10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 77,961 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Transmission failed on a steep hill goin up. Almost was rear-ended. Had transmission replaced. 1/4/2013, new transmission failed @ 135000 miles. Only lasted 44000 miles and 1year and half. Failed going 70 mph on interstate, had to pull over pass speeding traffic, almost got nailed by semi-truck. GM not doing anything but sorry you are out of luck! nice service. Glad we bailed them out.
- Fenton, MO, USA
Transmission problems and slipped going into 3rd gear and revved, would not shift up to 4th gear and we were in the middle of a busy highway. Had to pull into a parking lot and check things out. Parked and checked it out. Once we were done tried to back out and no reverse also. Took it to get the error codes read and found P0776 (3-5-R wave plate).
- Hinesville, GA, USA
In May 2012 the torque converter failed, it was replaced - $1700 on December 10th the transmission failed, it was replaced (along with the torque converter-still under warranty) - $4235.
- Biglerville, PA, USA
Wave plate broke inside the transmission. Loose metal from wave plate damaged many parts throughout the transmission. Original estimate was $3500 due to being 3 months outside warranty. GM agreed to cover remaining bill if I paid $1100 due to the relatively low mileage (78K). One small wave plate caused thousands of dollars of damage and GM knows this is a problem with the '07, '08, '09 Saturn Outlook.
- Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Vehicle's transmission suddenly lost traction. Driving my child to school and suddenly the vehicle's transmission slipped and would not run. Was caught in the middle of an intersection with 5 year old and baby on board. Thankfully oncoming traffic saw us and slowed down to go around us.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
Driving the vehicle at 35 mph and had loss of power and would not accelerate and the check engine light came on. Took it in to have it looked at and the transmission had to be rebuilt with only 47,918 miles on it at a cost of $4000 dollars.
- Everett, WA, USA
My wife had been experiencing sudden acceleration and revving of engine at stop lights and then the transmission failed and left her stranded at the side of the road. We have had this repaired but the problem persists and we don't know when the transmission will fail again.
- Amherst, NY, USA
While driving approximately 35 miles per hour on the road, the car suddenly decelerated to 25 miles per hour and would accelerate past 25 mph. We then drove 25 mph in primarily 35 mph speed limit roads back home. Fortunately, we were less than 10 miles from our home. The car will not drive in reverse either.
- Tacoma, WA, USA
We pulled up to an intersection, stopped, and when we tried to proceed the vehicle would not move. The engine would rev but the transmission would not hook up. We were stranded at the intersection for several minutes while other vehicles dodged and darted around ours, it was a very unsafe situation for my family and the others around us! after many attempts we were able to get the vehicle to the shoulder and had it towed from there. I have made further efforts to get the vehicle to move but the transmission will not work.
- Brillion, WI, USA
Was driving and came to stop. As I started to accelerate car did not exceed 25 miles per hour. Vehicles started going around me. Got home and checked fluid levels reservoir was empty... added fluid test drove car, still not go over 25 miles per hour, took to dealer. Had just purchased vehicle 8/31/12. Dealer states it is out of warranty and will charge $500 to take out transmission and do diagnostic.
- Lima, OH, USA
In June of 2011 my Saturn suddenly started sticking in 2nd gear on an interstate highway. There were 37000 miles N this vehicle. I was able to exit and make it to a GM dealership where the vehicle was diagnosed with a broken 3-5wave plate which was repaired under warranty. Now 15 months later I was driving at 45 miles per hour and the vehicle suddenly revved to 5000rpm and slowed to about 10 miles per hour. The vehicle was towed to a GM dealership and the control module and solenoid valve need replacement. There are now 52500 miles on this vehicle. This is a known problem and GM has made no plan to recall the vehicle for transmission issues.
- Southampton, PA, USA
Our transmission went out on 20 July 2012. It was under a 5yr/ 100,000 miles warranty. It had 87000 miles at that time. It was 2 months past the 5 yr part of the warranty. GM was no help in the repair because of this. They know this transmission is a known problem yet refuse to acknowledge it. I feel it should be recalled.
- Va Beach, VA, USA
Vehicle came out of gear and stopped moving. Could not put it in forward or reverse. GM mechanic diagnosed it as a bad wave plate, allegedly by only looking at the drained transmission fluid which contained substantial filings. Research online has revealed countless complaints that are similar, some harrowingly more dangerous, having to do with sudden up or down shifting and revving at speed. GM has issued tsb 09-07-30-012A which states that the wave plate is to be replaced when any transmission work is done. Please follow one such forum description and subsequent discussions by similarly effected Saturn Outlook owners at www.saturnoutlookforum.net/index.php?topic=2396.0. you will see on Saturn Outlook forum general discussions page that the transmission problem is the most commonly posted topic. There are similar results at townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F171273/419!keywords=allin%3amsgtext%20limit%3A.F171273%20outlookdriver#msg419. Also effected are the other GM vehicles with the same transmission: 2008-2009 Buick enclave 2008-2009 Chevrolet equinox, Malibu 2009 Chevrolet traverse 2007-2009 GMC acadia 2007-2009 Pontiac G6 2008-2009 Pontiac torrent 2007-2009 Saturn aura, Outlook 2008-2009 Saturn vue all equipped with 6T70/75 6-speed automatic transmission (rpos MH2, MH4, MH6 or MY9).
- Unadilla, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that as he attempted to merge into traffic driving 15 mph the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the 3-5-R gear wave plate malfunctioned which kept the vehicle from accelerating. As a result, the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 61,000.
- Toledo, OH, USA
While traveling home from a vacation, made a brief stop, once the car reached 35 mph the transmission slipped and we lost all ability to accelerate. Engine rpms would increase with no acceleration, engine temperature spiked. Coasted to a stop on side of road and checked fluid levels.after restarting, had lost 3rd, 5th and reverse. Drove car 10 miles in 2nd gear to only repair shop in 50 mile radius. Mechanic hoped for bad solenoid but unfortunately the entire transmission was damaged. 3 months out of warranty, GM will not assist financially. New GM transmission replaced in vehicle $3200 later.
- Delaware, OH, USA
Issue began as a jerky movement in reverse. A few days later, high engine rpms were noticed during acceleration which eventually led to the check engine light being lit and the transmission being disengaged. No gears were operating and car was able to be pulled off the main roads with no incidents. Many online forums describe a similar issue with the GMC acadia, Chevrolet traverse, and Buick enclave as well and across several model years for each vehicle. repairpal.com/transmission-fault-andor-check-engine-light-with-code-P0716-P0776-P0717-P0777-P2714-P2715-an-459 repairpal.com/transmission-fault-andor-check-engine-light-with-code-P0716-P0776-P0717-P0777-P2714-P2715-an-567 repairpal.com/Chevrolet-traverse-2009/problems repairpal.com/GMC-acadia-2007/problems.
- Holland, MI, USA
While driving with my family on the highway, we began to experience unusual gear shifting. It felt as though the vehicle didn't know which gear to be in. We made it home, and then a few hours later I started the car and the transmission was making the sound of a fan being spun way too fast. We started to drive and the gear shifting was again erratic. After stopping to check it then getting back on the road we no longer had the first 3 gears. I would have to press on the gas peddle almost to the floor to get the car moving again. I called GM and they said take it to a dealership for a diagnoses [our local dealership is horrible]. they said if it's found to be manufacturer they "may" be able to help us, but that our power-train warranty expired the month before so there wouldn't be any guarantees. I followed my gut and decided to remain a person and not a number by taking it to a local transmission repair shop with a great reputation. They called this morning and said I'll be needing a new transmission. A few minutes later the GM rep called and said they wouldn't be able to help me out (he looked into it for me). This is only 3 months after the power steering pump failed. Before that it was the passenger airbag sensor that went out.
- Ventura, CA, USA
- Howell, NJ, USA