Page 4 of 4 · complaints 151–192 of 192

2009 Saturn Outlook complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2009 record →

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 5, 201125,000 milesTN

PASSENGER-SIDE LOW-BEAM ON 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK HAS CEASED FUNCTION AFTER ONLY 25K MILES. IN RESEARCHING OPTIONS FOR REPAIR, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS ONLINE ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. AS OF THIS WRITING, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I HAVE A DEALER APPOINTMENT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 25, 201137,000 milesMI

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ENTIRE 'ASSEMBLY'. A FEW WEEKS LATER (TODAY), THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I READ ALL OF THE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. SEEMS TO ME THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY GM.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 23, 201136,000 milesUT

I PURCHASED THE OUTLOOK IN JULY AND NOTICED A FEW WEEKS LATER THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER THINKING IT WAS JUST A BURNT OUT BULB AND THEY REPLACED IT FOR ME, BUT NOTED THAT THE WHOLE SOCKET HAD MELTED AWAY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 4 MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN! THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THE WIRING IS FAULTY FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE. IT IS NOT A STRETCH TO THINK THAT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSES COMPONENTS TO MELT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND AFFECT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 22, 201151,000 milesAR

THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY FRIED. THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I RECEIVED A WARNING TICKET FROM THE POLICE THE SAME DAY THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. THE HEADLIGHT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE WIRING THAT CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO FAIL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WILL COST ME AROUND $700 FOR LABOR AND PARTS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. THE LIGHT WENT OUT BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE WIRING. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY MONIES I AM OUT OF POCKET FOR HAVING TO FIX THE HEADLIGHT DUE TO A MANUFACTURE WIRING PROBLEM! *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 22, 201152,707 milesCA

MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES ON MY 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I NOW AM TOLD THERE IS A SHORT IN THE HARNESS-IS THIS A RECALL ITEM? *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 18, 201145,600 milesIL

RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRING CAME OUT OF CONNECTOR AND MELTED CONNECTOR HEAD

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 13, 201137,000 milesCA

I OWN A 09 SATURN OUTLOOK, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING . THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BUT ON LOOKING INTO THE MATTER IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHT WHICH I WAS QUOTED 700 DOLLARS TO FIX WITH ONLY 37000 MILES ON MY CAR.THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A BRAND NEW CAR AND IF IT IS AS COMMON AS IT SOUNDS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE AT NO EXPENCE TO THE OWNER. THERE IS A TECH.SERV. BULLITIN OUT BY G.M. ON THE MATTER #09-08-42-004 IF THIS HOLDS TRUE ITS AN ADMITTION TO A REOCCURING PROBLEM. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 2, 201139,000 milesAL

PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. INTERMITTENT ISSUE. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 9, 201123,000 milesMI

HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT AT ABOUT 23,000 MILES. I TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE READ OF MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND I THINK GM SHOULD REPLACE ALL OF THE HARNESSES ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 7, 2011SC

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. I HAVE HAD IT FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT BULB AND WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT CHANGED ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE HARNESS WAS MELTED AND THE NEW BULB WOULDN'T WORK. I SAW WHERE QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE POSTED THE SAME COMPLAINT. I DON'T KNOW HOW LIKELY IT IS THAT THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IF SOMETHING IS CAUSING ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE HARNESS THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 29, 201062,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATED UP TO 70 MPH TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN LOCKED INTO THAT SPEED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, USED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 16, 2010NC

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEPT FIZZING OUT. THE UNDERLYING CAUSE WAS A FRAYED AND MELTED WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS NOT ANY GOOD. THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT BUT SATURN IS AWARE. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT IF IT DOES I'M AFRAID THERE LIES A POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. *TR

Tires
Filed Dec 16, 2010NC

THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND I HAD A BIG BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY!. THEY ALSO HAVE CAUSED FALSE LOW TIRE PRESSURE ALERTS TO REGISTER ON MY SUV. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS FLAT TIRES, NO WARNING, NOTHING. THE TIRE INSTANTLY WENT FLAT AND I HAD TO RUSH TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO AVOID COLLISION. THE REPAIRMAN WHOM WAS CHANGING MY TIRE COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE NOR REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. THE TREAD WAS BARELY WORN, YET THERE WAS A LONG SLIT ON THE OUTER WALL OF THE TIRE! THERE IS NO WAY POSSIBLE FOR A SLIT TO JUST APPEAR WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY AT ALL!!! I AM COMPLETELY LOST AT THE CAUSE OF THE FLAT AND NO ONE WOULD COVER THE REPAIR. DID I MENTION THE PRICE OF ONE TIRE AVERAGES OVER $200 AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OTHER FEES AND TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH PURCHASING A NEW TIRE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 9, 201042,000 milesWI

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR BURNED. THE BURNED CONNECTOR KEEPS THE CONTACTS FROM MAKING A CONNECTION. LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. *TR

Exterior LightingCrash
Filed Dec 3, 201024,568 milesVA

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD AT NIGHT. PUT IN NEW BULB STILL NOT WORKING. WIRING DEFECTIVE AND MELTED. COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 16, 201041,005 milesNJ

1. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY COME ON AND STAY ON UNLESS MANUALLY TURNED OFF BY DRIVER. 2. THE WIRING HARNESS IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTS MELTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT TO FAIL AND THE HARNESS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. 3. THE REPAIR AT THE DEALER COSTS $250. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE SATURN OUTLOOK DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 5, 201046,352 milesOH

SECOND HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK PURCHASED AUGUST 2008. BOTH TIMES THE HARNESS NEEDED REPLACED. FIRST TIME THE REPLACEMENT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND TIME WAS NOT, BUT CAR IS ONLY 2 YRS 2MOS OLD. BOTH WIRING HARNESSES WERE BURNT OUT. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 5, 201027,000 milesMD

DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT . REPLACED HEADLIGHT BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FOUND AN EXISTING TSB THAT THIS COULD BE A SHORTED WIRING HARNESS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS A SHORTED WIRING HARNESS. THEY REPLACED IT AND ALL WORKED FINE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND DOES NOT FIX IT. IF IT HAD BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, # 1 SAFETY PROBLEM. #2 SAFETY PROBLEM IS THAT NOW I WAS WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT AND HAD TO GET IT TO A DEALER TO GET IT BACK. NOT ALL OF US LIVE CLOSE TO DEALERS, WE ARE 50 MILES FROM THE NEAREST. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 31, 201038,000 milesOR

HEADLAMP HARNESS MELTED ON BOTH SIDES AND CAUSES HEADLAMPS TO GO OUT COULD ALSO BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 24, 201026,207 milesNC

WE OWN A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK WITH 25000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE OWNED IT FOR 14 MONTHS. WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR STATE INSPECTION THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT WENT OUT. AT THE INSPECTIONS PLACE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB TO PASS INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC FOUND A COMPLETELY BURNED OUT BULB SOCKET. AS IT WAS SATURDAY AND THERE WASN'T A PART READILY AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE SOCKET IT HAD TO BE FIXED TEMPORARILY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PINCHED AGAINST A METAL BRACKET AND OVER TIME HAD WORN UNTIL IT SHORTED OUT. I WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT OR WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST SATURN/GMAC. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 21, 2010AZ

2009 SATURN OUTLOOK HEADLIGHT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 18, 201047,000 milesIN

SATURN OUTLOOK, 2009 MODEL YEAR. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS NOT WORKING, SO I BOUGHT A NEW BULB AND WENT TO REPLACE IT. I FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS PARTIALLY MELTED, AND THE CONNECTOR THAT SEATS THE BULB MAKES INTERMITTENT CONNECTION. EVEN THE ORIGINAL BULB WHICH I THOUGHT WAS BAD WILL STILL WORK IF THE CONNECTOR IS MANIPULATED (WIGGLED). I VISITED SATURNOUTLOOKFORUM.NET AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM AS A RECALL OR SERVICE ISSUE, AND MELTING IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 14, 2010PA

2009 SATURN OUTLOOK HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESSES HAVE MELTED ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE FOR THE LOW BEAMS, AND THE HARNESS AND LIGHT BULBS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 4, 201026,000 milesMD

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. REPLACED BULB AND LIGHT STILL DIDN'T WORK. WHILE REINSTALLING LIGHT FLICKERED AND I NOTICED THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE HARNESS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 13, 201030,000 milesTN

HEADLIGHT HARNESS MELTED. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 10, 201039,000 milesTN

2009 SATURN OUTLOOK, PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP WENT OUT. TOOK TO DEALER, WAS BURNT (MELTED) WIRING HARNESS. HAD TO PAY $250 FOR NEW HARNESS AND LIGHT. TODAY IS SEPT. 10TH AND TODAY THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP WENT OUT. HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 6, 201053,540 milesAR

DRIVING AND HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT TWO TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF YEAR AND A HALF. I HAVE REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS ON THE DRIVERSIDE HEADLIGHT ONCE AND GOING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN! I WILL HANG ON TO THIS HARNESS FOR THE FUTURE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 1, 201038,500 milesGA

REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP AND 2 WEEKS LATER IT WAS BURNED OUT AGAIN. I HAVE NOW REPLACED THE SAME HEADLAMP 4 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THEY WILL HAVE TO CHARGE AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE WIRING HARNESS APPEARS TO BE BURNED. OVER $500 TO REPAIR. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 31, 201037,000 milesND

2009 SATURN OUTLOOK XE, 37,000 MILES THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. INSPECTED BULB AND CONNECTOR AND THE CONNECTOR MELTED. IT APPEARS THERE IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE GM HEADLAMP WIRE HARNESS. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 25, 201045,000 milesWA

PASSENGER HEADLAMP WENT OUT. ON MY 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GM DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND FOUND THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLAMPS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 17, 201023,234 milesTX

FIRST OCCURRENCE: JUNE 21, 2010--BATTERY DEAD, KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. CHARGED BATTERY OVERNIGHT. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 22, 2010. DEALERSHIP STATED "BATTERY FAILED LOAD TEST, REPLACED BATTERY." SECOND OCCURRENCE: AUGUST 11, 2010--BATTERY DEAD, KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, UNABLE TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL. CHARGED BATTERY OVERNIGHT (UNSUCCESSFUL). TOWED TO DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 12, 2010. DEALERSHIP STATED "TROUBLE SHOOT STARTER AND CHARGED SYSTEM. BATTERY FAILED TEST, REPLACED BATTERY." I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP ADVISOR THAT IT WAS JUST A BAD BATTERY. (THIS IS THE SECOND TIME TO JUST BE A BAD BATTERY.) ADVISOR SAID THEY RAN A PARASITIC TEST ON THE BATTERY TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS DRAWING TOO MUCH FROM THE BATTERY. THAT TEST CAME BACK NORMAL. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 15, 201027,000 milesNE

2009 SATURN OUTLOOK, DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHT HAS QUIT WORKING (LESS THAN 27K MILES). I ASSUME THE HEADLIGHT LAMP OR BULB IS BURNT OUT, OWNERS MANUAL DIRECTS THE OWNER TO HAVE DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE REPAIRS. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 31, 201032,000 milesNY

LOW BEAM OUTAGE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CURRENT CAUSES A MELTING OF THE WEAK WIRING AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE LEADS TO CARBON COAT AND IN EFFECT BECOME NON CONDUCTIVE. DUE TO THE OUTAGE AND ILL PLACEMENT OF THE HEADLAMPS (TOO DEEP INTO THE ASSEMBLY) IF ONE OR BOTH THE HEADLAMPS BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL, THE VEHICLE BECOMES A HAZARD TO DRIVE DURING MINIMAL LIGHT CONDITIONS. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 28, 201042,000 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT FURTHER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE BULB CONNECTION TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED HE WOULD PERFORM THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WITH A HEAVY DUTY WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 19, 201052,000 milesLA

REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT HARNESSES ON MY 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK TWICE ALREADY. GOING IN FOR A THIRD TIME FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HARNESS. LIGHTS ARE NEEDED FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 18, 201026,000 milesWA

HEADLAMPS BURN OUT WITHOUT WARNING AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS. HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. WIRE HARNESS IS MELTING. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 15, 201016,000 milesLA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME NONFUNCTIONAL. THE GAUGES DISPLAYED A ZERO READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 12, 201018,000 milesOK

DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. ALSO DAY TIME DRIVING LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE OUT. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP REPAIR THAT THE WIRE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 23, 201039,000 milesIN

THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS IN MY 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK HAVE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE -- THEY ARE FAILING REGULARLY NOW, WISH POSES A MAJOR ISSUE WHEN IT OCCURS AT NIGHT. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN NOVEMBER 2009, AND WHILE I WAS TEST DRIVING IT, THE RIGHT LOW-BEAM BULB BURNED OUT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL BULB AND IT WAS TO BE EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 35000 MILES. HOWEVER, IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2010, THE SAME BULB WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME SIMULTANEOUS TO THE LEFT LOW-BEAM BULB BURNING OUT (THE EXPECTED BURN-OUT OF THE ORIGINAL BULB), LEAVING ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE RIGHT BULB HAD MELTED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BULB. THEY PERFORMED THE SERVICE FREE-OF-CHARGE. NOW, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS OUT AGAIN, AND I AM TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIR. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS FROM MANY 2007 AND 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK OWNERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, BUT NONE YET FOR THE 2009 MODEL YEAR, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE FEW 2009S HAVE AS MANY MILES AS MINE DOES AT THIS TIME. THIS REPEATED FAILURE IS BOTH (1) VERY DANGEROUS AND (2) VERY COSTLY. WHEN A FIX OR RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THE 2007 AND 2008 MODEL YEARS, IT NEEDS TO BE CARRIED FORWARD FOR THE 2009 MODEL YEAR, AS IT IS CLEAR THAT SATURN USED THE SAME ASSEMBLY FOR ALL THREE YEARS AND THE 2009S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE EARLIER MODELS. *TR

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut1 injured
Filed Dec 14, 20097,000 milesWI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE POWER LIFT-GATE FELL ON HIS HEAD. HE HAD TO RECEIVE TREATMENT FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES. HE HAS NOT CALLED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 01/29/10 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTY SHOCK. UPDATED 01/29/10

Electrical System
Filed Dec 8, 200910,043 milesCT

I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 OUTLOOK IN AUGUST 2009 THREE TIMES SINCE BUYING THE CAR, THE BATTERY HAS GONE COMPLETELY DEAD. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THE CAR THOROUGHLY AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THEY SAY THAT GM HAS PUT OUT A BULLETIN FOR AN "INTERMITTENT PARASITIC DRAW", BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND TO DATE. THEY ARE SYMPATHETIC TO MY PROBLEM, BUT CAN NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL GM FINDS THE SOLUTION. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Aug 10, 20095,336 milesIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FLOW MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,336. UPDATED 09/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/09.*JB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2009 Saturn Outlook → · Every Outlook year → · How the figures are calculated →