105 of the
1,939 complaints filed about the Saturn Outlook
are about the engine —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing belt had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under GM Campaign Number: 10287C since the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11618548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving and my car started to lurch and went into reduced power mode. I quickly pulled over and turned off the engine. It was towed into the shop, and we found that the timing chain had broken. We had just had our engine mounts replaced and the oil changed. The vehicle has been well maintained. I have seen the issue with the timing chain failure is a common problem in Saturns/GM from internet research. It looks like there was a service bulletin to bring the car in if Service light comes on and you “think” it’s due to premature wear of timing chain. Now we are told the engine needs to be replaced because it was damaged by the timing chain failure and it seems like a known defect that should be covered because it exceeded the value of the car to have such a fix.
NHTSA complaint #11561602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought this 2009 Saturn Outlook yesterday from a used dealership they said there was nothing wrong with the car well I live over 100 miles away from where I bough it and about halfway home it’s it was dark outside I was driving on the highway going up a hill the motor was acting like it wanted to jump out f the car (I’m not sure exactly how to describe it) anyways it only did ur for just a second then stopped all went back to normal and today just died while driving and now it wont start wont even turn over
NHTSA complaint #11476684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN REALLY SLOW I PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULDN'T CRANK.
NHTSA complaint #11406787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE POWER REDUCED- THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, IN TOWN. MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE INSULATION WAS DETERIORATED AND WIRING WAS STUCK TOGETHER. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, ENGINE STOPS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF ROAD, CAR RESTARTED, TRYING TO GET HOME, CAR DIED AGAIN, WOULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO AUTO SHOP AGAIN. AUTO REPAIR IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, IT WILL RUN GREAT AND JUST RANDOMLY STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS NOW. NOTHING IS CODING WHEN THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS. THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE! I AM HAVING THEM KEEP THE CAR UNTIL PROBLEM IS RESOLVED BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND END UP IN A WRECK. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT I WAS IN TOWN WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED, THAT I WAS IN TOWN AND MY GRANDKIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK!!! THANK GOODNESS I DIDN'T GO ON A PLANNED 12 HOUR TRIP TO COLORADO! NOTE: I HAVE ALREADY PUT $6500.00 IN REPAIRS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF RANDOM ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11337172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT AND RETURNS CAUSING JERKY LURCHING TURNS COUPLE YEARS NOW SINCE REACHING OVER 100K MILEAGE, HAVE 173K MILES CURRENTLY. IS NOW LEAKING FLUID. PCV VALVE REPLACED TWICE, NOT RECALLED BUT MECHANICS HAVE SAID IT'S COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE, CAUSES HESITATION WHILE IDLING LIKE IT'S TRYING TO STALL OUT. HAVE HAD TO PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND REV GAS AT STOPLIGHTS. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS, PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T DETECT. ALTHOUGH RECALL, DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE DIAGNOSTIC FEES EVEN WHEN I HAD DONE FOR FREE AT LOCAL PARTS STORE AND GAVE THEM CODE, THEY SAY HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN. PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN, BUT DOES ROLL UP, WITH DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROLS, DOES WORK WITH PASSENGER SIDE CONTROLS. SOMETIMES DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STICKS TOO EITHER UP/DOWN HAVE TO BANG ON DOOR FOR IT TO ENGAGE. SPEAKERS HAVEN'T WORKED PROPERLY IN YEARS EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #11209626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECEIVING MESSAGE ON DASH DISPLAY: ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL. NOTICE A SEVER DROP IN ENGINE POWER AND WILL PRACTICALLY NOT MOVE IF PUT IN GEAR. TYPICALLY NOTICED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AND PULLING AWAY. CAN TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND ISSUE IS NOT EXPERIENCED. (UNTIL THE NEXT TIME) THERE IS NO TYPICAL COMBINATION OF EVENTS THAT HAPPEN BEFORE ISSUE OCCURS, RANDOM. HAVE CHECKED FORUMS ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES FROM GM (OUTLOOK, ACADIA, ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE)
NHTSA complaint #11186295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN STARTING THE STABILITRAK LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BUZZER GOES OFF, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FLICKERS OFF AND ON. THIS CAUSES A ROUGH IDLE LIKE A MISFIRE .I HAVE HAD PLUGS AND COIL PACKS REPLACED AS WELL AS SHOCKS AND STRUTS. ERROR STILL REMAINS. MECHANIC SAYS ONE ISSUE TRIGGERS THE OTHER. HAVE SEEN 100'S OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON FULL SIZE GM TRUCKS AND OTHER SUVS. HOPEFULLY SOON A RECALL ISSUE
NHTSA complaint #11185822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE'S ON STAR SYSTEM PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE AIR BAGS AND CONCLUDED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA complaint #11184820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE FOULK ROAD AUTOMOTIVE CENTER ON FEBRUARY ART 15TH TO GET A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. UPON COMPLETION AND ROAD TEST THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP DURING THE TEST RUN AFTER CORRECT PROGRAMMING.
NHTSA complaint #11183505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ISSUES WITH MY OUTLOOK ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ENGINE ON FIRE, ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH STABILIZER/TRACKING CONTROLS, WINDOWS/MIRROR AND MAINLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO LOW OR 2ND GEAR. I HAD TO PULL TO EMERGENCY LANE AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TWICE. DEALER STATES ITS AN ISSUE WITH OBD/OBI CODES AND CLEARS CODE. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DO THIS ALMOST DAILY, WEEKLY. WATER LEAKS THROUGH SUNROOF, FRONT WINDOW GLASS, UNDER DASH ON FEET OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER; WATER LEAKS VIA DVD SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING AND STATIONARY. ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING AND I COASTED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND LIFTED HOOD THE FLAMES STARTED, FIRE DEPT. CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY TO PUT OUT. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WIRES, TUBES, ETC UNDER HOOD. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW AND MIRROR WILL NOT PUSH OUT OF ROLL DOWN DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUE DRIVING AND STATIONARY. RECALL ON STRUTS FOR AUTO LIFT GATE, BUT REAL ISSUE IS MODULE TO LIFT LIFTGATE WAS A FEE TO BE REPAIRED. WHAT DID RECALL COVER WITH LIFT GATE? THESE ISSUES HAPPEN NO STOP SINCE 2012 WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. I DROVE ON INTERSTATE AND AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TRANSMISSION WENT TO LOW GEAR AND I ALMOST WAS HIT BECAUSE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND POWER/SPEED INSTANTLY DROPPED.
NHTSA complaint #11180048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN 2016, I PURCHASED A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK FROM A DEALER, WITH 90,000 MILES ON IT. TWO MONTHS LATER, "TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING, LET ENGINE IDLE" INDICATOR CAME ON, AND THE SATURN SHUT ITSELF DOWN AS I DROVE DOWN I-35! MECHANIC SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY RESET MY CODES, AND ALL SEEMED OKAY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT KNOW ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG OTHER THAT BANK 1 LOW. FOR THE MOST PART IT DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEMS. REGULAR SERVICE MAINTENANCE, AND OIL CHANGES CONSISTENT WITH THE MANUAL. I RARELY DROVE IT AFTER THE SECOND YEAR OF OWNING IT. ON WAY HOME TO OREGON (PURCHASED OUTLOOK IN IOWA), I CONTINUOUSLY LOST POWER GOING UP THE PASSES. SEMI TRUCKS WERE PASSING ME, AS IF I WERE SITTING STILL. WITH NEW AIR-FILTER SYSTEM, MAF SENSOR, COILS, BOOTS, AND SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED I CONTINUED AT A SNAIL PACE ALL THE WAY TO OREGON. A TWO DAY TRIP TOOK ME SEVEN DAYS. NOBODY COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG OTHER THAN THE BANK 1 LOW, O2 SENSOR, WHICH I REPLACED THOSE AS WELL. I GET HOME AND SEVEN MONTHS LATER, I ALMOST GET HIT BY A SCHOOL BUS, BECAUSE MY SATURN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THREE LIGHT CHANGES LATER, I MAKE IT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE COLLEGE. IT SHUDDERED ALL THE WAY, TILL I PARKED IT, WHERE I HAD TO WAIT TO BE TOWED THREE BLOCKS TO HOME. I PAID OVER $15,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT LASTED ME UNDER 50,000 MILES. IT IS PAID IN FULL, AND IS NOW DEAD. STILL NO CLUE AS WHY. CODES SHOW BANK 1 AND 2 LOW ? BUT WHY WILL IT NOT START? WHY DID MY BATTERY DIE? I COULD NOT HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF MY BABY, IF I TRIED! PLEASE, HELP ME FIX HER. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF COMMISSION, YET IT IS AT 134,000 MILES. GM, PLEASE FIX THIS. THIS WAS FAULTY AT 90,500 MILES. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT CARE OF EVERY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. IT GOT WORSE AFTER I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER IN MISSOURI! CATALYTIC BANK 1 AND 2.
NHTSA complaint #11176129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE AT THE END OF MAY, 2018. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE BEGINING OF OCTOBER, 2018. I HAD GOT IN MY VEHICLE AND STAYED THE ENGINE AMD IT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO ADVANCE AUTO TO GET THEM TO HOOK THE HAND HELD COMPUTER TO THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. IT CODED 2 CODES. ONE WAS FOR THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE OTHER FOR THE CATALYST. THEY SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A BIG CAR SHOP SO THEY COULD PUT IT OM THE BETTER COMPUTER. IT CODES THE SAME CODES. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE GM ENGINS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT ON RECALL. I STILL OWE AROUND 9,000 DOLLARS ON THIS VEHICLE. I AM NOT IN A SITUATION THAT I CAN SPEND OVER. $2,000 ON THIS VEHICLE. IN LISTENING TO THE MECHANIC AND DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #11140693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT FROM STERLING MOTORS IN WATERTOWN SD, IN 2017. TRADE IN WAS 2000, PLUS 500 DOLLARS CASH, FOR A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK XR AWD. LOAN WAS FOR 10000 AFTER THE 2500 TRADE/PAYMENT. HAD 160000 MILES NOW HAS 180000. WITHIN LESS OF A WEEK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, STABILITRAC, SERVICE AIR BAG, TIMING CHAIN, TRACTION CONTROL ALL CAME ON. AS OF 2018 WE HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, BRAKES. STRUTS, ROTORS, TIE RODS, BATTERY, CO2 SENSOR, THERMOSTAT, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. IT STILL NEEDS POWER STEERING PUMP, TIMING CHAIN FIX, CV JOINTS REPLACED AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. I'VE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME I CAN NOT TRADE BACK, AND WHEN WE BOUGHT IT HE SAID IT PASSED THE SUSPECTION TEST AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. HE HAD TO TOP OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID AS IT WAS WHINING AND LOW, SAID THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY FLUSHED IT. SO NOW UPON TURNING IT HAS THIS WEIRD RUBBING VIBRATION AND LOUD SOUND, IT SHAKES AT ALL SPEEDS, IT LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING STUTTERS AT LOW SPEEDS, PASSENGER WINDOW BUTTON DON'T WORK, LOUD NOISES WHEN IDLING, WHINING NOISE FROM POWER STEERING EITHER JUST FROM STATIONARY OR DRIVING. IT TAKES FOREVER TO PASS SOMEONE AS IT ALMOST STALLS WITH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IT HAS A WEIRD CHEMICAL SMELL WHEN USING HEATER. THIS SATURN OUTLOOK IS UNRELIABLE, VERY UNSAFE EVEN AFTER FIXING WHAT I HAD ALREADY FIXED. I HAVE AN INVOICE FOR THE REPAIRS FROM WATERTOWN FORD DEALERSHIP IN SOUTH DAKOTA. STERLING MOTORS WILL NOT HELP, SAID THEY COULD FIX BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR PARTS AND WORK. HE SOLD ME A LEMON AND HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OR WELLBEING OF ME, MY CHILDREN OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. TALK TO THE LOAN PLACE AND ALL THEY SAID IS I HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO PAY REGARDLESS IF THE CAR WORKS OR NOT. I'M CURRENTLY 2 MONTHS BEHIND. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER 700-3000 FIX WHILE PAYING 300 A MONTH FOR A SUV THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11138849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE ALWAYS CHANGE OUR OIL ON TIME. TOOK IT TO THE OIL CHANGE PLACE HE SAID THERE WAS BARELY ANY OIL IN IT , WE STILL HAD 200 MILE BEFORE RECOMMEND OIL CHANGE. THEN THE WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, WE TOOK IT AND MY MECHANIC SAID THAT'S THIS MOTOR IS BURNING OIL. AND CAN AFFECT ENGINE TIMING CHAIN.THE MECHANIC SAID TO START PUTTING SYNTHETIC OIL IN PER GM. WE WE'RE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT OIL ISSUES OR CHANGING WHAT TYPE OF OIL TO USE. NOW WE ARE GOING TO NEED AN ENGINE TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. WE HAVEN'T BEGUN THIS PROCESS YET. BUT FROM WHAT'S I UNDERSTAND GM USB HAVING TONS OF ISSUES WITH MOTOR. AND WE HAVEN'T NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT ANY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OR CARE.
NHTSA complaint #11113380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE 1 REAR BRAKE GOING OUT. THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS LIKE A SIEVE. I HAVE A LEAK SOMEWHERE NEAR MY RADIATOR. AND I'M TOLD THE CHIP IN MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON ME. I HAVE MY DASH BOARD SCREECHING BLOODY MURDER AT ME AND MY EARS SWELL AND I LOOK LIKE I HAVE THE MUMPS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOT I'M BUYING FROM AND THEY SHRUG AND SAY OH WELL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I RARELY IF EVER GO ON THE FREEWAY. I PARK OFF THE STREET. I USE THE ALARM SYSTEM RELIGIOUSLY. AND IT'S OVER HEATING WHERE THE BATTERY IS.
NHTSA complaint #11073263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CAPITAL CHEVROLET OF COLUMBIA (111 NEWLAND RD, COLUMBIA, SC), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11063104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.