NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2008 Saturn Outlook (Page 3 of 8)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,782 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Saturn Outlook electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Saturn Outlook Owner Comments (Page 3 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #118

Dec 182015

Outlook

  • 88,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The sunroof leaks when it is closed, and this is causing water to come in to the roof of the vehicle. Water is coming in from the front air bags, the windshield, under the dash, out of the garage door opener, the visor, and the back seat belts. I now have to replace the body control module which is related to the water damaging the unit. I am fearful the with the water getting in by the airbags that if I get into an accident they will malfunction. I have also been receiving messages about servicing the stabilitrac, but when I have had it looked at the mechanic can't find anything wrong, so this could also be related to the body control module.

- Albert Lea, MN, USA

problem #117

Dec 142015

Outlook

  • miles
When it rains my 2008 Saturn Outlook will continue to run even after the key is removed from the ignition. My battery drains down for no reason and my radio will not turn off when the driver door is open. I have recently started smelling an extremely fowl smell that comes and goes. The speakers in my car work when they want to. I believe there is a short in my car that is causing these problems.

- Florence, MS, USA

problem #116

Oct 302015

Outlook

  • 100,000 miles
Car parked in owner's driveway. All windows and sunroof closed. After a heavy overnight rainstorm, owner drove car down driveway and heard a rush of water toward front of car. Owner saw water dripping from under glove box compartment, and substantial water on passenger side floor mat. Owner able to drive to work and parked in work parking ramp. After work, owner attempted to start car to go home, experienced no crank/ no start. Lights did come on but key then stuck in ignition. Car battery eventually died due to inability to turn off lights. Company called to jump start car, company attached jumper cables and lights came on, voltage good, car still no crank no start. Car was towed to dealership. Dealership diagnosis water leaked from the sunroof into the front of car and into the fuse box, requiring a new fuse box, all new terminals and new wiring. Cost for repair estimate $800-$1000. Calls to cm/Saturn offered no assistance with vehicle repair or cost assistance at all. This incident is exactly the same as a known technical service bulletin by GM #08-08-57-003F floor wet under carpet/engine continues to run with key off/possible no crank/no start/communication loss/various electrical concerns (seal seam).

- Stoddard, WI, USA

problem #115

Aug 302015

Outlook

  • 106,548 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As a result of inclement weather, water has been able to access the interior of the vehicle which resulted in malfunctioning of electrical components of the overhead accessories. Sunroof has been stuck into open position and was not able to retract the sunroof back into the closed position.

- Lyman, SC, USA

problem #114

Dec 012014

Outlook

  • 165,000 miles
The sun roof leaks and a large amount of water had collected inside the battery terminal which is located under and behind the front passenger's seat. Since then, water continues to leak in from the sun roof "tubes" which have been cleaned out several time. I have had water that puddles under the carpeting in the front and rear seat and has effected the electrical. There are numerous instances posted and youtube videos of folks who have also dealt with this issue. It's a shame that it has not been addressed. GM has no resolution and the dealership charges $50 to "blow out the lines" I.e. using an air hose to blow air through the tubes. It's obvious the sun roof is not properly sealed and the tubes (drains as they are referred to by the dealership) are not full proof. The water also leaks from the side airbag curtains and the sun roof control panel

- Greenville, RI, USA

problem #113

Jun 182015

Outlook

  • 72,000 miles
Ac blower stopped working do to water coming in from sunroof. Contacted Saturn they told me since it is out of warranty they cannot do anything. Even if it is a manufacturer defect. Wow unbelievable. Poor customer service. Dealer wants $75 do diagnose the problem then $700 to fix the water leak and $500 for blower motor. They can keep the car for those prices. This is unacceptable someone needs to regulate these dealers and car companies better. No Saturn or GM for my family

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #112

Jun 092015

Outlook

  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact also stated that the key was unable to be removed from the ignition switch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #111

Apr 152015

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
My car was just purchased 3 months ago and it is leaking water heavy into the driver and passenger compartment from the roof area into the headliner, a lot of sloshy while driving from roof area the carpet creating mold, bad odors and possible electrical issue with water dripping on defrost blower near drivers wheel well prior corrosion present there.

- Clover , SC, USA

problem #110

Feb 122015

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 77,376 miles
I had just left a stop light when the service brake system light came on immediately followed by the stabilitrac system is off. Had to pull into a parking lot turn off engine for about 20 seconds to reset system. It happened again today in the parking lot at the local walmart.I'm afraid to take a long trip. Also have a problem with noise in the sterring collum. GMC dealer says the rack and pinion is rubbing and needs to be replaced. The car has never been in an accident. How can this happen ?

- Atwater, CA, USA

problem #109

Dec 022014

Outlook

  • 92,000 miles
Passenger airbag seat sensor/module doesn't recognize a passenger in no matter the weight.dealership wants $900 for new part. This is a safety issue not a wear and tear issue and should be resolved by GM.

- Dickinson , TX, USA

problem #108

Mar 062014

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 91,634 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In March of this year I turned my 2008 Saturn Outlook into haley GMC in midlothian va to fix a recall concerning an air bag warning light that was on in the car. Air bag recall 14030 was performed, however, the warning light was still on in the cabin. Service department at haley informed me that the recall was performed per GM specifications however, the warning light was still on due to a faulty passenger presence module (diagnostic code: B0081). At the time of this repair I had an extended warranty under the gmpp (General Motors protection plan) which was still valid until August of 2014 or 107,000 miles which ever came first. I was told by gmpp that this module was not covered under my current warranty. Since this visit I have taken my complaint through not only the dealership but through corporate GM on two separate occasions pleading with them that this was a safety related issue not a warranty issue. GM has stated to me that this is not a safety related issue and that this part is no longer covered under warranty. They want me to pay them $900 for this repair and I refuse to pay them because this repair should be covered under General Motors. This same issue has been reported by numerous other GM vehicles besides the Saturn Outlook, including the GMC acadia and Saturn sky. I would like to get assistance from your department in challenging back to GM to get this issue addressed for I am driving around in an unsafe vehicle that there is a good chance that if a passenger is traveling with me in the front of the vehicle that the air bag will not go off in a frontal collision.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #107

Aug 202013

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
I was traveling about 60 mph on hwy. Car shut off and back on, it was also raining. Smelt really bad like a fire. Went straight home, took car to shop the next day. The water leak I thought had been fixed was leaking into the electrical board caused a burn out while I was driving because it was raining.

- New Port Richey , FL, USA

problem #106

Sep 162014

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 65,489 miles
While parked on a resident driveway, it was raining for awhile there and rain came thru both side frames from the windshield inner pillar panels and was dripping on the floor mats and went thru the carpet and soak the floor, it does this every time it rains it comes through like that, smell like burnt wires came out on our way back home.

- Amarillo , TX, USA

problem #105

Aug 292014

Outlook

  • 106,000 miles
Water leaks into my vehicle from a variety of locations. One through the back-up distance indicator in the back of the vehicle, down the insides of the door panels onto the driver and passenger floor, and down the inside of the windshield. My car started not turning off when I would turn the ignition off with the key and pull it out. I brought it to a mechanic and he fixed 5 leaks in the sunroof drains. Now my blower motor won't work, but my car does turn off again when I want it to. Mechanic said I should bring the car back in to have all the carpet/seats taken out and completely dried out so I don't get mold under the carpet, too. Don't have the funds for all the fixes for this vehicle and the electric problems, so I'll have to do one at a time. I love the vehicle, but it's a love/hate relationship. I the leaks and the damage the leaks caused, since they are known issues, were covered under some kind of a recall.

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #104

Mar 122014

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
Driver side headlamp did not work on many occasions over 1 1/2 years. Dealer replaced both driver and passenger bulbs but drivers side went out and did not come back on. An inspection revealed a burnt / melted connection at the bulb.

- Merrick, NY, USA

problem #103

May 302014

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
The problem starts with heavy rain leaking through the sun roof. According to the ed morse dealership representative, the sunroof is projected to pass some water (very few) that will drain through the drain tubes located at the front and rear columns (sides of the windshield). However, the tubes may get clogged an the water starts leaking inside the car through the columns were airbag are located. Nevertheless, these tubes are not long enough to drive the water until the bottom of the car so the water will leak into the inner fuse block, will damp the carpets on the passenger and driver sides and make much more damage than you can believe. As the insulator between the carpet and the floor is like a sponge, it will absorb the water and soaks all the connectors that run below the insulator (cables that run from the battery, to the seats motors and heater, etc, etc). Not to mention that it may damage the airbag triggers mechanisms located on the columns besides the windshield".based on the number of complains about this issue at the internet, why nobody has done anything yet? what if the front sides airbag does not deploy as expected due to this rain inside the car????" NHTSA should seriously inquire GM for that as it may put many lives at risk. And not only to Saturn Outlook owners. The same is happening to GMC acadias and Buick enclaves....there are many forums with such complain at the internet and in one of them a representative from GM ask us to contact her but I sent her 2 E-mails and so far I have no answer. Her E-mail is [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #102

May 302014

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
I just left my 2008 Outlook xr at the dealer. According to them the problem are the tubes that drain the water from the sunroof. These tubes run inside the front and rear columns (on the sides the windshield in the front and the side columns on the back of the car). These tubes are not long enough to drive the water until the bottom of the car so the water will leak into the inner fuse block, will damp the carpets on the passenger and driver sides and make much more damage than you can believe. As the insulator between the carpet and the floor is like a sponge, it will absorb the water and soaks all the connectors that run below the insulator (cables that run from the battery, to the seats motors and heater, etc, etc). Not to mention that it may damage the airbag triggers mechanisms located on the columns besides the windshield".based on the number of complains about this issue at the internet, why nobody has done anything yet? what if the front sides airbag does not deploy as expected due to this rain inside the car????" NHTSA should seriously inquire GM for that as it may put many lives at risk. And not only to Saturn Outlook owners. The same is happening to GMC acadias and Buick enclaves....

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #101

May 242014

Outlook

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated upon starting the ignition, the key remained lodged in the ignition switch. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Kaufman, TX, USA

problem #100

May 042014

Outlook

  • 171,000 miles
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.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #99

Apr 072014

Outlook 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
Last week we had heavy rain and rain began leaking into the car near the front pillar on the passenger side. The next day the car would not start and it appeared the battery was dead. When I had it tested it showed it needed replacement. I purchased the battery and went to have it installed. While I was there I turned the car off and the engine was still running. The technician advised that the fuse box was coroded and cleaned the connections. The car continued to remain on throughout the day until it seemed to dry out. It rained again yesterday and the same issue occurred where there was water leaking from the driver side pillar near the air bag. I noticed the car staying on one time and then the next morning the car would not start. I began researching the issue and found similar complaints from other GM users. I am concerned not only about the electrical system, but potential mold and contacted the dealer as many noted there was a service bulletin. They were unable to assist as there has not been an official recall. I would urge that this be pushed as it is another known issue with GM cars that GM refuses to do anything about: 2007 GM acadia consumer complaints ODI id number specific to water leak: 10258230 (this is my complaint id #) 10255735 10254149 10248331 10211267 10210839 10210533 2008 GM acadia consumer complaints ODI id number specific to water leak: 10246694 10243591 10241649 10230134 10229896 10212682

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

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