I've had plenty of Saturn in the bay over the years, and the speed-control complaints on these don't surprise me. 85 on the NHTSA record across 13 model-year entries (2005–2009) is not a fluke. The complaints are spread across the lineup — no single model is doing all the work. That tells you it's an engineering or supplier pattern, not a one-off bad year. 1 fatality report on file with NHTSA tied to this category on Saturn vehicles. That elevates this from nuisance to safety-critical. Average shop fix runs about $600 — not catastrophic, but it adds up over time. If the car has ADAS, take a test drive that actually exercises it. False AEB triggers and adaptive-cruise drop-outs are common patterns.
ProblemsByVin SATURN / CRUISE CONTROL
13 model-year entries · 2005–2009
Saturn cruise control problems
85 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Saturn vehicles for cruise control issues. See cruise control across all makes →
Complaints
85
Recalls
0
Year-models
13
Avg fix
$600
7crashes
4injuries
1fatality
Worst-affected Saturn model-years for cruise control Top 13 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
2007 Saturn Ion
10 complaints · ~$600 severe
2006 Saturn Ion
9 complaints · ~$600 severe
2009 Saturn Aura
8 complaints · ~$600 critical
2007 Saturn Aura
8 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2008 Saturn Vue
7 complaints · ~$600 severe
2006 Saturn Vue
7 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2005 Saturn Ion
7 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2008 Saturn Aura
6 complaints · ~$600 severe
2007 Saturn Outlook
6 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2009 Saturn Vue
5 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2009 Saturn Outlook
4 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2008 Saturn Outlook
4 complaints · ~$600 moderate
2007 Saturn Vue
4 complaints · ~$600 severe
Common questions
How many Saturn cruise control complaints are on file with NHTSA?
85 complaints across 13 model-year entries from 2005 to 2009. No active recall campaigns currently cover this category for Saturn.
Which Saturn model has the most cruise control complaints?
The 2007 Saturn Ion leads with 10 complaints in this category. Next: 2006 Ion (9) and 2009 Aura (8).
What does it cost to fix Saturn cruise control problems?
Independent shops average $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control recalls?
No active NHTSA recalls currently cover cruise control 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.