Wife called me and said her car wouldn't move - belt problem? had heard clattering and high pitched whine earlier and yellow check engine light came on. Was able to start car and shift it into reverse and drive. We decided to drive it to the dealer - champion GMC Buick in brighton. Going up a hill near maltby intermediate school, the car began to stall and slow. Blue smoke came out of the engine. Stopped at top of hill. Got out and inspected engine again...acrid burning smell. Was able to limp car down other side of hill and park in mt. Brighton parking lot and called aaa to tow the vehicle. No flames detected. Dealer said gaskets transmission had failed, coating underside of hot engine.

- Brighton, MI, USA

The transmission was replaced by GM at 80,000 miles with a new GM transmission. I know have 156000 miles on the car and the transmission is slipping again in 3rd gear. The tech is telling me that there is a plate in there that usually breaks on theses cars, to rebuild it is 2600, or a new transmission is 3500. The car has less than 80,000 miles on the new transmission and the same thing is happening again.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

I was driving on a freeway in New Jersey when I noticed the vehicle RPM was over 3000 and the vehicle was not going anywhere I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a dream I heard the stories about other GM SUV's having transmission problems and here I am, experiencing the same problem at only 41750miles, just outside my warranty and still paying for the vehicle.I was just able to make it to work, thinking that I must be dreaming eight hours later I tried to reverse the SUV and it would hardly move, the car was finally diagnosed by GM with a broken wave plate (surprised! ) and a transmission that needed replacing with a $4000 price tag.thank you GM for stealing over $40000 of my hard earn money. There has to be a recall on these vehicles they all have the same problem.

- Bloomfield, NJ, USA

07 Saturn Outlook transmission wave plate went out. Have seen numerous issues with this in Outlook, traverse, acadia. Recall should definitely be issued, GM is really screwing a lot of people.

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

Original owner. Transmission failure at 76K miles. Powertrain originally warranted for 5 years/100K miles. However, since the vehicle just outside of warranty timeframe (not miles), the cost was $3500 rebuild from dealer. Based on internet research this appears to be a widespread issue with 2007, 2008, 2009 Outlook and acadia due to "wave plate" failure. (not clear whether this is the problem with our vehicle since we did not repair.) although we were happy with vehicle until this issue, we elected to trade in vehicle at a loss (due to issue disclosure) for a non-GM product since internet bulletin boards indicate that transmission rebuilds not reliable in long term for this model.

- Fayetteville, AR, USA

My husband had left to take our kids to school on March 8, 2013. He said when he pulled out of the drive way it would not shift out of 1st gear. It would only go about 15 mph. We were planning to take this vehicle on a weekend trip to the mountains (4 hour drive one way). He turned around and came home to get his vehicle to take the kids to school. We decided it was not a good idea to try taking the Saturn to the mountains. The check engine light came on and we went to advanced auto parts to have them check it. It said that the transmission shift solenoid was faulty. The check engine light went off on the following Monday. We were hoping it was just a fluke. Less than 2 weeks later, March 20, 2013 I was driving the Saturn on my lunch break and when I went to accelerate at a traffic light (when the light turned green) it would not shift up. And was stuck in 1st gear. Luckily I navigated across the double lane traffic into a parking area and turned the vehicle off for a minute and started it back and then it did fine. The check engine light also came on and we contacted a GM dealer that had worked on it just months before for an oil leak and they wanted to look at it the very next day. Once they looked at it they said the transmission shift module was faulty and needed to be replaced and that it would cost $1237. My Saturn only has 85,000 miles on it. It should not be having transmission problems. The warranty just went out on it on July 31, 2012, so of course GM will not cover the repair. I have seen that this problem is happening alot with this particular vehicle. It is only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed. Thankfully both times it has happened with our vehicle we have been in light traffic although it is a very scary situation when it does happen.

- Westmoreland, TN, USA

I was in a traffic circle and my rpms revved up high and then dropped even though I was accelerating smoothly. I could not go faster than 20mph. This was a sudden problem, with little to no warning. After getting onto a less busy road, I drove slowly as the car would not shift properly. The rpms kept going up and down. I pulled into a business to get off the road. I tried to see if restarting the car would help. The vehicle started fine but there was no reverse. Since I was now stuck in the driveway, I called for a tow truck, which took my car to the dealership. They diagnosed the wave plate (known issue) or the transmission (known issue). This could have been an accident-causing issue if I had been on the highway or if the traffic circle had been much busier. I use this vehicle to Transport my children. It is only a matter of time before someone gets injured or killed due to this known problem at +/- 100K for this vehicle. With more and more of them approaching this mileage every year...

- Stratham, NH, USA

My husband was driving on the highway. All of a sudden the vehicle downshifted. So when I decided to drive it. The vehicle will not shift in to gear past 20 miles and hour. I took it to the local dealer. I told him I have research this online and it better not be this thing called a waveplate. Well to my surprise it was. They are charging me for the parts and labor $2200. I stated to him, I have had several cars there is no way the transmission should have started slipping so soon. This vehicle had so many issues and it is too soon for me to trade it in. But if I could I would. There needs to be a recall on this entire transmission.

- Kingsland, GA, USA

While driving my car out of the neighborhood it wouldnt switch out of 2nd gear. The faster I would go the higher the rpms. I stopped the car at several stop signs and tried to shut the car off and restart it but the problem continued. When trying to shift the car into the L position and manually shift the gears it would not shift out of D. I was able to creep back home in second gear with the hazard lights on. I took the vehicle to the GM repair shop that has always serviced this vehicle only to be told that though the wave plate was replaced approx a year ago. The particular issue with my vehicle which is some seal on the back of the module to hold the pressure is no longer covered and it will be a nearly $1300 repair!!! according to the dealer this is a recalled part on several models from the GM brand but it is not recalled on my 2007 Outlook! if this is a known problem I really think it would be right for GM to fix this part apparently it is an issue on the 2007 as well! I am so disappointed with GM right now. My husband owns a Chevy and I really hoped our loyalty to the brand wouldnt bite us in the butt. Guess we will see what can be worked out with this repair before the verdict on that is made. I am only grateful that this did not happen while I was trying to make it back home. I had all three of my children in the car with me and though traffic was light it was very scary hoping people had enough time to stop and go around us.

- Dacula, GA, USA

I have a 2007 Saturn Outlook, since I purchased the car, there were problems with the transmission. In 2011, after 2 repairs, a new transmission was put in. 34,000 miles later the transmission went again. I have a 5 year old car that has had 2 transmissions and 7 repairs and the dealership will not honor the original warranty. Today after speaking with customer service for the 5th time, they told me that they would only assist me partially with the repair. I asked for a bill w/ detail on parts and labor, what was done on the last repair that went wrong and what the total cost would be for this repair, including all parts and labor charges. Now at 4 days later I have no information, no car, and no restitution. Customer service offered to find out about getting a loaner car, but when they asked the dealership, she came back to tell me that I would have to call hertz and they would help w/ the expense. After she spoke w/ the dealership again, she came back to say that the dealership said hertz had no cars available..anywhere" how can an american car company, that was bailed out by taxpayer money have this kind of customer service? looking at all the complaints on multiple boards, how is it possible that there are not 1000 complaints about GM transmissions? how are they getting away with this? why is there not a recall"

- Pompton Plains, NJ, USA

My 2007 Saturn Outlook suffered complete transmission failure at only 59,700 miles. The incident occurred while driving across town at a rate of 25 mph. Car has been babied since we got it. Basically an all-wheel drive mini-van. No off-road activities. Did not use it to pull any trailers or other vehicles. Was a great car until this occurred. Warranty expired in Sept. Of 2012. I had the car towed to a local mechanic who said that the "wave plates" had broken and caused the transmission to fail. I am not a mechanic and do not know much about cars, but I contacted GM and was told that I had to have the vehicle inspected by a certified GM repair specialist. So, I had it towed again to a GM repair shop and they confirmed that it was the wave plates that had failed. They also informed me that the wave plates were a universal problem for this make and model of car - they had repaired numerous vehicles with the same issue... all transmission failures at or before 75,000 miles. In their opinion this was a defective part and they thought GM should issue a recall. No car should have a completed transmission failure on a vehicle that early! GM contacted the repair shop I was working with and informed them that because my warranty had expired, the best they could do was to offer me a "co-payment" of $1500 to "repair" the transmission. If I wanted to replace the entire transmission I would have to pay the full cost of $4500 out of pocket. I opted to have the transmission repaired for $1500. I felt it was my only option. Cash is tight and $4500 out of pocket is way too much for what is obviously a defective part. I did not feel I should have to pay anything at all - GM built a bad vehicle. These vehicles should all be recalled and the wave plates should all be replaced - and all of it should be on GM's tab. So, nhtsb, do your job... put pressure on GM and get the recall in place.

- Thornton, CO, USA

I was driving home on highway with kids and went to accelerate and SUV would not go faster. Luckily, I was close to exit and able to get off right away. The SUV would not go faster than 25mph so I was able to limp home the final 3 miles. Once home the SUV would not go into reverse or any high gears. Only works in first gear at 25mph and rpms at 4000. The check emission symbol is lit on the dash. Researching this on internet seems major problem with wave plate broke and requires new transmission.

- Mahwah, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Outlook. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph when a noised emitted from outside of the vehicle with a heavy vibration. The contact maneuvered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis where the technician advised that the drive shaft front bolts were loose and the drive shaft would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. There were two technical service bulletins associated with the failure under NHTSA action numbers: 10024227 (power train ) and 10042291 (power train ) but no recalls. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 60,170.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

Transmission failure.

- Collinsville, IL, USA

In may, the vehicle began shuttering and lost all power. The vehicle was towed to a dealership and they said that the wave plate had broken. In December 2012, the transmission displayed an overheating warning, but dealership said no problems noted (approx 110000 miles) then in Jan 2013 (113000) miles the transmission would not shift out of 2nd gear. Dealership said that it was now a broken pressure switch and not covered under the previous repair warranty.

- Perryville, MD, USA

Was driving down the highway when I went to pass a car the car hesitated the engine revved up. Transmission went out. Was almost hit by the truck behind me. Once I got in a safe location did a little research and found that many people have had the same problem. It is just a matter of time when this problem will cause someone to get hurt or killed.

- Haughton , LA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that while traveling 45 mph and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would not respond. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that the transmission needed to be replaced because the wave plate failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 74,000.

- California, MO, USA

My 2007 Outlook when I was 70 miles from home started acting funny. I went to get on the interstate where people are running 75 mph and I got to 40 mph off the off ramp and it wouldn't shift it was running about 4000 RPM, I slowed down moved to the shoulder. Had my husband come pick us up, it was 20degrees out. He drove it for a few days, took it by trailer to an auto shop and the wave plate in the transmission was broke. As I have heard many of the same issues with this transmission.$ 2700 later my car I have owned for 11 months now has a new transmission. You should not have to put a new transmission in at 74,000 miles. This was scary and needs to be recalled, we easily could have been hit by a car going 75 miles an hour.

- California, MO, USA

Driving on highway, transmission would not shift properly. Fortunately traffic was light, and I was able to exit the highway without an accident. Dealer advised fluid pressure switch/transmission control module needed to be replaced. One year previous, transmission wave plates needed to be replaced.

- Stony Point, NY, USA

Vehicle's transmission started slipping a day before the incident. My wife was driving my 4 year old son home from daycare when the transmission stopped working. The vehicle would not move forward or backwards. About 28000 miles later the transmission has started slipping again. We no longer feel safe driving this vehicle.

- Columbus, GA, USA