2008 Saturn SKY: complaints, problems and recalls

MANUFACTURER:GM MODEL: SATURN SKY REDLINE 2008 BRAKES BECOME INEFFECTIVE AFTER CAR SITS IDLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME OVER 7 HOURS. ESSENTIALLY OCCURS EVERY DAY WHEN THE CAR INITIALLY STARTS AFTER SITTING IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD EVERYTIME YOU START YOUR CAR AND ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OFF STRAIGHT AWAY AS THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO USE AND THE STOPPING RESPONSE TIME IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR DRIVING PAST MY DRIVEWAY AND AS I WAS REVERSING OUT A PARKING LOT. JUST IMAGI…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203063 at NHTSA ↗

WE TOOK DELIVERY OF A 2008 SATURN SKY RL (TURBO) IN EARLY AUGUST 2007. THE VERY NEXT DAY WE STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE USED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE THEIR WAS ABOUT A 75% FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY WIFE WAS BRIEFLY PANICKED AND SLAMMED THE BRAKES DOWN FURTHER AND EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO STOP. BY THIS POINT SHE HAD ALREADY TRAVELED AN EXTRA 15 FEET DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND NEARLY HIT ME AS I WAS STANDING IN THE DRIVEWAY WATCHING HER BACK OUT HER NEW VEHICLE. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS N…

Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203637 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A SATURN SKY REDLINE 2008.. THE BRAKES BECOME INEFFECTIVE AFTER THE CAR SITS IDLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME OVERNIGHT. THIS OCCURS EVERY DAY WHEN THE CAR INITIALLY STARTS AFTER SITTING IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD EVERY TIME YOU START YOUR CAR AND ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OFF OR BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY . THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO USE AND THE STOPPING RESPONSE TIME IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT CARS DRIVING PAST MY HOME ARE NO WHERE IN SITE BEFORE I ATTEMPT TO BACK OUT OF MY…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204415 at NHTSA ↗

AT STARTUP IN SKY 2008 POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK, THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME CAR IS STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS DEALER REFUSES TO PROVIDE ANY CORRECTION STATES ITS BY DESIGN LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.SKYROADSTER.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=19220&HIGHLIGHT=POWER+BRAKES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207379 at NHTSA ↗

WE OWN A 2008 SATURN SKY RED LINE MODEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN GEAR WHEN FIRST STARTING UP THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. SUPPOSEDLY THE SATURN ENGINEERS DESIGNED THE VEHICLE WITH THIS "SAFETY" (AS SATURN CALLS IT) FEATURE. IF YOU FOLKS WILL GO ONTO THE SATURN FORUM AND PUT BRAKE PROBLEM INTO THEIR SEARCH ENGINE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207940 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED (COLD START) THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT FIRST. IF ONE SITS THERE FOR 2-3 MINUTES AND LETS THE VACUUM BUILD UP - THEN THEY WORK. THE MANUFACTURER FAILS TO MENTION THIS TO THE BUYERS. I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES. *TR I MUST MENTION THAT MY CAR IS A 5-SPEED STICKSHIFT. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I STARTED MY CAR - THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TO LET UP ON THE CLUTCH THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD & MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. SINCE THEN, I ALWAYS PLACE MY CAR IN NEUTRAL…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208414 at NHTSA ↗

SATURN SKY RED LINE BRAKE FAILURE ANYTIME THE CAR SITS FOR A FEW HOURS OR MORE. NO BRAKE PRESSURE. CAR IS HARD TO STOP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208449 at NHTSA ↗

2008 SATURN SKY [ REDLINE ] BRAKES ARE INOPERATIVE FOR MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. SEEMS TO BE A "NORMAL TREND WITH OTHER SATURN SKY OWNERS AS WELL. BRAKES ARE NON FUNCTIONAL FOR MINUTES AFTER STARTING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208464 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." AND STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE ONE TO FOUR INBOARD SEAT STUD FASTENERS THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATION FOR STRENGTH.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INBOARD SEAT STUDS AND, IF NECESSARY, REMOVE THE STUD AND INSTALL A BOLT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Reported: 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Reported: 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 17036.