amount I drive it. Mar 14, 2015
by Ray R
May 10, 2014
Easy for car seat use, being a do-it-yourselfer I carried a lot when all seats went flat. Very comfortable and peppy. I always had a sports car and a truck, I liked this SUV much better than the trucks that I had.May 10, 2014
by west c
Nov 14, 2013
good overall suv, cannot beat it for the money, has the features similar to those of more value, fuel efficient, the awd system isn't something you want to rock climb with but its suitable for rainy/wintery weather, sounds good, feels goodNov 14, 2013
by Anonymous
Jun 18, 2013
The SUV handled great, hugged the road really well for an SUV. I loved feeling the power of the V6 when I would pass someone, and I never had to worry about excelerating up hill and losing power. No blind spots that I ever noticed. Good braking, safe family car, and just fun to drive.Jun 18, 2013
by Amie M
Apr 03, 2013
Liked everything - fuel economy, zip, reliability, affordability, everything. Silver is a great color for any vehicle, too - very "sleek" and doesn't show dirt. Unfortunately, needed to upgrade to vehicle with third row to accommodate a growing family. We are selling reluctantly. Really. LOVED this vehicle in every way.Apr 03, 2013
by Anonymous
Jan 09, 2013
What I liked about this car was how dependable it is. It never broke down on me or wouldn't start. I loved how much room it had in the back seat and trunk, and the 18 MPG it gets. I did not like the exterior scratchJan 09, 2013
by Kyle W
Oct 06, 2012
I purchased this vehicle, believing it would have been a reliable vehicle, while achieving great fuel economy. Well, I am glad that Saturn has stopped manufacturing vehicles!
My VUE was only nice for the first month of ownership, always did have great power, 250 horses from the stock V-6, so glad it was a Honda motor, not a GM motor!
It always got great fuel economy, 30+MPG highway!
The transmission was defective since I first bought it, the torque converter always had issues, finally after a few years of ownership, GM recalled the junker, and had it fixed.
The rear differential failed at 92,000 miles, the drivers heated seat failed after 2 months of ownership, the leather seats seemed fake, like they were plastic. The front seats were too short for your butt and legs, and the rear seats were very hard, and cheap feeling.
Parts of the dash would flake off just by rubbing your fingers across it, every part of the interior rattled especially when in the winter. The 6 disc CD Changer was awesome, until it broke when it was only 2 years old.
The Sun/Moon-roof was cool, yet always leaked when it would rain, unless you flicked the switch a few times because it never closed completely.
The AWD system was a complete joke! It would always be front wheel drive, until it would detect it was spinning out, sometimes taking up to 10 seconds before slamming the rear wheels into action, causing the vehicle to swerve, and it was a very noisy system. It did get me through snow about 5" deep on a mountain pass, it was scary, however it got me through it.
I really strongly urge you to stay away from any GM product, after owning this piece of junk, never again will I purchase a GM EVER! I will stick to Chrysler, and Ford for american vehicles. I still have a '97 Dodge Dakota V-8 with 231,000 miles, and had a 2000 Grand Cherokee that lasted 316,000miles they both will go through anything, and where ever I want them to go, and has never ever broke down, nor has either needed any major work. The Dakota just loves its gas, but I would much rather spend money on fuel, and know I am going to get to my destination, than not have to spend much money, and be constantly worried about if it is going to fall apart.
I would strongly suggest the Ford Edge if you are looking for a cross-over vehicle.
Oct 06, 2012
by Anonymous
Jun 02, 2012
This car is very durable, affordable to maintain and to operate. They seem to last forever, we don’t spend a lot of time or money to upkeep the car, yet it always looks good and performs great. Very reliable, comfortable and rides very smooth. We lobve it!Jun 02, 2012
by David B
Feb 05, 2012
We were impressed by the features for the price - having a five member famiy limits our vehicle options to larger vehicles for comfort and carrying capacity, and the Saturn VUE is a nice hybrid of passenger and cargo space without sacrificing comfort and fuel economy... love the leather seats and sunroof too!Feb 05, 2012
by Greg T
Jul 03, 2011
Faster and more powerful then most people would think. Thanks to the Honda J35A3 v6 for that(250hp, 242ft-lbs torque). Very reliable. Gets pretty good gas milage for type of car it is, about 20 mpg around town if u baby it. 28 mpg on the highway.Jul 03, 2011
by elliott m
Feb 04, 2011
It gets up and goes and stops pretty quick. It handles nice on curves and uphills. Great drive on long trips and has great gas mileage about 20mpg. It doesn't have a ton of space in the backseat but the very back will fit quite a bit of stuff. nice on the inside and out no dents or scratches.Feb 04, 2011
by Glenn L
Feb 03, 2011
Its a stick and shifts very smooth... great on gas! and has a lot of room for me and all my stuff. The dash looks very nice at night. Radio messes up sometimes(factory)... Love the room and the fold down seats...Feb 03, 2011
by Craig L
Jun 06, 2010
its got alot of room, and it drive's like a car, problems, no aftermarket. ad its slow. i average 25 mpg . its dent restiance cause its plastic, so min to no rust, i love to drive by people and have them go thats saturnJun 06, 2010
by Cee G
Apr 08, 2010
The 2005 Saturn Vue was the best out of the 3 Vues I have owned, *(an 2003,
2004 and 2005). Good HP *(250 with the V6) and nice cargo hold for a mid
sized SUV. Fuel mileage wasn't the best and handling in the rain, ice or snow
was horrible.
Overall appearance was suave, but you really have to know how to outfit a
Vue with the right parts and pieces to make it swanky. Interior was probably
some of the poorest I have seen. Although it was custom leather on the inside,
it stained pretty easily and dashboard trim was failing although well maintained.Apr 08, 2010
by Kevin C
Feb 12, 2010
very fast acceleration for comparable small SUVs(honda vtec v6)
squeaky because of plastic body panels, suspension creaks
appearance is average- very grocery getter
28mpg on highway 21 in city
its very fun to drive... sleeper in mommy mobile clothing
Feb 12, 2010
by Taylor G
Nov 30, 2009
I used to somewhat loathe this vehicle, but don't get me wrong--it's a good little vehicle. It's not too expensive, gas-wise or payment-wise. It used to be quite a bore to drive, but I just got a new loud exhaust put on and I'm happier than ever. I get giddy everytime I get in it now, and that's what I was hoping for in a vehicle.Nov 30, 2009
by Ventura B
Oct 03, 2009
I think the best think about this car is the cost is goog for what you get, the light weight make is gas effective and performance is decent. If you get this model with 4 cylider get the stick shift the power is good.Oct 03, 2009
by Derek R
Sep 30, 2009
Performance- Acceleration not so great, but handles like a car love the electric power steering
Build Quality- Mostly plastic is the biggest complaint
Appearance- Looks nice inside and out, would change the headlights though other than that not too bad
Cost of Ownership- great gas mileage, haven't owned long enough for maintenance
Fun Factor- Lots of fun to drive (my first stick) drive whenever i can and its cheap to drive :)Sep 30, 2009
by Sebas G
Sep 10, 2009
Bonne performance Les civic on pas d'affaire la ;)
Un moeur Honda en plus SURPRENANT !!
Mais inconveniant ... ses un V6 donc pas tres economique mais fallait s'y attendre ..
tres confortable propre class
je l'aime bien Mais avis au interesser il est a vendre :PSep 10, 2009
by Stacey V
Aug 29, 2009
I love my pretty car. She's been good to me since she came to our family new in '05. Looks cool with 20 inch rims and tires. Winters are slow going as this car is plastic and sucks in snow and slush. Snowies don't help.Aug 29, 2009
by Taylor G
Jul 30, 2009
Accelerates very quickly, especially for a mini SUV, but it tops out at 100 mph. I know it's the governor chip, but seriously. Ugly little car, steering is sluggish, AWD is interesting in the snow. Surprisingly easy to drift, but you can tell when the AWD is helping keep control of the vehicle. Says it gets 25 mpg highway, but I seem to burn through it very quickly. I stay under 3k rpms. Jul 30, 2009
by Lee W
Jun 24, 2008
The first time I drove this SUV I was in love with it. Mine is a 5 speed manual transmission and it shifts beautifully. This replaced a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier 4 door that died at 72000 Miles.Jun 24, 2008
by Tim A
Jun 10, 2008
3.5l Honda V6 with Vtec. 275hp, 5-speed auto. AWD. lowerd 2in with 18's wrapped in Kuhmo Ecsta's. fully equipped with all options.Jun 10, 2008
by Paul D
May 30, 2008
This is actually the first NEW car I've ever purchased, and it is by far my favorite... maybe for that reason.
Being a rather large (read fat) man, I have few choices for vehicles to fit into. This fits with room to spare. Smooth and powerful to drive, yet doesn't suck down the gas as quickly as expected. With gas prices as they are, maybe the hybrid version would have been a better value, if it had been available in '05. I hear that the '06 version is even better, but I'll stick with this one.May 30, 2008
by Kevin T
May 30, 2008
So far, this has been an awesome ride for the family & kept me out of a minivan!May 30, 2008
by Gerald S
Apr 29, 2008
Good car good MPG not good looks, I liked the fact that it had lots of storage spaceApr 29, 2008
by Aaron D
Apr 19, 2008
This is a FWD with the Eco-Tech 4 Cylinder Engine. While it won't burn up the road, the engine has adequate power for everyday driving. Gas mileage is good for a vehicle its size at 23mpg in town and 28mpg on the highway. Interior is spacious, and the fold down rear seats are nice. Interior trim feels cheap and has occasional rattle issues. Stock Bridgestone tires were terrible in the rain, hydroplaned all the time. Have since replaced with Toyo Eclipse tires which are a HUGE improvement. The electronic power steering is nice in parking lots, but is too sensitive at speed.
Overall its been a reliable and comfortable vehicle, it doesn't excel at anything but doesn't really suck at anything either.Apr 19, 2008
by Anonymous
Dec 10, 2007
This car handles well in the snow . . . don't let them sell you all wheel drive, you don't need it ! We drove it from Maine to Florida & back with 30 MPG ! The only thing they could do better would be to power it with a diesel engine! Dec 10, 2007
What users have asked
How to Fix low compression?
For a couple months, had trouble starting. Also RPMs would drop and/or run low while idling or when letting off gas. Then, a couple hours after driving it, it wouldn't start at all. Mechanic checked engine, discovered all four cylinders had low compression! What should I check or do to fix?
27 views
Could a Saturn Vue get 250,000 miles on orginial engine if taken care of?
Looking at a 2005 Vue with AWD and V6. It already has 121,100 miles or so. It has a sunroof and 4dr and other standard features.
12945 views
sudden speed drop
While driving at high speeds (70-80mph) on the freeway, for no reason at all my driving speed automatically drops to around 50mph and will stay that way even if I floor the gas pedal. The only way to pick speed back up is to slow down to about 35- 45mph and then gradually pick speed back up. While this speed problem is occurring, an orange triangle with an exclamation mark lights up on right side of the dashboard. They ran a diagnostic test and nothing came out. Can someone please help me find an answer so I can fix this? Please and thank you☺
146 views
Got gas went to leave and car had no power. Why?
We pulled into the gas station turned our 05 saturn vue 5 speed off and got gas went to turn it back on and leave and there was no power at all he got out and shook the battery a little bit and it started working again. We havent had any problems until that happened a few minutes ago. Do you think the battery is going bad or that there was a bad connection? Maybe something else? It was odd for sure esp since it was running we turned it off and nothing happened or moved between then and turning it back on.
22 views
Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2005 Saturn VUE?Compare this car
2005 Saturn VUE Pricing
Original MSRP
$17,630 to $24,890Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
In Car Entertainment
Video system: DVD player
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Rear wiper: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Front and rear side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
In Car Entertainment
Video system: DVD player
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Rear wiper: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Front and rear side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
In Car Entertainment
Video system: DVD player
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: painted steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Rear wiper: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front and rear head airbags · Front and rear side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with storage · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
In Car Entertainment
Video system: DVD player
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: painted steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Rear wiper: intermittent