2008 Saturn Outlook Engine Problems

OIL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. I THINK ITS AN INTERNAL LEAK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A FUEL STATION AND WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

DRIVING ON A SMALL HIGHWAY AND THE STABILI RAK LIGHT BLINKED AND A CHIME RANG. ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON TO SERVICE STABILITRAK WHILE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND LOSE POWER. HAD TROUBLE GETTING CAR TO ACCELERATE - CAR KEPT BUCKING AND IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WAS AFRAID OF GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND SINCE I COULDN'T MAINTAIN SPEED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE ERROR LIGHT WENT OFF AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. IN THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR, I HAD THREE INCIDENTS WHERE THE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND THE CHIME WOULD RING WITH THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE CASES, THE CAR HESITATED BRIEFLY BUT MAINTAINED A MORE NORMAL SPEED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A GM DEALER AND IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. THE SATURN OUTLOOK FOR 2007 AND 2009 HAVE SPECIAL WARRANTIES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT THE 2008 MODEL. GM DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE EXISTS ON THIS MODEL YEAR - BUT I HAVE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE ON YOUR SITE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE LOST POWER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TIMING CHAIN FOR 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK NOT COVERED UNDER SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR REPLACEMENT BUT THEY ARE COVERING THE 2007 AND 2009 MODELS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PART NUMBERS AND WERE ALL PRODUCED THE SAME WAY FOR 3 YEARS THEY ARE NOT COVERING KNOWN DEFECTS IN THERE PRODUCTS LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS FOR YOURSELF THANKS FOR YOUR TIME FYI RECALL # IS 10287 FOR YOUR REFERENCE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND HEARD A LOUD POP BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE FLAMES ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE, AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,415.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

EVERY SINCE I HAVE HAD A RECALL FIXED...MY LIGHTS FLICKER ON THE DASH AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SEEMING TO STAY IN ONE GEAR. IT WAS TOLD TO ME THAT IT MAY BE A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT A RECALL. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER OUTLOOK OWNERS. *TR

2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. UPON INSPECTION, A CODE WAS RECEIVED FOR A CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE CONSUMER LEARNED THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AT 51,000 ON APRIL 7, 2011, WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN AND CRANKSHAFT WERE REPLACED. ON AUGUST 23, 2013 THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

3 WEEKS AGO THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED MY ECM BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. ON MONDAY, MY HUSBAND TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT STARTED NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THEY SAID DUE TO THE HOLIDAY THEY COULDN'T SEE US UNTIL THURSDAY. WITHIN MINUTES IF THE CONVERSATION, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER...NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; NOTHING. USING ONSTAR, WE HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. TUESADY WE RECEIVE A CALL AND ARE TOLD IT IS $1600 TO REPLACE A "BALL" IN THE TRANSMISSION. OOPS, THEY FORGOT THE TAX IN THE FIRST QUOTE; NOW $1800! WE GET A LOAN TO HAVE IT FIXED. THURSDAY WE RECEIVE A CALL AND NOW THERE ARE METAL SHAVINGS IN OUR FLUID THEY DIDN'T SEE BEFORE AND IT IS GOING TO BE $4300 FOR A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE AGENT AT ONE POINT LAUGHED AT ME AND SAID TO DO THE MINIMU REPAIR AND TRADE IT IN FOR A NEW VEHICLE!! OUR WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED IN JUNE, THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60,000 AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS IT HAS BEEN IN! AS ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, WE CANNOT AFFORD $4300 TO FIX IT BUT ALSO CANNOT BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE!! *TR

POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED 11/1/13 AND NOW MY OUTLOOK WON'T GO REVERSE, 3RD OR 5TH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, I'LL TAKE IT TOMORROW TO THE DEALER AND FIND OUT IF IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE HAS BEEN HAVING WITH THE TCM OR IF IT'S THE REVERSE CLUTCH PLATE (WAVED). I ALSO HAVE THE OTHER COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE LEAKY SUNROOF, WATER COMES DOWN THE DRIVER FLOOR BOARD BY THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS MY FIRST GM AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE MY LAST. I'M GOING BACK TO TOYOTA! I WISH I HAD KNOWN ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, I WOULD HAD NEVER BOUGHT THIS SUV IF I KNEW THIS INFO EXIST ONLINE, LIVE AND LEARN! I CAN'T BELIEVE GM KNOWINGLY ALLOWS THESE PROBLEMS GO ON AND WON'T DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT IT. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING, I LEFT A PARKING LOT AND MY CAR SEEMED VERY SLUGGISH. I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I PULLED OVER AND KILLED THE ENGINE. I LET IT SIT A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I ACCELERATED TO GO DOWN THE ROAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO WE CALLED A WRECKER AND HAD IT HAULED TO THE TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AND THE COMPUTER INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED. THESE REPAIRS TOTALED JUST OVER $3,000. I AM SO ANGRY BECAUSE I HAVE READ ON A SATURN FORUM THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM WON'T DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE THIS TYPE PROBLEM ON A 5-6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

WHEN IT IS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE AND THE WIND IS BLOWING, WHEN I ACCELERATE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES AND THE IT SAYS POWER WILL BE REDUCED. THE POWER IS REDUCED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MILES A HOUR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY TOLD ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF ABOUT 8 TIMES GIVING TIME IN BETWEEN TO RESET SOMETHING. AT THE TIME OF THIS I WAS ACCELERATING ON TO A DUAL HIGHWAY WITH A INFANT IN THE CAR. SO AT APPOINT I TOOK IT TO POAGE'S IN QUINCY ILL, THEY FLUSHED OUT SOMETHING AND THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY FIX IT WITH A COST AROUND $800.00. I ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS ANY OTHERS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THEY SAID NO. COME TO FIND OUT A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 2007 OUTLOOK AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME THING. IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE AND WIND COULD BE BLOWING. POAGE SAID WHEN IT IS REALLY COLD OUTTHE AIR INTAKE, AIR SEEMS TO BE SUCKING UP AIR UNDER THE FENDER, WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO TRY FIXING IT SO THE AIR WOULD COME OFF OF THE ENGINE, IT WAS LIKE A VAPOR LOCK. THE LAST TIME IT OCCURRED WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY I WAS PASSING A CAR, ONCE I ACCELERATED THE POWER WAS REDUCED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MILES, SAME THING TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON THEN IT STATES POWER WILL BE REDUCED. THERE HAS TO BE A DEFECT SOMEWHERE, I CALLED GMC ALL THE COULD SAY THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS, BUT IN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THEN THEY FURTHER SAID WILL IT IS A SALVAGE TITLE, I HAVE HAD MY OUTLOOK SINCE 02/09 HAD NO COMPLAINTS UP UNTIL JANUARY 2013 WHEN THE WEATHER REALLY GOT COLD. I TOLD GMC I WAS GOING TO CONTACT YOU AND NOTHING WAS SAID. ALSO STATED TO THEM THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE IN MY VEHICLE. THERE WILL BE A LAW SUIT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. IN JUNE 2012. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. I FIRST REPLACED THE WATER PUMP IN DECEMBER 2012 AFTER A TRIP FROM ILLINOIS TO GEORGIA. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 24,2012, AT A PEP BOYS IN GEORGIA. LUCKILY I GOT AN EXTEND WARRANTY IN MAY 2013, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALRSHIP FOR OTHER WORK . THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD PERFORM WORK UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE WORK COULD BE DONE. I WAS FURIOUS AND TOOK BACK TO THE CLOSEST PEP BOYS. ANOTHER WATER PUMP WAS INSTALLED AT PEP BOYS IN MAY, 2103. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO GM IN JUNE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AGAIN. LUICKILY THE SERVICE MANAGER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP FOR NO CHARGE. I JUST RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM THAT THEY AKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH WATER PUMP LEAKS WITH THIS MODEL. AND WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS UP TILL 120,000 MILES. I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS CONDITION IS REPAIRABLE IN THAT IT IS UNHEARD OF THAT A CAR WOULD NEED THREE WATER PUMPS IN A PERIOD OF SEVEN MONTHS. THE CMPANY SAYS THAT IT IS CAUSED BY LOW FLUID LEVELS. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE CORRECT LEVEL OF COOLANT IN MY CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT AND BELEIVE IT SOMETHING ALOT MORE THAN WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME. *TR

WHILE ON VACATION, NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, NO APPARENT PROBLEMS AT THE TIME BUT THE NEXT MORNING (AFTER SITTING IN THE PARKING RAMP ALL NIGHT) I COME OUT TO FIND A DEAD CAR BATTERY. APPARENTLY, AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF. JUMPED THE BATTERY, TOOK IT RIGHT TO A REPAIR SHOP. DUE TO A MAJOR WATER LEAK OF THE SUNROOF, MY WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS AFFECTED. THE CAR HAD TO BE DRIED OUT, I CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE AND MORE THINGS GO WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT CONTINUES TO LEAK WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, ROOF (COMES DOWN LIKE A WATERFALL), ETC. NOW I HAVE NOTICED MY CAR BATTERY RUNNING HIGHER AND MY FRONT HEAD LAMP TURNS ON AND OFF. COULD MAKE THIS CAR VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE, STABILITY AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWENTY MINUTES AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE COMPUTER MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,712.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,612 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,911. *TR

VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 MAJOR TRANSMISSION WARRANTY REPAIRS DONE TONE NHTSA # 10030729, TWO ENGINE WARRANTY REPAIRS (WATER PUMP, ENGINE SEALS) AND ONE ELECTRICAL RECALLS NHTSA # 08V44100 WIRE HARNESS WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD AND ONE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER LINKAGE 08V410000 WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

I PURCHASED THIS 2008 VEHICLE IN JULY 2008, USED BUT "NEW" WITH A BIT OVER 16,000 MILES ON IT FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SYRACUSE THAT IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND SERVICED ACCORDINGLY. STARTING JAN. 31, 2010, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCK. IT DID NOT MATTER IF I WARMED THE VEHICLE, OR IF IT WAS WARM WEATHER OR COLD. ON SOME INSTANCES IT SEEMED TO NOT ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT SHOULD. OFTEN HESITATING TO "GO". IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, FOR A TOTAL OF 21 DAYS OUT-OF-SERVICE CUMULATIVELY, SOON TO BE MORE. THE FIRST TIME THEY GAVE IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AS THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THREE DAYS LATER THE KNOCK WAS BACK. THE SECOND TIME IT WENT IN THEY HAD FOR 7 DAYS, COULD NOT DUPLICATE. 2 DAYS LATER BACK AGAIN...THE THIRD TIME THE DEALERSHIP LOCALLY HERE PUT A NEW TIMING CHAIN IN. THEY SAID IT WAS "SLACK". HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO BACK IN FOR THE SAME ENGINE KNOCKING, ETC. BEFORE IT COULD GO IN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY AND HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY. THEY TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR A FOURTH TIME. TELL ME ITS FIXED. NEW WIRING HARNESS. PICK UP VEHICLE..SAME ENGINE KNOCK PRESENT. THEY NOW SAY MAYBE ITS A LIFTER? CAM? DON'T HAVE PARTS. GIVE ME THIS SAME VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. SOMETHING IS FISHY HERE. HOW MANY VEHICLES DOES IT TAKE FOR A SAFETY RECALL OR INVESTIGATION????? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE?! HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE NOT ACCELERATING....MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. I'D RATHER NOT HAVE SOMEONE CALLED TO THE SCENE OF MY DEATH OR THE DEATHS OF MY CHILDREN BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED! ALSO, ANOTHER 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK IS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 11/07/11 *BF UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS