AI DamageSaturn Outlook: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saturn Outlook across 4 model years: 1,352 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 36% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 482 complaints (36% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 328 complaints (24% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 274 complaints (20% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 192 complaints (14% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 154 complaints (11% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2007–2010named in 2 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed 2007–2010
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,352 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 482 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 328 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 274 | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 192 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 154 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 89 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 82 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 59 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 42 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 35 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 16 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On january29 2019 I was involved in an accident and the airbags on the passenger side it did not open and the impact was on that side opened that one that opened what's on the driver side and there was a lot of smoke coming off-the- airbag coming up and I couldn't breathe the accident happened on the street
Shortly after, she heard a commotion outside and noticed that the vehicle had rolled away and struck another vehicle. The contact entered the vehicle, depressed the brake pedal, and inserted the key into the ignition in an attempt to turn off the engine; however, the vehicle failed to shut off.
I have had my outlook for roughly a year and a half ago now, and my power steering seems to go out when going a low speed and turning. It has caused me 2 accidents so far within months of each other, increasing my insurance to $460/mo.
Travel us hwy when encountering rain condition vehicle had rear wheel loss of control into hydroplane, when attempting to correct steering into skid the steering failed to respond as if no power steering. The vehicle cruise control was on until point of first applying brake.
Complaints were lodge with federal ftc against the dealership for failures to address recalls for safety equipment, (bags, seat belts, transmission etc) also state of michigan sos division for automotive regulation (secretary of state) complaint was also filed when purchasing vehicle from dealership patsy lou of flint…
I was driving my 2007 saturn outlook when the power steering went out and I went off the road hitting a culvert head on. The frontal air bags failed to deploy. The driver seat on impact broke off of the frame of the vehicle. The only thing that saved my life was my seatbelt.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.