10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 10
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 43,673 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
The headlights went out while I was driving home in the early evening, reducing my visability and the ability for others to see my vehicle. Fortunately, it wasn't night yet and I was still able to navigate home, however had it been just an hour later it would have been completely dark and siginificantly more unsafe for this incident to have occurred. The wiring harness is a known defect by GM and steps should be taken to remedy it. This can create unsafe road conditions for Saturn Outlook drivers.
- Fresno, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that the exterior headlights were replaced numerous times. The dealer diagnosed that the wires had melted, causing a short. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired, but the defect recurred. The failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 45,000.
- Oswego, IL, USA
Headlight on drivers side has failed 5 times since 7/7/2010. Awful to change. Must remove tire & fender cover. It must be a widespread problem since a company named, "racing lab" offers an upgrade kit heavy duty model kyo-pnp-wh-H11. The upgrade kit offers protection from factory headlight connector from melting and burning out the halogen headlight bulb.
- Sorrento, LA, USA
Head lamp wiring harness was melted due to poor wiring and thin wires.
- Cypress, TX, USA
My right headlight burned out and we replaced it after a huge struggle as it is very difficult to get to. Then about a month later, my left headlight burned out, so we replaced it with the same degree of difficulty. However, when I replaced this one, the harness (?) or component you put the bulb in appeared black and "burnt". my headlight worked fine for about a week and it burned out again. I hate to keep replacing headlights if there is a problem with the harness, which is evident by searching on the internet for information about replacing the headlights in the Saturn Outlooks. It takes a great deal of time and effort just to get to the bulb changed only to have it continue to burn out after a very short period of time. I really believe there should be a recall on these headlight harnesses as the company should fix the problem. I have contacted Saturn and was told I would have to pay to take it to a GMC dealer and have an evaluation done on the vehicle. I am very upset with GM about this.
- Marion, LA, USA
Upon inspection, I noticed that the passenger front head lamp was inoperative. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and a technician concluded that wiring harness had melted and caused the bulb to fail. He then added that the other head lamp would soon fail. The vehicle was repaired at an expense of$ $360. The failure mileage was 40,000.
- Ramsey, NJ, USA
I have had to replace the headlight wiring harness 4 times in 5 years because the wiring melts.
- Houston, TX, USA
On 8/26/2011, I replaced my drivers side headlight bulb and noticed a burnt wire smell but did not notice anything visually, approximately one month later I noticed that my light was out again the next day I bought a new bulb. I started the process of changing out the bulb but noticed it was back on so I stopped. A few days later the bulb was out again so I changed the bulb and noticed that the burnt smell was very bad and the plug on the wire harness and the wire insulation had melted. I have read many complaints for this issue at www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php"T=165895&goto=nextoldest, www.saturnoutlookforum.net/index.php"topic=818.80 and others. Please look into this issue before someone is injured.
- Macon, GA, USA
Driver side headlamp went out pulling out of driveway. Took vehicle to dealer who informed us it was a known issue with the headlamp harness not bulb. Harness was melted and scorched. Ordered new "improved" harness and replaced. Passenger side harness experienced same failure ordered new "improved" harness and replaced in July. All repairs and replacement cost were not covered under warranty and I had to pay for all out of pocket costs. On October 3rd passenger side harness burned out again. Have to purchase new part and replace for the 3rd time. This could have been very dangerous it if happened while driving at night. The fact that harness is scorched and melting also concerns me. I am afraid of the risk posed to myself and my family as we use this vehicle to Transport our 2 young children daily.
- Noblesville, IN, USA
First left headlight was going in and out. Was pulled over by police who said it was out. Turned car off then on and light came on. Took it to dealer was replaced for malfunction, defect repaired for free at 20000 miles. Then parked car nose first. Was unable to reverse car out of parking space. Had to wait for car in front to move to so I could drive out forward only. Car drove forward for 1 week, then completely was unable to drive. Was towed to dealer at 39000 miles and transmission had to be replaced for free, covered by warranty. Then right headlight was going in and out at 44000 miles. Not covered. Fixed for $300. Then at that time was told powersteering unit leaking and needed to be replaced for approx $800. Now engine light is on. This car is the worse car I ever had, and I had many. What next. My 1999 Ford Windstar is a better car..
- Bay Shore, NY, USA
Headlight keeps burning out. I believe it is the wiring harness.
- Willow Spring, NC, USA
My Saturn Outlook only has 44,000 miles on it and the passenger side headlight went out. Got a replacement bulb from dealership - changed it - and the light was out after a week and a half. Went back to dealership to buy another bulb and when switching it out - noticed that the wiring harness was melted. Looked online only to find that this is a common problem with this vehicle and it should be recalled - as the danger of a fire is a high risk and having working headlights is the law.
- Elkton, SD, USA
Low beam headlight, passenger side, stopped working, dealer found it to be an intermittent problem, lights came back on. Listed as a wire harness issue. Three months later, same issue. This issue has occured numerous times now both headlights are out. Both headlights are still good, checked on another GM vehicle ( acadia ). fuse is good, no connectivity between harness and light, no power at end of harness. This is an ongoing problem. Saturn is out of business, dealer refuses to fix without charging a small fortune of money. Low beams are still out.
- Jackson, NJ, USA
2008 Saturn Outlook headlights connector and harness melted on both headlight to the point that headlights not turning on.
- Katy, TX, USA
In March, 2011, my cars left headlight burned out. When I changed the light, I discovered that the wiring harness had melted. I replaced the harness with a GM part bought at a dealership. Last week, the right headlight burned out. Again, when I changed the light, I discovered that the wiring harness also had melted. The wires seem small to me, and are smaller than the wires on the replacement harness.
- Mesquite, TX, USA
Right headlight low beam connection has melted. Was able to remove bulb, but badly burnt, can not replace lamp.
- Oliveburg, PA, USA
Right low beam head light harness melted.dealer replaced harness.18 months later the left side head light harness melted and the vehical is out of warranty.
- Darlington, MD, USA
Right headlight would work sometimes and others not. Took into the dealership to have repaired and warranty does not cover. Dealership tried to charge me 300 just to replace the harness. Needless to say my car is parked for now and hubby will be replacing his self. Harness cost $25.
- Houston, TX, USA
Passenger side low beam headlight was out. We purchased a new bulb, when my husband went to replace the bulb he found a wire exposed and the plug in was burnt. The socket is the cause so now we have to buy a new socket. I think this dangerous, it looks as if it could possibly cause a fire.
- Cabins, WV, USA
- Merrick, NY, USA