I've had plenty of Saturn in the bay over the years, and the brake complaints on these don't surprise me. 240 on the NHTSA record across 17 model-year entries (2005–2009) is not a fluke. The 2008 Saturn Sky is carrying most of the weight on this category — about 30% of every brake complaint filed against Saturn comes from that one truck. The pattern shows up across the lineup, but that year-model is where it concentrates. 8 injury reports on the record — not a category to wave off. Repair cost runs around $450 on average — relatively low for an aggregated category. Across the 119 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 42,345 miles. Pulsing, grinding, soft pedal — none of those should sit more than a week. Brake problems compound fast on a vehicle already on the list.
ProblemsByVin SATURN / BRAKES
17 model-year entries · 2005–2009
Saturn brakes problems
240 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Saturn vehicles for brakes issues. See brakes across all makes →
Complaints
240
Recalls
0
Year-models
17
Avg fix
$450
15crashes
4fires
8injuries
Worst-affected Saturn model-years for brakes Top 17 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
2008 Saturn Sky
72 complaints · ~$450 severe
2007 Saturn Aura
50 complaints · ~$450 severe
2005 Saturn Relay
32 complaints · ~$450 severe
2008 Saturn Aura
18 complaints · ~$450 severe
2008 Saturn Vue
12 complaints · ~$450 severe
2006 Saturn Vue
8 complaints · ~$450 moderate
2009 Saturn Aura
7 complaints · ~$450 moderate
2009 Saturn Vue
6 complaints · ~$450 severe
2007 Saturn Sky
5 complaints · ~$450 severe
2005 Saturn Ion
5 complaints · ~$450 severe
2008 Saturn Outlook
4 complaints · ~$450 severe
2007 Saturn Vue
4 complaints · ~$450 moderate
2006 Saturn Ion
4 complaints · ~$450 severe
2005 Saturn Vue
4 complaints · ~$450 severe
2007 Saturn Outlook
3 complaints · ~$450 moderate
2007 Saturn Ion
3 complaints · ~$450 severe
2006 Saturn Relay
3 complaints · ~$450 moderate
Common questions
How many Saturn brakes complaints are on file with NHTSA?
240 complaints across 17 model-year entries from 2005 to 2009. No active recall campaigns currently cover this category for Saturn.
Which Saturn model has the most brakes complaints?
The 2008 Saturn Sky leads with 72 complaints in this category. Next: 2007 Aura (50) and 2005 Relay (32).
What does it cost to fix Saturn brakes problems?
Independent shops average $450 for brakes repairs across the Saturn lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.
Are there Saturn brakes recalls?
No active NHTSA recalls currently cover brakes issues on Saturn vehicles. The complaints are owner-reported and have not risen to a manufacturer recall.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database.
Editorial commentary written by Mark Driver, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin
and not affiliated with Saturn.
Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record.
Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.