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Saturn Car Guide: Common Problems, Maintenance & Best Used Models

What Saturn owners report most, model by model, drawn from 10,447 complaints filed with the U.S. safety regulator. Plus recalls, a service schedule and the model years to check carefully.

Data as of 2003 to 2010 model years

Quick facts

Saturn

Origin
American
Status
No longer sold new in the U.S.
Most complaints
Ion (4,343)
Most-reported area
Electrical system
Busiest model year
2007 (2,603 complaints)
owner complaints on file with NHTSA
10,447
models with at least one complaint
15
of complaints mention electrical system
29%
recall campaigns covering the Ion
12

01Common problems by model

Saturn Common Problems by Model

The 8 Saturn models with the most owner complaints, and the part of the car each complaint was about.

Saturn models with the most NHTSA complaints, 2003 to 2010 model years
ModelComplaintsMost-reported areasModel year with the mostRecalls
Ion4,343Steering and electrical system2006 (1,235)12
Vue2,184Electrical system and powertrain2003 (622)6
Aura1,436Steering and powertrain2007 (607)6
Outlook1,352Exterior lighting and electrical system2008 (633)10
Sky516Airbags and brakes2007 (284)6
Astra164Airbags and electrical system2008 (162)1
L200138Electrical system and engine2003 (138)4
L300128Electrical system and engine2004 (61)2
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases, read on October 12, 2026. Complaints are reports filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each model were sold, so best-selling models appear higher.

The Ion leads with 4,343 complaints, most of them about steering and electrical system. That does not make it the worst Saturn. A model that sells in large numbers collects more reports, and these counts are not adjusted for sales.

Use the table to know where to look. If you own or are buying one of these models, ask about the area in the third column first, and price the repair with the repair cost estimator.

02Problem areas

Where Saturn Problems Concentrate

Every Saturn complaint names the part of the vehicle involved. These are the areas named most often across all 15 models.

By part of the vehicle

  1. Electrical system2,983 · 29%
  2. Steering2,551 · 24%
  3. Powertrain1,542 · 15%
  4. Airbags1,389 · 13%
  5. Exterior lighting830 · 8%
  6. Engine828 · 8%

One complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

By model year

  1. 20031,571
  2. 20041,237
  3. 2005865
  4. 20061,554
  5. 20072,603
  6. 20081,836
  7. 2009757
  8. 201024

Recent model years have had less time to gather complaints, so a short bar at the bottom is not yet good news.

03Best and worst used models

Saturn Model Years to Check Carefully

The model years of each popular model that drew the most complaints. Start your questions there when you shop used.

How to choose a used car

  • 4,343 complaints

    Saturn Ion

    1. 20061,235 complaints
      6 recalls
    2. 2004898 complaints
      10 recalls
    3. 2007876 complaints
      7 recalls

    Mostly about steering and electrical system.

  • 2,184 complaints

    Saturn Vue

    1. 2003622 complaints
      1 recall
    2. 2008406 complaints
      3 recalls
    3. 2006300 complaints

    Mostly about electrical system and powertrain.

  • 1,436 complaints

    Saturn Aura

    1. 2007607 complaints
      4 recalls
    2. 2008432 complaints
      5 recalls
    3. 2009390 complaints
      5 recalls

    Mostly about steering and powertrain.

  • 1,352 complaints

    Saturn Outlook

    1. 2008633 complaints
      5 recalls
    2. 2007511 complaints
      5 recalls
    3. 2009192 complaints
      7 recalls

    Mostly about exterior lighting and electrical system.

A year with many complaints is one to inspect closely, not one to rule out. The fault may have been fixed under recall, and a well-maintained car from a busy year can be a better buy than a neglected one from a quiet year.

Before you buy any used Saturn, decode the VIN, check it for open recalls and follow the inspection checklist. A complaint count cannot tell you about the one car in front of you.

04Recalls

Saturn Recalls by Model

The number of safety recall campaigns that cover each model, with the most recent ones listed.

  • Saturn Ion recalls

    12

    recall campaigns, 2003 to 2008 model years

    1. Apr 30, 2014Electrical system: ignition14E021000
    2. Apr 10, 2014Electrical system: ignition14V171000
    3. Mar 31, 2014Steering: electric power assist system14V153000
    4. Feb 10, 2014Airbags14V047000
    5. Sep 19, 2012Fuel system: delivery12V459000

  • Saturn Vue recalls

    6

    recall campaigns, 2003 to 2010 model years

    1. Aug 8, 2014Electrical system: ignition14V490000
    2. Jun 25, 2009Latches or locks: doors09V233000
    3. Nov 24, 2008Steering: linkages08V616000
    4. Sep 17, 2008Steering: hydraulic power assist08V470000
    5. May 5, 2008Powertrain: automatic transmission08V200000

  • Saturn Aura recalls

    6

    recall campaigns, 2005 to 2010 model years

    1. Jul 21, 2014Steering14E044000
    2. May 14, 2014Electrical system: wiring14V252000
    3. Apr 30, 2014Powertrain: automatic transmission14V224000
    4. Mar 31, 2014Steering: electric power assist system14V153000
    5. Sep 18, 2012Powertrain: automatic transmission12V460000

  • Saturn Outlook recalls

    10

    recall campaigns, 2007 to 2010 model years

    1. Jun 30, 2015Body structure: body15V415000
    2. May 20, 2014Seat belts14V266000
    3. Mar 17, 2014Airbags: side/window14V118000
    4. Aug 12, 2010Seat belts10V375000
    5. Jun 4, 2010Electrical system10V240000
Check your VIN at NHTSA

A recall is free to have repaired at a dealer of the parent manufacturer. The lookup shows only the recalls still open on your vehicle.

05Maintenance schedule

Saturn Maintenance Schedule

Typical service intervals for a gasoline Saturn. Your owner’s manual has the exact figures for your engine.

Build a schedule for your mileage
Typical maintenance intervals for a Saturn
ServiceTypical intervalGood to know
Engine oil and filter5,000 to 10,000 milesFull synthetic sits at the long end. Short trips and towing shorten it.
Tire rotation5,000 to 8,000 milesEasiest to do at every oil change.
Cabin air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesSooner in dusty or high-pollen areas.
Engine air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesInspect at every oil change and replace when dirty.
Brake fluidEvery 2 years or 30,000 milesIt absorbs moisture with age, whatever the mileage.
Transmission fluid30,000 to 60,000 milesVaries widely, and some manuals allow longer. Use only the specified fluid.
Engine coolant30,000 to 60,000 milesLong-life coolants can go further. Never mix types.
Drive belt inspection60,000 to 100,000 milesReplace at the first cracks, fraying or squeal.
Timing belt, if fitted60,000 to 100,000 milesEngines with a timing chain do not have this service.
Spark plugs30,000 to 100,000 milesCopper plugs wear fastest. Iridium and platinum last longest.
Typical intervals drawn from AAA's maintenance guidance, not Saturn's own schedule. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service intervals if you tow, make short trips or drive in extreme heat or cold.
Maintenance by mileageOil change calculatorWhat each service costs

06Manufacturer OBD2 codes

Saturn OBD2 Codes

How to read the codes a Saturn stores, and why some of them mean something different on another make.

A Saturn stores two kinds of trouble code. Generic codes, which have 0 as their second character, mean the same thing on every make: P0420 is a catalyst efficiency fault on a Saturn exactly as it is on any other car. Manufacturer-specific codes, which have 1 as their second character, are defined by Saturn and can mean something different elsewhere.

We do not publish a list of Saturn’s own P1 codes, because we could not verify one against Saturn’s service information. For a P1 code, use a scanner that reads Saturn codes, or ask a specialist to look it up.

Free toolLook up a generic codeMeaning, common causes and whether it is safe to keep driving.
How OBD2 code types work

07Related guides and tools

Next steps for Saturn owners and buyers.

Guides

Free tools

All car brandsUsed car buying guide

08Questions

Saturn: common questions.

What are the most common Saturn problems?

Among 2003 to 2010 model-year Saturn vehicles, the areas owners report most often to NHTSA are electrical system (29% of complaints), steering (24% of complaints) and powertrain (15% of complaints). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.

Which Saturn model has the most complaints?

The Ion, with 4,343 complaints on file for 2003 to 2010 model years. Its 2006 model year has the most, at 1,235. Popular models attract more complaints simply because more of them are on the road.

How do I check a Saturn for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls that have not been repaired on that exact vehicle, and recall repairs are carried out by the manufacturer's dealers at no charge.

How often does a Saturn need servicing?

Most gasoline cars need an oil change and tire rotation every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, filters every 15,000 to 30,000 miles and brake fluid every two years. Your Saturn owner's manual gives the exact schedule for your engine.

Is Saturn still sold in the United States?

No. Saturn is no longer sold new in the United States, so every Saturn on the market is a used car. Check its history, its recalls and its condition carefully before you buy.

09About this guide

Where the figures come from.

Every count on this page comes from records published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was read on . We count the records. We do not reproduce owners’ statements, and we do not rate or rank models ourselves.

CarTipsMentor is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Saturn. The Saturn name and logo belong to their owner and are used only to identify the make. Full disclaimer.

Sources

  1. [1]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle owner complaints database
  2. [2]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety recalls by vehicle
  3. [3]AAA Automotive, Time-Stamped Car Maintenance Checklist

Complaint counts cover 2003 to 2010 model years. Each complaint is counted once and assigned to the model named in the complaint. Counts change as new complaints are filed.