Is the 2008 Saturn Outlook a bad year?
633 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 127.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2008 Saturn Outlook were filed between 64k and 105k miles. You're at 80,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 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 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 127 (20%) | 64k–105k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 164 (26%) | 42k–86k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 97 (15%) | 50k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 52 (8%) | 50k–101k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 46 (7%) | 45k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 45 (7%) | 68k–99k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Visibility and wipers | 36 (6%) | 45k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 20 (3%) | 79k–151k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 13 (2%) | 56k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 247 (39%) | 39k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 6 (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 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 633 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 19 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My transmission on my 2008 Saturn outlook went out and was replaced (With a brand new transmission) under warranty in april 2012.
Could not shift to next gear and the car jumps/shakes when shifting. Going on 3rd repair, its just costing me to much money to fix and still need to drive the car...
Transmission problems. 35R wave plate known to be defective (Causing complete transmission failure) in outlook, acadia, enclave, vue, etc.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 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.
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. 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.
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.
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: 334
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 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
2007 Outlook: 510 complaints, consider selling · 2009 Outlook: 192 complaints, keep it.
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 2008 Saturn Outlook a bad year?
633 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 127. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2008 Saturn Outlook were filed between 64k and 105k miles. You're at 80,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn Outlook?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (127), electrical system (164), air bags (97), engine (52), body structure (46). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 64k–105k miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Saturn Outlook have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 15V-415), Air bags (NHTSA 14V-118), Electrical system (NHTSA 10V-240), Electrical system (NHTSA 08V-441) 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.