What breaks most · 2008 to 2009 model years
Saturn Astra problems by year
Owners have filed 152 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Saturn Astra across model years 2008 to 2009. One year stands out: 2008 for air bags complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2008
- Complaints on file
- 1522008 to 2009, all trims
- Worst year
- 2008150 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 53 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 52kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 2Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 5 | 1 | Air bags (93) | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | Air bags (1) |
What fails on the 2008 Saturn Astra
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 62% |
93 | 4 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 13% |
19 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2008 Saturn Astra |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 8% |
12 | 1 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 5% |
7 | 1 | Shop engine parts for the 2008 Saturn Astra |
| Unknown or other | 4% |
6 | 0 | — |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 3% |
5 | 1 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2008 Saturn Astra |
| Tires | 3% |
4 | 0 | — |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 3% |
4 | 1 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2008 Saturn Astra |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
2008 saturn astra. Consumer writes in regards to the defective electronic module that controls both ABS and stabilitrak systems. *smd the dealer replaced the electronic brake control module, at a cost of $ 797.23. *jb
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Saturn Astra years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2008 carries the most filings on the Saturn Astra. The 2008 alone has 150 complaints, led by air bags.
What is the most common Saturn Astra problem?
On the 2008 model year, the most-reported component is air bags with 93 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Saturn Astra problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Saturn Astra complaints that include mileage is about 52,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.