Problems · by component

2009 Saturn Outlook exterior lighting problems

75 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Saturn Outlook cite exterior lighting, 39% of all 192 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
75
39% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS MELTING OF THE LIGHTING ELECTRIC HARNESS. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, THE ROAD IS NOT ILLUMINATED AS MUCH MAKING IT A SAFETY HAZARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10930114
“DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT IS DIM. DOES NOT EVEN PUT LIGHT ON THE ROAD. PASSENGERS SIDE HEADLIGHT IS BRIGHT BUT GOES ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT BOTH OF THEM WORK THEN THE PASSENGERS SIDE GOES OUT COMPLETELY AND BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS SO DIM I CAN'T SEE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10888848
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10716119
“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. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2015Steering, Suspension, Exterior lightingODI 10702392
“THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK STOPPED WORKING. PER THE GM DEALER THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE LIGHTING ON THESE VEHICLES. CONSIDERING THESE ARE SAFETY ITEMS I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY THERE ISN'T ALREADY A RECALL ON THIS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2014Exterior lightingODI 10668092

Showing 6 of 75 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2009 Outlook problem areas