2009 Saturn Outlook: check engine light

Filed Oct 7, 2024 · Engine · MO

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Outlook. The contact stated that stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing belt had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under GM Campaign Number: 10287C since the campaign had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 7, 2020 · IL

Past 5 years check engine light on. Replaces plugs 3x, converters 3x, and everything including ignition coils 2x, light still on, stating converters need replacing. Car has been in the shop more than a hospital has emergency room patients. Engine light would stay off for a week or two, now only for 30-40 miles. Emissions says car not ready for testing. Vehicle drives and runs perfectly, purrs like a kitten, but now can't pass emissions. Chevy, acura, repair shops, muffler shops and alley mechanics all baffled. Too many invoices to upload, but I have every one of them and receipts for parts if needed. This has been going on since I got the car. Chevy never could fix it. Each trip cost me $700+, but no solution, the problem just keeps escalating. Oh, I never put cheap gas in vehicle, and oil changes/ tune- up are up to date. Help please. (someone suggested the ECM computer is bad)

Filed Oct 16, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 121,190 miles · NC

Takata recall I bought my vehicle at the end of may, 2018. My engine light came on at the begining of october, 2018. I had got in my vehicle and stayed the engine amd it came on. I immediately took it to advance auto to get them to hook the hand held computer to the vehicle to see what was wrong. It coded 2 codes. One was for the timing chain and the other for the catalyst. They said I should take it to a big car shop so they could put it om the better computer. It codes the same codes. The mechanic said this is an issue with these gm engins. However, they are not on recall. I still owe around 9,000 dollars on this vehicle. I am not in a situation that I can spend over. $2,000 on this vehicle. In listening to the mechanic and doing my own research, I have found this to be a real problem. I believe it needs to be fixed at the cost of the manufacturer.

Filed Jul 24, 2018 · Engine · 104,070 miles · PA

We always change our oil on time. Took it to the oil change place he said there was barely any oil in it , we still had 200 mile before recommend oil change. Then the while driving the engine light went on, we took it and my mechanic said that's this motor is burning oil. And can affect engine timing chain.the mechanic said to start putting synthetic oil in per gm. We we're never notified about oil issues or changing what type of oil to use. Now we are going to need an engine timing chain which is extremely costly. We haven't begun this process yet. But from what's I understand gm USB having tons of issues with motor. And we haven't never been notified about any preventive maintenance or care.

Filed Dec 30, 2015 · Acceleration · 118,000 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 saturn outlook. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, there was reduced engine power. In addition, the vehicle hesitated shifting and began shaking violently when the check engine and stabilitrak warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Filed Dec 18, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 78,000 miles · NM

I was waiting at a stoplight and heard an unusual noise from the engine. When I accelerated on the gas peddle, I noticed that the transmission would not shift normally and would not exceed over 30 MPH. I made it to work but when I tried to reverse out of the parking lot, the car would not move at all and displayed "check engine light" icon. I had to push it out of the parking lot then drive forward slowly back home. I called around town to check the best solution for the problem. I also checked online and discovered that other saturn outlook owners had the same issue and the same broken part when it was diagnosed and repaired which leads me to believe that general motors is aware of the problem and failed to recall my vehicle and add the failed transmission problem to the recall list.

Filed Oct 29, 2014 · Transmission · 55,400 miles · OH

On 10/24/2014, while driving my 2009 saturn outlook with my children in the car, I was entering the ramp onto a major expressway, pushed down onto the gas pedal to speed up to enter the highway traffic when a loud bang was heard and I felt the vehicle rev to higher RPM and then the check engine light came on. I noticed immediately that the vehicle responded like it was stuck in 3rd gear and would not shift up or down in "d". I was almost smashed by a odot dump truck but averted that by pulling to the far right lane. The vehicle would not accelerate any faster than 50 MPH on the expressway. I was within 5 miles of my dealership and babied the vehicle to their location. I explained my vehicle issue to the dealer service rep and he said they could not get it in that day to check it because it was a friday and they are not doing service work over the weekend. Rental car rented and left my car there over the weekend. I was contacted the following monday with a request for authorizing a $500.00 charge to pull the transmission to check internally for the problem. The service rep said they have seen a lot of problems with this and other gm made vehicle resulting in the 35r clutch wave plate breaking and the only way is to pull the transmission to see. I gave him my authorization but asked him for a rough estimate for the repairs which he said about $3,500.00. I have been without my vehicle for almost a week and through internet search I have come across as many as upward of 17,000 online response's about the continued problems with the 35r clutch wave plate as far back as 2008 with the gm acadia, chevrolet traverse and saturn outlook. I am requesting with the federal safety agency that something be said to gm about this complication with a "known" problem that nothing has been recalled. I even came across a post that noted the problem with notification to reps from january 12, 2010 from a forum.

Filed Aug 29, 2014 · Acceleration · 80,800 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 saturn outlook. While driving up an incline, the vehicle did not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle would not accelerate past 40 MPH and the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,800.

Filed Jul 21, 2014 · Transmission · WI

2009 saturn outlook. Consumer writes in regards to transmission and check engine light issues. *smd the consumer stated the vehicle had to be towed to a transmission shop, as he could no longer drive it. The vehicle was in the shop for five days. Upon driving home, the engine light illuminated again. The consumer returned to the transmission shop, where he was informed they could not fix, and in fact, they had taken a part to the dealer for re-programming. The repair shop replaced the torque converter.

Filed Jul 14, 2014 · Electrical · 108,000 miles · TX

June 25, 2014: one week after we spent $1600.00 for an unresolved engine light issue we were somewhat hopeful that nothing else could go wrong with this vehicle. I went to unlock the car with the remote and it did not respond. My husband tried to jump start it and discovered that the battery was dead. The latest battery we purchased was in november 2013, so this was concerning to us. As we lifted the floor mat to get to the battery compartment we found mold. Once the battery cover was moved and the battery was removed we found about 2 inches of brown water at the bottom of the battery compartment. In addition, the battery which we kept had mold on it as well. We were blessed to have been at home when this occurred because the car was working the previous night with no issues. Had we been away from home this would have been a bigger issue because our children would have been with us in the hot, houston heat. This is safety concern because there is no reason that water should be in the bottom of the battery compartment. We have no idea how long the water was there and because of this I feel like we have to be cautious when it rains, even a little because the battery may die. I am glad we found this ourselves because we have pictures as evidence to support the issue. I have made this issue known to saturn customer care.

Filed Aug 2, 2012 · Body, Electrical · 110,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 saturn outlook. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle would not accelerate over 30 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics who advised that the drains in the pillars were clogged, causing a short in the fuse box. There was also mold and water under the front driver and passenger sides of the floorboard carpet. The mechanic stated the fuse box would have to be replaced and the wiring harness would have to be cleaned. The carpet would also need to be replaced. Prior to the failure, the contact noticed a strong fishy odor in the vehicle, which also stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the contact was advised that the vehicle was equipped with an incorrect battery. The battery was replaced. The contact stated the battery was the original battery when the vehicle was purchased. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Mar 21, 2012 · Engine · 32,000 miles · LA

Check engine light came on while driving and veh immediately lost power. Could not drive over 30mph, and engine began smoking. Dealer stated fuel injector was "dumping gas". (guess that would explain the bad gas mileage). Fuel injector and catalytic converter changed. 5 months later check engine came on again at 44,000mi. Dealer states compression problem with fuel injector. The fuel injector was replaced again, but now the dealer is saying there is also a problem with cam shaft. My veh is still in the shop as of today, so I am still not sure if the problem has been resolved.