2009 Saturn Outlook Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2009 Saturn Outlook has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 3rd out of 4 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Outlook years. NHTSA logs 192 complaints, 7 recalls, and 3 fires, with Electrical System issues making up 52% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 33/100
- #3 of 4 Outlook years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 192
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2009 Saturn Outlook problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System99 (52%)
- Steering42 (22%)
- Engine27 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain19 (10%)
- Other10 (5%)
- Seat Belts8 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (4%)
- Airbags7 (4%)
- Structure & Body6 (3%)
- Fuel System5 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Headlights fail or wiring in the harness melts, sometimes sparking fires under the hood.
- Power steering assist cuts out suddenly at low speeds, making the vehicle hard to control while turning or parking.
- Front airbags fail to deploy during a crash after the vehicle loses control on wet pavement.
- Vehicle rolls away unexpectedly after the driver removes the key and exits.
- Check engine light comes on and the vehicle suddenly shuts off due to a faulty fuel pump flow module.
- Power lift-gate drops unexpectedly, striking the person standing beneath it.
2009 Saturn Outlook recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V415000Jun 30, 2015Structure & Body691,144 vehicles
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 14V266000May 20, 2014Seat Belts1,339,355 vehicles
Seat belts
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Risk: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.
- NHTSA 14V118000Mar 17, 2014Airbags1,176,407 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
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.
Risk: 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.
2009 Saturn Outlook fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Outlook years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Saturn Outlook reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Outlook has a Complaint Index of 33, the third-lowest among the 4 model years with data, and carries a Good verdict relative to other Outlook years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Saturn Outlook?
- Electrical System issues dominate, accounting for 52% of complaints (99 of 192), including headlight wiring that melted or caught fire in some reports.
- Does the 2009 Saturn Outlook have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2009 Outlook covering seat belts, airbags, transmission shift cables, structure/body, and electrical systems; none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2009 Outlook compare to other model years?
- The 2009 model (Complaint Index 33, Good) fares better than the 2008 (index 100, Avoid) and 2007 (index 67, Caution), but the 2010 model year scores lowest at index 0 with a Best verdict.
- Did the 2009 Saturn Outlook have airbag deployment failures?
- NHTSA complaint data includes a report of front airbags failing to deploy during a highway crash after the vehicle hydroplaned and rolled, one of 7 airbag-related complaints for the year.