2008 Saturn Outlook Saturn Outlook 2008

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2008 Saturn Outlook repairs by problem area

Engine (18%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (5%)

Suspension and Steering (22%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (14%)

Other (7%)

Chart based on 353 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2008 Saturn Outlook.

2008 Saturn Outlook engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (14%)

$100 - $499 (12%)

< $100 (65%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 51 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2008 Saturn Outlook

Engine not specified

114000 mi Water pump failure covered under extended special warranty due to non durable design. 

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2008 Saturn Outlook 4dr SUV

275-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

56000 mi

US $995
Replace water pump shaft seals. 
28300 mi Water pump failed. Numerous warning lights and vehicle became undriveable. Fluid dripping from front of the vehicle along with a slight burning smell. 
42200 mi

US $300
Check engine light. Evap codes indicated problem with the passive system that is supposed to detect evaporation from the gas tank. This problem was also causing remote start feature to not work. Fix worked temporarily, but has returned. 
37640 mi Cooling pump failed and leaked coolant. Unable to drive car, so towed to dealer for repair. 
108500 mi Difficult to start 
116300 mi

US $1200
Throttle body replacement 
86500 mi

US $6
Coolant level would not stay in exp. reservoir since car was new. Never overheated. Add coolnt maybe 3 times/year, 1-3 pints. After note about wtr pump fail due to low level, filled and checked, and watched, good sz leak, sealer added now OK 
108000 mi

US $1400
slow coolant system leak for 20-30,000 miles, only leaked while driving, no puddles or drips, assumed water pump shaft seal. Stop leak did not work at ?70,000 miles, but did slow it down. Found warranty repair was available from GM, <120k mi 
67390 mi Replaced all 6 Spark Plugs and swapped ignition coil from Cylinder 1 to Cylinder 3 to see if that moved the misfire, it did not. Problem unresolved. Ignition Coil in Cylinder #1 replaced (though I was not asked whether I wanted them to or not). Reprogrammed ECU per TSB for misfires, problem still not resolved. Put dielectric grease on/around ignition coil and spark plug in cylinder #1. Problem still not resolved. 
69700 mi All previous issues ended up being caused by a broken valve spring. Cylinder head was replaced to fix the issue. And catalytic converter had to be replaced afterwards due to damage from misfiring. 
75600 mi

US $700
Throttle body issues due to design flaw with valve cover/pcv tube. Error code P1516 and P2135. 
76200 mi

US $325
Throttle Body replaced. Error codes P1516 and P2135. 
48000 mi camshaft needed to be replaced 
94000 mi

US $26
I had 0496 code. Replaced Emission Evaporative Control Solenoid. This cleared the Check Engine light. I watched a You Tube video and it was very helpful. 

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2008 Saturn Outlook 4dr SUV

275-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

19840 mi At minus 10c engine cranks but won't start. Take sometimes 3 times to start. Transmission changing gear too fast. Rev à 1200 RMP at 70 KM/h. Big lag when need acceleration. 
36360 mi Would not cold start at -10c. Crank but wont start. Sometimes it start but start with difficulty (like missing a piston). 
47740 mi

C $1500
catalytic converter failed. Check engine light on. Engine won't start at -10c or will start with difficulty. 
67460 mi

C $400
actuator intake stuck opened. 
9000 mi Cold start error. Cat convertor fouled, error not repeated, code cleared and warning light reset. 
49000 mi Water pump with slow leak replaced. 
82000 mi leaking water pump 
36000 mi Leaking water pump. 

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2008 Saturn Outlook 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

58200 mi

US $1451
Water pump replaced, engine front cover leak, transmission seal replaced from prior repair 
93000 mi

US $20
Purge valve replacement, experienced hard start after adding any amount of gas 
97000 mi

US $150
Muffler replacement 
118000 mi

US $350
Replaced motor mounts 
82000 mi

US $50
Replaced evap solenoid part of emissions control 
Tranny lagging when trying to pass other cars on highway. Told service dept of problem - they're aware, and knew of a software update. Service Mgr said I was the 1st customer that was more worried about tranny working properly(safely) than MPG. Cost 2MPG. 
29140 mi Check Engine Light and Thick White Smoke on first startup of the day. Dealer waiting on special tool to diagnose. Cyclinder head on engine replaced as head rocker cams out of spec. Timing chain also replaced. Check Engine Light and Thick White Smoke on first startup of the day. Dealer waiting on special tool to diagnose. Cyclinder head on engine replaced as head rocker cams out of spec. Timing chain also replaced. 
29760 mi Cylinder head on engine replaced as head rocker cams out of spec. Timing chain also replaced. SES light on and smelly thick exhaust on startup. Tech determined that the right catalytic converter had failed. Converter replaced, repair successfull. SES light on and smelly thick exhaust on startup. rnrnTech determined that the right catalytic converter had failed. Converter replaced, repair sucesfull. 
93840 mi

C $20
Evap. Solenoid failed, replaced. 
127280 mi

C $800
Muffler Rusted Through. Replaced Muffler Assembly. 
119420 mi

C $11000
Engine had lost compression in 3 cylanders. Replaced Engine. 
14000 mi Updated trans cal. to may 8th flash 
66180 mi Timing chain / bolts broken. Water pump leak 
99160 mi

C $800
Check engine light on - dealer updated software & performed oil change (truck had been in storage for 1 yr) 
104160 mi

C $500
Hole in resonator 
112 mi

C $350
Purge valve replacement 
4000 mi Stabilitrac light came on and went out several times. Dealer found camshaft in engine loose. Replaced heads, camshafts and 1 piston. 4 weeks to get parts and repair. 
10000 mi During troubleshooting stabilitrac light coming on shop found engien camshaft loose in the head. Replaced camshaft and head. 

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2008 Saturn Outlook 4dr SUV

270-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD

18000 mi The transmission (as programmed by GM) has a tendency to delay downshifts which leads to "dead spots" while trying to accelerate under light throttle. GM has a TSB for this and a new program that corrects this complaint. I learned about it online. 
27000 mi Loud buzzing noise was noticed when driving during light acceleration. Dealer replaced a heat shield and the y-pipe to correct the problem. 
46000 mi Noticed coolant leaking from the front of the engine while idling. Dealer diagnosed and replaced water pump under 5/100k power train warranty. 
73160 mi Oil leak from cyl heads 
35000 mi water pump failed after 2-3 weeks of noisey operation water pump failed after 2-3 weeks of noisey operation 
67000 mi After 3rd attempt to locate buzz/rattle, a Cadillac technician ID'd the culprit. It was an undersized clamp installed on the catalytic converter which was causing the buzzing noise. Problem fixed so far (>2200-miles since repair). 
119000 mi

US $800
Replaced muffler. 
50000 mi

US $597
Replaced water pump, leaking coolant from weep hole, seal had gone bad causing fluid leak. Replaced water pump and serpentine belt. 
35000 mi front gasket leaking oil 
45799 mi exhaust system rusted out, replaced gaskets replaced gaskets 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Saturn models.

2008 Saturn Outlook Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2008 Saturn Outlook problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.