RoadVitals

2010 Saturn Outlook Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 23, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Saturn Outlook, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Steering731.8%
  • Exterior lighting627.3%
  • Electrical522.7%
  • Driver assistance29.1%
  • Body & structure14.5%
  • Engine14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TRYING TO PARK IN A SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN TURNING IN MOTION INTO A STREET OFF A HIGHWAY WHILE BRAKING. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS WERE FULL BOTH TIMES.

NHTSA ID 11246016 · filed Aug 23, 2019

WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, TYPICALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE STEERING NEARLY FREEZES UP MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SHOP - CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS, AND I HAVE CALLED MY DEALER - SAYS IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS TYPE OF THING SO I WOULD BE WASTING MY TIME TO BRING IT IN. THE CAR IS ONLY AT 90,000 MILES AND I'M AFRAID THIS ISSUE MAY RESULT IN A CRASH AND OR INJURY TO MY FAMILY AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THERE IS NO LEAKING FROM ANY AREAS INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION.

NHTSA ID 10875348 · filed Jun 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK HAS 124,XXX MILES ON IT. I'VE OWNED IT SINCE JANUARY OF 2017. 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I DECIDED THAT DUE TO HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL TO GET TO THE BULBS, I WOULD JUST CHANGE ALL 4 WHILE I WAS IN THERE. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THEN I NOTICED IT FLICKERING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. OR WHEN I UNLOCKED THE CAR IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. SO I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB AND CHANGED IT AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. TOOK IT ALL APART AGAIN ONLY TO FIND OUT MY HEADLIGHT SOCKET HAD MELTED. SO I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT, INSTALLED IT AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. EXCEPT FOR NOW, A WEEK LATER, MY BULB QUIT AGAIN. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I CAN'T DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I HAVE READ AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT ONE TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY IF I HAVE TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY TAKING THIS TO THE SHOP TO GET SOMETHING SO SIMPLE FIXED.

NHTSA ID 11012725 · filed Aug 3, 2017

HEADLIGHTS WIRE HARNESSES BURNT

NHTSA ID 10914376 · filed Oct 6, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MELTED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW THERE IS NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10683207 · filed Feb 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS HOWEVER, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING) BUT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108000.

NHTSA ID 10574870 · filed Mar 26, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. OCASSIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE PEDAL BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,243.

NHTSA ID 10956453 · filed Feb 23, 2017

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING IN MY SATURN. THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE THAT I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN AND BOUGHT IT WITH SAFETY IN MIND. I AM STARTING TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE. INSTEAD OF GM FIXING THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE TAKEN NO BLAME AND ARE ASKING ME TO PAY HEFTY BILLS RELATED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR HAS HAD 3 STEERING GEARS AND NOW NEEDS A STEERING PUMP. I KNOW MANY SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE HELP, THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. WE ARE BEING LIED TO SO GM DOES NOT HAVE TO COVER THESE COSTLY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10609992 · filed Jul 11, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURANCE OF WATER SPILLAGE OUT OF MY HEAD LINER. WATER LEAKING OUT OF THE REAR BACK UP INDICATOR AND DOWN BY THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. WHEN ORGINALLY OCCURED BROUGHT TO CHEV DELAERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE REPAIR, TOLD ABOUT OLD RECALL ON MODELS BUT MY VIN DID NOT FALL WITH IN THE CORRECT NUMBERS, IT WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF IT. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITH ME PAYING FOR THE DIAGNOSITIC FIRST, AND I WAS QUOTED OVER $500 BY DEALERSHIP TO DO SO. ALSO, CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE WATER DAMAGE IN REAR BACK UP INDICATOR AND FRONT FUSE PANELS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10451126 · filed Mar 12, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON & OFF. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS, THE OUTLOOK HAD A LOSS OF POWER. HAD IT CHECKED & WAS TOLD WE HAD A TIMING ISSUE WITH THE 3 TIMING CHAINS. THE CHAINS WERE STRETCHED & ONE OF THE TIMING CHAIN GEARS WAS ONE TOOTH OFF. THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007-2009 SATURN OUTLOOKS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE 2010 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED. WHY WOULDN'T THE 2010 MODELS BE INCLUDED? THE LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED ON 9/30/16. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON & OFF JUST A COUPLE DAYS PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA ID 10917699 · filed Oct 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .