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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

13 reports

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110,000 miles · Oct 23, 2018

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK JUST LOST POWER. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. AS I WAS PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE POWER CAME BACK BUT THE ENGINE WAS REVING VERY HIGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I MANAGED TO GET ALMOST HOME WHEN THE GEAR GOT STUCK IN 1ST AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE HIGHER THAN 20 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS JUST ABOUT HOME. ONCE I ARRIVED AT MY HOME I TURNED OF THE TRUCK AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS FINE. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BUT WAS GUESSING IT MAY BE A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. ERROR CODES: P0741 & P0700. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR JERKING AROUND 30-35MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11142145

180,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PEDAL WOULD REMAIN STUCK UNTIL IT INDEPENDENTLY CORRECTED ITSELF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT *CN

NHTSA ODI #10933817

70,455 miles · Mar 26, 2015

Vehicle Speed Control

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WHEN STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE (WHEN FOOT PUT ON THE ACCELERATOR). AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD. UPON STOPPING THE CAR AGAIN, AND THEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AGAIN. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION (FOR A COST OF $5,019.05). THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701982

53,000 miles · Feb 24, 2015

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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DRIVER WAS ON THEIR WAY TO DR APPT WITH SMALL CHILD WHEN THE CAR REVVED VERY HARD & JERKED & MAKING LOUD NOISES. I THEN WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO PARKING, ONSTAR WAS CALLED AND DIAGNOSING IT AS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS THROWING CODES. A TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK THE CAR INTO CAVENDER IN SAN ANTONIO.THEY FOUND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTORS FAILED. THEY FOUND THE WATER PUMP WAS FAILING AS WELL AND REPLACED IT AS WELL. THE NEXT INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MAY OF 2012, MY HUSBAND WAS BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY & WE WERE ADVISED AFTER WE GOT SETTLED BACK IN OHIO TO HAVE IT SERVICED. IN WHICH WE DID, TO HAVE FOUND THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD A SMALL LEAK. WE TOOK IT TO GM DEALERSHIP DON'S AUTOMOTIVE AS WE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WORKED THERE. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT, THEN NOT EVEN A MONTH WENT BY WE FOUND IT WAS LEAKING. WE THEN DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO DAVE WHITE CHEVROLET TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED RIGHT. THEY THEN FIXED IT. WE THEN HAD IT FIXED AND WERE BACK ON THE ROAD. THEN WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THE REVVING AGAIN AND IT WOULD HESITATE WHEN DRIVING CAUSING PANIC IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS FOR MY HUSBAND AND I. WE THEN TOOK IT BACK TO DAVE WHITE TO FIND THERE WAS A SPEED CONTROL SENSOR THAT WAS FAILING. WE THEN HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED. NOT TOO LONG AFTER, WE BEGAN TO NOTICE PINK FLUID ON THE DRIVE, WE IMMEDIATE TOOK IT BACK TO DAVE WHITE, THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT THE COUPLING WAS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN. WE CONTACTED GM BECAUSE THIS SHOULD BE A COVERED PART AS IT COULD CAUSE FAILURE. THEY AGREED TO HELP WITH PAYING FOR IT, BUT DAVE WHITE WAS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. THEN IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, PUTTING IN REVERSE WOULD CAUSE IT TO HESITATE, TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. WE THEN HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT. THEN FEB 2015, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS DRIVING AND WOULD NOT PASS 1ST GEAR ON BUSY ROAD. IT WAS TOWED 2/23/15 TO DEALERSHIP MCNEILS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10690189

25,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015

EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. THERE IS A RAPID DECLINE IN SPEED AND THE VOLT METER DROPS TO LESS THEN 11. I HAVE TO HOPE THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THAT I DO NOT GUIDE THE VEHICLE INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL CAUSE DAMAGE. THE 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, HIGHWAYS AND AT TOLL LOCATIONS INCLUDING BRIDGES AND TUNNELS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND CONTACTED GM TO NO AVAIL. IF THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEN THE ISSUE DOES NOT EXIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682475

72,000 miles · Jan 13, 2015

EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

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AFTER A NIGHT OF SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, I TURNED MY CAR ON IN THE GARAGE TO WARM UP PRIOR TO LOADING MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE WERE ALL SET, I PULL OUT OF THE GARAGE AND CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE DRIVEWAY DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE AND MY DASHBOARD PANEL STARTS COMMUNICATING MULTIPLE ERRORS, INCLUDING "ENGINE POWERED DOWN", "SERVICE STABILITRACK", "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON. WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON, MY CAR STOPS EXCELLING AND LITERALLY STOPS ME ON THE ROAD ONLY ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE TO 1 RPM AND MAYBE GOING 5 MILES AT MOST. AFTER SLOWLY MANEUVERING OUT OF TRAFFIC, I TURNED MY CAR ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES WITHOUT ANY LUCK. AFTER TALKING TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN, I WAS GOING TO GET IT TOWED FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE I WAS TALKING TO THEN, AND THEN RANDOMLY TURNED IT BACK ON SINCE IT WAS COLD, AND ALL THE ERRORS WENT AWAY AND THE CAR WAS MOVING PROPERLY. AFTER ANOTHER DAY OF DRIVING IT, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND AS I EXITED ON THE RAMP AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, THE WHOLE PROCESSED HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAD TO TAKE IT IN AT THIS POINT, SINCE I FELT EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE, KNOWING IT COULD STOP OPERATING RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT GENERATED AN ENGINE POWER DOWN CODE BECAUSE THE THROTTLE WAS AFFECTED. CODE P1516. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) OUT FOR THIS APPARENT ISSUE, BUT I AM UNCERTAIN HOW THIS ISN'T A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER MODELS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING IT, CONSIDERING IT LITERALLY STOPS YOUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I WAS EXTREMELY SCARED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IF YOU CAR STOPS OPERATING PROPERLY WHEN DRIVING THAT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD FOR YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672048

138,000 miles · Nov 25, 2014

Air BagsService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

ABOUT EVERY 5 MIN BEEPING SOUND WOULD SOUND AND DASHBOARD STATED,SERVICE AIR BAG,SERVICE BRAKES/STABILIZER & WOULD CUTOFF CRUISE CONTROL.HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660891

77,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014

Vehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN 2008 OUTLOOK I FELT SOMETHING "SLIP" AND MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I WOULD ACCELERATE ON THE GAS WHICH WOULD JUST CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REV. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON(THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ALREADY ON). I WAS BASICALLY STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MAY BE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND WILL COST APPROX. $2500.00. AFTER RESEARCHING I HAVE NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES. A RECALL IS IN ORDER AFTER READING ABOUT THE MANY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE! 77000 MILES AND WE HAVE THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE A 2007 HYUNDAI WHICH WE HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638761

80,000 miles · May 7, 2014

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 80 MILES/HR (LEGAL IN UTAH) AND THE CHIME WENT OFF AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND SERVICE STABILITRAK TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL FLASHED ON MY DISPLAY AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALL GM VEHICLES. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. PEOPLE TAKE THEIR VEHICLES INTO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY REPLACE SOMETHING BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. THIS SAME PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING REGARDLESS OF SPEED, CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587139

94,500 miles · Feb 4, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MILES/HR AND THE CHIME WENT OFF AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND SERVICE STABILITRAK TRACTION CONTROL OFF FLASHED ON MY DISPLAY AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. BY THE TIME I GOT OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD I WAS GOING 40 MILES/HR WITH THE GAS PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A GM DEALERSHIP AS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE IT SEEMS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. GM HAS INFORMED ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK AND THE 2009 SATURN OUTLOOK BUT MY 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK WAS NOT UNDER THE SAME RECALL EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IS DIFFERENT IN THE 2008 FROM THE 2007 OR 2009, IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND THE SAME TIMING CHAIN THAT QUALIFIED THE OTHER YEARS RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562832

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