Saturn SKY Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Saturn SKY options? We analyzed 4 model years (2007–2010) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Saturn SKY has 516 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls across model years 2007–2010. The most reported issue area is AIR BAGS. 2007 drew the most complaints; 2010 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Saturn
- Model
- SKY
- Model years analyzed
- 2007–2010 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 516
- Safety recall campaigns
- 18
- Crash-related complaints
- 18
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2007 (284 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2010 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- AIR BAGS
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Saturn SKY: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe SATURN SKY has 516 NHTSA complaints and 18 recalls on record. 18 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 516 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 18 federal recall campaigns
- 18 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
18 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2007–2010. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 516 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
516 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Ignition was replaced under recall and now the passenger air bag light is on and will not go out and passenger side airbag is inop. ABS Ecm failed and replacement cost was $1300.00. This is a known issue and should be investigated. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags); for which a temporary repair was performed, but later the manufacturer refused to permanently repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,500.
Vehicle only has 5000 miles on it purchased new in 2009 has ignition problem and airbag service problem
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag and electronic brake control module (EBCM) warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag and EBCM needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the EBCM; however, the passenger's side air bag was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated, with the service air bag message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced by the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bag). The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
In 2019 I took my car in for a recall I had received. It was for the PPS. Instead of replacing the faulty system, they simply put a "reinforcement" piece of tape over the faulty system. I rarely drive the car and I rarely have passengers. 2 years and almost 5k miles later, now the faulty system is broken. The sensor in the seat has failed. No surprise there. The dealership is trying to charge me $1400 to replace the faulty sensor that should have been replaced 2 years ago. This is causing anyone who possible is a passenger in my car to be at risk, since now that the sensor is broken, the air bag will not deploy. Other people with this car have had or are having the same issue. I do not understand why a tape fix was approved and implemented for something so serious as the safety of my passengers.
Read 14 more owner reports
THE GAUGES ILLUMINATION IS VERY POOR SINCE THE GAUGES ARE SO DEEP SET IN THE DASH. I CAN HARDLY READ THE SPEEDOMETER DURING THE DAY, ISN,T VERY BRIGHT EVEN AT NITE. THE MFG. SHOULD DO A RECALL TO UPGRADE THE DASH LIGHTS.
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS SET DEEP INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR STYLING PURPOSES. AS A RESULT, THE GAUGES ARE VERY DARK AND CANNOT BE READ DURING DAYTIME DRIVING. GM SHOULD MAKE A SOFTWARE PATCH AVAILABLE TO TURN ON THE BACK LIGHTING TO THE GAUGES DAY OR NIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. OTHER VEHICLES ARE SETUP THIS WAY. THE SATURN SKY SHOULD TOO. HOW CAN I DRIVE SAFE WHEN I CANNOT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING?
STEERING SENSOR,STEERING POSITION,LOST COMM YAW RATE SENSOR,LOST COMM STEERING RATE' SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ON ,TRACTION CONTROL ABS BRAKING MALFUNCTION. BLOGS INDICATE THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON GENERAL MOTORS ISSUE AMONG SATURN AND OTHER MODELS
I TOOK MY 2009 SATURN SKY REDLINE TO A GM DEALER ON 9/18/2018 FOR GM RECALL 17036. THEY PERFORMED THE WORK (INSTALLED REINFORCEMENT), BUT LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER, WITH LESS THAN 2500 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR, THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON. ON 9/2/2020, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SAYS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED, AT A COST TO ME OF $1182. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CAR WAS BARELY USED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE SENSOR WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILURE AT THAT TIME. TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE CAR NOW IS 25,000.
YEARLY, I TRY TO GET MY AIRBAG RECALL COMPLETED AND NO DEALERSHIP CAN SUPPORT MY REQUEST.
PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL 17036 ISSUE AFTER THE TEMPORARY FIX WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT THE $1200 MODULE KIT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS FOR THE PASSENGERS BEING AT RISK WHEN RIDING IN THE CAR. A COMPLETE FIX OF THE RECALL SHOULD BE COMPLETED NOT A TEMPORARY FIX. IT SHOULDN'T COST THE CAR OWNER AN EXTREME COST OF $1200 FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN THE RECALL.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG SUPPRESSION MODULE NEEDS SERVICE. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT WILL BE $1200 FOR THE REPAIR, BUT I FOUND A RECALL (17V061000) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I ENTER MY VIN, IT DOESN'T SAY MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THEY SAID NEITHER AIR BAG WILL FUNCTION IF THIS SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS VEHICLE IS STORED ALL WINTER. WHEN WE UNCOVERED IT THIS SPRING, THE LIGHT WAS ON.
RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR PPS RECALL, INVOICE STATES REINFORCEMENT INSTALLED, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND DISPLAY INDICATOR NOW STAYS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN IGNITION IS ON.
2009 SATURN SKY BASE MODEL (2.4-LITER INLINE-FOUR ENGINE 177 HP). ISSUE#1: IN MOTION, HAPPENS ON BOTH CITY STREETS/HIGHWAYS) AT ABOUT ~30MPH (AND UP TO ~70MPH), THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT DOWN A GEAR HARD ENOUGH TO PULL YOUR BODY FORWARD VIOLENTLY. MY FAULT CODES ARE P0011 AND P0022 BEING THE 'PRINCIPLE' CODE POINTING TO THE "ACTUATOR, SOLENOID CONTROL" OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AUTOMATIC SKY ROADSTERS, MODELS 2007-2009. GM/SATURN HAS FAILED TO ISSUE ANY RECALLS OR EXTENDED COVERAGES AS OF NOW. HTTPS://WWW.SKYROADSTER.COM/FORUMS/F5/DOOR-CHIMES-GOING-OFF-OTHER-ISSUES-39368/ ISSUE#2: IN MOTION THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON ABOUTH 10-MONTHS AGO AND SINCE THEN I'VE NOTICED A LACK OF ENGINE POWER. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RENEW MY ANNUAL SAFETY VEHICLE INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TEST DUE TO A THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
TAKATA RECALL... I AM STILL WAITING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED YET. I RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE FOR THE RECALL ON 3/09/2018.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2017. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH HENDRICK CHEVROLET (100 AUTO MALL DRIVE, CARY, NORTH CAROLINA 27511, PHONE (919) 439-5132) SEVERAL TIMES CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE RECALL; HOWEVER; THEY DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND AIR CONDITIONING FAILED TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GWATNEY CHEVROLET (1301 TP WHITE DR, JACKSONVILLE, AR 72076, (501) 295-4448) AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED WALLACE CHEVROLET (772-287-3232 LOCATED AT 3575 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WAS FIXED, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WAS NOT. UPDATED 10/4/18*JB
NOTICED IN APRIL 2017 THAT "SERVICE AIRBAG" DASH LIGHT HAS STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. AT THE SAME TIME THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG" INDICATOR ALWAYS DISPLAYS"OFF". THAI IS WHILE A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CAR HAS 23,228 MILES CURRENTLY. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THAT SYSTEM MAY NOT WORK IN A CAR CRASH.
Showing 20 of 516 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Saturn SKY
These pages show model-year patterns across 4 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Saturn SKY, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Saturn SKY has 516 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Saturn SKY has 18 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 18 of the Saturn SKY's 516 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Saturn SKY vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Saturn SKY vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Saturn SKY has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Saturn SKY stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Saturn SKY by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Saturn SKY.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Saturn SKY reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Saturn SKY reliable?
Poor. The Saturn SKY has 516 NHTSA owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is AIR BAGS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Saturn SKY years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2007 (284 complaints), 2008 (186 complaints), 2009 (46 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Saturn SKY problems?
Top reported issues: AIR BAGS (366 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (83 complaints); HYDRAULIC (62 complaints).
Does the Saturn SKY have recalls?
Yes — 18 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Saturn SKY. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.