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2008 Saturn Astra Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Saturn Astra carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering inflator module. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission shift cable and gear position indicator failure.” GM wound Saturn down in 2009, so parts now come through the GM catalog rather than a Saturn dealer. Which Saturn you own changes the maintenance picture completely. The S-series cars, meaning the SL, SC, and SW, use a 1.9 liter four with a timing chain, and the twin-cam version is known to burn oil as it ages, so checking the dipstick between changes matters more than the interval does. The L-series and Astra are Opel designs and want European-spec parts. The later Vue, Ion, Aura, Outlook, and Sky are mainstream GM under the badge. One item deserves a direct warning: 2002 to 2005 Vue models fitted with the VTi continuously variable transmission had a poor reliability record, and GM stopped building it. If you are buying one, confirm which transmission it has first.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #16V063000 · Mar 2, 2016

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.

Recall data refreshed Jul 9, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Saturn Astra.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Transmission shift cable and gear position indicator failure

POWER TRAIN

21 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2026-04

“The car suffers from improper gear shifter issues. The gear shifter will not move into park properly, and has multiple times made the car slide after we leave the car. Car will not start unless gear is moved to Neutral many times”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11435169
“THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE RECENTLY PARKED AND TURNED OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK WHEN IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PARK AND IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN REVERSE OR IN NEUTRAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11115248
“THE PRNDL (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATOR) STOPPED FUNCTIONING. MOVING THE SHIFTER LEVER (LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS) DOWN OR UP PRODUCED NO ACTION ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS STUCK IN THE ?R? OR REVERSE POSITION AS INDICATED BY THE CLUSTER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10621399

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Side view mirror glass detachment

VISIBILITY/WIPER

7 NHTSA complaints · 2012-05 → 2017-04

“PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR GLASS FELL OFF WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. FELL TO THE GROUND AND SHATTERED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10971995
“MIRROR PORTION OF SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FELL OFF CAR. ADHESIVE HOLDING ON MIRROR SURFACE DETERIORATED COMPLETELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10713519
“THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10457931

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Horn failure due to control module malfunction

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2012-03 → 2017-05

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR THE HORN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10450504
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CIM CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A MONTH LATER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10629213
“VEHICLE HORN IS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISSES DUE TO THE NON FUNCTIONING HORN. WHEN IT IS NOT FUNCTIONING, DEPRESSING THE HORN BUTTON TURNS THE RADIO VOLUME INSTEAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10909450

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata airbag recall parts unavailable for extended periods

AIR BAGS

86 NHTSA complaints · 2016-04 → 2021-05

“I have received the recall and the dealership said they ordered the part and told me it was safe to drive till the part came in as they have ordered it. So then i had them put it in writing that it is safe to drive”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11417614
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11052783
“TAKATA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 16V063. WE GOT NOTIFIED OF THE SATURN ASTRA RECALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, WE GOT THE LETTER STATING THE FIX HAS ARRIVED IN APRIL OF 2017”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10995371

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electric power steering assist failure

STEERING

5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-07 → 2025-03

“Lost power steering without any warning it got very stiff i could not steer the car it got electric power steering pump not mechanical”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11648523
“VEHICLE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, NEARLY UNRESPONSIVE. VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS. ELECTRO-MECHANICAL POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10765045
“PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN FOUR MONTH PERIOD. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING 30-40 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING THE ASSISTED POWER STEERING CEASED OPERATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11129982

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag deployment failure and inadvertent deployment

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2009-03 → 2019-12

“THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SHE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AND FRACTURED HER RIBS, STERNUM AND VERTEBRAE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES TO HER RIBS AND BACK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10457161
“ON 12/4/19 THE AIRBAG IN THE 08 SATURN ASTRA DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE DRIVEWAY BRICK WALK AND FENCING OF A NEIGHBORING HOUSE ADJACENT TO A LOT THAT I WAS PULLING OUT FROM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11287389
“AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10428371

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Accelerator pedal sensor failure and engine stalling

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

8 NHTSA complaints · 2008-07 → 2021-03

“2008 SATURN ASTRA XR 2DR, 5 SPEED MANUAL, 98K MILES. P2138 CODE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY OCCURRED, RESULTING IN FIVE REPLACEMENT ACCELERATOR PEDALS TO DATE, WITH A SIXTH PEDAL REQUIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11042529
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10667659
“MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES ON ITS OWN EVEN ON HIGHWAY 81 DURING PEAK TRAFFIC TIME I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL I MEAN EVEN SHUTTING OFF ONCE IT SHOULD BE ON THE LIST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10787137

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 1, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Models from about 2003 on use the GM Oil Life System. Change when it asks and at least once a year. On S-series cars with the twin-cam 1.9, check the level every other fuel stop. Oil consumption on a worn one can empty the sump well before the next service is due.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check the sidewall date codes too. On cars this age, tires usually time out before they wear out.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, hoses, and hard lines at every service. Rear drums on S-series cars and rear calipers on the Vue and Ion both stick on vehicles that sit for long stretches.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace every 2 years. This is the single cheapest thing you can do to keep an aging ABS pump and calipers alive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Drain and fill every 45,000 miles. Fluid depends on the car: Dexron VI for most conventional automatics, a specific CVT fluid for 2002 to 2005 Vue models with the VTi, and Saturn-spec manual gear oil for the S-series manuals. Confirm the spec before anyone pours anything in.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

100,000 miles on platinum or iridium plugs. On the S-series 1.9 and the Ecotec fours, replace the coil pack boots at the same time. Brittle boots misfire and mimic a failing coil.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Serpentine Belt & Tensioner

Every 60,000 mi

Replace the belt and the tensioner as a set once either one is cracked, glazed, or noisy. A tired tensioner will destroy a new belt.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. Easy access on the S-series and the Ecotec engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Every 5 years on a car this old. Most Saturns use orange Dex-Cool, which must never be mixed with green coolant. Ask the shop to check for seepage at the water pump and the intake gasket while the system is open.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Power Steering Check

Every 50,000 mi

Most of the lineup uses conventional hydraulic steering, so check the fluid level and the hoses. The Ion and some Vue models use an electric power steering unit instead, which has no fluid but was the subject of GM recall activity. Worth confirming yours was addressed.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$185–$220

Shop

~$130–$155

DIY

~$15–$40

Most cars built after ~2012 use electric power steering and have no fluid to service.

Battery & Charging System Test

Every 25,000 mi

Test the battery and alternator once a year. A weak battery on this generation of GM electronics produces warning lights that look like much more expensive problems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

22 crashes 1990–2024

How the 22 occupant deaths break down

17

driver deaths

5

passenger deaths

22

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2011 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

3

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Saturn Astra reflects Saturn's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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