repaired · 2019 Q2
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
2008 Saturn SKYProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 186 owner complaints about the 2008 Saturn SKY, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-061 the manufacturer reports only 42% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 21, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Saturn SKY has problems
186 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
94Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
59Service brakes, hydraulic5 crash/fire/injury
18Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
11Service brakes
6Seats
4Engine
3Service brakes, air
2Equipment
2Wheels
87 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 94 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 59 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2 |
| Seats | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes, air | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 |
| 7 other systems | 8 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2008 Saturn SKY recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
no report yet
Front: anchorage
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saturn.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
54kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 64 air bags complaints. 95% were reported before 100,000 miles.
13under 30k miles61under 100k miles3100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
14 owners mentioned a cost$975median
Middle half: $900 – $1,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other SKY year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the SKY median. How we score
'07'08'09'10
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Saturn SKY safety ratings
2008 Saturn Sky Convertible in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Saturn SKY, and the recalls they led to.
- Passenger Sensing System Sensor MatLed to recall 17V-061
- HVAC Blower Motor ConnectorNo recall
- INADEQUATE BRAKE POWER ASSISTNo recall
In owners' words
What SKY owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
the passenger seat air bag sensor was recalled. I took the car to dealer and they said they fixed the recall. now 3 years later, if a passenger sits in the seat the light comes on saying air bag sensor is ON one second later the light says the air bag sensor is OFF and the red air bag light in the…
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the module kit, the OCS sensor, and the four retainers were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
Had recall# 17036 performed for PPS system and dealer could not clear fault codes after adding tape to the PPS seat. Why will the dealer not complete the recall by making sure the faults are no longer present. 1- 004A-00 Communication fault 2- 0033-00 Internal electronic performance 1 3- 0031-00…
Own a 2008 SKY?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.