Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Saturn Outlook problems

Owners filed 192 complaints about the 2009 Saturn Outlook with NHTSA between Aug 2009 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (75).

Complaints
192
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting75
  2. Electrical system44
  3. Steering42
  4. Power train19
  5. Engine17
  6. Vehicle speed control8
  7. Seat belts8
  8. Air bags7
  9. Structure6
  10. Equipment4
  11. Engine and engine cooling4
  12. Suspension3
  13. Fuel/propulsion system3
  14. Visibility3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20093
201029
201137
201216
201311
201438
201516
201614
20174
20188
20195
20205
20212
20221
20232
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

75 reports1 crash2 fires
“MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT RANDOMLY AND THIS VERY UNSAFE AS I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 YOUNG CHILDREN! I HAVE HAD IT FIXED 4 TIMES! THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS KEEPS MELTING. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND MANY OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11301676

Electrical system

44 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“DRIVER HEADLIGHT HARNESS OVERHEATS, CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO GO OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. I REPLACED THE CONNECTOR HARNESS AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT HAD MELTED AND THE LIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. WHEN I LOOKED UP WHAT TO DO I FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER SATURN OUTLOOK OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2019Electrical systemODI 11277686

Steering

42 reports2 crashes
“I bought this 2009 Saturn Outlook yesterday from a used dealership they said there was nothing wrong with the car well I live over 100 miles away from where I bough it and about halfway home it’s it was dark outside I was driving on the highway going up a hill the motor was acting like it wanted to jump out f the car (I’m not sure exactly how to describe it) anyways it only did ur for just a second then stopped all went back to normal and today just died while driving and now it wont start wont even turn over”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2022Steering, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11476684

Power train

19 reports1 crash1 related recall
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN REALLY SLOW I PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULDN'T CRANK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2021Suspension, Power train, EngineODI 11406787

Engine

17 reports
“The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing belt had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under GM Campaign Number: 10287C since the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2024EngineODI 11618548

Vehicle speed control

8 reports1 crash
“THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LINKAGE SYSTEM, WHERE THE VEHICLE STILL ROLLS WHILE IN PARK. I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE AND A GRINDING SORT OF SOUND. THE VIN IS SAYING 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS ON THE WEBSITE AND I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL IN '09. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING THERE WAS THE SOUND THAT SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK BUT WHILE IN PARK THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL ROLL. THE CAR HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET IN PLACE AT THIS MOMENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2020Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11297027
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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