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

What owners actually said

633 reports

45,000 miles · Oct 9, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringStructure

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OUR SATURN OUTLOOK HAS HAD PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED MORE RECENTLY THAT INCLUDE THE STEERING BOX FAILING (AUDIBLE POPPING WHEN NEAR NEUTRAL STEERING POSITION), THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND BRAKE SIMULTANEOUS LIGHTS WITH FEEDBACK IN THE BRAKE PEDALS (EVEN WHEN ABS IS NOT ACTIVE), AND A VERY ANNOYING WEATHER/WATER LEAK FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE THAT IS SOAKING THE PASSENGER CARPET AFTER EVERY SINGLE RAIN. NONE OF THESE ITEMS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND I'M RETURNING THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME TOMORROW TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE LEAK (AGAIN) AND THE STABILITY CONTROL. I ALREADY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, OUT OF POCKET, FOR OVER $1000. WE JUST PAID THE CAR OFF AND BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2008. IT BARELY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND THIS IS NOT A QUALITY PRODUCT. THE RIDE, HANDLING, INTERIOR FEATURES/SPACE ARE OUTSTANDING, BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY FAULTS FOR SUCH A NEW(ER) CAR. I ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT THAT WAS AT THE TAIL END OF MY WARRANTY (NOW EXPIRED). AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS AND 50,000 MILES, I'M LOOKING AT EXPENSIVE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR A NEW VEHICLE TO REPLACE WHAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 YEARS COMFORTABLY WITHOUT MAJOR DEFECTS. IT'S NO WONDER SATURN WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT GM HAS NEARLY FAILED SO MANY TIMES... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547449

85,000 miles · Oct 6, 2013

Power Train

AFTER HAVING STOPPED AT A STORE, AND PUTTING MY CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR / MAYBE 2ND AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE! I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546941

70,999 miles · Sep 27, 2013

Power Train

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I WAS DRIVING MY OUTLOOK AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AN HOUR AND IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LIMPED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT THINKING MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW. THAT WAS CHECKED AND WAS FOUND TO BE AT A NORMAL LEVEL. LEAVING THE PARKING LOT WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS NOW NO REVERSE. THE ONLY GEAR THAT FUNCTIONED WAS FIRST GEAR. WE DROVE AT LOW SPEED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ON 8/26/13 I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT APPROXIMATELY $3500 - $4000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10545716

66,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IN ORDER TO PARK IN HIS DRIVEWAY BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE IN THE REVERSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…

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NHTSA ODI #10545111

65,000 miles · Sep 21, 2013

Power Train

COULD NOT SHIFT TO NEXT GEAR AND THE CAR JUMPS/SHAKES WHEN SHIFTING. GOING ON 3RD REPAIR, ITS JUST COSTING ME TO MUCH MONEY TO FIX AND STILL NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR...

NHTSA ODI #10544707

75,000 miles · Sep 16, 2013

EnginePower Train

WAS DRIVING MY IN-LAWS 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THEN ENGINE REVVED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. WAS ON BUSY HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OVER. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND TRIED TO DRIVE AND ENGINE WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST 30 MPH AND THEN STARTING GOING IN AND OUT OF SHIFTING AND NOT MOVING AT ALL. HAD TO PULL BACK OVER AND T…

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NHTSA ODI #10543838

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2013

Air Bags

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PROMPTED TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT AFTER THE RECENT SUZUKI AIR BAG RECALL: THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" (SIR, FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG) PROMPT APPEARS ON THE DASH FREQUENTLY AND THEN DISAPPEARING OR UNTIL WE GET NOTIFICATION FROM OUR ONSTAR MONTHLY DIAGNOSTIC REPORT THAT THE CONDITION REQUIRES OUR ATTENTION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2011 (PURCHASED CERTIFIED USED), WHICH WE ASSUMED HAD BEEN CORRECTED (HISTORY CODE B0021 OD) BUT CONTINUES TO THIS VERY DAY. WE ADVISED THE DEALER AFTER SUBSEQUENT AND FREQUENT SERVICE CALLS AND WERE FINALLY TOLD BY THE DEALER, AFTER THE DEALER CONSULTED WITH THE FACTORY, THAT THIS CONDITION CAN BE RECTIFIED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,500.00 SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOW OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. I WROTE TO GM TO BRING TO THEIR ATTENTION THAT THIS WAS NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER A NO CHARGE FIX UNTIL WE PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I ALSO INFORMED THE GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT APPARENTLY THIS AIR BAG SYSTEM DEFECT IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE SINCE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SIR ALERT ON SEVERAL SATURN BLOGS OFF THE INTERNET. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW A MANUFACTURER COULD TOTALLY IGNORE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR DEATH IF THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY OR EVEN DEPLOY ACCIDENTALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543758

57,000 miles · Sep 11, 2013

Power Train

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ON 500 MILE TRIP HOME TO DALLAS. AFTER PULLING OFF THE FREEWAY IN WICHITA FOR DINNER, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AND SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. HAD TO TOW IT TO A DEALER. WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD "FALLEN APART" AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $3,600…

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NHTSA ODI #10543153

101,000 miles · Sep 6, 2013

StructureUnknown Or Other

DURING RAINS, LEAKS IN THE LEFT REAR IN SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT, AFFECTING THE CARPET, AND FLOODING THE BACK STORAGE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10542354

73,648 miles · Aug 27, 2013

Power Train

AFTER HAVING 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK ACTING "ODDLY". MY HUSBAND TOOK FOR A RIDE. AT STOP SIGN WENT TO ACCELERATE ONTO ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO CALL FOR TOW. AND WAVE VEHICLES TO PASS. FIVE DAYS WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND COUNTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537500

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