2008 Saturn ASTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
162 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 95 of 162 complaints (58.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 6.2% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 6.2% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 95 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Air Bags: 95; Electrical System: 20; Power Train: 16; Engine: 8; Steering: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Structure:Body: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 4
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 90 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 69 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 7; 2015: 14; 2016: 69; 2017: 32; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10233027 · 2008-07-02 (July 2, 2008)
I BOUGHT A 2008 SATURN ASTRA 4DR HATCHBACK XE ON MARCH 26, 2008. ON JUNE 26TH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICE THAT WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS, THE ACCELERATION SEEMS TO BE LIMITED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 6/28/08, AFTER THE ON-LINE DIAGNOSTICS THROUGH ON-STARON 6/26 INDICATED THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION CODE IN THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOWNLOADED NEW SOFTWARE AND RECOMMENDED THAT I MONITOR THE NEXT OCCURRENCE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I DROVE THE CAR WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM THE DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240512 · 2008-09-01 (September 1, 2008)
BOUGHT 08 ASTRA JAN 27, DROVE TO AZ. CAR DROVE FANTASTIC. ON 6/18/2008 I TOOK IT TO SATURN BECAUSE I KEPT HEARING A HIGH PITCH CHIRPING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION. IT ONLY MAKES THIS SOUND IF THE AC IS ON. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BELT IS LOOSE THE TECH TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE AC AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT ONE TIME. LIKE I SAID IT DID NOT DO THIS WHEN I BOUGHT. HE TOLD ME TO MONITOR THE NOISE. IT IS STILL MAKING SOUND ALONG WITH A DEEP RATTLE ALSO COMING FROM THE FRONT OF CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250466 · 2008-12-02 (December 2, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN ASTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, HE CAN FEEL THE FRONT END SWAYING TO THE SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ROADS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NOT THE VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800. UPDATED 12/30/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/05/09. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261096 · 2009-03-08 (March 8, 2009)
AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF NO RESPONSE FROM ONSTAR AFTER CRASH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10301890 · 2010-01-22 (January 22, 2010)
SERVICE UPDATE-INV & CUST-OBD SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS RPRGRM ECM & TCM EXP 8/80 WARR. TYPE:YT NUMBER:08335. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10301890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305663 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
I HAVE A 2008 SATURN ASTRA. WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY FROM A RAMP, OR PUNCHING TO ACCELERATE, THE GAS PEDAL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. BY TAPPING IT HAS RELEASED BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319963 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)
I BOUGHT A SATURN ASTRA -- BRAND NEW. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THE TIRES HAD PLUGS IN THEM -- AT LEAST TWO TIRES WITH TWO PLUGS. THE TIRES WERE NOT NEW AND ARE DAMAGED. I CALLED GM, FILED A COMPLAINT, TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WERE DAMAGED. GM JUST CONTACTED ME AND SAID THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND THEIR FINAL DECISION IS "BUYER BEWARE". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336038 · 2010-06-13 (June 13, 2010)
MY TIRES ARE FREQUENTLY GETTING SIDEWALL BULGES. THIS HAPPENED ON A NEW 2008 SATURN ASTRA AFTER IT WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLD. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SO I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE TIRES ARE HANKOOK P225/45R17. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,014 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336038 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V063000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-03 (February 3, 2016)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗