2008 Saturn OUTLOOK: complaints, problems and recalls

PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILS TO REGISTER AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, THEREFORE THE SYSTEM IS NOT ALWAYS ACTIVE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211525 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE AN 08 SATURN OUTLOOK THAT WILL ROLL BACK WHILE IN DRIVE ON ANY KIND OF INCLINE. MY WIFE HAS ALMOST HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT SATURN REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE WORKS AND THAT IS IT. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL YET SO THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. SOMETHING SEEMS VERY WRONG TO ME, MY FAMILIES LIVES ARE IN DANGER IN THIS VEHICLE BUT SATURN DOES NOT CARE BECAUSE ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE NOT COMPLAINED? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10220379 at NHTSA ↗

ON APRIL 11, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 P.M. I STOPPED AT COSTCO (WEST HOMESTEAD, PA) FOR FUEL. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND MY SON WAS IN THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WITH THE SEAT BELT ON. THE ENGINE OF MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK AWD - XR WAS OFF. MY SON WAS WATCHING A DVD ON THE OUTLOOK'S CEILING MOUNTED PLAYER. HE DECIDED TO CHANGE THE DVD AND DEPRESSED THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE SEATBELT (LOCATED TO HIS LEFT). THE BUCKLE RELEASED AND HIT HIM IN THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD AT WHICH TIME MY SON PULLED DO…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,056 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225933 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED MIDCYCLE WIPE AND WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE NOW, THE FIRST TIME AROUND APRIL 12TH, 2008 AND NOW TODAY (MAY 7TH, 2008). AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOCKING NUT BETWEEN THE WIPER MOTOR AND THE WIPER LINKAGE HAD COME LOOSE/OFF. THE INCIDENT TODAY CAUSED TWO NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS WHILE MY WIFE GOT THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT AS WE ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,022 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226905 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN IN DRIVE IT ROLLS BACK WHEN STOOPED IF THERE IS ANY ELEVATION. IT IS NOT CONSISTENT SO ROLL BACK IS UNEXPECTED CREATING POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. SATURN CLAIMS THIS DEFECT TO BE IN ALL OUTLOOK AND NOTHING WILL DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247266 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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: 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

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.