This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise. This is a slight movement that is more often seen visually, rather than felt, when viewed from the outside and using the auto-start feature, if equipped.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Saturn Astra powertrain problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1fire
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of transmission gear position and shift engagement failures. The most common complaint is that the plastic clips or tabs on the transmission shift cable deteriorate or fracture, causing the PRNDL indicator lights to illuminate simultaneously but the gear to refuse engagement. Shifters get stuck, requiring wiggling or repeated attempts to engage; one shop found a cable end completely eroded at 58k miles.
Equally serious: vehicles fail to properly engage Park. With the shifter in Park position, the transmission stays in Reverse or Neutral, and the vehicle rolls forward or backward after the driver exits. Several owners also report being unable to start the vehicle unless the shifter is moved to Neutral multiple times or the key is jiggled. One vehicle had to be towed when the shift cable failed mid-drive, leaving it stuck in Reverse.
Multiple owners cite Saturn Aura recall #12V460000 (September 2012) for the same cable defect, and report GM admitted the Astra uses identical clips but claimed they came from different factories—not subject to recall. An accelerator pedal issue with fault code P2138 appears in one complaint despite two pedal replacements. Failures start as early as 23k miles and continue through 108k miles.
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shift cable deterioration / plastic clip fracture
The plastic clips or tabs on the transmission shift cable end corrode, fray, or fracture, causing the shifter lever position to no longer match the actual transmission gear. Owners report the PRNDL indicator lights illuminate but gears will not engage, or the shifter becomes stuck. Some shops found the cable end completely eroded.
When: 30k–108k miles; some failures reported early at 23k miles
Symptoms owners cite: PRNDL lights illuminate but gear will not engage; Shifter stuck or requires wiggling to engage gear; Shifter position does not match actual transmission gear; Vehicle stuck in one gear, unable to shift; All PRNDL indicator lights light up simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite shift cable replacement; one shop quoted over $300 for cable end repair; dealer diagnosis required for some
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM initially denied recall; admitted to using same clips as Saturn Aura recall #12V460000 but claimed clips were from different factories. Some owners told no recall exists; one dealer referred owners for diagnosis before considering repair.
Park engagement failure and unintended vehicle movement
The transmission fails to properly engage the Park position even though the shifter lever is moved to Park. Once parked and driver exits, the vehicle rolls forward or backward. The ignition key cannot be removed when this occurs.
When: 23k–61k miles; failures reported as recurring or intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls forward or backward while parked in Park; Shifter lever in Park position but transmission not in Park gear; Ignition key cannot be removed; Vehicle starts rolling after driver exits
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report vehicle towed in at least one case; one dealer diagnosed gearbox replacement needed but vehicle not repaired
Inability to restart vehicle from Park
When the shifter is in Park, the vehicle will not start. Owner must shift to Neutral multiple times or jiggle the key to achieve a restart. Related to the PRNDL cable issue or shift lever misalignment.
When: 30k–108k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start when shifter in Park; Vehicle starts only when shifted to Neutral; Key jiggling required to start vehicle; Intermittent starting failures
PRNDL indicator misalignment / false gear indication
The transmission gear position indicator (PRNDL cluster display) shows incorrect gear position relative to actual transmission gear or shifter lever position. For example, shifter in Drive but indicator shows Drive #3; or shifter in Park but indicator shows Reverse (D1).
When: 37k–61k miles
Symptoms owners cite: PRNDL cluster displays wrong gear than shifter position; Shifter reads Drive 3 when shifted to Drive; Shifter reads Reverse or D1 when in Park; Mismatch between display and actual gear
Shift cable failure preventing gear changes
The shift cable fails completely, leaving the vehicle stuck in one gear or unable to shift at all. One owner reported the vehicle could not shift from Reverse to Forward despite the lever moving to position, and had to be towed.
When: Not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stuck in one gear; Shifter moves to position but gear does not engage; Vehicle remains in Reverse when attempting to shift to Forward; Unable to change gears
Repairs/costs cited: Shop mechanic identified shift cable as failed
Shift bushing failure
The shift bushing (mechanical component that aids shifter movement) fails, preventing the vehicle from shifting out of a gear. One owner reported this required replacement.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not shift out of Reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Shift bushing replaced at dealer
Accelerator pedal / throttle control fault with check engine light
Vehicle loses power under acceleration; check engine light illuminates. Two accelerator pedals were replaced but the problem persisted. Diagnostic code P2138 recorded. Owner reports GM has an open service bulletin for harness replacement affecting 30+ models.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle loses power during acceleration; Check engine light on; Lack of power when accelerating onto highway
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: Two accelerator pedals replaced; issue persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM has open bulletin regarding harness replacement for 30+ models per owner report
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Saturn Astra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Saturn Astra?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 40,906 and 68,000 miles, with the median around 52,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,906; a quarter make it past 68,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Saturn/Astra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.