10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 55,289 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 passenger airbag light indicator showed off when a (heavy enough) passenger was sitting in the front passenger seat. This would happen intermittently. When I took it in to be checked, they said I needed a software update (done without asking for a cost of $62.98). When I called GM, they said airbags were my responsibility after the warranty period ended. Shouldn't they be responsible for software problems with airbags. I have onstar, if a software issue was occurring, it seems they would tell me.
- Royal Oak, MI, USA
While traveling on the interstate on a rainy day with the windshield wipers on, water entered the vehicle from the windshield on both sides. Water was also dripping from the side air bag location.
- Sunrise, FL, USA
Passenger side air bag, seat switch or whatever intermittent for along while. Worked most of time. Now has 100000 on it. Took in Jan. 24, 2015, for recall on connector did not fix, now does not work at all. At least before I took it in it worked most of the time. Now get message service air bag, and the passenger side light on most of the time. Talked to Saturn customer service, just got run around and no help.
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Passenger airbag seat sensor/module doesn't recognize a passenger in no matter the weight.dealership wants $900 for new part. This is a safety issue not a wear and tear issue and should be resolved by GM.
- Dickinson , TX, USA
About every 5 min beeping sound would sound and dashboard stated, service air bag, service brakes/stabilizer & would cutoff cruise control.headlights very dim at night.
- Louisville, KY, USA
In March of this year I turned my 2008 Saturn Outlook into haley GMC in midlothian va to fix a recall concerning an air bag warning light that was on in the car. Air bag recall 14030 was performed, however, the warning light was still on in the cabin. Service department at haley informed me that the recall was performed per GM specifications however, the warning light was still on due to a faulty passenger presence module (diagnostic code: B0081). At the time of this repair I had an extended warranty under the gmpp (General Motors protection plan) which was still valid until August of 2014 or 107,000 miles which ever came first. I was told by gmpp that this module was not covered under my current warranty. Since this visit I have taken my complaint through not only the dealership but through corporate GM on two separate occasions pleading with them that this was a safety related issue not a warranty issue. GM has stated to me that this is not a safety related issue and that this part is no longer covered under warranty. They want me to pay them $900 for this repair and I refuse to pay them because this repair should be covered under General Motors. This same issue has been reported by numerous other GM vehicles besides the Saturn Outlook, including the GMC acadia and Saturn sky. I would like to get assistance from your department in challenging back to GM to get this issue addressed for I am driving around in an unsafe vehicle that there is a good chance that if a passenger is traveling with me in the front of the vehicle that the air bag will not go off in a frontal collision.
- Chesterfield, VA, USA
My 2008 Saturn Outlook was taken into the dealer for the "service air bag recall" which was reset by the dealer, the light came on the following day..the car was taken back to the dealer the following week to have it looked at again, as to which the dealer charged us $120 to look at it this time which is absurd, since this is a recall why should we owners have to pay anything..they informed us that it was a bad sensor under the seat and that it was not covered by the warranty...the dealer informed us that it would cost $965 to be fixed, I've been doing research and come to my findings many other owners of the same vehicle have had the same problem, and the same issue with the dealer having the owner pay for this problem..this problem with the vehicle should be covered by the dealer not us owners, since it is a recall, they will not replace a loved one if there is an accident will they? of course not.
- La Habra, CA, USA
At start up the dic shows a "service air bag" message'. after driving for a few miles the message will disappear. The message will appear and disappear while moving. A red warning light also appears in the speedometer. A GM recall 14030 appears to be the same problem I am having but my vehicle isn't included in this recall. I have purchased this vehicle brand new and it has never been involved in an accident. It has just turned 26,00 miles. It has had a few recalls that have been completed. Please investigate.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
I filed a complaint #10596533 in June 2014 about my air bag. It is as follows: "in the past few months I have noticed that the passenger side air bag on my 2008 Saturn Outlook says off even when a full sized adult is sitting in the seat. Sometimes if you move around in the seat or get out and then get back in it will come on but there are not guarantees. I took it to my dealer and they informed me that it is a sensor in the seat and that I will have to pay $900 to replace the sensor so that my passenger side air bag will actually function. After searching the web I have found that this is a very common problem and that it needs to be a 'safety recall". it is obvious that it is a wide spread problem with a ridiculous price tag for fixing. An unaffordable price for any average person! if the company cares about safety they will put out a recall and fix this problem. In addition I noticed on several sites that even after the sensor was replaced that the same problem occurred. In my opinion they need to come up with a whole new system for the passenger side airbags. We should be able to feel safe in our own vehicles." I haven't resolved my problem. The dealer first said they would pay 30% of the $900 if I covered the rest. They have now decided that they will cover 70% if I cover the remaining $270. Now this seem like a great deal considering the cost is $900 however it is still a safety issue and I don't think I should have to pay anything. I continue to find more complaints about the same problem. It needs to be addressed and a recall needs to be ordered. I will continue to file complaints to every organization that I find until this issue is addressed and it is replaced for free. I didn't damage the sensor it is bad on many Saturn's. and so should be recalled and fixed for safety reasons.
- Niobrara, NE, USA
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer reprogrammed the code in the sir module. However, the failure persisted. The dealer diagnosed that the passenger's side sensor module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,945...updated 09-24-14 the consumer stated there was a recall, that was supposed to resolve the issue. However, the dealer stated it was not the same and the soldered the connections, but the problem continued. Updated 10/21/14
- Roseville, MN, USA
I had been noticing the service air bag notification on my dash board. Didn't think anything of it. Brought it into hawthorne, NJ Chevrolet and they took out the seats and tested the connections and charged me for this service. About 2-3 wks later, the same notice came up on my dash board. Brought it back into hawthorne Chevy and they did whatever and said they didn't find anything and didn't charge me. I kept asking if there was a recall and every time the answer was no. It is now August and the same service air bag notification has popped up again. I will be bringing it back into Chevy to see what they can do.
- Pompton Plains, NJ, USA
In April 2014, my passenger airbag light indicator begin to read: "off" while the passenger was in the seat. Sometimes it says "on" at first, then switches to "off". very few times has it worked properly since April. (now August 1st). Took it to the dealer for the side airbag recall and was hoping it was related to the passenger seat.. the service advisor indicated it was a totally separate issue. Cost to just check it cost me $105. 3 hours later, the advisor informed me it would cost over $500 or more to replace. I declined. Seems like GM would include this as a recall, especially to those with vehicles indicating "off". knowing you don't have a primary airbag that doesn't deploy, I would think this would be an extremely high risk issue and would be on the top of GM's list of recalls?
- Sale Creek, TN, USA
Service airbag notice is constantly on (dashboard message) and the passenger airbag off light is also constantly on. So in the event of a crash passenger airbag will not deploy. Dealer initially ordered a different part and misdiagnosed the problem requiring 3 different visits to the dealership. Service center now saying that the problem is the passenger presence sensor and quoting price to fix over $800.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
Good morning. I would like to file a complaint against the GM dealers in lexington, Kentucky. I received my letter stating that the GM dealers' service departments in my area has received the parts for my recall. I contacted rod hatfield Chevrolet on new circle rd by email to set up an appointment over a month ago (6/27/14). I set up a Saturday appointment and then was contacted by the email representative [xxx]. he contacted me by email stating they did not have the parts for my recall and I would be contacted when the parts arrive. I still have not heard from the dealership and my "service air bag" light has been on for three weeks. I also sent email to glenn Nissan/automall on richmond road) where I purchased my vehicle) about the recall parts over two weeks ago. As of today I still have not received an email, phone call, nothing in reference to the recall parts or my email from their online website. What will happen if my air bags deploy while I am driving and my passenger in the front seats or in case of an accident" the recall states if this light should activate, then I need to take my vehicle to a GM dealer right away. What should I do since neither of the two dealerships have contacted me" please send me suggestions of other GM service departments that should have the recall parts so that I may take my vehicle to them asap. I also will need a vehicle to drive during the service of my Saturn Outlook. Thank you and enjoy your day. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Lexington, KY, USA
We were notified of the air bag recall several months ago and took it to the dealership for that specific recall service, hoping that the repairs would address a long-standing, but intermittent problem with the front passenger air bag error message that coincides with someone sitting in the front passenger seat. After the dealership performed the air bag recall work, the front passenger air bag continues to intermittently display an error message when my wife or adult son sit in the front passenger seat. We informed the dealership and rescheduled a service visit. We were informed today that the error is likely attributed to a bad "presence sensor" in the seat, which is not covered by the recall. The estimated cost for repair was $766. The vehicle is in otherwise excellent conditions with no collisions, flooding or rain intrusion. There has been no event that should have compromised this critical safety system. Malfunctioning sensor = inactive air bag.
- Williamsburg, VA, USA
The problem starts with heavy rain leaking through the sun roof. According to the ed morse dealership representative, the sunroof is projected to pass some water (very few) that will drain through the drain tubes located at the front and rear columns (sides of the windshield). However, the tubes may get clogged an the water starts leaking inside the car through the columns were airbag are located. Nevertheless, these tubes are not long enough to drive the water until the bottom of the car so the water will leak into the inner fuse block, will damp the carpets on the passenger and driver sides and make much more damage than you can believe. As the insulator between the carpet and the floor is like a sponge, it will absorb the water and soaks all the connectors that run below the insulator (cables that run from the battery, to the seats motors and heater, etc, etc). Not to mention that it may damage the airbag triggers mechanisms located on the columns besides the windshield".based on the number of complains about this issue at the internet, why nobody has done anything yet? what if the front sides airbag does not deploy as expected due to this rain inside the car????" NHTSA should seriously inquire GM for that as it may put many lives at risk. And not only to Saturn Outlook owners. The same is happening to GMC acadias and Buick enclaves....there are many forums with such complain at the internet and in one of them a representative from GM ask us to contact her but I sent her 2 E-mails and so far I have no answer. Her E-mail is [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Valrico, FL, USA
I just left my 2008 Outlook xr at the dealer. According to them the problem are the tubes that drain the water from the sunroof. These tubes run inside the front and rear columns (on the sides the windshield in the front and the side columns on the back of the car). These tubes are not long enough to drive the water until the bottom of the car so the water will leak into the inner fuse block, will damp the carpets on the passenger and driver sides and make much more damage than you can believe. As the insulator between the carpet and the floor is like a sponge, it will absorb the water and soaks all the connectors that run below the insulator (cables that run from the battery, to the seats motors and heater, etc, etc). Not to mention that it may damage the airbag triggers mechanisms located on the columns besides the windshield".based on the number of complains about this issue at the internet, why nobody has done anything yet? what if the front sides airbag does not deploy as expected due to this rain inside the car????" NHTSA should seriously inquire GM for that as it may put many lives at risk. And not only to Saturn Outlook owners. The same is happening to GMC acadias and Buick enclaves....
- Valrico, FL, USA
I filed a complaint under number 106110651 on the 15th of July, 2014. In this complaint, I inadvertently said the driver side seat belt light went on. What I intended to say was that the air bag light has gone on. Please refer to the aforementioned complaint for ongoing information. Thank you for getting back to me in a timely basis.
- Lakewood, , CO, USA
I am not involved in an accident. However, my seat belt (driver side) light has gone on and the dic states to check the air bags. I find the NHTSA has a recall on this problem, yet Saturn, and the dealership shows no recall. The number shown is 14V118000 which shows this vehicle. I do not wish to continue to drive this vehicle, yet can't afford an estimated $600 tab to have it fixed. Where do I go from here to find authorization to have this recall (yet not shown) fixed?
- Lakewood, CO, USA
- Waco, TX, USA