10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,771 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Saturn Outlook miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2008 Saturn Outlook Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Mar 252020

Outlook

  • 181,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The sunroof leaks water from the dash the rear causing the ceiling to be soaked and malfunctioning of sunroof water leaked on floor of the whole car cans side rear views causes the dash electrical system to go out motor blowers is filling up with water so ac/ heater can not defrost car so visibility to drive car it is unsafe and can cause an accident and very expensive to constantly replace a blower that will constant fill up with water to to sunroof drainage constantly clotting and won't drain and floors flooding eventually this will cause corrosion or fire being water and electricity don't mix well I have 3 children I don't feel we are safe in our vehicle this is our only form of transportation the speakers go in and out due to the water leaked and soon come winter car will not be able to leaky drive being motor blowers will not be able to constantly be purchased due to going out because water back up and leaked and the car becomes drenched in water via seats and floor drive seat is electrical eventually water will cause a problem I just want my kids safe and secure in a vehicle and as I read previous problem some have experienced the same issues I'm going through as of right now. The car can be stationary or in motion water just leaks from ceiling on floor floor is wet as I drive I can hear water on ceiling moving around some water even run accross windshield while I'm driving a lot. Some runs on my leg while I'm driving where the brake pads and gas pedal are which have wires there that are electrical on top of the floors being soaked that's a fire hazard

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #27

Apr 182020

Outlook

  • 110,000 miles
I've had this car for a short while, I've checked the recalls anthem the sun an moon roof are a problem. My car gets very wet on the roof liner and it's because of a leak problem, it happens every time it rains. Is there a way to get that fixed. I'm not sure if the previous owner did the recall or not but for all I know is that it always leaks.

- Lowell, AR, USA

problem #26

Feb 272020

Outlook

  • 136,400 miles
Left driver door manual switch continuously malfunctions, absolutely does not give power to open any windows, lock or unlock doors, and enables your safety in dangerous exits. Locks have been locking when I exit my vehicle, locking my children locked inside of vehicle. Rear lift gate will fall on your head slowly and injured my forehead.

- Shaker Heights, OH, USA

problem #25

Feb 022019

Outlook

  • 190,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall....water leaks into the car behind kicker panel on passenger side going directly into the fuse/relay box. It leaks in all door jams and the rear liftgate area. I have problems with my car not shifting. Throwing code P2723 which is transmisson pressure control shift solenoid E. I believe its due to water getting into the fuse box because there is a constant drain on my battery and when testing the fuses with a test light not all of them seem to be getting a good connection due to all the corrosion. Also sunroof leaks. All door circuits get wet. I have to dry evrything out before I can start it. The carpet smells and its full of rust. Common sense would tell you that this cannot be good from any aspect. Im to the point to going up to GM and making them look really bad because this is unacceptable. I cannot believe with so many common problems there is yet to be a recall. I hate GM and never will I ever purchase any GM product nor will I have anything good to say about GM. When all this occured my car was outside either in my driveway or a parking lot or driving down the road. I havr to cover the car up. The entire car. I bought the car sometime last year. I noticed this was happening about 4-5 months after purchase. Ive tried fixing it myself and I just fail everytime and its ridiculous.

- Highlands, TX, USA

problem #24

Mar 012019

Outlook

  • miles
My sunroof was leaking in my car and caused an electrical problem the auto shop said it would cost 7000 to fix

- Gastonia, NC, USA

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problem #23

Dec 052018

Outlook

  • 0 miles
In 2015 I my transmission malfunction. I took it to the GMC dealership, which I came out of pocket expense of $1500 due to the expiration of my warranty. Then a year later, I received a notice regarding repairing the transmission and I was given a refund (replacement has been already done). Now as of December, 2018, I have been experiencing the same issue with my transmission. I called GMC regarding my transmission again, as was told that the warranty of the last repair has expired June, 2018. With so much frustration, I took my vehicle to the GMC to be certain that this is the issue I am dealing with. GMC advised me the report of my transmission (the tcc converter) in the transmission is bad. They advised me to get a new transmission for the cost of $4K which is way out of my range. I ask. If there is any assistance to help me make this repair on my vehicle and was told no. This leaves me in a position of frustration with GMC where as they did not want to extend any help. This is why I write this complaint to investigate if others maybe experiencing the same and a recall can be put into place for repairs for the transmission.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #22

Jul 312018

Outlook

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Lafayette, GA, USA

problem #21

Jul 192018

Outlook

  • 125,000 miles
Oh boy...here goes. I have a 2008 Saturn Outlook fwd. For the second time in a span if a few years, water has leaked from the sunroof and into the electrical components, fuseboxes, floors, etc. This is the infamous drainhose clogging issue that many may know about. The car now only starts when the key is removed from the ignition. The steering wheel is locked but I can shift gears and move the car backward and forward. I've cleaned up the water, grime and little larvae growing from the water intrusion. All electronics work correctly (even the butt warmer 😊) what I've tried so far: -replaced the ignition switch. -replaced the battery -checked all of the fuses of the underhood fuseboxes -checked several fuses of the under dash fusebox -threw a temper tantrum -cut my finger trying to get to impossibly placed screws -checked for recalls. GM still does not support and take responsibility for this issue -pulled the codes. The recent ones I've gotten are: C0899, C0561, P0017, P0011 last time this happened, it cost me over $1500 to replace all of the fuses/wiring. I am frustrated, yes. No, I don't have the money to fix this yet again. But I am more amazed at how GM leaves this issue with a tsb and a grain of salt, in spite of the overwhelming evidence of this long occurring problem. I am looking for advice. Mechanical advice. Legal advice. Meditation tips. I'll take anything. "sally", as the family calls her, is how we get to work, drive the kids to school, church, playdates, visit family, and other things that families have to do and like to do. I'd like to hear from GM, too, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Instead, you'll find me somewhere inside, beneath, or on top of sally. I'll be the one covered in grease, constantly sighing and wondering about all the others who have this same issue.

- Stoddard, WI, USA

problem #20

Apr 172018

Outlook

  • 97,000 miles
Vehicle stalls randomly. Everything else stays on except engine. It happens at low speeds high speeds backing up. It happened to my fiance on the freeway and also had a no crank no start situation. She could have been killed. This has happened to a lot of people if you search the web. A lot of vets of this type from GM. The GMC acadia Chevy traverse and more from my same year. The vehicle has been at the dealer for a week and they say they can't figure out what is wrong. I'm concerned for other people that own these cars. You can google 2008 Saturn Outlook acadia traverse stalls randomly and see all the people this is affecting. I pray something is done about this

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #19

Feb 252017

Outlook

  • 88,000 miles
Approximately one year after the recall on the struts for my tail gate was fixed, the same problem arose. My tailgate will not open by itself nor will it close by itself. I have to turn off the auto control and use it manually which I am unable to do most of the time because it will pop open a few inches and not open any further. I had the same problem before the recall was fixed. It worked fine for awhile after that but soon stopped.

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA

problem #18

Feb 132018

Outlook

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Ponca City, OK, USA

problem #17

Jan 242017

Outlook

  • miles
Every time it rains my car get a large amount of water inside causing a musty smell and possible mold. I have to vacuum water from the battery area, in the trunk lift it up and vacuum out and leave it to dry out in sun when available. It causes my seat belts to become wet. The passenger side of the floor is wet as well as the back seat area floor. It cause the windows to continually fog up and the defroster doesn't work properly. When I press the gas there is a hesitant sometimes and I was told by a GM service tech that is the battery losing power causing that issue. This is ridiculous that we have been told more than once from the GM service techs that there is nothing that can be done and that corporate is aware of the issue. This is not only a safety issue but health as well. My family rides around in this car.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

problem #16

Nov 012016

Outlook 4WD 6-cyl

  • 148,000 miles
The sun roof is defective causing water to enter into the frame of the car and causing electrical malfunction to the electrical / PCM as well has caused numerous notifications on instrument panel also causing instrument panel to not light up while driving at night with no functions, turning off headlights as well this is a known issue via Saturn forums and youtube videos as well as tsb number of 07-08-57-002F. I feel very unsafe driving and this is my only vehicle. While driving you can hear water moving around throughout the body of the car and there is also water in the doors have shorted out the speakers this is not normal wear and tear. My car also remains on when the key is in the off position.

- Clovis, CA, USA

problem #15

Apr 062016

Outlook

  • 80,500 miles
Sporadically, water leaks from the ceiling air vents/rear view camera/ A-braces/ airbag covers and basically any other place water can come out of. I have had it to the GMC dealer 2X to look for the issue but they cannot replicate. In viewing information online (specifically edmonds.com) it appears that this has been a well known problem since the auto was manufactured - I am just lucky that mine has been sporadic. It has not effected components of the vehicle yet, but if it keeps happening I have little doubt that there will be issues - parts corroding, electrical issues, etc. As mentioned earlier, it baffles me that there are 18 pages of identical complaints, yet the manufacturer has never been made to do anything about it - an idiot can tell that there has to be some manufacturer defect to have that # of occurences. I really don't expect anything to come of my issue, but wanted to document what has happened in case there are more serious issues later such as an accident caused by equipment failure due to water damage - it is only a matter of time before this defect causes serious harm to someone.

- Maumee, OH, USA

problem #14

Mar 272016

Outlook

  • 86,000 miles
After a heavy storm rainwater leaked into the cabin of my parked and unoccupied vehicle through the factory installed sunroof, which was fully closed. The water also leaked into the cabin behind the glove box, under the dash, and through the headliner. This resulted in rainwater getting into the fuse box causing electrical corrosion and the rear wiper to malfunction. Besides the potential safety issue, an electrical malfunction while driving or fire, there is also a health issue of mold in the headliner and under the carpeting. As a result of the water getting inside the car the headliner is now permanently water stained and the carpeting was soaked. The dealership "blew out" the drain tubes but could not guarantee this would fix the problem. I was further advised of a GMC customer satisfaction recall on this car (08207A) which expired on 09/30/09 and that this repair was never done on my vehicle, based on a check of the VIN. I contacted Saturn directly on 04/04/16 who refused to pay for this customer satisfaction recall since it expired 7 years ago. I've gotten more water inside my car since my trip to the dealership and was advised that the approximate cost to extend the drain tubes, as recommended on the customer satisfaction recall, would be at least $500. This price does not include replacing the headliner, the carpeting, possible mold removal, or repairing/replacing the fuse box. My main concerns are for the safety and well being of my small children while riding in this car.

- New Berlin, WI, USA

problem #13

Jan 052016

Outlook

  • 112,500 miles
A few months ago reading Outlook forums I came across a thread where folks were talking about water leaks. Specifically via their sunroof. Many of those people experienced electrical damage to their vehicles because of water that had leaked into areas where electrical currents are constant while the vehicle is running. Since the rains have come back to California I now find that I am experiencing this leak. I cannot tell where it's entering and how it's channeled but I now have a small puddle residing on my rubber floor mat on the drivers side and today saw water dripping from the emergency brake pedal. A short time ago I watched a video on youtube of a gentleman describing and showing what leaking water did to his heater or defrost motor. You could clearly see the motor had been submerged long enough to corrode it causing it to eventually fail. I am having a difficult time understand that after all the stories I have read in the Outlook forums and such that this issue is not worthy of a recall. In my opinion this is not normal wear and tear. A few minutes ago I went online to book an appointment with my local GM service department. I am already assuming I am going to have to pay for possible water damage and/or rust accumulation from this ongoing problem. A problem that GM should have addressed and taken responsibility for years ago. Where is craftsmanship" where is pride in what America builds? and where is quality control"

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 142015

Outlook

  • miles
When it rains my 2008 Saturn Outlook will continue to run even after the key is removed from the ignition. My battery drains down for no reason and my radio will not turn off when the driver door is open. I have recently started smelling an extremely fowl smell that comes and goes. The speakers in my car work when they want to. I believe there is a short in my car that is causing these problems.

- Florence, MS, USA

problem #11

Oct 312015

Outlook

  • 127,000 miles
My 2008 Saturn Outlook is leaking water from the roof which is draining into the dashboard and then down into the floorboard of the driver side of the car. This first started after a heavy rain when I heard a whooshing sound and water came out of the top of the headliner and down onto the dash as I backed up the car. The floorboard was soaking wet. Now it just leaks through the headliner and down the dash to the floor every time it rains since then I've had GM tell me my drain lines for the sunroof were blocked and charged me $100 to blow them out. 3 months later, and a drought of a summer, and after our first rain the car leaked water again. GM once again tried to say the lines were clogged to which I demanded that they look into the tsb regarding the drain tubes. They refused to consider that option earlier this year, which is ridiculous since GM has known about this issue since 2008 and offered to fix it for free, except I'm not the original owner of the car and didn't know this. My car has been in the shop 3 times in the last 4 weeks and has been in the dealer for over 20 days in the last month. At this time they have installed the $11 drain tubes and charged me $400 to replace them and the issue is still not resolved. Water is still running into my dash and onto the floorboard. This only happens when it rains and not while in a car wash or other ways in which people have tried to replicate rain water. So basically I'm stuck with a car that I can't drive when it rains. My car smells of mildew and I'm worried about mold and possible electrical issues because of these leaks.

- Kaufman, TX, USA

problem #10

Oct 302015

Outlook

  • 100,000 miles
Car parked in owner's driveway. All windows and sunroof closed. After a heavy overnight rainstorm, owner drove car down driveway and heard a rush of water toward front of car. Owner saw water dripping from under glove box compartment, and substantial water on passenger side floor mat. Owner able to drive to work and parked in work parking ramp. After work, owner attempted to start car to go home, experienced no crank/ no start. Lights did come on but key then stuck in ignition. Car battery eventually died due to inability to turn off lights. Company called to jump start car, company attached jumper cables and lights came on, voltage good, car still no crank no start. Car was towed to dealership. Dealership diagnosis water leaked from the sunroof into the front of car and into the fuse box, requiring a new fuse box, all new terminals and new wiring. Cost for repair estimate $800-$1000. Calls to cm/Saturn offered no assistance with vehicle repair or cost assistance at all. This incident is exactly the same as a known technical service bulletin by GM #08-08-57-003F floor wet under carpet/engine continues to run with key off/possible no crank/no start/communication loss/various electrical concerns (seal seam).

- Stoddard, WI, USA

problem #9

Dec 012014

Outlook

  • 165,000 miles
The sun roof leaks and a large amount of water had collected inside the battery terminal which is located under and behind the front passenger's seat. Since then, water continues to leak in from the sun roof "tubes" which have been cleaned out several time. I have had water that puddles under the carpeting in the front and rear seat and has effected the electrical. There are numerous instances posted and youtube videos of folks who have also dealt with this issue. It's a shame that it has not been addressed. GM has no resolution and the dealership charges $50 to "blow out the lines" I.e. using an air hose to blow air through the tubes. It's obvious the sun roof is not properly sealed and the tubes (drains as they are referred to by the dealership) are not full proof. The water also leaks from the side airbag curtains and the sun roof control panel

- Greenville, RI, USA

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