This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Saturn Outlook airbags problems
severe 65 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
65
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 65 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Saturn Outlook, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 65 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to complete a terminal replacement or connector re connection to correct a condition of Diagnostic Information for Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System, Intermittent AIR BAG Indicator/Lamp Illuminated with DTC(s) B0012, B0013, B0015, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 or B0044 Set (Inspect and Replace Connector Position Assurance (CPA) Retainer)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides Information on Passenger Presence Sensing System (PPS or PSS) Concerns with Custom Upholstery, Accessory Seat Heaters or Other Comfort Enhancing Devices
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Diagnostic Tip - Driver Information Center (DIC) Switch Buttons Are Inoperative.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗GENERAL MOTORS: DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT RESTRAINTS, AIR BAG (SIR) INDICATOR/LAMP ON WITH DTC(S) B0012, B0013, B0016, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 OR B0044 SET. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A LOOSE, MISSING, OR BROKEN CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE (CPA) RETAINER AT THE AIR BAG FOR THE SET DTC. INCLUDES TRAILBLAZER EXT. UPDATED 8/16/10. UPDATED 3/12/12.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Saturn Outlook has a chronic passenger airbag sensor problem affecting the occupant detection system. Owners report the front passenger airbag warning indicator illuminates continuously or flickers on and off randomly, and the sensor fails to recognize adult passengers (typically over 100 pounds) in the seat. Some owners describe the light staying off even with an occupied seat; others say it cycles repeatedly throughout a drive.
Multiple owners who've had the passenger seat module or sensor replaced report the failure recurs shortly after repair—sometimes within weeks or months. A few owners cite water leaking from the roof seals into the floor pan and behind seats, which they believe correlates with subsequent airbag sensor failures. One owner experienced all five airbag sensors failing after roof leaks.
A handful of complaints mention actual deployment failures: one owner stated all airbags deployed unexpectedly in a parked vehicle; another reported no deployment during a crash that caused head injury; a third noted only the driver airbag opened when the impact was on the passenger side. One narrative includes a neck injury claim after unexpected deployment. In a separate incident, an airbag warning light coincided with a power liftgate malfunction that struck a passenger.
Owners note that recall 07V062000 (2008–2010 models, or 2007 models with specific VINs) does not cover their vehicles, yet they observe the same symptoms detailed in that recall. Replacement costs cited range from $700 to $1,000 for the sensor or module, and dealers sometimes find no diagnostic codes despite the light remaining illuminated.
Same Saturn Outlook airbags reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger airbag sensor intermittent disable
Front passenger occupant detection sensor fails to recognize adult passengers (≥100 lbs) or recognizes them intermittently. Warning indicator stays off or flickers on/off randomly even with occupied seat. Sensor may be disabled by vehicle motion (cornering, acceleration) or vehicle state change (restart clears temporarily).
When: Typically 40,000–125,000 miles; some failures reported as early as 8,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag off indicator remains illuminated when adult in seat; Warning indicator flickers on and off sporadically; Sensor becomes unresponsive after vehicle restart; Light cycles randomly throughout drive independent of seat occupancy; Indicator fails to activate when 100+ lb passenger present
Codes mentioned: B0081-OF (internal fault, passenger presence sensor), No diagnostic trouble code present despite light illumination (reported in several narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: $700–$1,000 replacement of passenger seat module or sensor assembly; repeated failures after repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 07V062000 (Airbags: Frontal: Sensor/Control Module) covers 2008–2010 models and select 2007 VINs but excludes many 2007 vehicles experiencing identical symptoms. No TSB or extended warranty coverage mentioned by owners.
Water intrusion into airbag sensor system
Roof seal leaks allow water to enter the cabin, flowing down interior panels and pooling beneath seats and in battery areas. Water exposure corrodes connectors and damages occupant sensor circuits, causing multiple airbag sensors to fail simultaneously.
When: Following heavy rain or storms; sensor failures manifest after water ingress events
Symptoms owners cite: Gushing water from roof entering headliner and airbag areas; Water draining into passenger floor pan and under seat; Corroded battery connectors in post-seat battery area; Multiple (up to five) airbag sensors no longer functioning; Musty, moldy smell in cabin after water intrusion
Repairs/costs cited: Root cause is roof/sunroof seal leaks requiring structural repair; owners report sensor replacement without addressing underlying water ingress
Airbag non-deployment in crash
Passenger-side airbag fails to deploy during frontal or side-impact collisions, despite the occupant detection sensor showing the seat occupied or fault state unknown.
When: During accident event; one complaint indicates sensor was known to be faulty prior to incident
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on passenger side during impact; Airbag deploys only on driver side despite impact occurring on passenger side; Owner sustained head strike on window and internal injuries
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled or extensively damaged; repair not pursued
Unexpected airbag deployment
All airbags deploy simultaneously while vehicle is parked or during normal driving, without a collision event.
When: One reported instance; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: All airbags deploy at once without impact; Owner sustained neck injury and required physical therapy; Excessive smoke generation from airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle held by manufacturer for investigation; repair status unknown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM retained vehicle for over one month investigation but denied rental car reimbursement
Seatbelt warning system interdependency failure
Seatbelt pretensioner and warning system logic is tied to airbag indicator status. When airbag sensor shows off, seatbelt warning light fails to illuminate even when belt is unbuckled.
When: Concurrent with airbag sensor faults
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt warning light does not engage when airbag indicator is off; Seatbelt warning operates normally only when airbag light is on
Synthesized from 65 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
At approximately 100,000 miles the service air bag light started to illuminate on the dashboard. Furthermore, the passenger airbag is always switched off regardless if there is someone in the passenger seat or not. Brought to dealer in june 2015 with mileage of 101,806. It is giving code b0081-of stating there is an internal fault in passenger presence sensor. Approximate cost to fix was…
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Saturn outlook. While parked, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained bodily and internal injuries to the left side of his body that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed…
Air bag sensor in passenger seat fails intermittently and light sup the air bag sensor light on the dashboard, and disables the passenger side front airbag, even when an adult passenger is occupying the seat. This can happen whenever the car is powered on.
Airbag light has been lit up for awhile now. They say I need a new sensor. Is this not the same issue from a previous recall? Why does this not show up under that recall?
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Saturn Outlook?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Saturn Outlook?
It's a meaningful issue. 65 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 47 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 60,000 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 109,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Saturn/Outlook.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.