VehicleVerdict

2007 Saturn Outlook problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2007 Saturn Outlook sits mid-pack among Outlook years: 728 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 495, with 5 recalls and 2 closed investigations. Complainants reported 16 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across lighting (154), electrical system (138), and transmission (128), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

728

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

2

Investigations

7

Crash-involved

17

Fires reported

16

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2007 compare to other Outlook years?

Outlook NHTSA complaints by model year, 2007 highlighted926 complaints2007: 728 complaints2008: 926 complaints2009: 262 complaints2010: 23 complaints
Outlook NHTSA complaints by model year, 2007 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Outlook years to avoid →

What are the most common 2007 Saturn Outlook problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Lighting15421%
Electrical System13819%
Transmission12818%
Airbags8812%
Steering608%
Body & Structure365%
Engine314%
Other253%
Visibility & Wipers213%
Speed Control122%
Brakes91%
Seats91%
Fuel System81%
Suspension30%
Seat Belts20%
Latches & Locks20%
Tires & Wheels10%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%

Does the 2007 Saturn Outlook have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

15V415000Body & StructureJune 30, 2015 · 691,144 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

10V240000Electrical SystemJune 4, 2010 · 1,365,070 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

08V441000Electrical SystemAugust 28, 2008 · 857,735 units

Defect

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence

THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

08V410000Visibility & WipersAugust 14, 2008 · 88,809 units

Defect

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPERS RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT AND THE WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

07V062000AirbagsFebruary 21, 2007 · 13,032 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM), WHICH CONTROLS THE FUNCTION OF FRONT AIR BAGS, MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY FAIL TO PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM COMPUTER MODULE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-866-966-9463 OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WARNING HARNESS MELTED WHICH CAUSED THE BULB TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · October 1, 2010 · 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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 22, 2018 · fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A CHILD'S FOOT HIT THE GEAR SHIFT AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. NO INJURIES OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · November 19, 2010 · crash

ON JANUARY29 2019 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT DID NOT OPEN AND THE IMPACT WAS ON THAT SIDE OPENED THAT ONE THAT OPENED WHAT'S ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OFF-THE- AIRBAG COMING UP AND I COULDN'T BREATHE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · January 29, 2019 · crash

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I WENT OFF THE ROAD HITTING A CULVERT HEAD ON. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SEAT ON IMPACT BROKE OFF OF THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED MY LIFE WAS MY SEATBELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · October 31, 2014 · crash

2007 Saturn Outlook — common questions

Is the 2007 Saturn Outlook reliable?

It is close to typical for the Outlook: 728 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and 2 investigations on file.

What are the most common 2007 Outlook problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are lighting (154 complaints), electrical system (138 complaints), transmission (128 complaints).

Does the 2007 Saturn Outlook have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2007 Saturn Outlook. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2007 Saturn Outlook under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Saturn Outlook years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Outlook years to avoid are 2008. The cleanest record among Outlook years belongs to 2010.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.