general problems of the 2008 Saturn Outlook - part 2

My 2008 Saturn Outlook. . . The left headlamp would go out and then on and out,etc. I took the Saturn to the shop where I purchased this vehicle new. It was the wire harness that was bad so they replaced this and also replaced the headlamp bulb. It cost a total of $148. 38. My vehicle has only 52,000 miles on it. Seems to be a problem with the Outlook and should have been a recall on this.

I have a 2008 Saturn Outlook xr. There are now over 150 complaints filed with the NHTSA regarding electrical problems and failure of the low beam lights on both sides. My passenger side failed and when repairs were started the gm repair shop noted the wiring harness where the bulb is inserted was burned (melted and blackened) as is the case in all the complaints I reviewed. Gm issued a TSB in may 2009 addressing this problem (TSB# 09-08-42-004) which included filling the connector cavity with nyogel grease after removing and replacing the harness. My vehicle is out of warranty with just over 41,000 miles. The gm shop acknowledged that they have seen other vehicles in this model line with the same failure. However they had no directions to cover the repairs since the vehicle was out of warranty. It was recommended that I call gm customer assistance. That call resulted in an apparent lack of knowledge of this problem in spite of the numerous NHTSA complaints and internet discussions regarding this problem. This is an obvious safety issue should a failure occur while driving at night. I can also expect that the drivers side will also fail which will result in an additional repair cost beyond just replacing a burned out bulb.

I have a 2008 Saturn Outlook that has burning wire harnesses. They have completely melted at 40,000 miles. The extended warranty company will not cover it. After looking online, I became aware that it is a common problem. The lights went out with no warning.

My passenger light went out so I figured I would need to replace the bulb. The next night it was working again. It worked for about two days and went out again so I figured there was a short. I got into the light fixture and looked at the bulb and it looked good but I pulled the light out anyways to change for new since I was in there already. To my surprise the fixture holding the lamp was completely melted and looked like there was arching to it with the plastic melted all around it. Plus some corrosion on some of the wires. I work for the air force on f16's so I know alot about the corrosion and the way it looks. This is a safety issue that looks from searching the web happens in a lot of these vehicles. It isn't a freak thing that just happened to a couple cars. By the inspection of the harness and connector there is a safety defect that needs to be fixed before this causes a fire and or accident.

2 complaints about the Outlook. . . First, the airbag. We have had it fixed 5 times! the dealer re-routed it, put it back, replaced wiring, but to no avail. And it appears again that it needs to be serviced. This problem has been going on for over a year. Then 2nd the driver's side low light beam went out. . . . Replaced bulb three times and it didn't hold a charge for about a few days each. Gm definitely need to look at these problems. I am very frustrated that a car that just goes out of warranty has problems that need major fixing.

Wire harness on 2008 Saturn Outlook has 'melted'. Been searching on the internet and this seems to be a frequent problem.

The passenger headlamp stopped working. We found out that this is because the wire and socket melted and burned. I'm relieved that it has not caused a major vehicle fire. 40,000 miles.

I have replaced the low beam light in my 2008 Saturn Outlook twice in the past month and it's out again. After researching this matter online, I now see that this is a common problem and I feel that gm needs to investigate these complaints immediately and issue a recall to correct this matter before this causes someone to get hurt or killed. Someone needs to stand behind their product.

At approximately 35000 miles, the passenger side low beam headlamp stopped lighting. I assumed that the headlamp had blown, and left it alone until my state inspection was due, 2 months later. When I finally attempted to replace the bulb, I learned that the bulb was fine, but the harness had failed, and my 36000 mile warranty had expired. Closer inspection revealed that the wiring harness on the passenger side low beam headlamp had melted, where the wires enter into the lamp base, and are held into the base with a poured plastic "backlight" type sealer, like the type seen poured over circuit boards, to prevent tampering. I accessed that socket, and cut the factory socket off of the wire harness. I replaced the socket with one that I purchased online, which was of a much heavier gauge than the inferior gauge of wire that came from the factory. It is now 1 year later, and the exact same thing has occurred on the driver's side. When I hold the factory lamp socket in my hand, and bend the wires at the socket base, the bulb works only intermittently, as if the copper wire inside the insulation has degraded so severely that a good contact can no longer be maintained. I have not yet ordered a replacement socket for the driver's side, and dread the labor that is involved in removing the tire, dropping the fender cowl, cutting the factory harness away from the factory lamp base, and rewiring the new lamp base to the factory harness. It is labor intensive, and it is dangerous. It is clear to me that the heat build up from the bulb, in combination with the undersized wiring entering the base, has created a melt hazard, which subsequently allows moisture into the copper strand wire, allowing the copper to corrode significantly, and ultimately the copper disintegrates completely, losing its connection altogether.

2008 Saturn Outlook, driver side headlamp not functioning. Dealership needed to replace the bulb and harness. Connection where the bulb connects to the harness appears melted / burned. Vehicle has 40242 miles and 26 months since delivery was taken. Cost for repair was $273. 15 on 10/25/10. Not covered by warranty.

Another for the low beam connector melting -- perhaps a little more aggressively than some. At 73k replaced driver side h11 low beam bulb. Couldn't get light to stay on. Noticed partially melted connector. Applied a little electrical grease. Worked for a few hours. Days later (after vacation) applied more electrical grease. Started working again. Closed up the wheel well. As I get up from the wheel well on the driver side I see smoke from the *passenger* side headlamp area and light fogging of the top of the lens. I haven't touched the passenger side! it still has the original working headlamp and connector.

Head light on my Saturn Outlook continuously burns out its a 2008 and I've replaced both twice. The wiring appears melted and burnt.

Wire harness melted just like everyone elses. Drivers side low beam.

2008 Outlook had a burned out low beam on the driver side at 31,750 miles. Dealer confirmed that the wiring harness was melted causing the failure and need replacing. Gm needs to recall both wiring harnesses as I am sure the next one will go and it will be past the warranty. This is clearly a safety defect having a lights wiring harness melt. Apparently, this is a common problem with '08 Outlooks. Please issue a recall!.

My driver side low beam went out ( or appeared to) I bought a h11 bulb from the auto parts store and went to replace it and found my bulb wasn't burnt out at all just had fallen out of the socket. So I twisted it back into the socket, put the cover back on and it worked for a few days. Then my passenger side did the same thing. Now on my way home form the store both went out ( this was at night and caused a major problem for me getting home. ) I ultimately had to use my high beams just to get home safely. I'm not sure how to correct this problem since the bulb isn't actually burning out it just keeps falling out of the socket.

The wiring harness on the passengers side low beam has melted twice. It was last replaced two weeks ago, and has since gone out again, I suspect that it has melted again but will not know for sure until I take the car back to the shop. Why are these harness melting and why hasn't gm made a recommendation to fix this problem.

2008 Saturn Outlook xr with 40,000 miles. Recently my passenger head light went out. I replaced the bulb but it went out again after about 1 week. After researching online and reading all of the issues Outlook owners are having, I realized its not a bulb issue but rather a faulty wire harness that is melting. Please issue a recall so all Outlook owners can get this repaired and eliminate the risk of fire.

I have a 2008 Saturn Outlook and the right low beam went out and I found that the connector had melted. The very next day in the evening the left low beam went out and I was without low beam lights. I had both wiring harnesses replaced at a cost of almost $400 on 8/27/10 I hope this fixes my problem. Major safety issue in my opinion. I had to drive with high beams and that was not good for other drivers and they were angry with me. Needs recall.

2008 Saturn Outlook 45k miles- driver side low beam light wiring harness melted into the bulb socket and will need to be replaced. Estimated cost $400.

The passenger headlamp stopped working. Then the driver side went out I spent $100 to find out I had a short in the wire harness that caused the other one to go out. At 40,000 plus miles and the dealership wants $500 plus dollar to fix the problem.

Passenger side wiring harness melted. Cost me 200. 00 dollars to repair. Not covered under extended warranty. Have studied and found that I can probably expect this to happen again. Am worried about future expense and, or fire. . . . . . Would appreciate your assistance. Thank you in advance.

2008 Saturn Outlook head light on passanger side does not work. The wire is melted off the plug- 45000 miles on vehicle.

Saturn Outlook headlamp harness defective, 2nd replacement in 90 days.

The drivers side low beam headlamp stopped working and the harness appears to be melting due to overheating.

The passenger headlamp went out on my 2008 Saturn Outlook. I brought it to Saturn/Mitsubishi dealership and they wanted to charge me $650. 00 dollars to replace the lamp and a wire harness that connects to the bulb. According to the service guy the wire harness is most likely responsible for the bulb burning out. The bulb itself was $285. 00. . . . . . For a headlamp bulb!!!!!!!!!!! I have read numerous complaints about this issue on line and I am wondering what can be done to remedy this astronomical price for repair and bulb.

1. At 38000 miles my 2008 Saturn Outlook lost one of the low beam head lights. It has gone completely out. 2. It is a constant failure 3. I replaced the low beam bulb, but when I finally got the old bulb exposed, I noticed that the socket was all melted and had a very thin gauge wire connecting it to the vehicles power.

Passenger side low beam headlamp wiring harness melted, causing headlamp not to work. Concerned about possible fire hazard while driving. Replacing wiring harness and light bulb.

The passenger side low beam on my 2008 Saturn Outlook went out. We replaced it then 2 weeks later it went out again. We took it to the dealer and he said we needed to replace the socket because it was burned out and this is a common problem with this car. I have not yet corrected the problem because I do not have the $750. 00 to repair it.

Driver's side low beam headlamp burned out. Replaced with factory bulb and failed once again. Replaced one more time and noticed discolored socket. The bulb failed a third time. Reported the problem to Saturn 4/14/2010.

2008 Saturn Outlook-low beam light out at 42,000 miles, wiring harness melted, over $400 to repair. Pretty expensive considering this is a critical part of your car.

Daylight/low beam head light out on 2008 Saturn Outlook change bulb and check fuse not the problem. Took it in to dealer under warranty work they said there is a short in the head light assembly and not covered by warranty work they want $599 to fix. My wife is the primary driver of the vehicle and she drives at night it's a big safety concern of mine. And many other people have the same problem report on the internet and the dealership has said it's a common problem.

2008 Saturn Outlook drivers side headlamp shorted out. Already replaced lamp and it shorted out again. Very common problem.

The headlamp on my 2008 Saturn Outlook has gone out multiple times over the last two years that I have owned the vehicle. I have had to have the wiring harness replaced more than 3 times. The first time the new harness lasted a couple of months. The last two times, it only lasted about a week before burning up again. The harness that holds the lamp gets too hot and melts which is an electrical safety issue.

Right low beam head light harness melted. Dealer replaced harness. 18 months later the left side head light harness melted and the vehical is out of warranty.