Saturn Outlook Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 274 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Saturn Outlook across 3 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (128). The words owners use most often: “wave plate” (22% of reports).
- 274power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Wave plate: mentioned in 61 of 274 complaints (22%)
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 21 of 274 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Saturn Outlook at $5,150, and half of them between $4,550 and $5,700.
Based on 33 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 248 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 274 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 3 a fire.
Saturn Outlook power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Outlook | 19 | 10% | 78,700 |
| 2008 Outlook | 127 | 20% | 79,796 |
| 2007 Outlook | 128 | 25% | 78,900 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Model years: 2009
Problem: General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
Risk: The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 and saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Transmission is failing. Reverse is slipping. Low torque trying back up inclines. Known problem with 2008 Acadia, Enclave, Traverse & Outlook per transmission shop who test drove and scanned. No code via dashboard, but scan tools and professional diagnostics verify failure. Techem has been replaced…
This has been a big problem for all Saturn owners. The transmissions are always going out in them. This transmission is starting to slip. Iâm surprised there is no recalls. Very disappointed.
I have a wire that burned-out and it controls my windows, sunroof,my ac controls, and then also my transmission is shutering
While driving, the car will automatically shift into 1st gear. Steering will then be disabled to the point of crash. Transmission/computer issue. Major issue with Saturn Outlooks.
I just purchased this vehicle & on my way home with it the check engine light came on. I hooked up the diagnostic code scanner on the car and it threw several different codes PO700, PO752, PO420. There are specific transmission issues with this particular year, make, and model. My car has the exact…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Saturn Outlooks have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 274 owner complaints about power train for the Saturn Outlook. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Saturn Outlook power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Saturn Outlook?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,150 (half paid between $4,550 and $5,700), from 33 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Saturn Outlook?
The most frequent phrase is “wave plate”, in 61 of 274 complaints, followed by “transmission failed” (21).
Other Saturn Outlook problems
- Exterior Lighting problems (482)
- Electrical System problems (328)
- Air Bags problems (192)
- Steering problems (154)
See all Saturn Outlook problems.