Saturn is a USA carmaker founded in 1985, now part of General Motors. The cars themselves are another matter: across 8 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 2 countries — the United States 95.5%, Mexico 4.5%. 14 models are tracked here (1991–2010). Reliable? yes, on balance — 3.9 out of 5 across 14 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Saturn
Saturn builds one of the most recognised vehicle lineups on the road.
| Saturn | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | USA |
| Owned by | General Motors |
| Models tracked here | 13 (1991–2010) |
| Assembled in | 2 countries |
Where Saturn cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 10,339 vehicles on record, 8 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1G8, 5GZ, W08, 1GH | 1995–2010 | |
| Mexico | 3GS | 2002–2010 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Saturn beginning 1G8 was assembled in the United States.
All Saturn models 14
Every Saturn model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Saturn SUVs & crossovers 3
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn Outlook | 2007–2010 | 21 | 1,352 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Saturn SW | 1993–2001 | 15 | 167 | 28 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Saturn Vue | 2002–2010 | 15 | 2,405 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Saturn Cars & sedans 7
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn Astra | 2008–2009 | 4 | 164 | 27 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Saturn Aura | 2007–2010 | 16 | 1,432 | 29 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Saturn Ion | 2003–2007 | 35 | 4,349 | 26 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Saturn L300 | 2001–2005 | 2 | — | 25 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Saturn LS | 2000–2000 | 6 | 416 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Saturn SC | 1991–2002 | 18 | 216 | 29 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Saturn SL | 1991–2002 | 23 | 1,937 | 29 mpg | 3.5/5 |
Saturn Minivans & vans 1
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn Relay | 2005–2007 | 6 | 122 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Saturn Wagons 1
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn LW | 2000–2005 | — | — | 25 mpg | 4.5/5 |
Saturn More models 2
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn L200 | 2001–2003 | 4 | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Saturn SKY | 2007–2010 | 18 | 516 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Saturn by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Saturn | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 183 campaigns | Most recalled: Electrical System:ignition |
| Owner complaints | 12,954+ filed | Most reported: Ion |
| Fuel economy | 29 mpg best | Leader: Aura |
| Insurance | $1,205/yr typical | Cheapest: SKY |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Saturn hybrids & electric models
Saturn's electrified lineup — 2 hybrids. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Saturn hybrids 2
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn Aura | 2007–2010 | 29 | 16 | 4.0/5 |
| Saturn Vue | 2002–2010 | 28 | 15 | 4.0/5 |
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Saturn window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Saturn's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Saturn window stickers →How to read a Saturn VIN
Every Saturn built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Saturn and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. See exactly what your VIN decodes to: model year, assembly plant, country of origin and the full 2001–2026 year-code table.
Who owns Saturn, and what you get
Saturn belongs to General Motors.
| Saturn | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Ownership | General Motors |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Mexico |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Saturn models actually start to break →
Saturn — frequently asked
Is Saturn usa?
Saturn is a USA company and founded in 1985. The cars are a separate question: 95.5% of the Saturn vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are Saturn cars made?
Across 8 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (95.5%), Mexico (4.5%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Saturn?
Saturn is part of General Motors.
How many Saturn models are there?
We track 14 Saturn models spanning 1991–2010. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Saturn warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Saturn reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Saturn model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.
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