2008 Saturn Outlook: sudden loss of power

Filed May 22, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · TX

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

Filed Jul 6, 2020 · Steering · WA

Loss of power steering at low speed. Parking lot no power steering.

Filed Jul 6, 2020 · Steering · 147,930 miles · WA

Loss of power steering at low speed. Driving in out of driveway and in parking lots.

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 Feb 15, 2017 · Seat belts, Transmission · CA

Every time it rains my car get a large amount of water inside causing a musty smell and possible mold. I have to vacuum water from the battery area, in the trunk lift it up and vacuum out and leave it to dry out in sun when available. It causes my seat belts to become wet. The passenger side of the floor is wet as well as the back seat area floor. It cause the windows to continually fog up and the defroster doesn't work properly. When I press the gas there is a hesitant sometimes and I was told by a gm service tech that is the battery losing power causing that issue. This is ridiculous that we have been told more than once from the gm service techs that there is nothing that can be done and that corporate is aware of the issue. This is not only a safety issue but health as well. My family rides around in this car.

Filed Aug 22, 2016 · Engine · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn outlook. While driving 15 MPH, the contact's vehicle lost power. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the timing chain failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who diagnosed that a new engine was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Aug 16, 2016 · Engine · 78,000 miles · NY

Driving on a small highway and the stabili rak light blinked and a chime rang. Error message came on to service stabilitrak while car began to buck and lose power. Had trouble getting car to accelerate - car kept bucking and it was very dangerous and I was afraid of getting hit from behind since I couldn't maintain speed. After a few minutes, the error light went off and everything seemed fine. In the years I have had the car, I had three incidents where the light would go on and the chime would ring with the same error message. However, in those cases, the car hesitated briefly but maintained a more normal speed. I brought my car to a gm dealer and it was a timing chain problem. The saturn outlook for 2007 and 2009 have special warranties for this problem but not the 2008 model. Gm doesn't want to acknowledge the issue exists on this model year - but I have found other complaints here on your site. This needs to be addressed and gm needs to take responsibility.

Filed Aug 16, 2016 · Engine · 86,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn outlook. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost power without warning. The vehicle was coasted to a fuel station and was later towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing chain was loose and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

Filed Feb 23, 2016 · Transmission · 82,770 miles · MI

Second transmission failure, loss of power and failure to upshift while accelerating in heavy traffic. Had to pull into center lane to avoid interfering with traffic nearly causing collision with oncoming traffic preparing to turn. Was notified by dealership that it is a transmission problem. Awaiting estimate for repairs. First transmission failure at 42k miles second failure at 86k miles. Other vehicles of this type had extended warranty for this type problem but for some reason, this vehicle was not included

Filed Aug 4, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 124,376 miles · MD

The 2 separate incidents occurred while driving for an extended time on the highway. The incident was around 5/13/15 traveling along route 81. While driving the transmission began to fail thus losing power and causing a safety concern on a busy highway.. The 2nd incident occurred on 7/31/15. While driving along route 695 in baltimore the water pump failed causing a loss of power and over heating the engine. Thus becoming a safety hazard on busy highway.

Filed Mar 20, 2015 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 65,533 miles · MI

Jan 2014 had problems with stabilitrac / traction control and transmission entering expressway. The stabilitrac / traction control service soon light came on and then the car began shifting hard as we began to enter traffic, the car then started to lose power we got off the expressway in fear of being hit and went to the dealer were they found nothing wrong. The car continued to do this on and off for some time for the next few months. In june 2014 coming home from a soccer game I my wife our son and another player had this happen again while traveling 70mph on the us23 expressway, stabilitrac / traction control service light came on transmission started shifting hard and then the transmission lost the ability to engage, the car began to slow almost getting hit. (thank god we made it to a safe place) we replaced the transmission because of broken wave plates within the transmission. On 3/7/15 took car in again for stabiltrac / traction control same thing again is happening dealer found nothing wrong told us to bring back when lights are on. 3/14/15 lights came on again took in dealer was unable to find anything wrong. Service adviser there was no danger driving the car but that I might after time begin to loss power and may not be able to travel over 20mph. I explained the history to him his advice was to avoid the expressways. My fear is to die in this car when merging into expressway traffic. After reviewing many complaints about the transmission and traction control / stabilitrac on the internet about the following cars saturn outlook, gmc acadia, chevy traverse and buick enclave I hope that gm can come up with a fix before anyone has to die!

Filed Dec 6, 2014 · Driver assistance, Engine · 85,000 miles · NJ

Approximately april of 2014 we had the first incident: while driving on the highway, at speed, the transmission seemed to "pop" into neutral (no change of gearshift lever, just engine revved). As the truck no longer had power, we managed (thank goodness) to get the truck to the shoulder avoiding highway traffic. Moved gearshift lever to park and then back to drive with no change - engine just revved as in neutral. Turned the truck off and called for a tow. While waiting for same, we turned the truck back on, and transmission seemed to function normally. Brought the truck to both wind gap chevrolet (place of purchase) as well as an independent aamco - verdict was the same: broken "wave plate" and a new transmission was needed at a cost of over $3000.00. Problem continues to this date. When we referenced the endless online complaints of same, gm was unmoved, although the power train warranty was still in effect. Very dangerous - lose power at highway speed with multiple close calls!!!! Headlights: headlights, both low and high beam, continually burn anywhere from minutes to days after being replaced. Switch assemblies have been replaced, cannot get low beams to illuminate at times, then no headlights at times. Very dangerous. Again, endless online complaints of the same issue. Sunroof: endless issues with the sunroof leaking and soaking the floorboards on both drivers and passenger sides. Taken to wind gap chevrolet, told we need to have sunroof replaced. Again, endless online complaints of the same issue. Based online and on this the federal safety agency site: it seems that these are serious and dangerous issues with this vehicle!!!!! Recent headlight recall on similar vehicles for the same issue. Why is this vehicle not recalled for transmission/power train and headlight issues!?!?