Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Saturn Outlook
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Saturn Outlook has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 192 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V415000 Liftgate Struts may Fail and Liftgate may Fall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V266000 Flexible Steel Cable for Seat Belt may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V118000 Side Impact Air Bags Wiring Connections NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V375000 SECOND ROW SAFETY BELT INTERFERENCE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V240000 HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER MODULE SHORT CIRCUIT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V073000 SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR/FMVSS 102 & FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V615000 FMVSS 209/SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Exterior Lighting 75 complaints
- Electrical System 44 complaints
- Steering 42 complaints
- Power Train 19 complaints
- Engine 17 complaints
- Seat Belts 8 complaints
Of the 192 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 192 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Saturn Outlook is rated below-average due to multiple recalls on critical systems like airbags and seat belts. Common complaints involve the exterior lighting, electrical systems, and steering, suggesting ongoing reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| exterior lighting | 50,000–80,000 miles | $150–$350 | very common |
| electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| steering system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$2,000 | occasional |
| engine cooling | 90,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Air filter replacement annually
- Inspect suspension components annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dim or flickering exterior lights
- Unusual steering noise
- Intermittent electrical failures
- Delayed transmission engagement
- Overheating engine indications
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Saturn Outlook at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.