Total Complaints
262 filings
SATURN OUTLOOK · model year
262 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009SATURNOUTLOOK carries 262 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 4 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 OUTLOOK is exterior lighting with 71 filings, followed by electrical system (42) and steering (42). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 7 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2009 OUTLOOK. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
262 filings
Crashes Reported
9 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 71 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 42 |
| STEERING | 42 |
| POWER TRAIN | 19 |
| ENGINE | 17 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| SEAT BELTS | 8 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 |
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
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 2
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
GM IS RECALLING 16,667 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.' THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE IN THE SECOND
SEAT BELTS
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Satu
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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
SEAT BELTS
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS RETURNED TO A SEATING POSITION AFTER BEING FOLDED F
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 OUT
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing belt had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under GM Campaign Number: 10287C since the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I was driving and my car started to lurch and went into reduced power mode. I quickly pulled over and turned off the engine. It was towed into the shop, and we found that the timing chain had broken. We had just had our engine mounts replaced and the oil changed. The vehicle has been well maintained. I have seen the issue with the timing chain failure is a common problem in Saturns/GM from internet research. It looks like there was a service bulletin to bring the car in if Service light comes on and you âthinkâ itâs due to premature wear of timing chain. Now we are told the engine needs to be replaced because it was damaged by the timing chain failure and it seems like a known defect that should be covered because it exceeded the value of the car to have such a fix.
UNKNOWN We have only had this vehicle for approximately 4 months and have had soon many issues but the electrical system has been a problem non stop
UNKNOWN We have only had this vehicle for approximately 4 months and have had soon many issues but the electrical system has been a problem non stop
UNKNOWN We have only had this vehicle for approximately 4 months and have had soon many issues but the electrical system has been a problem non stop
I bought this 2009 Saturn Outlook yesterday from a used dealership they said there was nothing wrong with the car well I live over 100 miles away from where I bough it and about halfway home itâs it was dark outside I was driving on the highway going up a hill the motor was acting like it wanted to jump out f the car (Iâm not sure exactly how to describe it) anyways it only did ur for just a second then stopped all went back to normal and today just died while driving and now it wont start wont even turn over
I bought this 2009 Saturn Outlook yesterday from a used dealership they said there was nothing wrong with the car well I live over 100 miles away from where I bough it and about halfway home itâs it was dark outside I was driving on the highway going up a hill the motor was acting like it wanted to jump out f the car (Iâm not sure exactly how to describe it) anyways it only did ur for just a second then stopped all went back to normal and today just died while driving and now it wont start wont even turn over
I bought this 2009 Saturn Outlook yesterday from a used dealership they said there was nothing wrong with the car well I live over 100 miles away from where I bough it and about halfway home itâs it was dark outside I was driving on the highway going up a hill the motor was acting like it wanted to jump out f the car (Iâm not sure exactly how to describe it) anyways it only did ur for just a second then stopped all went back to normal and today just died while driving and now it wont start wont even turn over
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN REALLY SLOW I PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULDN'T CRANK.
Mileage: 185,000
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN REALLY SLOW I PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULDN'T CRANK.
Mileage: 185,000
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN REALLY SLOW I PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULDN'T CRANK.
Mileage: 185,000
THE TIMING CHAIN IS GETTING STRETCHED IS WHAT THE CODES SAY AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED FEELS LIKE IT'S LOOSING POWER
Mileage: 180,000
I STOPPER THE VEHICLE, IN MY DRIVE WAY, WHICH HAS A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, PLACED THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK. EXITED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS STEPPING AWAY IT STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. IT STOPPED ON ITS OWN AFTER ROLLING BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET. I UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE, APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, STARTED THE VEHICLE, RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THEN FORWARD SEVERAL FEET, PLACED THE SHIFT LEVER IN PARK, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I DID NOT MOVE. I PUT ON THE PARKING BREAK TO BE SAFE. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, JUST PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE, WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVE WAY THE BUILT-IN GARAGE DOOR OPENER STARTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE DOOR STOPPED AND THE OPENER WOULD NOT RESTART THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN/CLOSE.
Mileage: 126,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND-ROW PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND CEASED AND WOULD NOT LATCH SECURELY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER COLE KRUM CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 12707 US-131, SCHOOLCRAFT, MI 49087 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V375000 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
PAST 5 YEARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. REPLACES PLUGS 3X, CONVERTERS 3X, AND EVERYTHING INCLUDING IGNITION COILS 2X, LIGHT STILL ON, STATING CONVERTERS NEED REPLACING. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN A HOSPITAL HAS EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS. ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY OFF FOR A WEEK OR TWO, NOW ONLY FOR 30-40 MILES. EMISSIONS SAYS CAR NOT READY FOR TESTING. VEHICLE DRIVES AND RUNS PERFECTLY, PURRS LIKE A KITTEN, BUT NOW CAN'T PASS EMISSIONS. CHEVY, ACURA, REPAIR SHOPS, MUFFLER SHOPS AND ALLEY MECHANICS ALL BAFFLED. TOO MANY INVOICES TO UPLOAD, BUT I HAVE EVERY ONE OF THEM AND RECEIPTS FOR PARTS IF NEEDED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. CHEVY NEVER COULD FIX IT. EACH TRIP COST ME $700+, BUT NO SOLUTION, THE PROBLEM JUST KEEPS ESCALATING. OH, I NEVER PUT CHEAP GAS IN VEHICLE, AND OIL CHANGES/ TUNE- UP ARE UP TO DATE. HELP PLEASE. (SOMEONE SUGGESTED THE ECM COMPUTER IS BAD)
MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT RANDOMLY AND THIS VERY UNSAFE AS I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 YOUNG CHILDREN! I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 4 TIMES! THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS KEEPS MELTING. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND MANY OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.
Mileage: 30
THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LINKAGE SYSTEM, WHERE THE VEHICLE STILL ROLLS WHILE IN PARK. I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE AND A GRINDING SORT OF SOUND. THE VIN IS SAYING 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS ON THE WEBSITE AND I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL IN '09. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING THERE WAS THE SOUND THAT SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK BUT WHILE IN PARK THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL ROLL. THE CAR HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET IN PLACE AT THIS MOMENT.
Mileage: 130,344
THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LINKAGE SYSTEM, WHERE THE VEHICLE STILL ROLLS WHILE IN PARK. I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE AND A GRINDING SORT OF SOUND. THE VIN IS SAYING 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS ON THE WEBSITE AND I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL IN '09. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING THERE WAS THE SOUND THAT SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK BUT WHILE IN PARK THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL ROLL. THE CAR HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET IN PLACE AT THIS MOMENT.
Mileage: 130,344
DRIVER HEADLIGHT HARNESS OVERHEATS, CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO GO OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. I REPLACED THE CONNECTOR HARNESS AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT HAD MELTED AND THE LIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. WHEN I LOOKED UP WHAT TO DO I FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER SATURN OUTLOOK OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Mileage: 150,000
THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HAS MELTED
Electric Power Steering Failure
Electric Power Steering Failure
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE-STALL
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.