2009 Saturn Outlook Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Saturn Outlook.

20082010
Complaints
262
Crashes
9
Fires
4
Injuries
12
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2009 Saturn Outlook Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#171 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:44,274 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
#242 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:57,626 mi
Fires:2
#342 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:73,001 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Saturn Outlook.

Headlight/Taillight Failures
71
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
44,274
Electrical Faults
42
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
57,626
Steering Defects
42
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
73,001
Transmission / Drivetrain
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
101,671
Engine Problems
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
92,966
Seat Belt Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,286
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
104,436
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
80,040
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Saturn Outlook. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Saturn Outlook

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,779,186 vehicles.

15V415000Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
~691,144 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

14V266000Seat Belts
~1,339,355 affected

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.

14V118000Air Bags:side/window
~1,176,407 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

10V375000Seat Belts
~207,210 affected

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS RETURNED TO A SEATING POSITION AFTER BEING FOLDED FLAT. IF THE BUCKLE CONTACTS THE SEAT FRAME, ADDITIONAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO A SEATING POSITION. IF SUFFICIENT FORCE IS APPLIED, THE BUCKLE COVER COULD BE PUSHED DOWN THE STRAP, EXPOSING AND PARTIALLY DEPRESSING THE RED RELEASE BUTTON.

10V240000Electrical System
~1,365,070 affected

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Other Saturn Outlook Years

2009 Saturn Outlook — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Saturn Outlook reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Saturn Outlook has 262 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Headlight/Taillight Failures with 71 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Saturn Outlook?
Top reported problems: Headlight/Taillight Failures (71 complaints, avg 44,274 mi); Electrical Faults (42 complaints, avg 57,626 mi); Steering Defects (42 complaints, avg 73,001 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Saturn Outlook?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,673 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Saturn Outlook?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Saturn Outlook include 9 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Saturn Outlook have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,779,186 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Saturn Outlook?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Saturn Outlook reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2009 Saturn Outlook

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