10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 55,620 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.
My wife was driving the vehicle was stopped at a red light when the power steering pump I will say exploded fluid everywhere and the vehicle would no longer turn at all I'm 6'1 270 athletic and could not move the steering wheel...I have read so many people having the same power steering issue and and no recall has been made...
- Woonsocket, RI, USA
Difficulty turning the steering at low speed
- Chesapeake, VA, USA
Was driving 60mph while going around a corner on a highway and the power steering failed. Almost caused us to wreck but was luckily able to regain control. This issue should be investigated and a recall issued. Pulled into a shop when we get into town and fluid is full, it's now at the dealer being diagnosed.
- Salem, OR, USA
Takata recall. I've had this car for about 6 months and there was a studder when driving at speeds less than 60mph. Took it to a dealership and was told it has a bad transmission. It also get stuck and is hard to turn the wheel when turning and I believe this is a power steering problem that needs to be corrected before it causes an accident. Looking at reviews on this vehicle, I see both of these issues are common with the Saturn Outlook and should both be in a recall.
- Columbia, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. While the vehicle was at a mechanic for an unrelated repair, it was noticed that the steering shaft separated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and various parts of the steering assembly were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,700.
- Pocatello, ID, USA
The power steering is very difficult to control at low rates of speed.
- Albert Lea, MN, USA
I have had my Outlook for roughly a year and a half ago now, and my power steering seems to go out when going a low speed and turning. It has caused me 2 accidents so far within months of each other, increasing my insurance to $460/mo. One was backing up, it stopped turning and it backed into a vehicle, and the other was parking, it stopped and I scraped against another. I see this is a common problem. Something needs to be done about this. This could potentially kill someone. I'm in Florida and we are allowed to turn left/right on green. God forbid someone is speeding while I'm doing a U-turn, because they would definitely smack into me since it's so hard to turn. I am quite sure I have the muscles I do from trying to turn my vehicle. It happens the most parking, U turns (or slow turns in general), backing up, and 3 point turns.
- Cape Coral, FL, USA
Loss of power steering at slow speeds. GM repair shop says it's a common problem. Power steering pump replaced under warranty but rack and pinion steering not cover even though the two items contribute to each others failure.
- Racine, WI, USA
Travel us hwy when encountering rain condition vehicle had rear wheel loss of control into hydroplane, when attempting to correct steering into skid the steering failed to respond as if no power steering. The vehicle cruise control was on until point of first applying brake. The vehicle impacted ravine at frontal impactof grill atb high speed then flip side over side without one air bag deploying. Driver, passenger side, passenger/driver-side of seat, or pillar post air bags failed. The yellow airbag indicator light was always on and believed to be normal. After pressing on-star, emergency connection failed to which on-star claims antenna must of been damaged, though photos show intact. On star complaint about failure of system been on going since purchase. Complaint with ftc, state of Michigan sos (secretary of state) and dealership shortly after purchase Dec 24 2014 safety issues to include: Frayed seat bel, T power steering sloppy and noise, rear suspension. Dealer agreed to only address seat belt, and replace rear control bushing arm on one side. Suffered severe neck, spine compression fractures, head, knee, ankle, twisted intestine from seat belt, laceration to torso and other injuries requiring hospitalization. GM contact and opened complaint file for vehicle failures
- Durand, MI, USA
The power steering is loud and hard to control at low speeds. I just took the car to the dealer after receiving a letter that says bring it in and have the power steering checked, but they said it was my gearbox leaking and it would only be $1600 to replace it not only that they charged $70 to tell me that.....this is after the $4500 transmission I just had replaced....all the other Saturn are recalled for this issue, they need to take back all Saturn and give discounts towards another car...these are garbage....thanks
- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA
The headlight wiring harness melts in these vehicles causing the light to fail, this is well documented on the internet on various forums. Early this morning my wife was pulled over by a police officer for having one working headlight, I attempted to replace the bulb and it still does not work, information on the internet lead me to discover melted wires on the light fixture, this is a huge safety problem with this vehicle. There is also a well documented problem with the front end suspension, it fails prematurely and my Outlook is also having this problem. It also has power steering failure, the air conditioning system is failing, along with all the other safety systems that need recalled on this piece of GM junk pile. I have a wife, and beautiful two year old twin girls, who use this vehicle frequently, shame on GM for putting this thing on the road, the whole thing should be recalled and shredded for scrap, owners should be fully reimbursed the current value of vehicle.
- Broussard, LA, USA
When turning at a low rate of speed steering gets hard making it very hard to turn. Doesn't happen every time.
- Stockbridge , GA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed and excessive force was required in order to make any turns. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
- Pontiac , MI, USA
On 4/30/2012 my purchased new 2009 Saturn Outlook began experiencing difficulty steering. The dealer diagnosed it as a worn out steering gear. Subsequently, I had this replaced after owning the car for only 3 years and with only 40,226 miles. On 10/2014, while steering, a loud whirring noise occurred while exhibiting difficulty turning. Again, the dealership diagnosed it as and replaced the bad steering gear with only 71,183 miles. The same repair in two years is unacceptable. I recently received a letter from GM indicating that some 2009 Saturn Outlooks may develop a power steering pump wear condition that can cause an intermittent drop of power steering hydraulic pressure that will cause reduced of loss of steering assist. I inquired with the dealership of a correlation with the repairs I experienced and of course was told that there was none. I will be looking to contact GM customer service to escalate my concerns. Hopefully it helps. We love the vehicle when it is trouble free, but it has been an endless nightmare with multiple trips to the dealership service department for numerous other repairs. Luckily the others were covered under warranty, but were repairs that should not have been needed until much later in the vehicles life time.
- Sterling Heights, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. While driving approximately 10 mph, the vehicle lost power steering intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
- Westland, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that while attempting to turn, the steering wheel seized and failed to straighten out. Also, the door locks failed to unlock when exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that a wire under the driver's seat malfunctioned and caused the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,948.
- Pittsburg, PA, USA
Power steering assist goes out at low speeds in my 2009 Saturn Outlook causing potentially dangerous situations when turning and parking. I have had many close calls in the recent months, but thankfully have not had an accident yet. The issue is dangerous though and I panic every time I have to turn on a busy intersection. This has been recalled in other GM cars, including some Saturn, but not my particular model. My car has not even reached 100,000 miles yet. Please correct this issue for all known vehicles, GM.
- Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
The car has become increasingly hard to steer after being in a parked position. Once you move it out of a parked state the steering is very difficult but when you begin to drive it is okay.
- Shreveport, LA, USA
While making a left turn coming out of our neighborhood the steering wheel suddenly lost the ability the make a smooth turn. Not knowing what was happening, I had to force the wheel to turn left in order to make it across the street. The force on the steering wheel did not produce a full turn of movement, just enough to keep the car in the lane. Once I was in a lane I noticed that the steering wheel still had a resistant feel to it. During my drive I also needed to make a right turn and the same thing happened. With the right turn, I noticed that making a turn into the left lane felt less restrictive, but it still required unusual effort to make a turn. Each time I made a left or right turn I was prepared for the feeling of lost power and prepared to use force to make my turning successful. This of course is not what is supposed to occur while turning a vehicle. I have made this issue known to Saturn customer care.
- Houston, TX, USA
- Winston, NM, USA