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2009 Saturn Astra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Astra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2009 Saturn Astra is a passenger car that requires 5 qt of 5W‑30 API oil and achieves an EPA‑rated 24/30/27 mpg with an automatic four‑speed transmission. Owner feedback records just two total complaints, the leading issue involving the air bags, and the model year is associated with a single recall. This low complaint count and limited recall place the 2009 Astra toward the favorable end of the model’s reliability history, indicating a comparatively trouble‑free year for the Astra line.

Model year2009 2008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy24/30/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 91 · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 91 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	170.5 in
Overall width	68.9 in
Overall height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	102.8 in
Curb weight	2921 lb
Track (front / rear)	58.3 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	24 / 30 / 27 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 89021184 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

81 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number	91
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Thermostat Opening Temperature	Electrical: 194, Thermic: 221 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	18.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	Idle rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	18 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	74 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.984 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.984 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.867 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

70 ft. lbs., step 2: 30+15

70 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	18 ft. lbs.	18 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees
4	90 degrees.	90 degrees
5	45 degrees.	45 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 25,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 75,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Timing Belt (replace) · Timing Belt Tensioner (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 2008 the Saturn Astra generated 162 complaints, one recall, one investigation and 793 TSBs, while the target 2009 model recorded only two complaints, one recall, one investigation and 842 TSBs. The 2009 complaints are limited to Air Bags and Power Train, each with a single report, and there are no crash‑related or fire‑related complaints. Complaint volume drops dramatically compared with the prior year, falling from 162 to 2. The recall and investigation counts remain unchanged, but the modest increase in TSBs does not indicate a new safety pattern. Therefore, the 2009 Astra offers a comparatively clean safety record and is a sensible choice for a used purchase, assuming the recall is addressed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

842

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Air Bags1

Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V063000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 03/02/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 842 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
13598	2025-09-09	Unknown Or Other	New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M	2025-08-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Astra. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 91 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Astra take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Astra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Astra get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 30 highway / 27 combined mpg.