2007 Saturn OUTLOOK: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

REAR LIFTGATE SENSOR THINKS SOMETHING IS BLOCKING THE DOWNWARD PATH OF THE DOOR, AND OPENS THE LIFTGATE EVEN WHEN CLOSED AND NOTHING IS BLOCKING IT. SAID EVENT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT DOES OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, ALLOWING IT TO ENTER THE COMPARTMENT. MANUFACTURER HAS ATTEMPTED A REPAIR ONCE AND THE EVENT IS STILL ONGOING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10190628 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR FORTERA (NA), SIZE P255-65R18 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,000. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197940 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR CORE FREEZES OVER AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF USE. REQUIRES THE COMPRESSOR TO TURNED OFF FOR 2 MINUTES OR MORE TO THAW THE EVAPORATOR CORE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208667 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-02-21 (February 21, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM), WHICH CONTROLS THE FUNCTION OF FRONT AIR BAGS, MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY FAIL TO PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM COMPUTER MODULE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-866-966-9463 OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Reported: 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPERS RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT AND THE WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-06-30 (June 30, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Consequence: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.