Exterior Lighting. Review the 247 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports19 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

37 reports

Clear category filter

50,000 miles · Jul 24, 2013

Engine

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. IN JUNE 2012. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. I FIRST REPLACED THE WATER PUMP IN DECEMBER 2012 AFTER A TRIP FROM ILLINOIS TO GEORGIA. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 24,2012, AT A PEP BOYS IN GEORGIA. LUCKILY I GOT AN EXTEND WARRANTY IN MAY 2013, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALRSHIP FOR OTHER WORK . THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD PERFORM WORK UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE WORK COULD BE DONE. I WAS FURIOUS AND TOOK BACK TO THE CLOSEST PEP BOYS. ANOTHER WATER PUMP WAS INSTALLED AT PEP BOYS IN MAY, 2103. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO GM IN JUNE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AGAIN. LUICKILY THE SERVICE MANAGER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP FOR NO CHARGE. I JUST RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM THAT THEY AKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH WATER PUMP LEAKS WITH THIS MODEL. AND WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS UP TILL 120,000 MILES. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS CONDITION IS REPAIRABLE IN THAT IT IS UNHEARD OF THAT A CAR WOULD NEED THREE WATER PUMPS IN A PERIOD OF SEVEN MONTHS. THE CMPANY SAYS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY LOW FLUID LEVELS. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE CORRECT LEVEL OF COOLANT IN MY CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT AND BELEIVE IT SOMETHING ALOT MORE THAN WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531635

56,318 miles · Jul 8, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

WHILE ACCELERATING IN SPEED AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE WENT TO SHIFT AND THE ENGINE RPMS WENT UP EXCESSIVELY, AND THE JERKED HARD WHEN SHIFTING. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AS WE TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME. WE ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE IT LOOKED LOW. THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHO PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THE SAID THAT IT SHOWED A SOLENOID STUCK OPEN, BUT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAIL SAFE DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE HAD REVERSE, AND SECOND TO GET ME OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. HOWEVER, THE REVERSE DIDN'T KICK IN UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523820

124,000 miles · Jun 24, 2013

EnginePower Train

Read full complaint

VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTING CORRECTLY FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THE WAVE PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED. BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND A FORUM WHERE HUNDREDS OF OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING, IT APPEARS THAT WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEM. I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT AS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH IS NO LONGER A GM DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY NO LONGER HAVE SATURN), IT WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENED ONE TIME. I CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTING BUT DIDN'T TAKE TO AUTHORIZED GM DEALERSHIP SO THEY DON'T HAVE RECORD OF IT. RECENTLY, RPM'S WERE RANDOMLY JUMPING ABOVE 4 ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY 10 MINUTES AND I FELT LUCKY TO MAKE IT HOME FROM A RECENT TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS. OF COURSE, GM IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR CAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY PEOPLE CAN BE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS AND IT NOT BE A RECALL ISSUE? REALLY UPSET THAT MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR AND SCARED TO DEATH WE WERE GOING TO WRECK OR GET STRANDED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521383

37,612 miles · May 21, 2013

Engine

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,612 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,911. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513019

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2013

Air BagsEnginePower Train

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD MY THE CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN THE SERVICE STABILITRAC WARNING CAME ON CAUSING JERKING IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO GO. HAD IT TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENTIRE TIMING COMPONENT WAS BAD, THIS WAS A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. NEXT I WAS TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN APPROACHING AN OFFICER AT THE SCENE OF A WRECK MY CAR REVVED VERY HIGH AND WOULDN'T SHIFT ANYMORE....NOT ONLY WITH AN OFFICER AT A ACCIDENT BUT ALSO REDUCED TO ONE LANE TRAFFIC DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. I HAD TO ATTEMPT TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I HAVE SPOKE TO SATURN AND INFORMED THEN OF ALL MY ISSUES...EVENAFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIRS MY CAR CONTINUES TO JERK AND STALL IN TRAFFIC TO THE POINT I WAS ALMOST T BONED BY A SEMI!! I HAVE HAD MY FILL OF MY CHILDREN AT RISK FROM A POORLY BUILT CAR! MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WON'T EVEN KICK ON AND IS HAVING PROBLEMS. ALL MY PROBLEMS STARTED AT 50,000 MILES!! MY SUN ROOF WAS LEADING AND I HAD WATER GUSHING DOWN MY PILLARS HAD TO PAY FOR THAT TO BE SERVICED AS WELL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499331

55,000 miles · Feb 19, 2013

EnginePower Train

DELAYED SHIFTING WHEN PRESSING DOWN ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE SPEED TO CHANGE LANES WHILE ON FREEWAY. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION WAVE PLATE WAS INOPERATIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499264

47,000 miles · Jan 30, 2013

EnginePower Train

I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ONE MORNING IT JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THEN LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495254

Official recalls

15V415000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Jun 30, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

14V118000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 17, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 28, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

08V410000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

Aug 14, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPERS RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT AND THE WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12003 · Loss Of Headlamp Illumination

Opened Jun 4, 2012 · Closed Jul 24, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

As of July 16, 2014, out of a population of 248,453 subject vehicles, NHTSA received 473 consumer complaints of inoperative head lamp. Many of these complaints indicated that the head lamp harness suffered damage from overheating. After reviewing the complaints, ODI found: -69% (328) alleged that a single head lamp was inoperative. -18% (86) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but not at the same time. -9% (41) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but the complaints did not indicate whether the failures had occurred at the same time. -4% (17) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative at the same time. -One additional complaint cited wire harness damage to both sides but did not specify an outage -No crashes or loss of vehicle control were reported. -Any alleged thermal damages were limited to melting of the head lamp harness and the head lamp housing. -A head lamp would intermittently fail to come on or flickers before becoming completely inoperative. For the seventeen complaints that alleged simultaneous failure of both head lamps while attempting to turn them on or while driving, the head lamp failures likely had occurred one at a time. The subject vehicle's head lamps are connected in a parallel circuit and each circuit is fused. Therefore, failure of one head lamp or its harness should not affect the other head lamp operation. Over the last 25 years, ODI has opened numerous defect investigations of the loss of headlamp illumination.Investigations that resulted in safety recalls involved simultaneous loss of illumination from both headlamps. NHTSA does not consider the loss of a single headlamp as presenting an unreasonable safety risk-such failures are readily detectable by the driver while allowing the vehicle to retain forward visibility and conspicuity from the remaining headlamp.There is typically enough time between the failure of the first headlamp and the second during which the vehicle operator can obtain the needed repairs. Based on the information currently available, NHTSA does not believe that the headlamp condition as alleged by the petitioner indicates the likelihood of a safety-related defect that would warrant a formal investigation.Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.Further specifics can be found in the Federal Register Notice ODI complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

EA08010 · NON-CRASH Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 12, 2008 · Closed Sep 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers; Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (9)

Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Electrical System:wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring