Exterior Lighting. Review the 247 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports19 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, ALL OF THE GAUGES WOULD DROP TO A READING OF ZERO AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,994.

NHTSA ODI #10347072

39,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

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I PURCHASED THIS 2008 VEHICLE IN JULY 2008, USED BUT "NEW" WITH A BIT OVER 16,000 MILES ON IT FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SYRACUSE THAT IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND SERVICED ACCORDINGLY. STARTING JAN. 31, 2010, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCK. IT DID NOT MATTER IF I WARMED THE VEHICLE, OR IF IT WAS WARM WEATHER OR COLD. ON SOME INSTANCES IT SEEMED TO NOT ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT SHOULD. OFTEN HESITATING TO "GO". IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, FOR A TOTAL OF 21 DAYS OUT-OF-SERVICE CUMULATIVELY, SOON TO BE MORE. THE FIRST TIME THEY GAVE IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AS THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THREE DAYS LATER THE KNOCK WAS BACK. THE SECOND TIME IT WENT IN THEY HAD FOR 7 DAYS, COULD NOT DUPLICATE. 2 DAYS LATER BACK AGAIN...THE THIRD TIME THE DEALERSHIP LOCALLY HERE PUT A NEW TIMING CHAIN IN. THEY SAID IT WAS "SLACK". HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO BACK IN FOR THE SAME ENGINE KNOCKING, ETC. BEFORE IT COULD GO IN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY AND HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY. THEY TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR A FOURTH TIME. TELL ME ITS FIXED. NEW WIRING HARNESS. PICK UP VEHICLE..SAME ENGINE KNOCK PRESENT. THEY NOW SAY MAYBE ITS A LIFTER? CAM? DON'T HAVE PARTS. GIVE ME THIS SAME VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. SOMETHING IS FISHY HERE. HOW MANY VEHICLES DOES IT TAKE FOR A SAFETY RECALL OR INVESTIGATION????? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE?! HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE NOT ACCELERATING....MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. I'D RATHER NOT HAVE SOMEONE CALLED TO THE SCENE OF MY DEATH OR THE DEATHS OF MY CHILDREN BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED! ALSO, ANOTHER 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK IS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319906

22,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THIS IS A RECURRENCE OF ODI #10226441. CAMS/HEAD OF ENGINE WERE REPLACED FOR THE 3RD TIME BACK IN MAY 2008. NOW, THE VEHICLE IS IN WITH THE DEALER FOR THE 4TH TIME WITH BAD CAMS AND THE REBUILD OF THE ENGINE IS REQUIRED AGAIN (LESS THAN 23,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE). SATURN CLAIMS THAT IT APPEARS TO BE THE "REAR BANK OF CAMS THIS TIME" BUT IS STILL STRIPPING DOWN THE MOTOR. SATURN, ACADIA AND ENCLAVE USER FORUMS HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THESE SISTER VEHICLES -- ALL MANUFACTURED BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291103

11,000 miles · Sep 9, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR DISPLAYED " EMPTY FUEL" AT ANY GIVEN FUEL LEVEL CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURES WERE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR AND FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10283449

2,200 miles · May 1, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

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AT ABOUT 2,000 MILES, ON 2/13/08, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON OUT 2--8 SATURN OUTLOOK AND STATED IGNITION PROBLEM (CAM SENSORS). SATURN INDICATED BAD CAMS (DUAL). THEY REPLACED THEM AND BASICALLY REBUILT THE ENTIRE TOP OF MY ENGINE. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE TENSIONER PULLING SNAPPED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING, ELECTRICAL, COOLING, ETC. CAR TOWED. SATURN REPLACED PARTS AND DENIED RELATED TO CAM REPLACEMENT. NOW AT 4,400 MILES ON 5/1/08 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS CALLED AND STATED SAME TROUBLE CODE AS 2/13/08 (CAM SENSORS). WILL CALL SATURN REGIONAL REP. WHO HANDLED OUR COMPLAINT THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW. NOTE: OUR COUSIN HAS SAME SUV BUT THE GMC (ACADIA) WHO HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAMS ONE MONTH AGO BUT AT 200 MILES. BACK IN MARCH, THE SERVICE DEPT. AT OUR DEALER ALSO SAID WE WERE THE 2ND OR 3 SATURN OUTLOOK THEY REPLACED THE CAMS ON THIS YEAR (2008). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226441

Official recalls

15V415000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Jun 30, 2015

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 & remedy

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.

14V118000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 17, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

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 & remedy

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.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 28, 2008

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 & remedy

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> .

08V410000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

Aug 14, 2008

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 & remedy

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> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12003 · Loss Of Headlamp Illumination

Opened Jun 4, 2012 · Closed Jul 24, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

As of July 16, 2014, out of a population of 248,453 subject vehicles, NHTSA received 473 consumer complaints of inoperative head lamp. Many of these complaints indicated that the head lamp harness suffered damage from overheating. After reviewing the complaints, ODI found: -69% (328) alleged that a single head lamp was inoperative. -18% (86) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but not at the same time. -9% (41) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but the complaints did not indicate whether the failures had occurred at the same time. -4% (17) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative at the same time. -One additional complaint cited wire harness damage to both sides but did not specify an outage -No crashes or loss of vehicle control were reported. -Any alleged thermal damages were limited to melting of the head lamp harness and the head lamp housing. -A head lamp would intermittently fail to come on or flickers before becoming completely inoperative. For the seventeen complaints that alleged simultaneous failure of both head lamps while attempting to turn them on or while driving, the head lamp failures likely had occurred one at a time. The subject vehicle's head lamps are connected in a parallel circuit and each circuit is fused. Therefore, failure of one head lamp or its harness should not affect the other head lamp operation. Over the last 25 years, ODI has opened numerous defect investigations of the loss of headlamp illumination.Investigations that resulted in safety recalls involved simultaneous loss of illumination from both headlamps. NHTSA does not consider the loss of a single headlamp as presenting an unreasonable safety risk-such failures are readily detectable by the driver while allowing the vehicle to retain forward visibility and conspicuity from the remaining headlamp.There is typically enough time between the failure of the first headlamp and the second during which the vehicle operator can obtain the needed repairs. Based on the information currently available, NHTSA does not believe that the headlamp condition as alleged by the petitioner indicates the likelihood of a safety-related defect that would warrant a formal investigation.Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.Further specifics can be found in the Federal Register Notice ODI complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

EA08010 · NON-CRASH Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 12, 2008 · Closed Sep 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers; Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (9)

Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Electrical System:wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring