Is the 2009 Saturn Outlook a bad year?
192 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outlook years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Saturn Outlook are in line with other Outlook years. Exterior lighting stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 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 39,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 75 (39%) | 32k–51k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 44 (23%) | 32k–80k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 42 (22%) | 45k–93k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 21 (11%) | 49k–107k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (10%) | 60k–108k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 8 (4%) | 55k–111k miles · ahead | — |
| Air bags | 7 (4%) | 50k–100k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structure | 6 (3%) | 43k–100k miles · ahead | — |
| Seat belts | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (3%) | 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 39,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 192 complaints: 5 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 1 says 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.
Recalls for the 2009 Saturn Outlook: 7
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, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time. 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.
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.
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. The safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the 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.
These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention". The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
16,667 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet traverse, GMC acadia, and Saturn outlook vehicles for failing to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209… In a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger.
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: 390
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 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: 3
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Loss of Headlamp Illumination
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 2009 Saturn Outlook a bad year?
192 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Outlook years. At 39,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Saturn Outlook?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: exterior lighting (75), electrical system (44), steering (42), engine (21), transmission and drivetrain (19).
How many recalls does the 2009 Saturn Outlook have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 15V-415), Seat belts (NHTSA 14V-266), Air bags (NHTSA 14V-118), Seat belts (NHTSA 10V-375) 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.