Saturn Outlook jerking problems

Filed Dec 23, 2023 · Engine · CA

I was driving and my car started to lurch and went into reduced power mode. I quickly pulled over and turned off the engine. It was towed into the shop, and we found that the timing chain had broken. We had just had our engine mounts replaced and the oil changed. The vehicle has been well maintained. I have seen the issue with the timing chain failure is a common problem in Saturns/GM from internet research. It looks like there was a service bulletin to bring the car in if Service light comes on and you “think” it’s due to premature wear of timing chain. Now we are told the engine needs to be replaced because it was damaged by the timing chain failure and it seems like a known defect that should be covered because it exceeded the value of the car to have such a fix.

Filed Dec 18, 2019 · Airbags, Body · 148,564 miles · OK

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn outlook. The contact stated that the sun roof leaked each time it rained. The water traveled across the top of the vehicle, onto the windshield, and into the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to stuteville chevrolet buick gmc of ponca city (3330 n 14th st, ponca city, ok 74601, (580) 749-5976) where the body control was replaced; however, the failure continued. The contact stated that the vehicle needed a new battery due to the water that was leaking onto the battery. The battery was replaced. The contact also stated that the ppm chip for the air bag was missing, which caused the air bag warning indicator to illuminate. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v118000 (air bags). The contact also stated that the vehicle would lurch forward when in park or drive. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 148,564.

Filed Jul 4, 2019 · Transmission · 67,430 miles · NY

Please first refer to this known issue: the federal safety agency id number: 10126145 manufacturer communication number: gcus-9-2635 14404b ' special coverage.bulletin. This was an offer from gm to repair this known defect if it occured either before 120k miles or 10 years. My wife's 2008 saturn outlook is used for kid transportation and local trips mostly so she never puts on that much mileage. This vehicle went into service in or around 10/2008. On or around march 1, 2019 her outlook began to experience issues consistent with this gm tsb, failure of the 35r wave plate, a know issue documented by gm.the thing would jerk and shake in reverse, would either fail to shift into 3rd or 5th or if it did, whine and show no acceleration in the least. It happened about 10 times, on local roads and on the highway, very dangerous. I took the vehicle in to our local chevy dealer and was told that the transmission was shot, only 67k miles and it needed to be replaced. I asked the service writer about having the transmission repaired rather than replaced. He really recommended a factory rebuilt unit. We were literally 120 days, 4 months outside of the warranty coverage period on this issue. Saturn/gm would not budge and told me that at some point I had to own the responsibility of the repair! Really? On a know issue that was outlined in the tsb as, "upon failure only" should I bring my vehicle in for repair. How is this fair? I have no idea what I expect from the federal safety agency, but to simply know that gm should have honored the repair or replacement, it was only four months past the cut off and it is a know issue. Thanks for listening, I do plan to file a small claims case and contact any and all consumer protection agencies about this matter. (xxxxx) redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 24, 2019 · Airbags, Engine · TX

Power steering randomly goes out and returns causing jerky lurching turns couple years now since reaching over 100k mileage, have 173k miles currently. Is now leaking fluid. Pcv valve replaced twice, not recalled but mechanics have said it's common for my vehicle, causes hesitation while idling like it's trying to stall out. Have had to put foot on brake and rev gas at stoplights. Airbag light has been on for years, passenger side doesn't detect. Although recall, dealership wants to charge diagnostic fees even when I had done for free at local parts store and gave them code, they say have to do their own. Passenger window does not roll down, but does roll up, with driver's side controls, does work with passenger side controls. Sometimes driver's side window sticks too either up/down have to bang on door for it to engage. Speakers haven't worked properly in years either.

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 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 Jul 31, 2018 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · GA

In my saturn outlook. The transmission is faulty. Ive talked to many people who have experienced the same issues with saturn outlook. Also talk to service managers at a couple different gm dealerships. To which they have all said that the transmission is those vehicles are very bad designed and are not built to last. They have replaced a bunch of these transmissions. Problem : starting out on take off. The transmission will hesitate and jerk the car. Potentially putting you and others in a bad situation if there are other vehicles. And once you are going it will do the same thing. To me its a serious issue that gm shoupd address and fix.

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 May 13, 2015 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn outlook. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to shift gears and jerked forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was determined that the 35r wave plate failed. As a result, the entire transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 53,000 miles · OH

Driver was on their way to dr appt with small child when the car revved very hard & jerked & making loud noises. I then was able to get it back to parking, onstar was called and diagnosing it as the exhaust system was throwing codes. A tow truck came and took the car into cavender in san antonio.they found the catalytic convertors failed. They found the water pump was failing as well and replaced it as well. The next incident occurred in may of 2012, my husband was being discharged from the army & we were advised after we got settled back in ohio to have it serviced. In which we did, to have found the engine block had a small leak. We took it to gm dealership don's automotive as we had a family member who worked there. They supposedly fixed it, then not even a month went by we found it was leaking. We then decided to take it to dave white chevrolet to have it repaired, they explained that it was not repaired right. They then fixed it. We then had it fixed and were back on the road. Then we began to notice the revving again and it would hesitate when driving causing panic in high traffic areas for my husband and I. We then took it back to dave white to find there was a speed control sensor that was failing. We then had to have that replaced. Not too long after, we began to notice pink fluid on the drive, we immediate took it back to dave white, they explained it was leaking transmission fluid, but the coupling was not covered by power train. We contacted gm because this should be a covered part as it could cause failure. They agreed to help with paying for it, but dave white was very unprofessional. Then in november of 2013, putting in reverse would cause it to hesitate, transmission was out. We then had to have it rebuilt. Then feb 2015, check engine light came on as driving and would not pass 1st gear on busy road. It was towed 2/23/15 to dealership mcneils.