Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Saturn Astra. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (162)
162 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 162 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 96 | 59.3% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 13.6% |
| Power train | 17 | 10.5% |
| Engine | 8 | 4.9% |
| Steering | 6 | 3.7% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 3.7% |
| Structure | 5 | 3.1% |
| Tires | 4 | 2.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 2.5% |
| Visibility | 4 | 2.5% |
How 2008 compares with other Astra years
Best and worst Astra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 162 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 329 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 32 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 32 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2008 Astra for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2008 Saturn Astra FAQ
How many recalls does the 2008 Saturn Astra have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 16V063000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2008 Saturn Astra problems?
Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (96), Electrical system (22), Power train (17) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2008 Saturn Astra get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 24 city, 30 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.