NHTSA vehicle safety data

2010 Saturn Outlook Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2010 Saturn Outlook has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 16 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Saturn dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2010 Saturn Outlook, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2010 Saturn Outlook owner complaints

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Saturn Outlook, describing incidents dated March 18, 2010 to August 20, 2019.

Most-cited components

Steering 7 complaints
Exterior Lighting 6 complaints
Electrical System 5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11246016 · Filed August 23, 2019
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TRYING TO PARK IN A SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN TURNING IN MOTION INTO A STREET OFF A HIGHWAY WHILE BRAKING. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS WERE FULL BOTH TIMES.
ODI #11012725 · Filed August 3, 2017
MY 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK HAS 124,XXX MILES ON IT. I'VE OWNED IT SINCE JANUARY OF 2017. 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I DECIDED THAT DUE TO HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL TO GET TO THE BULBS, I WOULD JUST CHANGE ALL 4 WHILE I WAS IN THERE. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE…
ODI #10956453 · Filed February 23, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. OCASSIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE PEDAL BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE…

Read all 16 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 Saturn Outlook in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA20-002: Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Closed August 30, 2024
- Recall 21V-245
Recall Query RQ19-003: Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Closed August 31, 2020

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Liftgate Struts may Fail and Liftgate may Fall

NHTSA #15V415000 · Structure — Body — Hatchback/Liftgate · NHTSA notice

Reported June 30, 2015 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 691,144 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.59% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 15240 · Owners notified November 15, 2016 · Vehicles built August 17, 2006 – March 18, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Flexible Steel Cable for Seat Belt may Fail

NHTSA #14V266000 · Seat Belts · NHTSA notice

Reported May 20, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 1,339,355 vehicles

Repair completion: 87.36% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14187 · Owners notified July 11, 2014 · Vehicles built April 14, 2008 – March 18, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Side Impact Air Bags Wiring Connections

NHTSA #14V118000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported March 17, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 1,176,407 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.55% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14030 · Owners notified June 16, 2014

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

SECOND ROW SAFETY BELT INTERFERENCE

NHTSA #10V375000 · Seat Belts · NHTSA notice

Reported August 12, 2010 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 207,210 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign N100243 · Owners notified August 18, 2010 · Vehicles built June 1, 2009 – March 30, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS RETURNED TO A SEATING POSITION AFTER BEING FOLDED FLAT. IF THE BUCKLE CONTACTS THE SEAT FRAME, ADDITIONAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO A SEATING POSITION. IF SUFFICIENT FORCE IS APPLIED, THE BUCKLE COVER COULD BE PUSHED DOWN THE STRAP, EXPOSING AND PARTIALLY DEPRESSING THE RED RELEASE BUTTON.

Safety consequence

THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELDS. IF A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE IS DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Notes

GM'S RECALL NO. N100243.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2010 Saturn Outlook 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

16% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

2 investigations

16 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Saturn Outlook.

Steering

ODI #11246016

Incident: August 20, 2019 · Filed: August 23, 2019

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TRYING TO PARK IN A SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE. IT ALSO HAPPENED WHEN TURNING IN MOTION INTO A STREET OFF A HIGHWAY WHILE BRAKING. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS WERE FULL BOTH TIMES.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11012725

Incident: August 3, 2017 · Filed: August 3, 2017

MY 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK HAS 124,XXX MILES ON IT. I'VE OWNED IT SINCE JANUARY OF 2017. 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO MY PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I DECIDED THAT DUE TO HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL TO GET TO THE BULBS, I WOULD JUST CHANGE ALL 4 WHILE I WAS IN THERE. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THEN I NOTICED IT FLICKERING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. OR WHEN I UNLOCKED THE CAR IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. SO I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB AND CHANGED IT AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. TOOK IT ALL APART AGAIN ONLY TO FIND OUT MY HEADLIGHT SOCKET HAD MELTED. SO I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT, INSTALLED IT AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. EXCEPT FOR NOW, A WEEK LATER, MY BULB QUIT AGAIN. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I CAN'T DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I HAVE READ AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT ONE TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY IF I HAVE TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY TAKING THIS TO THE SHOP TO GET SOMETHING SO SIMPLE FIXED.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10956453

Incident: February 23, 2017 · Filed: February 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SATURN OUTLOOK. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. OCASSIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE PEDAL BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,243.

Engine

ODI #10917699

Incident: September 30, 2016 · Filed: October 20, 2016

ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON & OFF. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS, THE OUTLOOK HAD A LOSS OF POWER. HAD IT CHECKED & WAS TOLD WE HAD A TIMING ISSUE WITH THE 3 TIMING CHAINS. THE CHAINS WERE STRETCHED & ONE OF THE TIMING CHAIN GEARS WAS ONE TOOTH OFF. THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007-2009 SATURN OUTLOOKS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE 2010 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED. WHY WOULDN'T THE 2010 MODELS BE INCLUDED? THE LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED ON 9/30/16. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON & OFF JUST A COUPLE DAYS PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10914376

Incident: October 5, 2016 · Filed: October 6, 2016

HEADLIGHTS WIRE HARNESSES BURNT

Steering

ODI #10875348

Incident: May 21, 2016 · Filed: June 20, 2016

WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT, TYPICALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE STEERING NEARLY FREEZES UP MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SHOP - CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS, AND I HAVE CALLED MY DEALER - SAYS IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS TYPE OF THING SO I WOULD BE WASTING MY TIME TO BRING IT IN. THE CAR IS ONLY AT 90,000 MILES AND I'M AFRAID THIS ISSUE MAY RESULT IN A CRASH AND OR INJURY TO MY FAMILY AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THERE IS NO LEAKING FROM ANY AREAS INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10683207

Incident: January 1, 2015 · Filed: February 13, 2015

MELTED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW THERE IS NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. *TR

Steering; Unknown or Other

ODI #10639959

Incident: August 13, 2014 · Filed: September 29, 2014

WHEN DRIVING SLOW FORWARD OR BACK, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT LOCKS UP THEN WILL COME LOOSE, LETTING YOU TURN THE WHEEL. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST GM BY THE CHEVY TRAVERSE OWNERS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. CASE NUMBER IS [XXX], FILED 3/12/13. SINCE I HAVE A SATURN, THAT IS A TWIN TO THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE AND GM ACADIA. I THINK I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING IN THE STEERING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Steering; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10609992

Incident: October 20, 2010 · Filed: July 11, 2014

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING IN MY SATURN. THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE THAT I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN AND BOUGHT IT WITH SAFETY IN MIND. I AM STARTING TO BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE. INSTEAD OF GM FIXING THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE TAKEN NO BLAME AND ARE ASKING ME TO PAY HEFTY BILLS RELATED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR HAS HAD 3 STEERING GEARS AND NOW NEEDS A STEERING PUMP. I KNOW MANY SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE HELP, THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. WE ARE BEING LIED TO SO GM DOES NOT HAVE TO COVER THESE COSTLY PARTS. *TR

Steering

ODI #10605999

Incident: January 1, 2014 · Filed: June 25, 2014

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS AT LOW SPEEDS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AFTER VIEWING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF OTHER SIMILAR YEAR MODEL VEHICLES ON THE LAMBDA PLATFORM I CONTACTED GM/SATURN ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN EXPLAINING TO THE SHOP EMPLOYEE THE PROBLEM HE SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD OF MANY COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO OURS. THE GM REP TOLD US THAT SHE WAS PLACING OUR VEHICLE UNDER A RECALL AND THAT GM WOULD ABSORB ALL CHARGES RELATED TO REPAIRING THIS ISSUE. ONCE WE CALLED TO CHECK THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND GM WOULD NOT BE COVERING THE REPAIRS. I SPOKE WITH GM AGAIN AND EXPLAINED THAT UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO BE DONE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH A RECALL. IN MY OPINION THE NUMBER OF OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE IS TOO HIGH TO BE CONSIDERED A COINCIDENCE AND IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

Other Saturn Outlook model years

Check your 2010 Saturn Outlook VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Saturn Outlook at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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