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Saturn Astra VIN Check

NHTSA holds 146 owner complaints on the Saturn Astra from 37 production runs; the worst run has 10, the typical one 3.9.

NHTSA complaint records · 146 complaints · 37 runs · 2008–2009 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Astra run is W08AT671985 (2008 builds) with 10 complaints, 2.6× the typical run. Air bags problems make up 60% of reports; NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for Astra model years 2008–2009.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Saturn Astra has 37 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 25% of every Astra complaint on file.

FIG.01·Saturn Astra — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
W08AT671985••••••200810——
W08AR671385••••••20089——
W08AR671185••••••20086——
W08AR671085••••••20086——
W08AR671585••••••200861—
W08AT271285••••••20086——
W08AR671X85••••••20086——
W08AT671285••••••20086——
W08AT671185••••••20086——
W08AR671685••••••20086——
W08AT271985••••••20085—1
W08AR671785••••••20085——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 25 Astra runs has 5 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list.

FIG.02·Saturn Astra — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20083.9145374
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2008 at 3.9 complaints per run; lightest is 2008 at 3.9.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 60% of everything Saturn Astra owners report: Air Bags, 90 of 146 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Saturn Astra — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Air Bags904—
Electrical System20—1
Power Train14——
Engine7——
Steering6——
Structure41—
Visibility4——
Unknown Or Other4——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 1 recall campaign on the Saturn Astra; the 1 below cover build years 2008 to 2009. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Saturn Astra — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
16V063000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2008–2009
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

16V063000 was opened in 2016 on cars built from 2008: 8 years on the road before the recall.

The Astra against its rivals

The Astra draws 3.9 complaints per production run; the Toyota Echo 1.7. That is the highest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·Saturn Astra VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Saturn Astra146373.92.7%
Toyota Echo137801.733.6%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 146 reports on the Saturn Astra, 2.7% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Saturn Astra — complaint severity
OutcomeSaturn AstraAll vehicles
Complaints filed1461,115,966
Involved a crash4 (2.7%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire2 (1.4%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported558,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 53% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Saturn Astra share of that is 146 complaints over 37 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.

Everything on the Saturn Astra
Recalls4 campaignsFuel economy27 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems164 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space20 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2008–2009

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Saturn Astra VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 146 NHTSA complaints from 37 Astra runs and 1 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Astra production run has the most complaints?

W08AT671985, a 2008 build, with 10 complaints. The typical Astra run has 3.9.

Does the Astra get more complaints than the Toyota Echo?

Yes: 3.9 complaints per production run for the Astra against 1.7 for the Toyota Echo.

How many Astra complaints involve a crash?

2.7% of 146 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 2 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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