2009 Saturn Sky Problems: Airbags (46 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2009 Saturn Sky is Airbags (63% of 46 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 46 complaints · 4 recalls
What problems show up on the 2009 Saturn Sky?
29 of 46 filings named Airbags (63% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Electrical (3 reports).
There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2008 has 185 reports on file; this year has 46. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Airbags 29 complaints · 63.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 0
- Fires 1
- Injuries 0
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 29 | 63.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 3 | 6.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 2 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 2 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 2 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 2 | 4.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) | 1 | 2.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) | 1 | 2.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 1 | 2.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 5 | 10.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 14V171000 was reported 1,126 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 14E021000 was reported 1,146 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V061000 was reported 1,115 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2011-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V047000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V171000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14E021000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V061000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP16001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP20002 |
Safety Recalls (4)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 14E021000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
- Remedy:
- UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners requiring additional information on that recall campaign should contact GM at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac) or 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn).
-
Recall campaign 14V047000
Safety recall 14V047000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
-
Recall campaign 14V171000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
- Remedy:
- General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
-
Recall campaign 17V061000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 17036.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 46 complaints · page 1 of 2
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Ignition was replaced under recall and now the passenger air bag light is on and will not go out and passenger side airbag is inop. ABS Ecm failed and replacement cost was $1300.00. This is a known issue and should be investigated. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags); for which a temporary repair was performed, but later the manufacturer refused to permanently repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,500.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Vehicle only has 5000 miles on it purchased new in 2009 has ignition problem and airbag service problem
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag and electronic brake control module (EBCM) warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag and EBCM needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the EBCM; however, the passenger's side air bag was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated, with the service air bag message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced by the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bag). The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
In 2019 I took my car in for a recall I had received. It was for the PPS. Instead of replacing the faulty system, they simply put a "reinforcement" piece of tape over the faulty system. I rarely drive the car and I rarely have passengers. 2 years and almost 5k miles later, now the faulty system is broken. The sensor in the seat has failed. No surprise there. The dealership is trying to charge me $1400 to replace the faulty sensor that should have been replaced 2 years ago. This is causing anyone who possible is a passenger in my car to be at risk, since now that the sensor is broken, the air bag will not deploy. Other people with this car have had or are having the same issue. I do not understand why a tape fix was approved and implemented for something so serious as the safety of my passengers.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE GAUGES ILLUMINATION IS VERY POOR SINCE THE GAUGES ARE SO DEEP SET IN THE DASH. I CAN HARDLY READ THE SPEEDOMETER DURING THE DAY, ISN,T VERY BRIGHT EVEN AT NITE. THE MFG. SHOULD DO A RECALL TO UPGRADE THE DASH LIGHTS.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS SET DEEP INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR STYLING PURPOSES. AS A RESULT, THE GAUGES ARE VERY DARK AND CANNOT BE READ DURING DAYTIME DRIVING. GM SHOULD MAKE A SOFTWARE PATCH AVAILABLE TO TURN ON THE BACK LIGHTING TO THE GAUGES DAY OR NIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. OTHER VEHICLES ARE SETUP THIS WAY. THE SATURN SKY SHOULD TOO. HOW CAN I DRIVE SAFE WHEN I CANNOT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING?
CrashFireInjuryDeath
STEERING SENSOR,STEERING POSITION,LOST COMM YAW RATE SENSOR,LOST COMM STEERING RATE' SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ON ,TRACTION CONTROL ABS BRAKING MALFUNCTION. BLOGS INDICATE THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON GENERAL MOTORS ISSUE AMONG SATURN AND OTHER MODELS
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I TOOK MY 2009 SATURN SKY REDLINE TO A GM DEALER ON 9/18/2018 FOR GM RECALL 17036. THEY PERFORMED THE WORK (INSTALLED REINFORCEMENT), BUT LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER, WITH LESS THAN 2500 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR, THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON. ON 9/2/2020, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SAYS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED, AT A COST TO ME OF $1182. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CAR WAS BARELY USED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE SENSOR WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILURE AT THAT TIME. TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE CAR NOW IS 25,000.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2009 Saturn Sky?
Owners named Airbags most often — 29 of 46 reports (63%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2009 Saturn Sky?
NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2009 Saturn Sky?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.