The Saturn Astra spans 1995–2026 with 4 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2008, 2009, 2026 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1995, 1996, 1997. It delivers up to 27 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
Is the Saturn Astra a good car?
Short answer: yes, with the usual caveat about model years. Our score for the Saturn Astra is 4.0 out of 5, built from NHTSA crash-test results, how often it gets recalled and what owners actually complain about — not from reviews.
The complaint that comes up most is the air bags — 97 of the 164 reports owners filed with NHTSA. If you're choosing a year, 1995, 1996, 1997 score best in our data, and 2008, 2009 worst.
This page describes the model. It can't tell you whether that car has an open recall, a rolled-back odometer or a branded title — for that, run its number through our free VIN check.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Saturn Astra is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1995 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Saturn Astra VIN — every digit explained
Every Saturn Astra carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit 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 this Astra.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. Our VIN decoder breaks all seventeen positions down — year codes, country of assembly and the plant that built your Astra.
How many recalls does the Saturn Astra have?
The Saturn Astra has 4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1995–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2009 Saturn Astra recalls 1
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
What's wrong. 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.
2008 Saturn Astra recalls 1
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
What's wrong. 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.
Best and worst years for the Saturn Astra
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 32 tracked years, the worst years are 2008, 2009, 2026 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1995, 1996, 1997.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Astra | — | Best | |
| 1996 Astra | — | Best | |
| 1997 Astra | — | Best | |
| 1998 Astra | — | Average | |
| 1999 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2000 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2001 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2002 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2003 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2004 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2005 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2006 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2007 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2008 Astra | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2009 Astra | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2010 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2011 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2012 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2013 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2014 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2015 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2016 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2017 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2018 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2019 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2020 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2021 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2022 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2023 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2024 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2025 Astra | — | Average | |
| 2026 Astra | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Saturn Astra problems?
The most-reported Saturn Astra problems are Other (1 reports), Tires (4 reports) and Engine (8 reports) — out of 164 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Saturn Astra specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Saturn Astra. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Saturn Astra window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Saturn Astra cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Astra holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 92 cu ft of passenger volume and 20 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Saturn Astra tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Saturn Astra get?
The Saturn Astra returns up to 27 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $2,200/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2009 Saturn Astra (1.8L 4-cyl) gets 27 mpg combined and costs about $2,300/yr to fuel, emitting 329 g/mi CO₂ (smog 6/10) — about $500 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Astra | 24 | 30 | $2,300 | 329 | 6/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl | |
| 2008 Astra | 24 | 30 | $2,300 | 329 | 6/10 | 1.8L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Astra stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this Astra's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Saturn Astra have? Power & range
The Saturn Astra is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.8L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.8L · 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Saturn Astra cost to own?
A Saturn Astra depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Astra loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $11,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Astra ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Saturn Astra safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Astra yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Saturn Astra last?
A well-maintained Saturn Astra typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Saturn Astra’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Astra’s VIN free →All Saturn Astra model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Saturn Astra — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2025 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2024 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2023 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2022 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2021 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2020 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2019 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2018 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2017 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2016 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2015 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2014 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2013 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2012 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2011 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2010 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2009 Astra | 2 recalls | — | |
| 2008 Astra | 2 recalls | — | |
| 2007 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2006 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2005 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2004 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2003 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2002 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2001 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 2000 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 1999 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 1998 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 1997 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 1996 Astra | 0 | — | |
| 1995 Astra | 0 | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Astra?
By owner-complaint volume, 2008, 2009, 2026 drew the most reports. 1995, 1996, 1997 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Astra have?
4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1995–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Saturn recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Astra get?
Up to 27 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Astra last?
A well-maintained Astra typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Astra reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Astra is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Saturn Astra warranty?
New Saturn models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Saturn dealer.
Where is the Saturn Astra made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Astra's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Saturn may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Astra have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.