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.

NHTSA ID

11425827

Incident

Jun 15, 2021

Mileage

138,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11418164

Incident

May 18, 2021

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

NHTSA ID

11337780

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

Mileage

147,930 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11337777

Incident

Jul 6, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID

11209626

Incident

May 24, 2019

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

NHTSA ID

11111172

Incident

Jun 20, 2018

Mileage

98,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11072828

Incident

Jun 9, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10993373

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10927850

Incident

Nov 11, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10927848

Incident

Nov 24, 2016

Mileage

136,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10861366

Incident

Apr 24, 2016

Mileage

109,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10861054

Incident

Dec 17, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID

10763979

Incident

Sep 10, 2015

Mileage

71,000 mi

I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE SATURN OUTLOOK. I PURCHASED A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK XE FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN HOUSTON, TX. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. MY LIST OF PROBLEMS/REPAIRS: - IT OVERHEATED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE WATER PUMP TO LEAK. - I REPLACED AN ENGINE SOLENOID VALVE. WHILE INSPECTING MY CAR, THE MECHANIC ALSO NOTICED I HAD A TRANSAXLE LEAK. - THE THROTTLE BODY SHORTED. - THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED. - I REPLACED THE CV JOINTS. ACTUALLY, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY FRONT END NEEDED REPAIRING - CV JOINTS, STRUTS AND STEERING BUSHING. I COULD ONLY AFFORD TO REPAIR THE CV JOINTS AND AM CURRENTLY GETTING QUOTES FOR REPAIRS ON THE STRUTS. - I HAD AN OIL LEAK (FROM THE OIL PAN). A CAR THAT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD HAS HAD TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF REPAIRS - AND SOME WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HORRID! THE NHTSA SHOULD GOOGLE THE REVIEWS ON THIS CAR. OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEMS REGARDLESS OF MODEL/YEAR (XE/XR, 2007-2010) - LEAKING ROOFS (LUGGAGE RACK), BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS, POWER STEERING ISSUES, THERMOSTAT/WATER PUMP LEAKS, TRANSMISSION ISSUES, ETC. GM'S RESPONSE TO THIS HAS BEEN ABYSMAL. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. INSTEAD OF RECALLING IT, GM WOULD RATHER SPARSELY SEND RECALLS FOR SPECIFIC FAILURES A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT - AFTER FOLKS HAVE SPENT THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY ON REPAIRS. THE NHTSA SHOULD LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. GM CLEARLY COVERED UP HORRIFIC SUPPLY CHAIN, MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY ISSUES AND INTENTIONALLY INSTALLED DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703064

Incident

Feb 11, 2010

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.

NHTSA ID

10701354

Incident

Dec 24, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. THERE IS A RAPID DECLINE IN SPEED AND THE VOLT METER DROPS TO LESS THEN 11. I HAVE TO HOPE THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THAT I DO NOT GUIDE THE VEHICLE INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL CAUSE DAMAGE. THE 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, HIGHWAYS AND AT TOLL LOCATIONS INCLUDING BRIDGES AND TUNNELS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND CONTACTED GM TO NO AVAIL. IF THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEN THE ISSUE DOES NOT EXIST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682475

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

25,000 mi

I HAD TROUBLE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING MADE SOUNDS WHEN TURNING. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING AND IT WAS REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1,300. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM IN SEPTEMBER 2014 THAT "...SOME 2008 MODEL YEAR SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP A POWER STEERING PUMP WEAR CONDITION THAT CAN CAUSE AN INTERMITTENT DROP OF POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE THAT WILL CAUSE REDUCED OR LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST." THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE I HAD BUT WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE I HAD WAS A LEAKING STEERING GEAR AND THE ISSUE IN THE LETTER WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP. I AM SURPRISED THAT ONE DOESN'T AFFECT THE OTHER GIVEN THE RESULTING ISSUE IS THE SAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669809

Incident

Apr 30, 2013

Mileage

84,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10664417

Incident

Jun 27, 2014

Mileage

94,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10654582

Incident

Oct 13, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10621441

Incident

Aug 11, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10620903

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

39,000 mi

POWER STEERING GOES OUT AT SLOW SPEEDS AND HARD TURNS (PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES, THREE POINT TURNS, U-TURNS). WHILE IT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH A SUB-SYSTEM, SIMILAR ISSUES IN OTHER GM CARS HAVE RESULTED IN A RECALL. HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/GM/NEWS.DETAIL.HTML/CONTENT/PAGES/NEWS/US/EN/2014/MAR/0331-POWER-STEERING.HTML I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, GARAGES TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. GM HAS FINALLY REPEATED THE ISSUE BUT IS ASKING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER IT. WANT TO DOCUMENT THE CASE SO IT CAN BE DETERMINED IF IT IS INDEED SIMILAR TO THE RECALL ABOVE. THANK YOU *JS

NHTSA ID

10617067

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10610435

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

Mileage

74,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK ROUGHLY 3 YEARS AGO. AFTER HAVING IT ONLY A FEW MONTHS I BEGAN TO HAVE STEERING ISSUES. THE STEERING ALL BUT LOCKS UP WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO SPEEDS BELOW 25-30 MPH. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM!! I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CLOSE CALLS WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR 2+ YEARS! I MIGHT HAVE HAD THE MONEY TO HAVE IF FIXED IF I HAD NOT HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED!!!! I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED SUMMER OF 2012......YET ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT! GM HAS HAD SO MANY RECALLS!! WHERE ARE THE RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10607663

Incident

Jun 4, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10605987

Incident

Jun 22, 2014

Mileage

79,783 mi