2008 Saturn Outlook
The Verdict
The 2008 Saturn Outlook has 633 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (383 complaints) and transmission (99 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 18/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Saturn Outlook, consider the 2010 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2010 has 97% fewer complaints
View the 2010 Saturn Outlook dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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.
Over this summer I went to start my truck and all the airbags pop out expect for the steering wheel air bag and dashboard air bag
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.
airbag sensor on passenger seat stays off even when passenger is in seat. I have read many complaints from same vehicle since they were new. Also has electrical issues intermittently possibly from water leaking thru sunroof
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield wiper failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with windshield wiper motor failure. The contact was informed that the windshield wiper motor cover assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V609000 (Visibility) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 197,357.
UNKNOWN
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the airbag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the MDS was not communicating with the airbags. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that all 4 tires had started cracking along the tread. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15T002000 (Tires) however, the tires were not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,692.
My low beam headlight started to intermittently go out for a while. Then it went out completely. I go to replace the bulb only to find that the bulb wasn’t the actual issue. The harness, wires, and socket to the bulb were blackened, burnt and melted. So now it all needs to be replaced. I’ve seen on several forums that has happened to so many people that have a car manufactured by GM. The original wiring is not quality enough for the heat and current that goes through there.
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over however, the steering functionality did not return. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Multiple time my vehicle became wet in the inside due to a sun roof drainage tube issue. My vehicle stopped while in motion and there was a burning smell. Now none of my windows will go up and the car no longer starts. I have a loud knocking sound coming from the dash when I turn the heater or AC on. Now my dash shows service theft deterrent system. The first time I thought maybe the tube was clogged. I now come to find out that is was/is a on going issue with GM. I could've lost my life or been possibly rear-ended at highway speed due to GM not knowing how to make a sunroof.
While driving. Lost power, steering locked up. Discontented and reconnected the battery. Problem cleared.
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
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY INCIDENT SUCH AS AUTO ACCIDENTS. IT JUST THAT MY DASH LIGHTS UP STATING TO SERVICE MY AIR BAGS. ALSO WHEN STEPPING ON MY BRAKE THE SEAT BELTS DON'T SEEM TO HOLD YOU . SATURN CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ON INTERNET, SO IT IS NOT A LONE CASE. SATURN COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO
WHEN IT RAINS WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE & THROUGHOUT THE 2 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT THE RAIN HAS LEAKED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS DESPITE HAVING IT FIXED & CAUSES THE WIRING, LIGHTING & DETRIMENTAL/SAFETY SENSORS & ELECTRICAL PARTS TO BE DAMAGED. I BECAME ESPECIALLY WORRIED WHEN I LEARNED A FRIEND WITH A 2008 GMC ACADIA (IDENTICAL VEHICLE TO SATURN OUTLOOK) IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME WATER ISSUES. WITHIN A MONTH OR 2 OF HAVING THE LEAKING AND DAMAGED FIXED NEW SENSORS GET WET & ISSUES ARISE DUE TO LEAKING IN NEW/DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. I FIRST NOTICED IT LEAKING IN THE FRONT BY THE WINDOWS & SUNROOF & CAUSING THE RADIO SPEAKERS TO QUIT. WITHIN A SHORT WHILE AFTER FIXING IT THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS & AIR CONDITIONING THEN STARTED CUTTING OUT & NOT WORKING. ONCE AGAIN I HAD THE ISSUE FIXED BUT NOW IT IS LEAKING IN THE DASH WHERE WATER CAN BE HEARD SLOSHING AROUND WHEN TURNING & OCCASIONALLY LEAKS INTO THE FRONT FLOOR BOARD. NOW THE 'STABILITRAK' & TRACTION CONTROL ARE ALL HAVING ISSUES AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION SENSORS MAKING MY CAR UNDRIVABLE AND UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR UNTIL THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN OR DRIES OUT FOR A FEW DAYS. THE SPEAKERS ARE ALSO NOT WORKING MAKING THE BACK UP CAM, AND EVEN THE WARNING DASH LIGHTS HAVE NO SOUND. ** AS MENTIONED BEFORE THERE ARE MANY ONLINE FORUMS THAT TALK ABOUT THIS LEAKING ISSUE IN BOTH THE SATURN OUTLOOK & GMC ACADIA'S. IT IS VERY WORRISOME THAT THINGS WILL SEEM TO WORK & SUDDENLY STOP WORKING DUE TO WATER LOG DAMAGE & WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT & HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS FLICKER OR QUIT IT IS VERY SCARY & DANGEROUS. THE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH SENSORS (TRANSMISSION SENSORS & STABILITY) JUST BEGAN ON MY CAR RECENTLY & SINCE I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED SO MANY TIMES IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED. PARKING LOT NO POWER STEERING.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED. DRIVING IN OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND IN PARKING LOTS.
ENGINE POWER REDUCED- THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHERE THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, IN TOWN. MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE INSULATION WAS DETERIORATED AND WIRING WAS STUCK TOGETHER. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, ENGINE STOPS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF ROAD, CAR RESTARTED, TRYING TO GET HOME, CAR DIED AGAIN, WOULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO AUTO SHOP AGAIN. AUTO REPAIR IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, IT WILL RUN GREAT AND JUST RANDOMLY STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS NOW. NOTHING IS CODING WHEN THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS. THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE! I AM HAVING THEM KEEP THE CAR UNTIL PROBLEM IS RESOLVED BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND END UP IN A WRECK. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT I WAS IN TOWN WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED, THAT I WAS IN TOWN AND MY GRANDKIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY RISK!!! THANK GOODNESS I DIDN'T GO ON A PLANNED 12 HOUR TRIP TO COLORADO! NOTE: I HAVE ALREADY PUT $6500.00 IN REPAIRS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF RANDOM ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE.
WATER STARTED DRIPPING DOWN INTO THE GLOVEBOX, EVERY TIME IT RAINS IT GETS SOAKING WET AND THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL PANEL. *TR
MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK XR LEAKS FROM THE ROOF/SUNROOF AND WHEN IT RAINS HARD IT HAS BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE GETS SOAKED AND DOWN BOTH SIDES OF THE TOP OF THE DOOR FRAME HEADLINER IS SOAKED AND ALSO MY FLOOR BOARD FROM BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE ARE ALWAYS WET
633 total