NHTSA — Power Train Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,138 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Saturn Astra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Saturn Astra Owner Comments

problem #14

Jun 042022

Astra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I can't get in gear. Sometimes I can put it gear but after I have stopped and put it in park, it will not go into any gear so I get stuck. I am a senior and bought this second hand. It only has 47,000 miles on it. It appears it doesn't always go into park properly. This shift problem has been recalled on other cars of this make and model and I need it repaired as soon as possible. It happens all the time and I am afraid to drive it anywhere.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #13

Jul 142019

Astra

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Astra. When the contact switched the gear shifter into the drive position, the transmission indicator erroneously displayed that the shifter was in the drive #3 position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Big M Chevrolet (704 N. dixie blvd, radcliff, ky) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 37,000.

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #12

Jul 312018

Astra

  • 70,000 miles
The vehicle was on a flat surface recently parked and turned off in the driveway and the transmission was in park when it started rolling backward. It was supposed to be in park and it acted like it was in reverse or in neutral.

- Hudsonville, MI, USA

problem #11

May 222017

Astra

  • 108,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Astra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into the park position. In addition, the key could not be removed from the ignition. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be placed in neutral in order to remove the key. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000...updated 07/31/17

- Trop, TX, USA

problem #10

Feb 152017

Astra

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Astra. The contact stated that the gear shift lever failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000. The VIN was not available.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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problem #9

Sep 202016

Astra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Astra. The contact stated while attempting to put the vehicle in park, it independently shifted to reverse. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the gear box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 12/13/16

- Gotha, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 012016

Astra

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Foot on the brake, shifting from park to reverse (immediately after the car was started), all the lights on the prndl (automatic transmission gear position indicator) illuminated. Though moving the shift lever, the gear would not engage. Pushed shifter back to park then slowly to reverse. Finally it clicked in. This happens every time I shift to reverse, foot on the brake. The car only has 68,000 miles on it. From another owner, April 2016 complaint: "same as your recall #12V46000 for the Saturn aura...2008 Saturn aura power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) NHTSA campaign #12V460000 date announced: September 18, 2012 vehicles affected: 426,240 summary: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate. " you need to recall Saturn Astras for the same reason. Plastic clips are deteriorating - accidents will happen. Other complaint stated: Spoke with GMC yesterday on 11apr16 - they admitted that the same clips were used on prndl cable in the Astra - just made at other factories "than the ones affected in the recall."you already have reports of the same issue from Astra owners that mimic the ones in sister-cars. Please investigate.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #7

Apr 142016

Astra

  • 30,126 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Astra. When the vehicle was shifted into park, it would not engage in park and kept moving. In order to shut off the vehicle, the contact had to apply the hand brake. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred every day for the past two weeks. The approximate failure mileage was 30,126.

- Clearmont, FL, USA

problem #6

Mar 062016

Astra

  • 47,000 miles
Shifting from park to reverse (immediately after the car was started), all the lights on the prndl (automatic transmission gear position indicator) illuminated. Though moving the shift lever, the gear would not engage.this has happened twice to my husband and three times to me (street parked or in drive or parking lot). I also got out of the driveway but then couldn't get into drive gear. Wiggled the shifter, finally it clicked in. I also notice a lack of power when accelerating on to the highway, hear the engine lug (wonder if I am truly in the top drive gear). "same as your recall #12V46000 for the Saturn aura...2008 Saturn aura power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) NHTSA campaign #12V460000 date announced: September 18, 2012 vehicles affected: 426,240 summary: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate. " you need to recall Saturn Astras for the same reason. Plastic clips are deteriorating - accidents will happen. The car only has 47,000 miles on it, our only car. I no longer trust what gear I am in. Spoke with GMC yesterday on 11apr16 - they admitted that the same clips were used on prndl cable in the Astra - just made at other factories "than the ones affected in the recall." I have an appt, at a local GMC dealer to have the problem diagnosed tomorrow 13apr16. GMC is paying the first hour of diagnostics. We are going to be stuck paying out of pocket for what should be the responsibility of the car manufacturer. GMC won't escalate my complaint until after the diagnosis. But you already have reports of the same issue from Astra owners that mimic the ones in sister-cars. Please investigate.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #5

Mar 032016

Astra

  • 10 miles
Car lose power check engine on diag vehicle replace 2 accelerator pedal still the same problem code P2138 google the vehicle problem GM have open bulletin about some kind of harness replacement for more than 30 models with the same problem it should be a recall

- Upper Darby, PA, USA

problem #4

May 042015

Astra

  • 78,750 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When you put the car in reverse the lights light up on the gear shift, and will not engage. I then put the car in park and back in reverse. 2nd time I had an issue that car would not start even though it was in park, I someone try to jump it, thinking it was the battery, because I have gone through 5 batteries because of a short in the doors and also the relay for power locks.. when I put the car in nutral then the car could start and then I can drive it and 3 rd incident I parked the car, my daughter got out of the car and it went forward and she almost got hurt. I took it to my mechanic after the 2nd incident and was told it was the cable. I did research and say that GM recalled thousands of cars because of the cable defect. Saturn aura was recalled also for this issue. I contacted GM to see if they will pay for it, they said there is no recall. That I had to have GM dealer look at it, because they don't believe me. Once GM says it's the cable then they will decide if they will do a repair. Saturn Astra needs to be recalled the cable replaced.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #3

Aug 022014

Astra

  • 58,000 miles
The prndl (automatic transmission gear position indicator) stopped functioning. Moving the shifter lever (located between the front seats) down or up produced no action although the car was stuck in the "R" or reverse position as indicated by the cluster. Took car to a shop and they found that the end of shifter cable (located in the engine compartment) has completely eroded. Shop mechanic mentioned that this is a known issue and that Saturn auras were recalled a while back for that exact issue. Why wasn't Saturn Astra? repair totaled over $300. I've owned several cars in my life but never had this happened. The car has only 58K miles on it.

- Titusville , FL, USA

problem #2

Sep 282013

Astra 4-cyl

  • 47,138 miles
When attempting to shift the vehicle from reverse to forward the shift lever went into position however when my wife stepped on the gas to go forward the vehicle was still in reverse. Apparently the shift cable failed and the vehicle could not change gears. She was left with a vehicle that was unsafe to drive thus had to be towed. I do not feel that the use of a plastic clip in such a key position is safe and thus should be reviewed.

- Belle Isle, FL, USA

problem #1

Jul 262013

Astra 4-cyl

  • 40,906 miles
Basically this vehicle did the same thing as your recall #12V46000 for the Saturn aura, see below: 2008 Saturn aura power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) NHTSA campaign #12V460000 date announced: September 18, 2012 vehicles affected: 426,240 summary: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate. Consequence: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'park' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'park.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning when exiting vehicle it began to roll back, that was the second time. At that time, the vehicle shift lever was in park position, when the shift lever read the car was in D1. Consequently it would not restart. Additionally, the shift lever could not be moved. Luckily I was at work and it was parked on flat ground, with no other cars around. This could have happened when I was on the highway, or I after I had gone into work. I feel it is a major safety issue.

- Ventress, LA, USA

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