Is the 2007 Saturn Outlook a bad year?
510 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 128.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2007 Saturn Outlook were filed between 60k and 101k miles. You're at 79,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Outlook owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 79,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 154 (30%) | 47k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 128 (25%) | 60k–101k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 115 (23%) | 43k–99k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 88 (17%) | 55k–109k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 60 (12%) | 36k–82k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 36 (7%) | 58k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 31 (6%) | 57k–148k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Stability control | 21 (4%) | 78k–154k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 19 (4%) | 46k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 12 (2%) | 54k–82k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 79,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 510 complaints: 5 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission began slipping during long interstate trip. After a rest stop, transmission would not shift out of a low gear on freeway even when traveling at 60-70 mph.
My transmission went on my well maintained 07 Saturn outlook one week after recommended transmission fluid change.
Hello I have the 2007 outlook that has experienced the notorious transmission failure.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 79,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Saturn Outlook: 5
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. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
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. It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
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. If this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.
On certain vehicles, the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM), which controls the function of front air bags, may not operate properly. As a result, the front air bags may fail to deploy in a frontal crash. Also, the air bag warning lamp on the instrument panel may fail to provide warning that the system is inoperative. In the event of a crash, this condition could increase the risk of injury to occupants in the front seat.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Saturn: 307
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Saturn Outlook. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Diagnostic aid information/procedures to perform inspections to determine if the engine needs to be replaced as opposed to just internal parts for knocking…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Loss of Headlamp Illumination
Non-crash engine compartment fires
Neighbouring years
2008 Outlook: 633 complaints, consider selling.
Every Saturn Outlook year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · All Outlook years side by side
Other Saturn models: Saturn Astra · Saturn Aura · Saturn ION · Saturn LS · Saturn SL · Saturn Sky · Saturn Vue. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 Saturn Outlook a bad year?
510 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 128. At 79,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2007 Saturn Outlook were filed between 60k and 101k miles. You're at 79,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Saturn Outlook?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (154), transmission and drivetrain (128), electrical system (115), air bags (88), steering (60). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 60k–101k miles.
How many recalls does the 2007 Saturn Outlook have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 15V-415), Electrical system (NHTSA 10V-240), Electrical system (NHTSA 08V-441), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 08V-410) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.