275 of the
1,939 complaints filed about the Saturn Outlook
are about the transmission —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
275
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
3
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Transmission is failing. Reverse is slipping. Low torque trying back up inclines. Known problem with 2008 Acadia, Enclave, Traverse & Outlook per transmission shop who test drove and scanned. No code via dashboard, but scan tools and professional diagnostics verify failure. Techem has been replaced in February 2019, by GM service @ owners expense when forward drive failed.
NHTSA complaint #11622653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This has been a big problem for all Saturn owners. The transmissions are always going out in them. This transmission is starting to slip. I’m surprised there is no recalls. Very disappointed.
NHTSA complaint #11548011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the car will automatically shift into 1st gear. Steering will then be disabled to the point of crash. Transmission/computer issue. Major issue with Saturn Outlooks.
NHTSA complaint #11470781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I just purchased this vehicle & on my way home with it the check engine light came on. I hooked up the diagnostic code scanner on the car and it threw several different codes PO700, PO752, PO420. There are specific transmission issues with this particular year, make, and model. My car has the exact same symptoms as the others that were recalled so why has mine not been recalled as well? It's malfunctioning just as the others described in the recall so clearly this is a common issue with these particular vehicles. I feel my car should be covered as part of the safety recall on the transmission and I need it repaired as soon as possible.
NHTSA complaint #11449138 — 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.
I STOPPER THE VEHICLE, IN MY DRIVE WAY, WHICH HAS A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, PLACED THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK. EXITED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS STEPPING AWAY IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. IT STOPPED ON ITS OWN AFTER ROLLING BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET. I UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE, APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, STARTED THE VEHICLE, RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THEN FORWARD SEVERAL FEET, PLACED THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I DID NOT MOVE. I PUT ON THE PARKING BREAK TO BE SAFE. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, JUST PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE, WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVE WAY THE BUILT-IN GARAGE DOOR OPENER STARTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE DOOR STOPPED AND THE OPENER WOULD NOT RESTART THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN/CLOSE.
NHTSA complaint #11361209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING APPROPRIATELY WITH FLUCTUATING CHANGES OF SPEEDS, THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. AFTER PARKING I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER WHERE THEY HAD PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 90,223 MILES BACK IN 2013. NOW, LESS THAN 50,000 MILES LATER THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THE VEHICLE NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,500. IF A VEHICLE ONLY GETS 50,000 MILES OUT OF A TRANSMISSION SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT! I HAVE MY RECEIPTS FROM THE FIRST TRANSMISSION THAT CLEARLY INDICATE THE MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #11342086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALL STAR CHEVROLET LOCATED AT (9352 PLANK RD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70811) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.
NHTSA complaint #11317850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEAR NHTSA, PLEASE FIRST REFER TO THIS KNOWN ISSUE: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10126145 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: GCUS-9-2635 14404B ' SPECIAL COVERAGE.BULLETIN. THIS WAS AN OFFER FROM GM TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN DEFECT IF IT OCCURED EITHER BEFORE 120K MILES OR 10 YEARS. MY WIFE'S 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK IS USED FOR KID TRANSPORTATION AND LOCAL TRIPS MOSTLY SO SHE NEVER PUTS ON THAT MUCH MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE IN OR AROUND 10/2008. ON OR AROUND MARCH 1, 2019 HER OUTLOOK BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ISSUES CONSISTENT WITH THIS GM TSB, FAILURE OF THE 35R WAVE PLATE, A KNOW ISSUE DOCUMENTED BY GM.THE THING WOULD JERK AND SHAKE IN REVERSE, WOULD EITHER FAIL TO SHIFT INTO 3RD OR 5TH OR IF IT DID, WHINE AND SHOW NO ACCELERATION IN THE LEAST. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES, ON LOCAL ROADS AND ON THE HIGHWAY, VERY DANGEROUS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT, ONLY 67K MILES AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER ABOUT HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED RATHER THAN REPLACED. HE REALLY RECOMMENDED A FACTORY REBUILT UNIT. WE WERE LITERALLY 120 DAYS, 4 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD ON THIS ISSUE. SATURN/GM WOULD NOT BUDGE AND TOLD ME THAT AT SOME POINT I HAD TO OWN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REPAIR! REALLY? ON A KNOW ISSUE THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE TSB AS, "UPON FAILURE ONLY" SHOULD I BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. HOW IS THIS FAIR? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I EXPECT FROM THE NHTSA, BUT TO SIMPLY KNOW THAT GM SHOULD HAVE HONORED THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, IT WAS ONLY FOUR MONTHS PAST THE CUT OFF AND IT IS A KNOW ISSUE. THANKS FOR LISTENING, I DO PLAN TO FILE A SMALL CLAIMS CASE AND CONTACT ANY AND ALL CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES ABOUT THIS MATTER. (XXXXX) REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11229465 — 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.
I WAS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, AND THE VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND SLOWED DOWN WHILE MAINTAINING HIGH RPMS AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT BY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE IT CHECKED. A CODE WAS PUT OUT OF IT FOR THE SHIFT SOLENOID FOR GEARS 1-2 BEING 'STUCK ON'. AFTER HAVING THE FLUID CHANGED AS STATED FOR A POSSIBLE CAUSE, EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. TODAY, ON 11/19/2018, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE A SAFE EXIT. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, AND AUTO MECHANICS, THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING A LOT WITH THESE SPECIFIC VEHICLES, AS WELL AS SIMILAR MODELS FROM OTHER MAKES AND THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN.
NHTSA complaint #11152592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK JUST LOST POWER. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. AS I WAS PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE POWER CAME BACK BUT THE ENGINE WAS REVING VERY HIGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I MANAGED TO GET ALMOST HOME WHEN THE GEAR GOT STUCK IN 1ST AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE HIGHER THAN 20 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS JUST ABOUT HOME. ONCE I ARRIVED AT MY HOME I TURNED OF THE TRUCK AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS FINE. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BUT WAS GUESSING IT MAY BE A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. ERROR CODES: P0741 & P0700. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR JERKING AROUND 30-35MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11142145 — 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.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON PUBLIC ROAD THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 3RD GEAR WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN MOTION AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO SAFE PLACE OFF OF THE PUBLIC ROAD WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY THE RESULT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR CENTER AS IT WOULD NOT MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER. REPAIR CENTER CONFIRMED THAT PARTIAL FORWARD GEARS WERE NOT OPERABLE AS WELL AS REVERSE GEAR. ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE PLATFORM WITH 6 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS OF A FRACTURED WAVE PLATE. REPAIR CENTER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND VEHICLE CURRENTLY WORKING FINE FOR LAST 6000 MILES. AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 122,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN IN SERVICE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS
NHTSA complaint #11139428 — 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.
AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PUTTING MY CAR IN PARK, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. I ALMOST HIT MY SON WHO HAD ALREADY EXITED THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE IN PARK BUT WOULD ROLL BACK AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY AS THEY USUALLY DO. I ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. THE SHIFT CABLE NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO A FRACTURE OF THE LOCKING TABS. THERE HAS BEEN A SIMILAR RECALL FOR DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS SEE GM RECALL NO. 12106
NHTSA complaint #11115831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN MY SATURN OUTLOOK. THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. IVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH SATURN OUTLOOK. ALSO TALK TO SERVICE MANAGERS AT A COUPLE DIFFERENT GM DEALERSHIPS. TO WHICH THEY HAVE ALL SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THOSE VEHICLES ARE VERY BAD DESIGNED AND ARE NOT BUILT TO LAST. THEY HAVE REPLACED A BUNCH OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS. PROBLEM : STARTING OUT ON TAKE OFF. THE TRANSMISSION WILL HESITATE AND JERK THE CAR. POTENTIALLY PUTTING YOU AND OTHERS IN A BAD SITUATION IF THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES. AND ONCE YOU ARE GOING IT WILL DO THE SAME THING. TO ME ITS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT GM SHOUPD ADDRESS AND FIX.
NHTSA complaint #11114717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE, GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR, ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THE ENGINES RPMS SOUNDING LOUDER THAN SUPPOSED TO BE. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY DASHBOARD AND THEY WERE AT 7000 RPM. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT LIKE IT WAS NO LONGER ACCELERATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. PREVIOUS TO THIS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD NEVER COME ON. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND DEPRESSED IT AGAIN AND ONLY THE RPMS WENT UP AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. AT THIS POINT, I REALIZED I HAD NO ACCELERATION PEDAL CONTROL, WHILE IN THE CARPOOL LANE, SO AS SO AS SAFELY POSSIBLE, I MERGED OVER TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SHOULDER, THEN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND REALIZED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO AS FAST AS 20MPHS BEFORE TAKING THE RPMS OVER 5000. I COMPLETELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AGAIN ON THE SHOULDER BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE IT AGAIN. AND WAS MET WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. I REALIZED, AT THIS POINT, THE TRANSMISSION IS THE PROBLEM. I SHIFTED THROUGH EACH GEAR TO SEE IF I HAD THEM, PARK REVERSE NEUTRAL DRIVE, AND I HAD THEM. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 2ND GEAR AND I COULD NOT COMFORTABLY DRIVE FASTER THAN 41MPH. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED 75 MILES BACK TO MY HOME.
NHTSA complaint #11099447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.