2008 Saturn Outlook: check engine light

Filed Feb 14, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 80,000 miles · KY · fire

Issues with my outlook alternator caught engine on fire, electrical issues with stabilizer/tracking controls, windows/mirror and mainly check engine light comes on while driving and transmission slips into low or 2nd gear. I had to pull to emergency lane and have vehicle towed twice. Dealer states its an issue with obd/obi codes and clears code. Vehicle continues to do this almost daily, weekly. Water leaks through sunroof, front window glass, under dash on feet of driver and passenger; water leaks via dvd system while driving and stationary. Alternator caught on fire while driving and I coasted into a driveway and lifted hood the flames started, fire dept. Contacted immediately to put out. Damage to vehicle wires, tubes, etc under hood. Passenger side front window and mirror will not push out of roll down due to electrical issue driving and stationary. Recall on struts for auto lift gate, but real issue is module to lift liftgate was a fee to be repaired. What did recall cover with lift gate? These issues happen no stop since 2012 when vehicle was purchased used. I drove on interstate and and check engine light came on, transmission went to low gear and I almost was hit because vehicle jerked when this happened and power/speed instantly dropped.

Filed Nov 19, 2018 · Transmission · 203,700 miles · OH

I was on a 4 lane highway, and the vehicle acted as if it was in neutral all of a sudden, and slowed down while maintaining high rpms and would not go above 10 MPH. I had to pull to the side of the road before being hit by traffic behind me. The check engine light came on, and I took the vehicle to have it checked. A code was put out of it for the shift solenoid for gears 1-2 being 'stuck on'. After having the fluid changed as stated for a possible cause, everything returned to normal and the check engine light went off. Today, on 11/19/2018, I was on the interstate and experienced the same problem and had to attempt to make a safe exit. Through online research, and auto mechanics, this issue is happening a lot with these specific vehicles, as well as similar models from other makes and there has yet to be a recall. This is an extremely dangerous situation to be in.

Filed Oct 23, 2018 · Acceleration, Transmission · 110,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway when all of a sudden my 2008 saturn outlook just lost power. I pushed the gas pedal but nothing happened. As I was pulling over to the side of the road the power came back but the engine was reving very high and the check engine light came on. I managed to get almost home when the gear got stuck in 1st and the truck would not accelerate higher than 20 MPH. Luckily I was just about home. Once I arrived at my home I turned of the truck and turned it back on and it was fine. The mechanic could not figure out what it could have been but was guessing it may be a speed sensor in the transmission. Error codes: p0741 & p0700. I have also taken the truck into the chevy dealership for jerking around 30-35mph. The dealership was not able to fix the problem.

Filed Oct 7, 2018 · Brakes, Engine · 160,000 miles · MN

Bought from sterling motors in watertown sd, in 2017. Trade in was 2000, plus 500 dollars cash, for a 2008 saturn outlook xr awd. Loan was for 10000 after the 2500 trade/payment. Had 160000 miles now has 180000. Within less of a week check engine light comes on, stabilitrac, service air bag, timing chain, traction control all came on. As of 2018 we have replaced all four tires, brakes. Struts, rotors, tie rods, battery, co2 sensor, thermostat, and a few other things. It still needs power steering pump, timing chain fix, cv joints replaced and who knows what else. I've complained to the dealer and he told me I can not trade back, and when we bought it he said it passed the suspection test and claimed nothing was wrong with it. He had to top of the power steering fluid as it was whining and low, said that it was because they flushed it. So now upon turning it has this weird rubbing vibration and loud sound, it shakes at all speeds, it loses power while driving stutters at low speeds, passenger window button don't work, loud noises when idling, whining noise from power steering either just from stationary or driving. It takes forever to pass someone as it almost stalls with the gas pedal all the way to the floor. It has a weird chemical smell when using heater. This saturn outlook is unreliable, very unsafe even after fixing what I had already fixed. I have an invoice for the repairs from watertown ford dealership in south dakota. Sterling motors will not help, said they could fix but I have to pay for parts and work. He sold me a lemon and he doesn't care about the safety or wellbeing of me, my children or others on the road. Talk to the loan place and all they said is I have an agreement to pay regardless if the car works or not. I'm currently 2 months behind. I can't afford another 700-3000 fix while paying 300 a month for a SUV that is unsafe to drive.

Filed Jun 3, 2018 · Transmission · 147,000 miles · CA

While the vehicle was in motion on the freeway in the carpool lane, going approximately 70 miles per hour, all of a sudden I heard the engines rpms sounding louder than supposed to be. I looked down at my dashboard and they were at 7000 RPM. The accelerator pedal felt like it was no longer accelerating and the check engine light was on. Previous to this, the check engine light had never come on. I took my foot off the accelerator pedal and depressed it again and only the rpms went up and the vehicle did not accelerate. At this point, I realized I had no acceleration pedal control, while in the carpool lane, so as so as safely possible, I merged over to the freeway shoulder. I came to a complete stop on the shoulder, then began to accelerate and realized the vehicle would only go as fast as 20mphs before taking the rpms over 5000. I completely stopped the vehicle again on the shoulder before attempting to move it again. And was met with the same response. I realized, at this point, the transmission is the problem. I shifted through each gear to see if I had them, park reverse neutral drive, and I had them. I proceeded to drive on the shoulder and the vehicle would not shift past 2nd gear and I could not comfortably drive faster than 41mph. I had to get the vehicle towed 75 miles back to my home.

Filed Feb 7, 2018 · Electrical, Seats · 154,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn outlook. The contact stated that the transmission intermittently would not shift out of gear and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and there was an abnormal noise coming from the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to kool chevrolet buick gmc (810 w chicago rd, sturgis, mi) where it was determined that the sensor in the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer regarding the air bag warning indicator and it was diagnosed that the passenger seat was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Filed Jun 28, 2017 · Airbags, Driver assistance · GA

My saturn 2008 engine light is flashing and my SUV is running bad, my airbag service light is on and my traction light is also on.

Filed Jan 25, 2017 · Transmission · 97,000 miles · PA

Was driving and noticed check engine light on, car would not go over 35mph, brought to a shop and it had transmission codes, shop drained fluid which was black and replaced with new fluid. Things seemed fine but then was using car in low gears and lost low gears. Started before christmas, car spent two weeks at shop trying to find out what was wrong. Lost low gears on january 23.

Filed Dec 22, 2016 · Driver assistance, Engine · 116,000 miles · MI

11/17/2016 replaced 2 transmission in two years within a few weeks after getting the car back from repair shop wife was driving to work on 12/16/16 the car stop running on the expressway. Dealer states throttle body was freezing do to condensation building up within throttle body stated this is common in these cars. Again got the car back after spending a ton more money getting it fixed had to take it right back engine light came back on within 20mi of driving. Don't waste you time buying these lemon cars.

Filed Aug 2, 2015 · Transmission · 180,000 miles · IN

We bought the vehicle from gm, as we pulled off the lot and made it less then a half mile down the road and the engine light came on. The engine was running rought so we took it to a mechanic. They advised us it was a power train issue. We called gm and the requested us to bring the vehicle in so they're mechanics could look into the issue. Confirmed that we have a timing chain and a power train that needs to be fixed. Ultimately they refused to foot the bill and said they would only go in half. Now we are having to pay 1700.00 to fix a vehicle before we even make our first car payment.

Filed Mar 13, 2015 · Fuel system · 56,979 miles · MA

I was driving on the highway and my car start acting like it did not want to shift and the engine light came on, it also had a roaring sound. I pulled over and turned the car off and restarted it, started driving again and the same thing happen again I was able to get the car home and park it. I just drove the car again this morning and things seems to be ok, but when I was leaving from work the engine light came on and the car started acting like it did not want to go. Please advise............. I can not afford to take it back for service, just spent $2900 on what I thought was the same thing. Again gm dealership service department is a rip-off to its customers. Was this vehicle 2008 saturn outlook , put together as a piece of junk. I do love the car, because of it is spacious, but have had to spend a lot of money over the past 4 years, closed to $5,000 and it only has 5,740 miles on it.

Filed Feb 26, 2015 · Driver assistance, Engine · 86,000 miles · VT

-25 f, 2 hours away from home, 7 pm at night, two kids in the car, and treacherous road conditions ~ transmission fails !!!! Was in the shop less then two weeks prior for check engine light & service stabilitrak/traction control warnings. Gm dealer cleared lights & said they were historic & nothing to worry about. This problem is widespread & it isn't hundred of cars affected, its thousands and probably tens of thousands (as these transmissions plague the outlooks, acadias, traverses, & enclaves). So far gm is doing nothing ~ apparently it takes people dying to issue major recalls, and even then it takes many years and investigations by various agencies. Unacceptable and criminal !!!! I have opened up a case with gm corporate to see if anything will be done to offset or even cover the cost of replacing the junk transmission ($3800) ~ but, after reading countless blogs, webpages, ect of other peoples experiences with gm, I am not holding my breath. I will certainly jump on the class action lawsuit wagon, if it exists, or when it does come to fruition !!! This is certainly the last gm product I will ever buy! Furthermore, I will take to social media and any other place I can to tell my story and make sure others know about these cars and the "service" that gm provides.