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ProblemsByVin Model / SATURN OUTLOOK
4 model years · 2007–2010

Saturn Outlook reliability by year

0 recalls and 1,352 owner complaints across 4 model years. Best year to buy: 2009. Year to avoid: 2008.

Best year to buy
2009
7.4/10
0 recalls · 192 complaints
See the 2009 Outlook →
Year to avoid
2008
7.0/10
0 recalls · 633 complaints
See the 2008 Outlook →

Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.

Years to avoid — and why 1 flagged on the NHTSA record

2008 Avoid — the electrical system 6 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the lighting

Cleaner on the data: 2007, 2009, 2010 . Still verify the specific vehicle.

At-a-glance: every year color-coded

Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. best year · year to avoid.

Year-by-year reliability 4 model years · newest first

2010
8.6/10
0 recalls · 16 complaints
OK
2009
7.4/10
0 recalls · 192 complaints
Caveats
2008
7.0/10
0 recalls · 633 complaints
Avoid
2007
7.0/10
0 recalls · 511 complaints
Caveats

Common trouble spots across the Outlook aggregated across 4 model years

lighting
311 complaints across 3 years · avg $250
electrical
300 complaints across 4 years · avg $850
powertrain
250 complaints across 3 years · avg $2,500
steering
154 complaints across 4 years · avg $700
airbags
141 complaints across 3 years · avg $1,100
engine
43 complaints across 3 years · avg $3,100

Common questions

What's the best year to buy a Saturn Outlook?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2009 Saturn Outlook scores 7.4/10 — the strongest in the 2007–2010 range. 192 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.

Which Saturn Outlook year should I avoid?

The 2008 Saturn Outlook scores 7.0/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 633 owner complaints with NHTSA, 0 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2008 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.

Which years of the Saturn Outlook should I avoid?

On the NHTSA complaint and recall record, the model years to be most careful with are 2008 (avoid — the electrical system — 6 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the lighting). The cleaner years on the data are 2010, 2009, 2007. This is our read of the federal data, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection of the specific vehicle.

How many years of the Saturn Outlook are tracked?

4 model years (2007 through 2010) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 0 recalls and 1,352 owner complaints.

What's the most-reported problem on the Saturn Outlook?

lighting is the most-reported category — 311 complaints across 3 model years. Average shop repair runs about $250.

Year-over-year reliability scores derived from NHTSA recall and owner complaint volume, severity weighted by reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Best/worst year calls require a minimum complaint sample per year so single-data-point years aren't crowned by chance. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Saturn.
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