[Santee116]

Hello All,

I'm new the forums and I suspect like many of you here, only found this forum after searching for various problems with our Saturn Outlooks. I of course have become the latest victim of the Outlook transmission failure that I've read so much about these past few hours online. Before I go into where I am at..quick overview of my vehicle.

We purchased it used about 7 months ago (Nov. 2012) from Team Chevrolet in Salisbury, NC. It had about 48k miles on it and was in great shape. The only thing I could find wrong with it, even before I bought it, was some grease sprayed around the inside of the front driver side wheel. I had the dealership fix the strut boot before we purchased, which effectively failed again less than 2 weeks later. We live 2 hours from where we bought the car, in Salisbury, NC, so I had Dick Shirley Chevrolet in Burlington, NC repair the boot a second time, both times under warranty. I mention the boot only because it happened a third time, which I will mention again later.

So, this past weekend, while taking a trip to visit family about 90 miles away, my wife and I noticed the tell-tale sign of the transmission problems I've have now come to learn about. The Outlook would shift very roughly from 3rd and 5th gears. We noticed the RPMs would rev up quickly as if the tranny had downshifted then would hard shift, or jerk, into the higher gear and would be fine after that. This occurred perhaps 3 or 4 times on our entire 180 mile round trip. The next day, it occurred more frequently while we were driving around town. So, we decided to take the car into a different dealership in town today. We weren't very pleased with the service department at Dick Shirley from our previous work on the boot last fall.

The wife calls me while I'm at work today and said the folks at Dave Wescott Buick GMC dealership in Burlington confirm we have a transmission problem. She didn't remember all the details and I'm not home yet to fill all of you in with what they found, but I'll keep this post updated. They did tell her they will likely need several days to remove the transmission and make the repair. Based on what I've learned from reading forums and posts online today, I'd bet its the 3,5,R wave plate problem. The driving seems exactly as those others with this failure have described. Also, as mentioned above, we asked that they check the front right boot and again, it has failed. The guy told my wife that the clamp was installed incorrectly the second time it was repaired, which would have been at Dick Shirley Chevy, Burlington, NC. So, that too will be replaced.

The good news? I'm still under factory warranty for 30 more days..but it wouldn't have mattered, we purchased a Zurich 100k mile / 60month extended warranty on the power train when we bought the car. Glad I did now...might turn out to be worth the $1200 the warranty cost.

I'll keep you posted on how this latest 2008 Saturn Outlook Transmission Failure saga unfolds...

Harold
Burlington, NC

 

[Santee116]

Confirmed. We had a failed 3-5-R wave plate. Luckily for us it was replaced under warranty.

 

[Mdion85]

My 2009 outlook awd just had failed 35R wave plate and they mechanic rebuilt transmission...(replaced all wave plates and seals) at 39,000 miles. However on the way home it doesn't want to shift into 6th. Im worried that i may need a new transmission. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Santee116]

UPDATE - 9 months later. New transmission is still good. We are now at 75k miles or about 10k above when the original transmission failed. I would advise anyone with a Saturn Outlook to watch their transmission carefully if it hasn't been replaced, especially the 2007 to 2009 models. If you notice it starting to shift erratically, STOP DRIVING IT and have it checked immediately. It's much easier for a dealer to replace the 3-5-R waveplate than it is to rebuild the entire transmission.

 

[mswerb]

We just had to replace the transmission in our 2008 Outlook as well. Waveplate isuues. The dealership dropped a new one in, with a 3 year warranty.
Dealerships are not going to put the time in to rebuild a transmission.

 

[bigneef123]

We just had to replace the transmission in our 2008 Outlook as well. Waveplate isuues. The dealership dropped a new one in, with a 3 year warranty.
Dealerships are not going to put the time in to rebuild a transmission.

Hi mswerb, just curious, you say the tranny was "new", was it new or rebuilt and what was your total cost if not under warranty, for part and labor? Mine went out at 50,000 and repaired under warranty. Still going strong with 75k+ on the odometer. Most recent work was spark plugs and belt with alternator due to what appeared to be drain on battery. Been driving about a little under 100 miles everything ok, fingers crossed... :thumb:

 

[mswerb]

Transmission was new. Close to $3000.

 

[bigneef123]

Yikes!!! I suppose the only solace is that with new tranny car is good for another three at least!
Thanks for the update and good luck with your Lamda

 

[mswerb]

Newly replaced transmission lost reverse. Another trip to the dealership. 2nd time since replacement that is has been in for service.Luckily, it has a 3 year warranty.

 

[bigneef123]

New tranny and it needs replacing after three months??? Wow, did they replace with another new or rebuilt the current one covered under the warranty?

 

[mswerb]

I was told they would try to "repair" it unless it got to pricey, then they will replace it.

 

[mswerb]

The dealership did what GM required them to do only to end up having to replace the transmission, AGAIN! :banghead:

 

[electbc]

I joined the 3,5,R wave plate club at 120,000 or so miles. It cost $3,400 to rebuild. I do hope it will last another 120,000, as I do like the vehicle. I hope the new GM learns that going cheap on parts do cost the consumer more in the long run and costs GM loyal customers. I used to work for GM and I still believe in the product although it is getting harder when I see so many components made in China.
.

 

[jonpfen]

Our 2008 Outlook just experienced transmission failure on 140000km, most highway kms. Our local GM dealer called with the diagnostic and he didn't even need to. 35R waveplate. The repair price almost made me sick. $4100 for a rebuild???? For a problem GM should step up and take resposability for? The technician admitted it was a problem. I'll fix it and trade it, never to get another GM product

 

[danler]

I have a 2008 XR with the full towing package. With all of the waveplate failures do we all have the same transmission? I am currently at 92000 miles and am wondering if I should dump this vehicle now before disaster strikes. I have had the vehicle since it was new.

 

[rbarrios]

danler--- youre at 92,000.
close to 100,000 where youd probably be doing a transmission fluid flush--- which some shops will charge $200-300.

For $600 or so---- have the wave plate CHANGED- and new trans fluid added........ and avoid the $4000 repair bill.

here are the details.

http://www.acadiaforum.net/index.php?topic=21353.0

 

[rbarrios]

I have a 2008 XR with the full towing package. With all of the waveplate failures do we all have the same transmission? I am currently at 92000 miles and am wondering if I should dump this vehicle now before disaster strikes. I have had the vehicle since it was new.

yes the same transmission in all models--- except the FWD and AWD models.

But the tow package is the same trans.
the difference is the HD radiator for increased engine and trans cooling-- and modified shift points....

 

[danler]

danler--- youre at 92,000.
close to 100,000 where youd probably be doing a transmission fluid flush--- which some shops will charge $200-300.

For $600 or so---- have the wave plate CHANGED- and new trans fluid added........ and avoid the $4000 repair bill.

here are the details.

http://www.acadiaforum.net/index.php?topic=21353.0

Rbarrios,Thanks for all the information. Something to think about. I was speaking with a mechanic and told him of the wave plate failures and he was wondering approximately what percentage of the vehicles experienced the failure.
Will this wave plate failure be certain? Who knows.
I just put 1200.00 in the vehicle for tires and brakes. How much more do I want to dish out for a now 7 years old vehicle?( purchased OCT '07)
BTW I have the FWD model.

 

[Sunny Shazzy]

I'm new the forums and I suspect like many of you here, only found this forum after searching for various problems with our Saturn Outlooks. I of course have become the latest victim of the Outlook transmission failure that I've read so much about these past few hours online. Before I go into where I am at..quick overview of my vehicle. hno: > :angryfire:



______________
Johni Patino..!!

 

[debruin1]

I believe I just joined the club. On a business trip, 2 hours from home, on beltline in Madison, WI, during rush hour. My 2008 Outlook (102,000 miles, than I've owned for approx. 18 months) decided to fail me. Speeding up a d slowing down, I suddenly realized I couldn't shift higher than 3rd. Almost caused a massive pile up, but managed to get over and off the beltline. Pulled into parking lot at gas station, and car would barely move. I noticed for the last week or so it seemed to be shifting strange, but as long as I didn't mash the gas, it seemed fine. I had the car towed to a GM dealer, but they have not looked at it yet. I had it towed to the nearest GM dealer, but it wasn't the one I bought it from because I was 2 hours away. I think I know what is coming.

Question, is there anything I can do for help with the bill? I have been reading around, and have seem many different stories with many different results, but the standard response seems to be that GM is aware of the problem, but does nothing. is that what I can probably expect? The dealer said they would be calling me tomorrow, and want to have my ducks in a row.