# 2003 Saturn Vue - Tranny Problems

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [September 25, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465 "2019-09-25T14:27:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TomHavaich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@TomHavaich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TomHavaich)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465/1 "2019-09-25T14:27:58Z")

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I have a 2003 Saturn VUE all wheel drive automatic that on hot days will stick in high gear. I can manually pull it down to low gear and then once moving shift back to drive and it will go into high gear and run just fine. However if I come to a stop or slow down it will not go back to low on its own. I will need to manually down shift again.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465/2 "2019-09-25T15:54:17Z")

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Sounds like the transmission is going away but… you didn’t post the # of miles on the car so…

Maybe a transmission fluid and filter change might help or at least show you a pile of debris when the pan comes down.

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**Author:** ![TomHavaich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@TomHavaich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TomHavaich)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465/3 "2019-09-27T20:21:31Z")

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The mileage is 160,000. Fluid has never been changed. Talked to a local transmission shop and all they wanted to do was put in a used (junk yard) tranny.

Thanks for your suggestion. May try the fluid and filter idea.

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**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465/4 "2019-09-27T21:31:54Z")

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4cyl motor? Ah, the infamous vue CVT trans. Good luck finding a USED cvt trans for \<$1500. Yes, a used one…  
Now, if it is a v6 vue, they use Toyota trans in 2003 and they are solid. And like frequent fluid changes.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465/5 "2019-09-27T21:42:32Z")

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> [@TomHavaich](#):
>
> The mileage is 160,000. Fluid has never been changed.

😮

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**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-saturn-vue-tranny-problems/149465/6 "2019-09-27T21:50:03Z")

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Is it a 4 cyl vue?