Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| PI-0097A | 06/01/2010 | PI-0097B | 10036514 | Gmc/saturn/buck/chevrolet: intermittent no crank/no start; security light on; antilock brake system (abs) warning light on; stabilitrak indicator light on/service stabilitrak message displayed in dic; increased steering effort. *pe up | 03/25/2011 |
| PI-0097A | 06/01/2010 | 10036514 | Gmc/saturn/buck/chevrolet: intermittent no crank/no start; security light on; antilock brake system (abs) warning light on; stabilitrak indicator light on/service stabilitrak message displayed in dic; increased steering effort. | 03/25/2011 | |
| PI-0097A | 07/01/2010 | PI-0097C | 10036514 | Gmc/saturn/buick/chevrolet: intermittent no crank/no start; security light on; antilock brake system (abs) warning light on; stabilitrak indicator light on/service stabilitrak message displayed in dic; increased steering effort. *pe u | 03/25/2011 |
| PIT-4764A | 04/01/2009 | 10030208 | Buick/gmc/saturn: intermittent stiff steering after driving through a puddle of water. this may be caused by water splashing onto the drive belt and causing the belt to slip on the pulleys. *pe | 08/19/2009 | |
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||||
| PIT-4632A | 02/01/2010 | 10033365 | Gmc/chevrolet/saturn/buick: click or clunk noise from the steering column when turning. can be duplicated by turning the steering wheel back and forth. maybe caused by a loose rivet on the lower steering column support bearing cap. *pe | 08/16/2010 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||||
| SB-10-02-32-002A | 12/01/2010 | 10037823 | Gm: there is a whine or moan noise when making turns in slow speed. it is likely a power steering fluid problem. *rm | 06/06/2011 | |
| SB-10-02-32-002A | 12/01/2010 | 10037823 | Ready | 06/06/2011 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 11/23/2012 | 51000 | 1 | |
| It was raining (which is very common in my state). i slowed to make a right turn. half way through my turn, my steering failed. i could not completely turn my wheel to make a safe/legal turn. thankfully i turned onto a 4 lane road, as i ended up in the left lane. had it been just a 2 lane road, i would have slammed into oncoming traffic! i was not driving recklessly, i safely slowed down as i approached my turn and during my turn, which is probably what saved my family's lives as well as other drivers on the road. had i been going faster, i probably would not have been able to avoid an accident. i contacted my dealership, and to my surprise, this is a known issue with saturn outlooks. what was even more mind boggling was the fact that it is not currently a safety recall. they made me feel like it was not safe for me to even drive my vehicle anymore and my only option was to pay out of pocket to upgrade wheel well liners. i have been researching this issue online, and some people have even stated that after upgrading their liners, they still encounter the same problem. i am worried for the safety of my family. please look into this problem. i feel that gm/saturn need to own up to this and rectify the problem. thank you. *tr | |||
| 11/23/2012 | 51000 | ||
| It was raining (which is very common in my state). i slowed to make a right turn. half way through my turn, my steering failed. i could not completely turn my wheel to make a safe/legal turn. thankfully i turned onto a 4 lane road, as i ended up in the left lane. had it been just a 2 lane road, i would have slammed into oncoming traffic! i was not driving recklessly, i safely slowed down as i approached my turn and during my turn, which is probably what saved my family's lives as well as other drivers on the road. had i been going faster, i probably would not have been able to avoid an accident. i contacted my dealership, and to my surprise, this is a known issue with saturn outlooks. what was even more mind boggling was the fact that it is not currently a safety recall. they made me feel like it was not safe for me to even drive my vehicle anymore and my only option was to pay out of pocket to upgrade wheel well liners. i have been researching this issue online, and some people have even stated that after upgrading their liners, they still encounter the same problem. i am worried for the safety of my family. please look into this problem. i feel that gm/saturn need to own up to this and rectify the problem. thank you. | |||
| 09/15/2010 | 50000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the contact mentioned that when driving at low speeds she noticed a loud humming noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000. pmb | |||
| 03/02/2011 | 70000 | 1 | |
| If you drive this saturn through a puddle after a rainstorm, the power failure light comes on, the power steering stops working and the car is very difficult to steer...this almost caused a crash in a residential street. the temp gauge also goes up higher than normal and the lights dim. *tr | |||
| 03/02/2011 | 70000 | ||
| If you drive this saturn through a puddle after a rainstorm, the power failure light comes on, the power steering stops working and the car is very difficult to steer...this almost caused a crash in a residential street. the temp gauge also goes up higher than normal and the lights dim. | |||
| 07/18/2012 | 93000 | 1 | |
| My 18 year old daughter was returning home when she noticed the steering became very hard to use. she made it home safely. i took the car out to see what was going on and when i backed up the driveway i couldn't turn the wheel without great effort. and it got worse, it just locked up. i was advised that it needed power steering fluid or a new power steering pump. i drove it to nearest mechanic, steering locked up on turns, had to pull over several times, and turn the car off. the mechanic is within 3 miles, nearest gm dealer is 40 minutes away. he replaced pump and fluid, cleaned it as recommended. he took it for a test drive and the steering failed again, almost causing an accident. he was very upset. i am contacting gm. this problem has been documented by other 2007 saturn outlook owners on this site. this is a very dangerous issue and i can't believe it has not been addressed. does someone have to die before it is? i have an unsafe and un drivable vehicle. *tr | |||
| 07/18/2012 | 93000 | ||
| My 18 year old daughter was returning home when she noticed the steering became very hard to use. she made it home safely. i took the car out to see what was going on and when i backed up the driveway i couldn't turn the wheel without great effort. and it got worse, it just locked up. i was advised that it needed power steering fluid or a new power steering pump. i drove it to nearest mechanic, steering locked up on turns, had to pull over several times, and turn the car off. the mechanic is within 3 miles, nearest gm dealer is 40 minutes away. he replaced pump and fluid, cleaned it as recommended. he took it for a test drive and the steering failed again, almost causing an accident. he was very upset. i am contacting gm. this problem has been documented by other 2007 saturn outlook owners on this site. this is a very dangerous issue and i can't believe it has not been addressed.does someone have to die before it is? i have an unsafe and un drivable vehicle. | |||
| 06/01/2012 | 68000 | ||
| While driving in a moderate rain storm today, 6.1.12, at 35 mph, the steering on my vehicle locked up and froze after driving through a puddle. this has occurred several times in the past few years, but i do not recall the exact dates so i will report today's date only. the steering wheel would eventually free and return to normal operation after about 10 seconds. also, there is a loud whining noise from the steering block and under the hood when this occurs. the noises sounds like the power steering belts are slipping due to being soaked with water. this is my wife's vehicle, we have two kids. this vehicle is driven in the state of fl with heavy, and frequent storms. this is very troublesome and scary and i am concerned this loss of steering will lead to a crash. | |||
| 01/26/2012 | |||
| I had just turned a corner and it felt like my vehicle lost power. i pushed on the gas pedal and it accelerated as normal. but then i realized my sterring wheel wouldnt turn. with traffic coming at me i barely made it to another street and could just turn it enough to get to the side of the street. i was puttin my whole body weight into it. it was not raining and conditions were normal outside. $300 later my steering system was fixed. thank goodness traffic wasnt heavier that day. | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 35000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. while driving approximately 20 mph, the contact heard a humming sound coming from the steering wheel. the contact stated that the sound could be heard at any speed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostics. the technicians stated the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 35,000. kmj | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 35000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. while driving at approximately 20 mph the contact heard a humming sound coming from the steering wheel. the contact stated the sound was heard at any speed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostics. the technicians stated the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 35,000. ds | |||
| 02/01/2011 | 69000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. the contact stated that while driving, the vehicle would make a clicking noise in the steering wheel area of the vehicle. the dealer diagnosed that the rack and pinion and steering needed repair. the dealer replaced the rack and pinion and steering pump; but the failure reoccured. the failure mileage was 69,000 and the current mileage was 72,000. nw | |||
| 05/03/2011 | 63750 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. the contact stated while driving 10 mph and making a left turn there was a puddle of water he had to drive through then the power steering fail. the contact stated the steering was very hard to turn and uncontrollable. the dealer was contacted but offered no assistance. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 63,750...mw | |||
| 04/22/2011 | |||
| Driver was driving in the rain going approximately 35mph. as driver slowed down to make a right turn, the steering completely locked up and the car would not turn. driver was able to drive into the grass without causing an accident. after sitting there a few minutes, driver was able to get car back on road and drive approximately 1 mile to a nearby relative's house. had driver been going faster, it is alarming to think what could have happened. | |||
| 07/20/2009 | 56000 | ||
| While attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel locked up for a few seconds. i had no control over the vehicle. this has happened several times and it has always been in wet, rainy weather. it appears that water is splashing on the belts which causes a temporary loss of steering. while researching the problem, i've come across several other owners who have had the same issue. gm has not offered a solution, since my dealership cannot 'replicate the problem' while the car is in service. if nothing is done about this design flaw, the result would be a serious crash and death. | |||
| 10/13/2010 | 66000 | ||
| After less than a year old, the driver side headlight assembly on my 2007 outlook needed to be replaced. the dealership did the necessary repairs under warranty. in july 2010, i had a headlight out on the passenger side. i brought my car back to the dealership accepting saturns since saturn had now closed. i ws told that the headlight harness had melted. i paid a hefty fee to had that repaired. in october 2010, the same thing happened to the driver's side healight harness. the dealership offered no suggestion on to how to keep this from re-occurring. furthermore, ihave had to have air bled from the closed power steering line 3 times. also, the stabilitrac system will occasionally turn itself off causing the car to lose power on turns. | |||
| 09/24/2010 | 55000 | ||
| I have experienced only issues all year with my 2007 saturn outlook. it has 55,000 miles and in june 2010 the wiring short circuited behind the steering wheel causing the theft security lock system to go into effect assuming the car was being hot-wired. it cost me over $300 to fix at the dealer and had to be towed. then the dealer said my inside fuse box was completely corroded from water and they would need to fix the leak my sunroof was causing. the dealer has made 6 attempts to fix and i just picked up my car this morning, hopefully after the final attempt. now my breaks are causing issues, the break pedal softens and goes down to almost the floor when pressed every 4th or 5th time and it is drinking brake fluid, i need to take it this weekend to check for a leak. not to mention my power steering is making loud whining sounds every time that i move the steering wheel. oh, and my passenger side low beam headlight has gone out a few times and my husband has had to access the back of it to replace it but it continues to go out. oh, and my transmission caused problems two weeks ago and the dealer fixed it under my powertrain warranty.. 55,000 miles and this car is giving me issues as if i'm over 200,000 miles! | |||
| 08/18/2010 | 51500 | ||
| 1. was driving on i95 in maryland. speed about 65 mph. 2. loss of power steering (steering wheel locks up and you are unable to direct steering). before august 18, 2010 the failure happened two other times but were at lower speeds. the last incident which happened on august 18, 2010 was on a highway and i almost side swiped a tractor trailer because i had no control over my vehicle for about a minute. i was lucky to avoid a serious accident to myself and others. 3. i put in a call to saturn customer service. they made an appointment for me ad dudley martin chevrolet in manassas, va to check the car out. after car was inspected i was told that when ever it rains, water gets onto steering belts which causes the loss of power steering. they advised having fender guards installed which is over $300 which i do not have. i asked saturn/gm to add guards at my their cost since it was a safety issue. saturn/gm told me that they agree it is a safety issue but they are not willing to pay to fix the car. i have seen other reports online of this problem and feel that there should be a recall before someone gets really hurt. i know it was a very scary situation for me. | |||
| 09/01/2010 | |||
| Power steering pump failure with only 60,000 miles on 2007 saturn outlook awd. loud noises when turning steering wheel and sometimes the wheel is almost unable to turn at all. very unsafe and i do not trust enough to have my wife drive with our child in it. read many complaints about this same thing and now i am forced to repair out of pocket. | |||
| 08/18/2010 | 51500 | ||
| 1. was driving on i95 in maryland. speed about 65 mph. 2. loss of power steering (steering wheel locks up and you are unable to direct steering). before august 18, 2010 the failure happened two other times but were at lower speeds. the last incident which happened on august 18, 2010 was on a highway and i almost side swiped a tractor trailer because i had no control over my vehicle for about a minute. i was lucky to avoid a serious accident to myself and others. 3. i put in a call to saturn customer service. they made an appointment for me ad dudley martin chevrolet in manassas, va to check the car out. after car was inspected i was told that when ever it rains, water gets onto steering belts which causes the loss of power steering. they advised having fender guards installed which is over $300 which i do not have. i asked saturn/gm to add guards at my their cost since it was a safety issue. saturn/gm told me that they agree it is a safety issue but they are not willing to pay to fix the car. i have seen other reports online of this problem and feel that there should be a recall before someone gets really hurt. i know it was a very scary situation for me. | |||
| 09/01/2010 | |||
| Power steering pump failure with only 60,000 miles on 2007 saturn outlook awd. loud noises when turning steering wheel and sometimes the wheel is almost unable to turn at all. very unsafe and i do not trust enough to have my wife drive with our child in it. read many complaints about this same thing and now i am forced to repair out of pocket. | |||
| 04/20/2010 | 64000 | ||
| While pulling into a parking lot, i lost steering. i took it to the dealership and they stated they could not find anything wrong with the power steering pump. they asked if i drove through a puddle. it was raining during the incident. the dealership stated water probably got on the belts and caused the problem. they stated inner fender gurads could help solve the problem. my incident only occured at about 5 -10 mph, but it gets me a little nervous if this occured on a highway aroung 55 - 60 mph. it seems like there is more to the problem then just water getting on the power steering belts. | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 62000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. the contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the power steering failed. the steering wheel became difficult to control. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. the dealer stated that they could not diagnose and test the vehicle on april 1, 2010. the failure mileage was 62,000. the approximate current mileage was 62,000. | |||
| 03/16/2010 | 63772 | ||
| During a drive from atlanta, ga to auguta ga my 2007 saturn outlook my steering would occassionaly respond with a slight jerk. at the end of the trip during a right turn into our office parking lot the power steering failed momentairly but i finished that turn and then a left turn. as i started a right turn into a parking space the power steering failed completly. i used all my strength to get the vehicle into the parking spot. i stopped the engine and checked the power steering which appeared to be overfull. i restarted and attempted additional steering manuvers which were all difficult. i had the vehicle transported to the repair shop where they diagnosed a disentigration of some internal component of the power steeng pump. they flushed the system and replaced the pump. i believe this failure under other circumstances could lead to a serious crash. | |||
| 12/06/2009 | 27689 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. the contact was driving approximately 15 mph in extremely heavy rain conditions. suddenly, the entire instrument panel lighting became dim and there was a loss of powering steering for a period of thirty seconds. the failure occurred four times in rainy weather conditions. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the technician stated that the failure was contributed to the front fender liner. the vehicle was repaired for the malfunction. the identical failures continued to occur after the service repair was performed. the failure mileage was 27,689. | |||
| 03/03/2010 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2 complaints about the saturn outlook: 1) braking & brake fluid problems. dealer has replaced brake fluid saying that the factory brake fluid was not correct. braking is still difficult and brake pedal needs to be pressed more than once for proper braking pressure to kick-in. 2) since new, the outlook has a popping or cracking sound whenever the steering wheel is turned from right or left, at least 2-3 times in each direction from center. brought matter to the dealers attention and said other reports had been made, but no solution. *tr | |||
| 01/10/2008 | 41000 | 1 | |
| The failure was the power steering pump on a 2007 saturn outlook, 3.6l engine. the first sign of failure occurred while taking a curve at 45 mph. the steering froze then freedup and froze again several times in just a few seconds causing me to nearly loose control of the vehicle. the vehicle went from the ditch to over the centerline before i was able to pull over. after this incident the steering made continuous noise and failed to work properly. it was impossible to steer at low speeds without revving the engine. because of the danger of driving the vehicle i had to pay over $500.00 for the repair. i have heard of many many more power steering pump failures on the 3.6l engine. please look into this before someone gets hurt or killed. even after the repair the steering does not seem right. i am keeping my receipts because i feel this will end up a recall issue due to safety concerns. this vehicle had 41,000 miles on it (90% highway). the pump was returned for a $50.00 core charge. *tr | |||
| 10/18/2009 | 51500 | 1 | |
| While at idle, the steering pump started whining. the noise stopped after getting up to speed. several times, while attempting to make a right hand turn, the steering column seized, causing the vehicle to skid at approximately 25 mph. this is a serious safety issue. it seemed to only occur during rain. *tr | |||
| 09/10/2009 | 39073 | 1 | |
| My outlook is at approximately 40,000miles. at about 30,000 there started to be a very noticeable whine in the steering column, especially upon turning. several times i noticed the steering kind of turning rough with a sharp turn, as in backing out of a parking space. two weeks ago after going through standing water in the roadway, i began to turn left onto a side street and the steering wheel locked up-not a loss of power steering, there was no way to turn the wheel. i took the car to the service shop that afternoon. upon describing my issue to the service rep, he stated that he had only ever had one vehicle in with that complaint and that what had occurred was that they drove through water, splashing it onto the power steering belt (which was worn) causing it to slip. after dropping the car off i did some research on my own and found multiple unresolved complaints exactly like mine posted online. when i picked the car up, they charged me $45 and said that i had somehow gotten air in my power steering fluid. my car has done this twice since then. once very briefly while leaving a parking spot and again last night in the middle of a downpour. i bought this vehicle because i have 4 kids and i liked the safety features of the airbag system-but this scares me to death!! i am to the point of being afraid to drive in the rain. i want to take it back for more service, but based on what i'm reading, no one is getting any resolution. *tr | |||
| 08/18/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2007 saturn outlook, approximately 45k miles. last week, after a period of heavy rain, i drove through several large puddles of water. after leaving one, the steering seemed to lock up. i am old enough to have driven cars without power steering, but this was much worse. as it happens i was almost home and going quite slowly - was able to get home safely. had this occurred on a highway or at speed, there is no doubt that disaster would have ensued. i had encountered something similar some months ago after washing mud out of my wheel wells. had not recurred until recently. scary stuff *tr | |||
| 06/07/2009 | 21833 | 1 | |
| Power steering fails on my 2007 saturn outlook. dealer has attempted to fix it 3 times but failed. it's currently at dealer now for the 4th attempt. it's been there for the last 21 days. i never know when steering is going to fail. it used to only fail when i went through puddles but now it does it even on a dry day. i have almost hit telephone poles, trees, cars and people. it's very dangerous and someone is going to get hurt or killed if saturn cannot fix this problem. i dropped car off on june 7, 2009 with no power steering. they returned it to me on june 25. i drove only a few miles before the steering failed again. luckily, i was turning into parking lot at the time so i was not going that fast. i almost went up sidewalk and into a tree. the car had to be towed from parking lot. *tr | |||
| 06/04/2009 | 34000 | 1 | |
| When driving during or after a heavy rain through puddles our saturn outlook looses any steering capability. have gone to dealership several times and a wheel liner was installed but that did not correct the problem. *tr | |||
| 04/03/2009 | 46010 | 1 | |
| While driving in rainy weather, if you drive through standing water puddles along side of the road, the water spray washes up on the belts and you loose steering ability of the vehicle, you must man handle the steering wheel to make any turns, it has been back to the dealer and covers have been added to the wheel wells, but the problem still exists, making this a safety and possible crash hazard. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2008 | 15000 | 1 | |
| There is a distinct groaning noise coming from the power steering system. the noise is most prominent when the car is fully warmed up, but occurs nearly any time. when the steering wheel is turned slightly from center in either direction, the noise intensifies, and a distinct vibration can be felt in the steering wheel, leading me to believe there is some problem with the power steering pump or other steering components. i had the vehicle to the dealer and of course they claimed there is no noise. i left it there for multiple people to try it, as my entire family hears the noise, but of course only the driver can feel the vibration in the steering wheel. my fear is that whatever component(s) is/are failing, they will totally fail on the highway, either compromising the steering or leaving our family stranded. *tr | |||
| 03/17/2008 | 1 | ||
| Power steering pump needs replaced after 38,000 miles. noise started @ 34,000 miles. seems to be an issues on other outlooks. *tr | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 05/07/2009 | 1600 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2007 saturn outlook. while turning the vehicle, the contact heard a loud popping sound in the steering column. she also experienced gear slippage. on one occasion, while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the transmission and steering column. several weeks after the repair, the failure resurfaced. she took the vehicle back to the dealer and they replaced the coolant lines. immediately after the repair, the transmission failed again. the vehicle is in the process of being repaired. the manufacturer would not assist. the failure mileage was 1,600 and current mileage was 50,000. | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 01/17/2008 | 8448 | 1 | 04/19/2007 |
| Complete loss of power steering due to leaking power steering oil cooler. *tr | |||
| 01/14/2008 | 1800 | 1 | 10/23/2007 |
| New 2007 saturn outlook from dealer on october23, 2007. on monday, january 14. 2008. fluid found under car parked in garage. car has 1800 miles. dealer advised i bring car in. upon starting car, i heard horrendous noise from under hood. backing out of garage, i found steering did not work. car towed to dealership, saturn of clarkston. they provided small rental car as loaner. technician did not look at outlook until afternoon of wednesday, january 16, 2008, subsequent to several calls from me. problem identified as the hose/coil carrying cooling fluid for power steering. required part has been taking at least week and a half to get. i said my wife and i rented a house in florida and needed the outlook for this trip. the service person checked further and then told me the part would be in the following friday or monday. part did not come in as i was told. i have talked with parts manager and service manager at dealer, and saturn customer service. ( dealer owner not in when i called.) i learned that this dealership alone has owners of five other outlooks (all 2007's, i think) awaiting the same part, and that the problem is national. this is a defective part! apparently saturn (and, i assume) the corporation have known about it for a while. i am concerned i purchased a new vehicle which may have had a known potentially defective part. we were fortunate fluid leakage and loss of steering occurred where and when it did, and not while my wife and i were traveling to florida. i don't know if power steering might have failed while i was actually driving. i advised service manager i was going to contact nhtsa about this problem and suggested he tell the dealership owner. he said dealership doing all it could. he asked when house rental in florida began. i told him, february 1, and we planned to take several days to drive there with our dogs. he said dealership intended to make sure we had our car available for our trip. *tr | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 12/05/2007 | 6 | 05/01/2007 | |
| 2007 saturn outlook, consumer received notification of rejection. * bf the sunroof leaked, the rear wiper was broken and the front passenger air bag did not activate. the driver's seat belt was improperly aligned from a previous repair and the front wipers failed. last month, the power steering function was severely compromised while driving through a heavy rainstorm. the power steering was providing inconsistent feedback which appeared to be caused by a slipping belt to the power steering pump. *jb | |||