Saturn OUTLOOK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,352 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
63,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,147 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 460 of 1,352 complaints (34.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 399 | 29.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 251 | 18.6% |
| Steering behavior | 164 | 12.1% |
| Braking behavior | 68 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 46 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 0.7% |
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 | 460 |
| Electrical System | 317 |
| Power Train | 257 |
| Air Bags | 176 |
| Steering | 148 |
| Engine | 82 |
| Unknown Or Other | 55 |
| Structure:Body | 48 |
Exterior Lighting: 460; Electrical System: 317; Power Train: 257; Air Bags: 176; Steering: 148; Engine: 82; Unknown Or Other: 55; Structure:Body: 48
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 78 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 301 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 309 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 216 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 185 |
| 150,000 and above | 58 |
Under 25,000: 78; 25,000 to 49,999: 301; 50,000 to 74,999: 309; 75,000 to 99,999: 216; 100,000 to 149,999: 185; 150,000 and above: 58
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (309). 205 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 | 9 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2010 | 227 |
| 2011 | 249 |
| 2012 | 95 |
| 2013 | 167 |
| 2014 | 193 |
| 2015 | 110 |
| 2016 | 80 |
| 2017 | 43 |
| 2018 | 47 |
| 2019 | 43 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 9; 2008: 17; 2009: 24; 2010: 227; 2011: 249; 2012: 95; 2013: 167; 2014: 193; 2015: 110; 2016: 80; 2017: 43; 2018: 47; 2019: 43; 2020: 24; 2021: 9; 2022: 5; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 399 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 251 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 164 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 10189981 · 2007-05-07 (May 7, 2007)
IN FEBRUARY I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK XE. WITHIN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC DOOR MECHANISM ON THE LIFTGATE. WHENEVER I OPENED A DOOR THE LIFTGATE MECHANISM WOULD UNLOCK BY ITSELF. THIS WILL OCCUR EVEN WITH VIBRATION FROM SOMEONE WALKING BY THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND OFCOURSE THE WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. . TO THIS DATE THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, AND I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING IT FIXED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216809 · 2008-02-03 (February 3, 2008)
2007 SATURN OUTLOOK THE SEAL NOT INSTALLED FROM FACTORY INVOICE SO# 263636, TAG# 3636, AND LINE ITEM #3, CAUSED ALL PROBLEMS FOR THIS 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. WATER COLLECTING BEHIND FIREWALL IN THE AREA OF THE FUSE BLOCK ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS JUNCTION BOX TO SHORT AND DRAINING THE BATTERY DEAD ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE ENGINE TO RUN AFTER TURNING IGNITION TO OFF POSITION ON ANOTHER OCASSION. THE SEAL NOT BEING INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY ALLOWING WATER TO DRIP ON PASSENGER FLOORBOARD AND CAUSING WINDSHIELD …
Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193393 · 2007-06-14 (June 14, 2007)
I OWN A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ON THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION INTO HIGHER GEARS AT LOW SPEEDS. IF I AM TRAVELING AROUND 45 TO 50 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO 6TH GEAR, DROPPING THE TACHOMETER AROUND 1100 TO 1200 RPMS. THIS, IN TURN, PUT A STRAIN ON THE ENGINE, AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS STEPPED ON, THE CAR RUMBLED AND THE FLOORD BOARDS ACTUALLY VIBRATED. IT WAS ANNOYING, AND IT UPSET ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT THE SHIFTING PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL CHANGE THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE VEHICLE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196313 · 2007-07-13 (July 13, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS ON AN INCLINE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION AS COMPARED TO SIMILAR MODELS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,722 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ROLL BACK ON AN INCLINE UNTIL BRAKE IS ENGAGED. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215761 · 2008-01-23 (January 23, 2008)
NEW 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK FROM DEALER ON OCTOBER23, 2007. ON MONDAY, JANUARY 14. 2008. FLUID FOUND UNDER CAR PARKED IN GARAGE. CAR HAS 1800 MILES. DEALER ADVISED I BRING CAR IN. UPON STARTING CAR, I HEARD HORRENDOUS NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD. BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, I FOUND STEERING DID NOT WORK. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, SATURN OF CLARKSTON. THEY PROVIDED SMALL RENTAL CAR AS LOANER. TECHNICIAN DID NOT LOOK AT OUTLOOK UNTIL AFTERNOON OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008, SUBSEQUENT TO SEVERAL CALLS FROM ME. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AS THE HOSE/COIL CARRYI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217123 · 2008-02-06 (February 6, 2008)
COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO LEAKING POWER STEERING OIL COOLER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,448 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199655 · 2007-08-15 (August 15, 2007)
WHEN THE GAS TANK IS AT 1/4 OR LESS AND THE CAR IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARDS THE GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. SINCE THE GAUGE READS EMPTY THE CAR STALLS ONCE IT IS STARTED OR IT DOESN'T START. WHEN IT STALLS AFTER THE CAR IS IN DRIVE I LOOSE MY POWER BRAKES AND I AM UNABLE TO APPLY MY BRAKES EASILY AND MY CHILDREN AND I ARE PUT IN A BAD SAFETY SITUATION. I AM UNABLE TO STOP IF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE RUNS IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN IT STALLS. THIS IS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. SATURN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10199655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196895 · 2007-07-19 (July 19, 2007)
THE FUEL TANK IN OUR NEW (TWO DAY OLD) 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK ENDED UP WITH A HOLE IN IT, LEAVING A POOL OF FUEL IN MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY. WE WERE BEING VERY CAREFUL, SINCE IT WAS A NEW VEHICLE AND DO NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO BUST. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, PICTURES BACKED THIS UP BY SHOWING NO DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR, LESS THE BUSTED FUEL TANK. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAS NO SHIELD ON THE TANK. MY CONCERN WAS FURTHER INCREASED WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL AT…
Owner-reported narrative. 802 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196895 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 4 |
2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2009: 7; 2010: 4