Problems · by component
2008 Saturn Outlook exterior lighting problems
247 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Saturn Outlook cite exterior lighting, 39% of all 633 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
247
39% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the exterior lighting
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My low beam headlight started to intermittently go out for a while. Then it went out completely. I go to replace the bulb only to find that the bulb wasn’t the actual issue. The harness, wires, and socket to the bulb were blackened, burnt and melted. So now it all needs to be replaced. I’ve seen on several forums that has happened to so many people that have a car manufactured by GM. The original wiring is not quality enough for the heat and current that goes through there.”
“WHEN IT RAINS WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE & THROUGHOUT THE 2 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT THE RAIN HAS LEAKED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS DESPITE HAVING IT FIXED & CAUSES THE WIRING, LIGHTING & DETRIMENTAL/SAFETY SENSORS & ELECTRICAL PARTS TO BE DAMAGED. I BECAME ESPECIALLY WORRIED WHEN I LEARNED A FRIEND WITH A 2008 GMC ACADIA (IDENTICAL VEHICLE TO SATURN OUTLOOK) IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME WATER ISSUES. WITHIN A MONTH OR 2 OF HAVING THE LEAKING AND DAMAGED FIXED NEW SENSORS GET WET & ISSUES ARISE DUE TO LEAKING IN NEW/DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. I FIRST NOTICED IT LEAKING IN THE FRONT BY THE WINDOWS & SUNROOF & CAUSING THE RADIO SPEAKERS TO QUIT. WITHIN A SHORT WHILE AFTER FIXING IT THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS & AIR CONDITIONING THEN STARTED CUTTING OUT & NOT WORKING. ONCE AGAIN I HAD THE ISSUE FIXED BUT NOW IT IS LEAKING IN THE DASH WHERE WATER CAN BE HEARD SLOSHING AROUND WHEN TURNING & OCCASIONALLY LEAKS INTO THE FRONT FLOOR BOARD. NOW THE 'STABILITRAK' & TRACTION CONTROL ARE ALL HAVING ISSUES AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION SENSORS MAKING MY CAR UNDRIVABLE AND UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR UNTIL THE CAR SITS IN THE SUN OR DRIES OUT FOR A FEW DAYS. THE SPEAKERS ARE ALSO NOT…”
“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.”
“HEADLIGHT BULB KEEPS BLOWING OUT AND SOMETIMES WHEN CHANGED COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE CHANGED BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. BULBS SEEM EXTREMELY HOT WHEN THEY BLOW. WE HAVE HAD IT REWIRED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT LOOKS LIKE WIRES FROM HARNESS ARE DIFFERENT GAUGES THAN REPLACEMENTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN I WILL BE WITHOUT A HEADLIGHT. THEY ARE DIM AND EVEN WHEN REPLACED BY SILVERSTAR ULTRA, THEY REMAIN DIMMER THAN MOST VEHICLES. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I CAN SEE THEIR HEADLIGHTS MORE THAN MINE WHEN THEY ARE BEHIND ME. I CANNOT SEE THE ROAD HARDLY AT ALL WHEN DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT.”
“I HAVE REPLACE LIGHT BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND IT WILL WORK TO SECONDS THAN GO OUT AGAIN I DON'T WHAT THE ISSUE IS I BOUGHT THE 6 DIFFERENCE BULBS IT'S STILL NOT WORKING”
“THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. MY WIFE NORMALLY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND TOLD ME ABOUT IT THIS WEEK. I UNDERSTAND THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS ARE TOO SMALL AND NEED TO CHANGED OUT TO A BIGGER GAUGE WIRE.”
Showing 6 of 247 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.