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

Exterior Lighting complaints

247 reports

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65,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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I HAVE A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK, ON 7/26/11 MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP BULB WENT OUT. AFTER I LOOKED AT IT CLOSELY, THE HARNESS WAS CHARRED AND MELTED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AT 21,000 MILES, VERY EARLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY QUOTED ME ON THREE PARTS IF NEEDED: BULB $18; HARNESS $40; HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY $377. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THAT HEADLAMP WIRING THAT HAS CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AND IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE IF THEY EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO BE LOYAL AND CONTINUE BUYING THEIR VEHICLES. THIS MIGHT BE MY LAST GM VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415281

39,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011

Exterior Lighting

THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT OF OUR 2008 OUTLOOK WENT OUT. I REPLACED IT. AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SOCKET INTO WHICH THE BULB WAS TO SIT, I NOTICED IT WAS MELTED AND BURNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415230

67,000 miles · Jul 25, 2011

Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE HEADLIGHT BULB ON PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT. THOUGHT THE BULB WAS JUST BLOWN. FOUND THE WIRE HARNESS HAD MELTED ALSO. FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE, WITH THE HARNESSES MELTING.. FIRE COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN MY OPINION. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, SO DEALER WONT COVER. SERVICE BULLETIN AVAILABLE BUT VEHICLE OUT …

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NHTSA ODI #10415882

37,800 miles · Jul 25, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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MY HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT ON MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. I TRIED TO REPLACE IT AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. I HAD A SHOP REPLACE IT THINKING THAT I TOUCHED THE BULB AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SOCKET/HARNESS WAS MELTED AND SOME OF THE WIRES BEYOND THAT WERE EXPOSED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN IF FIXED, WOULD HAPPEN OVER AND OVER BECAUSE THE BULB IS TOO HOT AND MELTS THE WIRING. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CLAIMS OF THIS HAPPENING EXACTLY THE SAME WAY SO IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY GM. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN PULLED OVER AND ISSUED A CITATION FOR NO HEADLIGHT BUT DON'T HAVE THE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE ALL COMPONENTS AND PAY LABOR CHARGES OF 1.6 HOURS PLUS. THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS FOR VISIBILITY, INTERMITTENT WORKING OF HEADLIGHTS, WHICH IF BOTH WENT OUT COULD LEAVE ME STRANDED WITH FOUR KIDS, AND THE EXPOSED WIRE COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE OR SHORT THAT COULD DAMAGE OTHER COMPONENTS OR THE WHOLE VEHICLE. SO AS OF THIS MESSAGE I STILL ONLY HAVE ONE WORKING HEADLIGHT (WHICH MAY BURN OUT SOON TOO IF ITS TOO HOT FOR THE WIRES) AND AM WAITING FOR MY NEXT TICKET...... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415058

74,000 miles · Jul 23, 2011

Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BURNT OUT TWICE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE SECOND TIME WE WENT TO CHANGE IT THE WIRES ARE ALL MELTED. NEED TO HAVE TAKEN IN FOR A NEW WIRE HARNESS, THIS HAPPENED ALREADY TWICE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE WIRES MELTING OVER AND OVER. THIS IS ALSO A COSTLY REPA…

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NHTSA ODI #10414843

50,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011

Exterior Lighting

2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. REPLACED BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT AGAIN. HEADLIGHT WIRING HAS MELTED - HAVE TO REPLACE WIRING AND WIRING HARNESS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL - IT'S NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE. IS POOR EQUIPMENT USED IN MANUFACTURING. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413749

52,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

LOW BEAM DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP ON SATURN OUTLOOK. BULB APPEARED TO FAIL BUT ON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS IT WAS MELTED AT THE CONNECTOR. THIS HAPPENED IN JAN/FEB OF 2011 AND NOW (JUL) THE PASSENGER SIDE IS OUT. REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB INITIALLY ON BOTH ONLY TO HAVE IT CONTINUOUSLY GO OUT. INSPECTING WIRING HA…

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NHTSA ODI #10413748

45,000 miles · Jul 13, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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IN JUNE OF 2010, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. AFTER TAKING TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED ! THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. WHILE ON VACATION THIS JULY, 2011, AND 800 MILES FROM HOME, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS WORKING WHEN IT WANTS TO. AFTER READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS, I AM QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FEARFUL OF A FIRE. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 45,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. OF COURSE, THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS MATTER SHOULD BE CHECKED INTO AND REPAIRS SHOULD BE DONE AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. A RECALL IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY ! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10412203

35,000 miles · Jul 13, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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I HAVE A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK THAT HAS A FAULTY HEADLIGHT. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BULB AND PURCHASED A NEW ONE. THEN, IT WENT OUT AGAIN A FEW WEEK LATER. DID THE SAME THING AGAIN, PURCHASED A BULB AND REPLACED IT. THAT WENT OUT SHORTLY ALSO. FINALLY HAD TO TAKE TO DEALER. TURNS OUT TO BE A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS AND IT COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BY THAT TIME THE FIX WAS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN IT FIRST WAS A PROBLEM. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED DURING THE TIME I WASTED WITH CHANGING BULBS. BASED ON MY RESEARCH THIS HAS BEEN A CHRONIC KNOWN PROBLEM FOR GM FOR SEVERAL YEARS, YET GM HAS NOT RESOLVED THE SITUATION WITH A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10412113

42,000 miles · Jul 12, 2011

Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT IN DECEMBER 2010. REPLACED BULB. LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN IN JULY 2011. WIRE CASING IS MELTED. KNOWN ISSUE WITH GM/SATURN. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10412076

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