2008 Saturn Outlook Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over however, the steering functionality did not return. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

While driving. Lost power, steering locked up. Discontented and reconnected the battery. Problem cleared.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED. DRIVING IN OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND IN PARKING LOTS.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED. PARKING LOT NO POWER STEERING.

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT AND RETURNS CAUSING JERKY LURCHING TURNS COUPLE YEARS NOW SINCE REACHING OVER 100K MILEAGE, HAVE 173K MILES CURRENTLY. IS NOW LEAKING FLUID. PCV VALVE REPLACED TWICE, NOT RECALLED BUT MECHANICS HAVE SAID IT'S COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE, CAUSES HESITATION WHILE IDLING LIKE IT'S TRYING TO STALL OUT. HAVE HAD TO PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND REV GAS AT STOPLIGHTS. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS, PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T DETECT. ALTHOUGH RECALL, DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE DIAGNOSTIC FEES EVEN WHEN I HAD DONE FOR FREE AT LOCAL PARTS STORE AND GAVE THEM CODE, THEY SAY HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN. PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN, BUT DOES ROLL UP, WITH DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROLS, DOES WORK WITH PASSENGER SIDE CONTROLS. SOMETIMES DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STICKS TOO EITHER UP/DOWN HAVE TO BANG ON DOOR FOR IT TO ENGAGE. SPEAKERS HAVEN'T WORKED PROPERLY IN YEARS EITHER.

MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK HAS UNDER 100K MILES AND WHEN I AM AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL IT LOSES ALL POWER STEERING AND MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I CANNOT PARALLEL PARK DUE TO THIS ISSUE NOR CAN I DO ANYTHING WHERE I MAY HAVE TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. THIS IS AN ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY GM

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES SINCE DAY ONE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 40K MILES THEY ONLY REBUILT SO HAVE HAD ISSUES EVER SINCE STILL HAVING ISSUES EVER SINCE MAJOR ELECTRICAL DASHBOARD GOES DARK WHEN DRIVING FLASHES AFTER IT RAINS I LOOSE POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING FOR LITERALLY A MINUTE SUNROOF LEAKS THROUGH AIRBAGS SERVICE HAS BEEN CHECKING FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW OTHER ISSUES I HAD PRIOR TO YOUR EXTENDED WARRANTIES HOWEVER NO IM OVER THE 120K MILE LIMIT THIS VEHICLE HAS CONTINUAL DANGEROUS ISSUES AND NOW THAT YOU NO LONGER MANUFACTURER I FEEL GMAC DOESN'T CARE AND THE COST TO FIX WHEN REPAIS ARE NEEDED ARE OUTRAGEOUS I AM NOW AT 200K MILES HOWEVER THIS ALL STARTED FROM THE BEGINNING THROUGH WARRANTY AND WITH THE BULK ONCE WARRANTY EXPIRED THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE THE STEERING AND ELECTRICAL ALONE

DURING TRANSIT ON INTERSTATE THE ENGINE STOP PROVIDING POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND RPM DECREASED TO 1,000 WHILE DECELERATING THE VEHICLE FROM 70MPH TO 45MPH MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL OFF THE ROAD ALMOST RESULTING IN A FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. AFTER ABOUT 30-45 SECONDS THE ENGIN REENGAGED. 30 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLES SYSTEM ALERTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS OVERHEATING AND RECOMMENDED THAT WE PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NUTRAL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEN IT FAILS IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT FORCE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THIS BECOMES VERY DANGEROUS AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. REPAIRS SHOPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE SINCE IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. ISSUE BEGAN TO OCCUR WITH LESS THAN 100K MIKES.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOV 2015 AND BY JAN 2016 HAD LOST MY POWER STEERING TWICE. EACH TIME THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE A HOSE. IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE STARTING TO BECOME VERY LOUD AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH HIM AND HE FINALLY REPLACED THE PUMP AND I PAID A DEDUCTIBLE. IT HAS BEEN 3 WEEKS AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING AGAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY SQUEAKY WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE GOING ON THAT IS CAUSING THESE HOSES TO KEEP BLOWING, I AM ALSO READING SIMILAR ISSUES BY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WEB. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO I DRIVE AROUND ALL DAY LONG AND I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS YET. ONCE IT WAS ON A VERY BUSY HIGH SPEED ROAD. WHILE I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CLEARLY NEEDS GM'S ATTENTION, AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY GM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS PARKED AND AS SOON AS I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE IT POPPED, THE SECOND I WAS DRIVING AT ALMOST 60MPH, THE THIRD I WAS ON A BACK ROAD GOING AROUND 30MPH.

WHEN COMING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY I NOTICED IT WAS HARD TO STEERED. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS STEERING THE TRUCK TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD. THE TIRES ALWAYS LOOSING AIR. THE WIPERS OR THE WINDSHIELD HAVE VERY POOR VISIBILITY.

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AROUND THE TIMING BELT COVER AND THAT THE GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $2,000 TO FIX THE OIL LEAK WHEN THE PART ONLY COST AROUND $100. HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL THAT IS LOST ABOUT 2 QUARTS A MONTH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP FAILED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP TO FRACTURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSES RUPTURED AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HOSES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE HOSES WITH OEM PARTS BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, A LOUD ABNORMAL SQUEAKY NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

WHILE TRYING TO PULL IN/OUT OF MY FRIVEWAY MY STEERING LOCKED UP. ANY SPEEDS UNDER 20MPH I CAN HARDLY TURN WHEEL. *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN SQUEAKS WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLOWLY AND BACKING UP AND TURNING INTO POSITION SLOWLY. *TR

WE WERE ON VACATION IN THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS HEADED UP THE WINDING ROADS TO OUR CABIN WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AS IF WE GOT 3 FOOT OFF THE ROAD WE WOULD HAVE FELL OFF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN (AS THERE WERE NO GUARD RAILS). WE TRIED TO REVERSE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BARELY MOVE. MY HUSBAND REACHED OVER AND WE BOTH TRIED WITH ALL OUR MIGHT TO TURN TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE CABIN WE WERE STAYING AT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT SEEMED THIS HAD HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING AS WE WERE NOT SURE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT DOWN THE CURVY ROADS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN. NO DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA WERE OPEN WITH IT BEING A HOLIDAY (JULY 4TH) WEEKEND. THEY CONNECTED ME WITH A DEALERSHIP IN ILLINOIS WHO GAVE SOME ADVICE. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BUT THAT MOST VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE TURN EASIER WITH THE ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED. WE DIDN'T HAVE 3 EXTRA DAYS TO SPEND WAITING FOR A GM DEALER TO TAKE A LOOK, SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TRY. WE STARTED OUT OK, BUT AS WE GOT FARTHER DOWN (15 MINUTE DRIVE FROM OUR CABIN TO THE BOTTOM) IT GOT VERY HARD AGAIN. WE WOULD SLOW DOWN WAY BEFORE THE CURVE SO THAT WE COULD ACCELERATE THROUGH THE CURVE AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE SAFELY MADE IT OUT OF TOWN. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE LED US TO BELIEVE THEY WOULD COVER MOST OF THE $1400 IN REPAIRS AS THE PARTS MAY HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE SAME FACTORY AS OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF RECALL. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT COVER ANY OF IT AS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM. *TR

WENT TO MAKE A U-TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. JERKED ON IT TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN. ON AROUND 10 OCCASIONS IN THE 18 MONTHS WE'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON. *TR

I WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THAT WAS ON THE ROAD. ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES AFTER GOING THROUGH THE PUDDLE MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AS THE BATTERY LIGHT WENT OUT ALSO. *TR I WAITED ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND THE STEERING WAS RESTORED. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT OTHER 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A REPAIR BULLETIN NUMBER 07-03-32-010. WHICH STATED THAT WATER WOULD GET IN THIS ENGINE CAUSING THE ABOVE MENTIONED CONDITION AND THAT GM RECOGNIZED THIS FLAW AND ADDED AN MUDGUARD IN SUBSEQUENT YEAR MODELS. I CALLED GM AND THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ON THIS SERVICE BULLETIN AND SUGGESTED I GO TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE. *TR