IN MAY 2012 THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED, IT WAS REPLACED - $1700 ON DECEMBER 10TH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT WAS REPLACED (ALONG WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER-STILL UNDER WARRANTY) - $4235. *TR
2007 Saturn Outlook powertrain problems
moderate 123 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
123
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
WAVE PLATE BROKE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. LOOSE METAL FROM WAVE PLATE DAMAGED MANY PARTS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $3500 DUE TO BEING 3 MONTHS OUTSIDE WARRANTY. GM AGREED TO COVER REMAINING BILL IF I PAID $1100 DUE TO THE RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE (78K). ONE SMALL WAVE PLATE CAUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE AND GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE '07, '08, '09 SATURN…
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK THE ENGINE STALLED AND CAME RIGHT BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2 ND GEAR. I PULL OVER PUT IT IN PARK SAT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WENT INTO GEAR. I'M VERY UPSET TO LEARN IT WILL COST ME 6000.00 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS A PROBLEM GM IS VERY AWARE OF. I THINK T…
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. WARNING LIGHT (TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT) CAME ON AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT. POWER TRAIN COMPLETELY FAILED AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND FIND A HOTEL TO STAY AT OVERNIGHT. GM DEALER FOUND 35R WAVE PLATE BROKEN …
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOST TRACTION. DRIVING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT RUN. WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH 5 YEAR OLD AND BABY ON BOARD. THANKFULLY ONCOMING TRAFFIC SAW US AND SLOWED DOWN TO GO AROUND US. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2007 Saturn Outlook?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 123 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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