2007 Saturn Outlook: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 23, 2018 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 150,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the traction control indicator flashed. Also, the air conditioning blew out smoke and the transmission jerked. The vehicle was driven home. The contact stated that the failures occurred for approximately one a half months. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 97,000 miles · MN

This car is a lemon. We bought the car used from a gm dealership in sept 2012. In retrospect, it was a sign from above indicating it was a lemon however we held out faith. The first problem, not even 2 weeks after buying the car, the water pump blew. The thermostat then broke only a few months later. Another repair. Then the monster came --- timing chain! The timing chain broke! Just awful! Thankfully, we discovered a 120,000 warranty thing that included the timing chain, otherwise this pos would've been dumped off at the nearest junkyard. So, that was all fine and dandy until several months later the brakes wouldn't have pressure behind the pedal. We had to replace lines, pads, rotors, the whole kit and caboodle since that was all broken. Okay, so we fixed that. Ugh. We started talking about replacing the vehicle, but soon discovered we would owe more on vehicle than what it is worth. Everything was fine and calm and peaceful for quite some time. Then the one time we go to use the lift gate to unload some boxes, sure enough -- the lift gate wouldn't open!! The stupid switch went out on that! What?!!! They had to take the whole flipping door off the car in order to get to the stupid switch! It was locked shut. It wasn't a tragically expensive repair, so we paid it, moved on. Now, this is the thing that has really irked me. Noticed while driving the car's transmission jerks at 20-30 MPH, and in reverse. So we called up the dealership, explained what it was, they test drove it, said "ooohhhh, it's probably the wave plate inside the transmission." -- you'll need to purchase a remanufactured transmission from gm, or you'll need to have it rebuilt, but they're about the same price (about $500 difference). I was sucker punched. You win again gm! You're cheaply made crap and now my wallet is hemorrhaging again! I will never buy gm again! Ever! Piece of crap vehicles!

Filed Mar 10, 2014 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · FL

The day of the purchase (12/2012) of the vehicle, the engine light came on. I contacted the dealership who I purchased the vehicle from (kia dealership) and was informed the truck was probably low on gas. The following day, I called and physically visited the dealership and was told they could not help me. For me to seek gmc.. During my visit with ed morse gmc in tampa, a diagnostic was performed and tons of recalls populated which they were pleasant enough in fixing. Nothing was done about the engine light as they were unable to locate the problem. On feb 15, 2014, I headed on the interstate to drop of my son and the truck jerked. I had to immediately make my way three lanes to pull over bc the truck started to shut down. Once I pulled over, it didn't want to go into drive. I waited approximately 30-45 minutes, turned on the car, put it on drive and nothing. I then placed it in neutral and it began to drive, I placed it in drive and it began to reverse. I was able to make it home after almost a 2 hours? Drive at 25-30 MPH because it would not go any faster than that. Days after, the truck seemed fine. I took it again to ed morse gmc in tampa who informed many codes populated (again) but was in history. The mechanic stated to come back in two weeks to have it retested. Documents were provided to me. Every code was part of the powertrain/ transmission. I didn't get the chance to bring it back as scheduled because a few days after; feb 22, I headed for drill (nation guard) and the truck started to shut down where a semi almost reared me to death. Thankfully he swerved and I had to immediately merge onto the grass. I waited a few minutes not knowing what to do because I was so angry and nervous that I return home to get my wife's car. Upon my return home on the 23rd, I went to crank up the truck and nothing. The vehicle is now disabled and sits in my driveway.

Filed Jan 6, 2014 · Transmission · 96,000 miles · IA

When attempting to leave the grocery store and placing the vehicle in reverse nothing happened. It was then placed back into park and reverse again and again nothing happened. The third time this was done it went into reverse with no problem. When driving anything below 40 MPH. The vehicle would shift very hard. It would jerk and almost act as though it was in neutral the RPM's would jump before going to the next gear. I took it into the dealership to have it looked at only to hear back from them that it was in fact the transmission and it would cost me about 5,000.00 to replace it. I had purchased this vehicle about 6 months prior to this incident.

Filed Oct 17, 2013 · Transmission · 34,752 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk continuously without warning. The vehicle failed to operate in reverse but the contact was able to resume in drive. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the transmission wave plate was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 34,752.

Filed Oct 9, 2013 · Transmission · 35,670 miles · NC

2007 saturn outlook with approximately 35670 miles on it suddenly began to jerk while driving down the street with 2 small children in the vehicle. I pulled over into a store parking space and was unable to shift into reverse to move the car. Had to be pushed out so that I could forward. Gmc dealer discovered it was a broken 3.5r wave plate. After doing research I've discovered this exact problem is more widespread than gm is letting on (links below). Gm is still not willing to acknowledge the extent of this problem which is affecting the saturn outlook, the gmc acadia and possibly other gm vehicles. Note: gm did cover the majority of the cost for this after 3 weeks of "negotiation" however, I believe this issue should be looked at for recall potential. Http://www.saturnoutlookforum.net/index.php?topic=2396.0;all http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/p/35400391/2008-gmc-acadia-wave-plate-broken.aspx http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f171273?@guest@ http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f171273/364 http://www.edmunds.com/saturn/outlook/2008/consumer-discussions.html.

Filed Sep 2, 2013 · Transmission · 81,387 miles · LA

We had just left clear springs recreation area in mississippi and were heading west on hwy 84 as we slowed down to get ready to turn onto south hwy 33 the car suddenly jerked, downshifted and then the engine RPM's spiked. So drastic was our decrease in speed that cars behind us making the same turn were swerving to avoid us and each other. As we made the turn slowly as we didn't know at first what was going everything seemed to go back to normal, however as we began to accelerate the car would not shift out of 3rd and we could not above 35 MPH without risking the engine due to high rpms. We then made a very slow drive home. After reading up on various forums I discovered that this is a known issue with the gm lambda models and forums and they have had a fix out for it for some time. The forums are littered with stories very similar to ours. Gm needs to recall this and get it fixed before something terrible happens to an unsuspecting family like ours.

Filed Jul 19, 2013 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · CO

My wife and children were driving on the highway when the vehicle starting shuttering during acceleration. The rpms would increase without vehicle accelerations and sometimes the vehicle would jerk with acceleration. The vehicle continued to operate and my wife was able to complete the trip. The problem was obviously related to the transmission. When I delivered the vehicle to the transmission clinic (colorado springs) the transmission guy told me what the symptoms were and the problem. I didn't have to say anything. He even quoted me an accurate estimate of the repair without looking at anything yet. It cost me $3200 for a vehicle with 84,000 miles on it. That doesn't include the letters and services for the windshield washer heater, the air bag sensors and the timing chain issue.

Filed Jul 3, 2013 · Acceleration, Transmission · 55,390 miles · VA

My wife was driving down the highway when all of sudden when she hit the gas pedal there was no response, just a jerk and no engine response. She had to coast off the side of the road and let the car come to a resting stop. When she did that she tried to push the gas pedal again and the car had little to no response and the gear grind-ed. She put the car in reverse and the car wouldn't go in reverse at all. Tried putting the care in drive again and the car wouldn't respond or move forward, she ended up stuck on the side of the road and had to call for a toe. After doing a quick research online it seems this problem is very common with the outlook, traverse, acadia and other models just like it. Hopefully this will end up becoming a recall problem as loosing your ability to drive and steer when going down the road is very dangerous, I'm just glad my wife wasn't on a major highway driving at a higher speed. Hopefully it won't take a major crash of fatality before this becomes recognized as a safety hazard.

Filed Jun 21, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 75,000 miles · OK

It jerks really hard around 50-60mph about 10 times a week. About every other day, within the first quarter mile from my beginning destination, and before reaching a speed of 30mph, my 07 outlook jerks really hard, the check engine light comes on, and it will not shift down.

Filed May 12, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 54,000 miles · MI

Issue began as a jerky movement in reverse. A few days later, high engine rpms were noticed during acceleration which eventually LED to the check engine light being lit and the transmission being disengaged. No gears were operating and car was able to be pulled off the main roads with no incidents. Many online forums describe a similar issue with the gmc acadia, chevrolet traverse, and buick enclave as well and across several model years for each vehicle. Http://repairpal.com/transmission-fault-andor-check-engine-light-with-code-p0716-p0776-p0717-p0777-p2714-p2715-an-459 http://repairpal.com/transmission-fault-andor-check-engine-light-with-code-p0716-p0776-p0717-p0777-p2714-p2715-an-567 http://repairpal.com/chevrolet-traverse-2009/problems http://repairpal.com/gmc-acadia-2007/problems.

Filed Aug 14, 2011 · Transmission · 89,000 miles · MD · crash

On 08/13/2011, I was traveling on northbound I-95 when a loud boom occured and the car began lurching out of control bringing the tires off of the ground. I managed to get the vehicle under control and discovered the bolts on the driveshaft had loosened and fell off, resulting in the driveshaft striking the pavement "like a catapult" and observed the driveshaft laying under the car, disabiling the vehicle in traffic with no control. Had my infant and two other children in the car and they were flung about during the incident. This is the second time the bolts on the driveshaft have loosened and fallen off, rendering the vehicle inoperabale and causing the vehicle to lose control when the driveshaft strikes the pavement. The last one (04/10) occured at a low speed but still caused the tires to leave the ground. Saturn has issued a tbi for the bolts but has not fixed the problem as evidenced by this most recent incident.