2009 Saturn OUTLOOK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
192 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
52,854 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 158 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 71 of 192 complaints (37.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 50 | 26.0% |
| Steering behavior | 40 | 20.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.6% |
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 | 71 |
| Electrical System | 42 |
| Steering | 42 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
Exterior Lighting: 71; Electrical System: 42; Steering: 42; Power Train: 19; Engine: 17; Seat Belts: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Air Bags: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 58 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 58; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 29 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2009: 3; 2010: 29; 2011: 37; 2012: 16; 2013: 11; 2014: 38; 2015: 16; 2016: 14; 2017: 4; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 50 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 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 10294990 · 2009-12-08 (December 8, 2009)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 10,043 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345943 · 2010-07-28 (July 28, 2010)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470187 · 2012-08-10 (August 10, 2012)
OWNER NOTICED A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAILED STEERING RACK (PINION), LEAKING POWER STEERING PUMP, AND LEAKING WATER PUMP. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2009 AND CURRENTLY HAS 39,000 MILES (NO LONGER UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472764 · 2012-08-28 (August 28, 2012)
OUR OUTLOOK HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED DUE TO A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL WHEN ACCELERATING. THE DEALER ALSO HAD TO CORRECT AN ISSUE WITH SQUEAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE NOW HEARD OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE OUTLOOK OR ACADIA. ARE THESE ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10373244 · 2010-12-29 (December 29, 2010)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486747 · 2012-12-02 (December 2, 2012)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAR BUCKS,SHUTTERS, AND SKIPS AT A RPM AT AROUND 1400-1600 RPM'S. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490356 · 2012-12-28 (December 28, 2012)
I HAVE A SATURN OUTLOOK, 2009 MODEL YEAR WITH 15,600 MILES ON IT. AFTER I PARKED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. I COULD NOT TELL WHERE THE FLUID WAS FROM, ALTHOUGH I KNEW IT WAS NOT OIL. I SUSPECTED POWER STEERING FLUID OR BRAKE FLUID. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALER FOR INSPECTION / REPAIR. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HOSE WAS LEAKING AT THE CONNECTION TO THE POWER STEERING UNIT. THE DEALER CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY ( GENERAL MOTORS) AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MINUS A $100 DEDUCTIBLE WHICH I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468952 · 2012-08-02 (August 2, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHO ADVISED THAT THE DRAINS IN THE PILLARS WERE CLOGGED, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE FUSE BOX. THERE WAS ALSO MOLD AND WATER UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE FLOORBOARD CARPET. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUSE BOX WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEANED. THE CARPET …
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583985 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS ISSUES WITH THE CYLINDERS AND MISFIRES. THIS ISSUE FIRST STARTED LAST YEAR AND WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. THE DEALER COULD REPLICATE THE ISSUE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 55 MPH WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND CAUSE A LACK OF POWER. HOWEVER DUE TO A LACK OF ENGINE CODES THEY COULD NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE ISSUE AS TO WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. LAST WEEK THE ISSUE BECAME WORSE AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY THERE IS NOW A CODE FOR THE ENGINE ISSUE SO WE KNOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279892 · 2009-08-10 (August 10, 2009)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 5,336 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452478 · 2012-03-21 (March 21, 2012)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND VEH IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 30MPH, AND ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING. DEALER STATED FUEL INJECTOR WAS "DUMPING GAS". (GUESS THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE BAD GAS MILEAGE). FUEL INJECTOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED. 5 MONTHS LATER CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN AT 44,000MI. DEALER STATES COMPRESSION PROBLEM WITH FUEL INJECTOR. THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH CAM SHAFT. MY VEH IS STILL IN THE SHOP AS OF TODAY, SO I AM STILL NOT SU…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452478 at NHTSA ↗