FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE, BRAKES FAIL ABOUT 3 DAYS A WEEK. THERE IS A PULSATING IN THE PEDAL AND THE CAR DOES NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE EFFECT AND SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN HUMIDITY. ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT ISSUE. *TR
2008 Saturn Sky brakes problems
severe 72 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Crashes
6
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 14 most recent
2008 SATURN SKY (TURBO REDLINE 2.0) - THE BRAKES ARE NOT 100% DURING COLD STARTUP - ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE WHEN THE ENGINE HAS JUST BEEN STARTED. IT SEEMS TO HELP IF YOU REV. THE ENGINE SLIGHTLY, ALMOST LIKE YOU NEED TO BUILD SOME VACUUM PRESSURE BECAUSE THE IDLE WAS TOO LOW TO ACHIEVE IT. DEFINITELY NOT SAFE! *TR
BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED UP. CAR MUST "WARM" UP FOR PRESSURE TO BUILD IN THE BRAKE LINE. NOT INFORMED AT DEALER. RECEIVED CAR FROM LOT (DRIVEN TO SHOWROOM AREA) SO THUS "WARMED UP" WHEN TEST DRIVE TAKEN. BROUGHT HOME. NEXT MORNING STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT. ONLY TO FIND NO BRAKES...VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. *TR
BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT START-UP. WHEN I START VEHICLE AND GO TO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION. I TRY TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES AND IT STILL DOESN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THERE ARE FORUMS ON IT ON SKYROADSTER.COM. ALSO, IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON THE WEB AND TYPE IN -SATURN SKY BRAKES YOU WILL FIND SITES THE SAME COMPLAINTS. MANY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. …
OUR SATURN 2008 SKY REDLINE HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM THAT MY WIFE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT EVERY TIME SHE STARTS IT UP AFTER IT HAS HAD TIME TO COOL DOWN. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I TRIED IT AND FOUND THAT THE CAR CAN MOVE WHILE HOLDING DOWN ON THE BRAKE. IF YOU DON'T PUMP IT IT WILL NOT STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS GIVEN A NOTIFICATION FROM THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER STATING THI…
2008 SATURN SKY REDLINE CONVERTIBLE-BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WITHOUT USE, THE BRAKES FAIL TO WORK AFTER INITIALLY STARTING THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THIS IS "NORMAL" AND CANNOT BE FIXED. IT TAKES A GOOD 2-3 MINUTES FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK AFTER THE CAR STARTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN SKY. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND ADVISED HER TO LET IT IDLE FOR TWO MINUTES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND T…
AT START-UP OF MY BRAND NEW CAR THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. I GO TO REVERSE AND THE CAR DOES NOT COMPLETELY STOP. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE AT WWW.SKYROADSTER.COM THIS MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
AT START-UP IN MY GM 2008 SATURN SKY, I GO TO REVERSE. WHEN I DO REVERSE AND APPLY THE BRAKES, THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. I HAVE TO FLOOR THE BRAKES AND IT STILL DIDN'T STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I INITIALLY START THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE STARTING UP MY 2008 SKY REDLINE, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. I WENT TO REVERSE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT WORK. I HAD TO FLOOR THE BRAKES AND IT STILL KEPT GOING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 10 TIMES AND THE CAR IS ONLY A MONTH OLD. THERE ARE PLENTY FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ON WWW.SKYROADSTER.COM THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED. SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED…
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2008 Saturn Sky?
It's a meaningful issue. 72 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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