Problems · by component

2008 Saturn Outlook air bags problems

97 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Saturn Outlook cite air bags, 15% of all 633 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
97
15% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“airbag sensor on passenger seat stays off even when passenger is in seat. I have read many complaints from same vehicle since they were new. Also has electrical issues intermittently possibly from water leaking thru sunroof”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2022Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11462196
“The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the airbag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the MDS was not communicating with the airbags. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2021Air bagsODI 11431261
“THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY INCIDENT SUCH AS AUTO ACCIDENTS. IT JUST THAT MY DASH LIGHTS UP STATING TO SERVICE MY AIR BAGS. ALSO WHEN STEPPING ON MY BRAKE THE SEAT BELTS DON'T SEEM TO HOLD YOU . SATURN CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ON INTERNET, SO IT IS NOT A LONE CASE. SATURN COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2020Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11365840
“DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS AND PLUG HAVE MELTED AND I HAVE HAD REPLACED AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, SAYING SERVICE AIRBAGS NOW. ALL THE SPEAKERS IN THE CAR HAVE QUIT WORKING, BUT IF YOU OPEN AND CLOSE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR THEY WILL WORK UNTIL YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11298859
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF LEAKED EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE WATER TRAVELED ACROSS THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE, ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, AND INTO THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STUTEVILLE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF PONCA CITY (3330 N 14TH ST, PONCA CITY, OK 74601, (580) 749-5976) WHERE THE BODY CONTROL WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY DUE TO THE WATER THAT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PPM CHIP FOR THE AIR BAG WAS MISSING, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V118000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD WHEN IN PARK OR DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,564.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, StructureODI 11289943
“SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM. EVEN IF A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SHOWS OFF. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE NEEDS REPLACED AND WOULD COST ABOUT $800.00 TO REPAIR IT AND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2019Air bagsODI 11287497

Showing 6 of 97 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: side

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Air bagsReported Mar 17, 2014NHTSA 14V118000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.