2008 Saturn OUTLOOK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
633 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 538 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 236 of 633 complaints (37.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 208 | 32.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 119 | 18.8% |
| Steering behavior | 48 | 7.6% |
| Braking behavior | 30 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 19 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 236 |
| Electrical System | 158 |
| Power Train | 120 |
| Air Bags | 93 |
| Steering | 45 |
| Engine | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Structure:Body | 25 |
Exterior Lighting: 236; Electrical System: 158; Power Train: 120; Air Bags: 93; Steering: 45; Engine: 37; Unknown Or Other: 28; Structure:Body: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 165 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 144 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 105 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 72 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 165; 50,000 to 74,999: 144; 75,000 to 99,999: 105; 100,000 to 149,999: 72; 150,000 and above: 21
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (165). 95 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 112 |
| 2011 | 132 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 74 |
| 2014 | 87 |
| 2015 | 51 |
| 2016 | 37 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 9; 2010: 112; 2011: 132; 2012: 37; 2013: 74; 2014: 87; 2015: 51; 2016: 37; 2017: 24; 2018: 22; 2019: 16; 2020: 14; 2021: 7; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 208 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 119 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10226441 · 2008-05-01 (May 1, 2008)
AT ABOUT 2,000 MILES, ON 2/13/08, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON OUT 2--8 SATURN OUTLOOK AND STATED IGNITION PROBLEM (CAM SENSORS). SATURN INDICATED BAD CAMS (DUAL). THEY REPLACED THEM AND BASICALLY REBUILT THE ENTIRE TOP OF MY ENGINE. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE TENSIONER PULLING SNAPPED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, ELECTRICAL, COOLING, ETC. CAR TOWED. SATURN REPLACED PARTS AND DENIED RELATED TO CAM REPLACEMENT. NOW AT 4,400 MILES ON 5/1/08 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS CALLED AND STATED SAME TROUBLE CODE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265911 · 2009-04-17 (April 17, 2009)
SINCE I LEASED THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR REPAIRS FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 CALENDAR DAYS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS 18,654. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, TRANSMISSION, AND THE ELECTRIC SEAT, BUT THE MAIN REASON THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR ON EACH OF THE SIX VISITS IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN RAINING, WATER APPEARS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: (A) PASSENGER SIDE, 2ND COLUMN; (B) PASSENGER SIDE, DIRECTLY BELOW GLOVE COMPARTMENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258278 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)
I OWN A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK,SINCE NEW VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION.IT OVER REVS WHILE IN THE PASSING MODE AND DOESN'T DOWN SHIFT UNTIL YOU COMPLETELY TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS.WHEN ACCELERATING SOMETIMES IT TAKES SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC.RECENTLY IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING WHEN YOU ACCELERATE TO GO A UP A HILL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL THEY SAY IS ALL THE COMPUTER CODES ARE CORRECT AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM,SO THERE'S NOTHIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10258278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264063 · 2009-04-03 (April 3, 2009)
SATURN 2008 OUTLOOK STEERING ISSUES. LOUD THUMPING/CLUNKING/GRINDING NOISE HEARD WHEN MAKING A TURN. HAD IT AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES NOW, THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUES SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR SKIPS WHEN TRYING TO TURN, I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT IS SCARY WHEN IT DOES. I AM WAITING FOR IT NOT TO MAKE THE TURN AND THE RESULT BEING AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE STEERING AND IN MOST CASES THE CAR BEING RETURNED AFTER MULTIPLE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324330 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
I HAVE A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK THAT AROUND 25000 MILES STARTED LEAKING WATER FROM THE SUN ROOF, WINDSHIELD PILLARS AND HEADLINER. THE WATER LEAK ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKE SWITCH TO CORRODE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND ALARM TO CONTINUOUSLY GO OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IDENTIFIED A RECALL FOR SUNROOM DRAINS THAT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER WATER STARTED LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT HAS BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES FOR THE WATER LEAK AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376813 · 2011-01-15 (January 15, 2011)
I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN OUTLOOK 2008 TO GO ONTO THE HIGHWAY. AS I ACCELERATED, THE GAS PEDAL/TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK AND THE RPM STAYED @5000 RPM FOR ABOUT 8 SECONDS DURING MY ATTEMPT TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE RPM LET UP WE HEARD A LOUD THUMP NOISE AND THEN THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GET UNSTUCK. IT TOOK ABOUT 8+ SECONDS FOR THE BRAKES TO ACTUALLY TAKE OVER. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 47,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347072 · 2010-08-03 (August 3, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, ALL OF THE GAUGES WOULD DROP TO A READING OF ZERO AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10347072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429098 · 2011-10-07 (October 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 11/07/11 *BF UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429098 at NHTSA ↗