From the logbook: Saturn Outlook

When I wrote "Is the Sun Setting on Saturn?" in our original blog  from the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, I honestly wasn't sure where this GM division was going. Since then, we've been mildly impressed with the Auras we've tested; the Aura only lacks at least average reliability data to be CR Recommended. We also have a Saturn Sky Red Line in our test fleet, which we feel is noticeably better than previously tested Pontiac Solstice, upon which it's based.

So, what is our outlook on the Outlook? Is this SUV/minivan/wagon helping to revive the once sizzling Saturn brand? We have posted a Just In report in the blog, and recently added a First Look as the Saturn motors its way through our test regimen on its way to a complete road test. We've seen the queries in our Forums asking about the Outlook, (discuss Saturns here) so we present our candid test notes from the logbook to provide even more insight:

"Very nice ride, handling, and steering."

"The car feels sluggish on the highway due to the transmission shift logic. The trans goes into high gear very early and is reluctant to kick down when the cruise control is set."

"Very quiet and well-isolated from the road."

"Feels far smaller than it really is to drive."

"Very comfortable seats and a good looking interior."

"Third-row seat access is pretty good; the seat is truly useable."

"Only complaints: Rear sill is still WAY too high, blocking rear vision; tiny climate controls; and long reach to the radio's tune knob."

"Lower LATCH anchors are tucked away too tightly against the seatback cushions, making hooking child safety seat straps very difficult."

"[At 1,669 miles] there's some rattles now appearing, but still impresses as just the right size SUV for the family."

"This car does about 80 percent of what a Chevrolet Suburban does and drives almost as well as a Cadillac SRX."

"I prefer this over [most] luxury SUVs."

"I'd buy this over a Honda Pilot or Acura MDX."

"A stunning achievement for GM, fully realized out of the box and you don't need to buy a loaded version to get all the good stuff."

"GM has a real winner here - an SUV with the room of a minivan and the driving experience of a car. It's much like the Mercedes-Benz GL but $30K cheaper."

Other than a few gripes, we're quite impressed so far from this clean-sheet effort from GM. Check the August issue of Consumer Reports magazine to see how it stacks up against other three-row car-based SUVs, including the new Mazda CX-9, the updated Chrysler Pacifica, and the Hyundai Veracruz.

--Mike Quincy

Comments

[Dave]

I purchased an Outlook 6 weeks ago, first GM I've ever owned. I am amazed at the job GM did on this. It drives better than my 2006 BMW X5 did. I would have not touched a GM before this, but this is an excellent SUV.

[Will Gaudreau]

I have just had a really bad experience with Saturn: After 14 repairs and 48K miles, we cannot believe how cheaply made (with junk electronic components) the ION 1 was.

Our car is a 2003. Saturn told us that even though we have no misuse or other types of repairs, even though all the problems were from cheap components being used on this car, they are willing to apologize but nothing more.

If anyone is interested in hearing from yet another disgruntled Saturn owner, please check in with us.

Will & Deb Gaudreau
droll52@frontiernet.net

[Jeremy Ellis]

Problems with Saturn 2007 Outlook

I live 54 miles away from dealership and purchased this vehicle for my wife. She is pregnant with our first child and wanted a dependable vehicle. We purchased the vehicle on December 30, 2006 at Saturn of Huntsville, AL. We were told this was the first Outlook sold in North Alabama; this is where we should have walked away!

We have taken vehicle in to the dealership on numerous occasions and heard the entire spectrum of excuses. We have spoken with the dealership’s General Manager, Sales Manager, Service Manager, service representative at the front desk and even some regional service person with still nothing resolved.

The past 7 months we’ve has asked the service department to look at the following problems:
• Battery Saver Light on dash – (3 separate occasion after the dealership has reported the problem was corrected)
• Pieces of the rook railing system coming off while driving – (3 separate occasions, after the dealership has reported the problem was corrected)
• Transmission shifting hard while accelerating – (I don’t believe the dealership can even give an explanation).
• Driver side interior door panel has come loose from the door frame. (dealership is looking at the problem now)

I believe all totaling 7 trips into Huntsville fixing problems and still counting, this is all within 7 months.

All we tried to get was a dependable vehicle. It looks like we could have achieved this since the vehicle cost exceeded $36,000 and brand new, even off the showroom floor. In moving forward, we are just trying to get a dependable vehicle or our money back. In hindsight the extend warranty was the best money I could have spent.

Does anyone know of someone higher up the food chain we could speak with at corporate headquarters or how to proceed? We have almost reached a point to contact a lawyer.

If anyone from Saturn Corporation reads this posting please help. You can get our information from your on company internal computer system. We have called and written several complaints.

[Alan Hay]

I purchased a Saturn Outlook in mid June. Almost immediately the upgraded sound system started mis-behaving. It makes a loud crackle and then switches to half volume with no sound through sub-woofer. It has now been in the shop for 9 of the past 11 working days with no end in sight. 3 new dadios and an amplifier have been fitted and NO sound comes from it now. I am not happy with the time to reach a solution (though the local dealer is very helpful). Saturn support to the dealer appears to be inconsistent. Anyone else have this problem? I love the car by the way! Only other issue is temperature guage which reads any number it feals like, 105 F, 55 F etc all in 75 F San Diego!

[Alison Russo]

Has anyone had issues with towing the outlook behind a RV? The owners manual is wrong and there is a bullettin which came out in June on the proper way to dingy tow. We had electrical wiring pproblems which Saturn would not warrantty, they say it was the RV harness wiring installed wrong. I stong;y berledive it was due to the wrong info in the owners manual. If anyone else is having such problems please inform. $40,000 for a vehicle and now they won't
warrantty this vehicle. If you know of a higher up to speak to please inform also.

Thank you,

Alison

[Misty Wilen]

This is not about a Saturn Outlook, but in response to the blogs about where to go from here with the Saturn Corporation. We purchased a Relay from a dealership 35 miles from our house, and spent the next 15 months fighting with the corporation about our vehicle. I'm telling you all this right now, get your Attorney General's office involved, lemon law division if your state has such a law. That is the only headway we made with Saturn. Our dealership was awesome with us--even fighting with Saturn on behalf of us as well. Good luck! Saturn Corporation stinks to try to work with.

Misty

[cat]

I have a 2006 Vue with just 1700 miles. Took it in for a noise when the car was in park, noise went away when in drive & reverse. I took it in 7-17-07 they still have it !!! they replaced the Torque Converter and the transmission fluid pump, it still made the noise so they replaced the drive chain in the transmission now they called me today to tell me the noise is still there so after getting permission from the corporate techs. they are going to put in a new transmission & i should have my car back Monday Aug.13th!! Almost a month!!!! Has anyone had this type of problem??

[Michele]

I wanted to buy an outlook to tow my 2 horse trailer (total weight would be 3500-4000 lbs). The literature lists the towing capacity @ 4500. However,the manager at the dealership says it couldn't handle the 3300 lbs boat he tried to tow. Has anyone been using their outlook to tow? What have you experienced?

Michele

[Leslie]

My outlook makes a annoying whistiling sound when I accelerate. The salesperson told me that it is the transmission, but Im getting it checked out tomorrow...anyone else?

[Tisha]

Hi,
I just purchased outlook about 6 months ago. About 1 month ago, a problem occured, after about driving for about 30-35 minutes it makes a funny whining sound. I've taken it in once before and they said it was the alternator, so we brought it back in to be replaced yesterday and the sound still continues to happen. So today, we took it back to the service department and the head mechanic test drove it with my husband and basically said; it is a first year car and we've already replaced the part that showed defective. He said the car seems safe to drive and until something goes wrong there was nothing they could do to do fix it. He said for all he knows its suppose to sound that way (yeah right! it never made that sound before). We even told the mechanic the sound gets louder and worse the longer you drive it. So my next question is has anyone had this problem happen to them with their new outlook?

Baffled,
Tisha

[Becky]

We purchased an Outlook in Feb 2007. The mpg STINKS!!!! We are averaging 14 city and 19 fwy. Far from the sticker of 18 and 24. Hindsite, we should have bought the Pilot!

[Rachelle L. Mace]

Have had a similar whining problem with a 2007 Outlook purchased 3 months ago, now the sound is getting worse and worse yet driving through rain and puddles lose all power stearing. Goes back in the shop tommarrow. Any ideas?

[Shelia]

I also have a whining noise coming from, what sounds like the steering column. I purchased a 2007 Outlook about one month ago. I took it in the mechanic said he had driven about 5 other Outlooks and the sound is normal. He said the manufacturer needs to correct it somehow. He said it was safe to drive and I just had to deal with it. Very frustrating.

[M]

I purchased my Outlook in February 2007. It goes everywhere and now has over 17,000 miles. We also have experienced the whining noise that others have spoke of. I call it a moaning noise because it sounds like the poor power steering is crying for help and you can actually feel it in the steering column. The transmission module went out somewhere around 12,000 miles and was replaced. By far, my most annoying problem is the car seems to BOG down when you crank it and attempt to take off immediately. It completely loses every bit of power and chugs along at 2 m.p.h. before getting its power back. I was told it could be the diagnostic check (that noise you hear in the first few second of starting the car)running its course. Also, the electric fans stinks...it is loud outside of the vehicle. As for driving the Outlook....it drives smoothly and better than our Tahoe.

[Travis]

We bought a 2007 Outlook XR in June. We have had electrical problems as well as a water leak and now it is back in the shop with the check engine light on. The reset the computer and have been driving it trying to see if it comes back on. We have talked to Saturn and they said that they feel they have met there warranty obligation. We also have the whining noise. I believe it is the compressor. I have met the lemon law requirements set forth for mississippi. I am giving my dealer which is helping greatly the chance to try and get saturn to give us another vehicle.

[Lori]

We also have reported a whining noise that appears between 50/65MPH but can't determine where it is coming from. I've had it into the dealership twice and am scheduled for a third appointment next Monday. The Service Tech's were baffled so therefore I have to return and leave it for another day.

Otherwise, the car drives great, the MPG is accurate, and is a comfortable ride.

[Don]

Has anyone had this noise fixed? I have the power steering? sort of noise also. I bought my Outlook early (Jan '07) and it was fine until about 6 weeks ago. The noise is quite noticable to me at most any speed, in particular, at low speeds. Of course, it tends to get drowned out a bit at higher speeds but it's still there.

I have it at the dealer now for several things in addition to this and they said the tech can't hear any noise! Even my wife hears this noise. I wonder if they just don't know how to fix it, which gets back to my original question. Has anyone had the same problem and successfully got it serviced and fixed, and what was done?

Thanks much, Don

[Heidi]

Hi , I am a very frustrated Saturn Outlook driver. My first problem started back in July. My husband, myself and our 3 young children were all driving back from a 10 hour family vaca when an hour from home we ran into a downpour on the turnpike. When my husband flicked on the windshield wipers they did one swipe, the light came on and they went dead!!!!! We were between a semi on our right and a car on our left- by the grace of God we got over onto the shoulder and waited for the rain to subside. We did make it home- VERY frustrated. We took it to the shop and turns out the problem was a loose bolt!! Now we have had the vehicle in the shop twice in two weeks because of a leak that is coming from the drivers seat belt area that is soaking the driver seat belt and is dripping from where the seat belt comes out. Twice they have tried to fix it- I am taking it back in today for the 3rd try. We also need a new power steering wheel pump of some kind because of a sharp humming noise when the vehicle is running. Any one else having similar problems or any advice?!?!?!?

[Rachael]

I have a 2008 VUE that I bought on November 15, 2007. A week after I had it I started hearing a loud whining in the power steering. It has continued to get louder. I drove my new car for 3 weeks and the dealership has had it for the past week. They replaced some steering pump, but apparently that did not solve the problem. As of today, I am driving a 2006 used Vue for a rental and they have no idea what is wrong with my car.

Oh, just for the record, I love the car, just wish I didn't have this mechanical problem.

[Whitney]

I bought my Outlook in July 07 and drove the next day to Maine from Virginia. Great experience, except this annoying click in the right front tire area withing the first five - ten feet of driving. It makes the click once and stops. I get to my destination and when I drive off next time, I hear the same click. It sounds like metal hitting metal.

My Outlook is also leaking from under the glove compartment, and the two rear passenger seatbelt covers on the right. I was told they would take down the ceiling and plug the leaks. The bucking and hesitation are annoying, but I'm told this is a software issue and can't be fixed. Has anyone had a problem with strong exhaust? The fumes are beginning to come into the cabin at stop lights.

The car is great otherwise!

[Abe and Leslie]

My wife Leslie and I purchased a Saturn Outlook from Saturn of Fredericksburg, VA in early June 2007 primarily because of the honesty and integrity we expect from Saturn and the reliably of the Saturn vehicles. We have not experienced those traits throughout our experience owning the Saturn Outlook. Let me explain.

After about 10,000 miles on the Saturn Outlook in late October and the beginning November of 2007 we noticed that the Saturn Outlook would continue to run (for as long as 10 minutes which the mechanics of Saturn in Fredericksburg later verified) with the key turned off and pulled out of the ignition. Not only would the key be out of the ignition and continue to run, but the engine would rev up and down. This is a serious safety issue! In addition, a few days later in November of 2007, the Saturn Outlook would not start. We brought the vehicle into the Fredericksburg, VA dealership 3 times to get this problem fixed and after each time we brought the vehicle in, they told us the problem was fixed. And after each time, we experienced the same problems and brought the car back to the dealership to have them fix the problems. In early January 2008, we experienced the problems for the 4th time.

After experiencing the problem for the 4th time, we had had enough and finally wrote Saturn Corp a certified letter asking for our money back and invoking the Lemon Law of Virginia. We stated that we wanted a quick resolution to this problem and we were assured by people at Saturn of Fredericksburg that we would be taken care of. Saturn Corporation (customer service division) received this letter on January 15th and their only offer so far (Jan 26th) was to increase our warranty for 60,000 miles or a few years. It took Customer Service of Saturn till January 25th to give us this useless offer (10 full days!). Meanwhile, Saturn of Fredericksburg (the dealership) has been working on the problem (for the 4th time) since January 12, 2008 till today January 26th, 2008 and have not yet identified or fixed the problem.

The person handling our case with Saturn Corp has been dishonest and almost purposely slow in getting our case resolved. She has on multiple occasions claimed that the problem reports that we mailed via certified mail were not 3 different problem reports. We did send all 3 different problem reports via the certified letter. Also, Saturn of Fredericksburg tells us that they do have 3 different problem reports. So we were finally able to fax them to her and get her to admit that she does in fact have 3 different problem reports. Furthermore, the case manager (person working on our case at Saturn Corp) told us she would call us on a certain date and provide an update on our case and failed to call us on that date or have anyone else call us on that date with that information. We had to call her to get that information the following day.

In fairness to the person who sold us the car at Saturn of Fredericksburg, throughout this ordeal he has been the only person at Saturn who seems interested in helping us out with this problem. At least Saturn of Fredericksburg (with the help of this salesman) has given us a loaner car and then a rental car to hold us over during this period.

I'm writing this so that all those people that consider Saturn Corporation a company that prides itself with helping and keeping the customer happy to reconsider. The kind of service we have got from the car (unreliable, not fixable) and the kind of service and treatment we’re receiving from Saturn Corp in resolving this issue is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

We are NOT happy at all with Saturn!

[Momof2]

I purchased my 2007 Outlook about 6 months ago. It was a car that a dealer drove, so we did purchase it with 10K miles on it already.

The morning after we purchased it, we went to start it and the RPMs raced up and down after we started it. Of course, we take it back and the dealership 'cannot duplicate concern'. Month later, we started having major AC noise...noise in the center front vents and outside noise when we were turn on/off AC. Took it in and they 'cannot duplicate concern'. We get the car back with the same noises. Month after that, the transmission started to mess up. The car's shifting was all over the place...downshifting when it shouldn't, shifting when it wasn't needed, and not shifting when my foot was pushing the pedal to the floor NEEDING it to shift! FINALLY the dealership fixed something and the transmission has been better. BUT after that problem was fixed, another surfaced with vibration in the dash and engine. We take it in and they 'cannot duplicate concern'. Vibration gets annoyingly worse, we take it in a month later...this time, my husband making a mechanic ride with him. The mechanic hears the problem and said that he would need to speak with his manager to get us a rental because it sounds like the problem could take a few days to fix. He comes back 15 minutes later and said the GM drove it and they hooked it up to the computer and nothing was wrong. Good try...we know the GM and my husband was eyeballing him across the showroom floor the entire time he was waiting. So he takes the car home with no solution. The next day I get in the car and while driving, the vibration is so bad, it's jingling my keys and shaking my rear view mirror so bad that I can't see anything in it! We then contact Saturn Headquarters....they acted like they were concerned, but basically took the dealership's word over our's. We made another appointment with the dealership for this problem a week later and magically the computer just then detected something being wrong, which leads me to believe they never hooked it up to the computer to begin with! They apparently fixed it...and I'll give them that, they did fix the interior vibration, but my engine is vibrating so bad we cannot stand it and drive my husband's Honda instead! My other vehicle choice was a Honda Pilot and I'm really kicking myself for chosing this instead.

I'm extremely disappointed in this car. I've been waiting for this car to come out and it is nothing I expected it to be. However, I do love the styling and the interior room....all I want is my engine to be fixed! It's a 2007, it shouldn't be making these noises!! Saturn Headquarters was no help, this dealership is the closest one within an hour and they are no help. I'm taking this car to trade in on Monday! I cannot handle this frustration and having it in the shop 1-2 times a month!

[Super Mario]

I purchased a 2008 Outlook 1 month ago. The car rides quietly & handles extremely well. The interior is roomy, well designed, & comfortable. I am very satisfied with the appearance & mechanical performance of the vehicle. The only problem is a minor water leak which appears to originate from the sunroof. Normally rainwater should drain from the sunroof into drainage hoses & be carried down into the front wheel wells. For some reason a small amount of water (approximately 1 tablespoon per hour during a rainstorm) is leaking behind the dashboard and dripping from the parking brake pedal. The dealer has tried twice unsuccessfully to fix the leak. So they have agreed to take back the vehicle (thanks to their 30-day vehicle exchange program). I decided to order another identical Outlook which should arrive in about 4 weeks. Hopefully the new one will not leak.

[CSlattery]

Super Mario - I am having the exact same water leak issue with my 2008 Outlook. Tonight will make it's 4th trip to the dealership in less than 3 months. I've heard Ohio has a very strong lemon law. I hate to go through the process, but then I hate to pay on this thing for another 5 years!!

[Dennis]

I'm having a water leak around the parking foot brake as well.

Argh!