NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Saturn Aura. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I CANNOT CONSISTENTLY GET THE CAR INTO PARK. THE PRNDL INDICATES I'M IN PARK, BUT THE CAR KEEPS ROLLING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN ID #: EA11015. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, RED FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION RESERVOIR AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FAULTY TRANS COOLER LINES. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TRANS COOLER LINES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,942.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA XE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND REMAINED LOCKED IN REVERSE. THE SHIFTER THEN WENT LIMP WHEN MOVED TO DRIVE AND THEN HIT A CURB. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND TIRED TO RESTART IT AGAIN, BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE FROM THE GEAR BOX. THE NEW CABLE WAS THE SAME AS THE FAILED PART. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,492 UPDATED 03/23/12 *BF UPDATED 05/11/12
FIRST FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER LOCK STOPPED WORKING AND NOW RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK DOES WORK. ALL LOCKS DO NOT RESPOND TO FOB OR SWITCH ACTIVATION. LOCKS DO NOT RESPOND TO PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE AND DO NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT HE COULD TAKE THE KEY OUR OF THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING SECURED IN PARK. THE CONTACT TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SECURED IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ
I HAVE A 2008 SATURN AURA XE WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND RECENTLY IT STARTED JUMPING GEARS WHEN I GET TO 40-45 MPH.... ITS ANNOYING AND TODAY TOOK IT IN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR THAT RECALL SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR FROM ON MY CAR I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT SINCE RECENTLY WHEN IT STARTED ACTING UP... WHAT IT DOES IS GOES UP AND DOWN WITH THE GEARS IN THAT SPEED LIMIT.... THE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF THE RECALL BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX IT AND I HAVE A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY TILL JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR...I CANT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER ONLY THE QUICK 25 PT INSPECTION WHICH THEY DID AND SAID IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING.... SOO WHAT IM ASKING IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND COULD IT BE A RECALL? THIS CAR IS NOT THAT OLD AND IT JUST STARTED ACTING UP PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
1ST INCIDENT (2/4)- VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DOOR UNLOCKED AS IT SHOULD BUT DOOR REMAINED SHUT. HAD TO EXIT VEHICLE OUT OF PASSENGER DOOR. TRIED OPENING DOOR FROM OUTSIDE, REMAINED SHUT. LEFT VEHICLE FOR 20 MINUTES, RETURNED AND TRIED OPENING AGAIN WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE. A FEW HOURS LATER, DOOR OPENED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. 2ND INCIDENT (2/17)- SAME AS BEFORE. TURNED ON AND OFF CAR AGAIN STILL COULD NOT OPEN DOOR. EXITED OUT OF PASSENGER DOOR. CAME BACK TO CAR AFTER 2 HOURS AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. ARRIVED HOME 20 MINS LATER, IT OPENED. TRIED CLOSING DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. AFTER 4 TRIES, IT FINALLY SHUT AND WAS ABLE TO LOCK CAR. SINCE THEN I HEAR AIR COMING IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING BUT HAVE CHECKED THE WINDOWS AND THEY WERE ALL UP. ALSO NOTICED STATIC IN RADIO WHILE DRIVING. IT WOULD STOP AND START AGAIN REALLY QUICKLY. A LOT OF STATIC WHEN PLAYING MP3. 3RD INCIDENT (2/19)- SAME OCCURRENCE AS BEFORE. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN; STARTED WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW HOURS. DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK UNTIL AFTER A FEW TRIES. CONTINUED STATIC IN RADIO EVEN AFTER DOOR ISSUE. 4TH & 5TH INCIDENT (3/4 & 3/5) - SAME OCCURRENCE. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT WORK ALL DAY. 6TH INCIDENT (3/5) - DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN THIS MORNING. 30 MINS LATER IT OPENED. 5 HOURS LATER AFTER TAKING IT TO FIRESTONE TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM, DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. (LOCKED TECHNICIAN INSIDE THE CAR). TECHNICIAN REFERRED ME TO GM DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS. HE SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING. DROPPING VEHICLE OFF TONIGHT TO BE SEEN ON 3/6. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE SWITCH STOP LAMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
THIS VEHICLE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. THIS CAR STARTED JERKING OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM IT HAS IS THAT IF I HAVE THE CAR IN ONE GEAR IT FORCES ITSELF TO DRIVE IN ANOTHER GEAR. I TRY TO SWITCH GEARS AND THAT BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. THIS CAR DID NOT SWITCH TO THE CORRECT GEAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING AMIDST TRAFFIC. A CAR COULD HAVE EASILY TOPPLED ME OVER WITH THIS CAR NOT WANTING TO DRIVE WHEN I KNOW THAT IT IS IN THE RIGHT GEAR. MOST EVERY OTHER SATURN HAS HAD PLENTY OF ISSUES IN REGARDS TO RECALLS. HOW THIS CAR SEEMS TO ESCAPE THE SAME FATE IS BEYOND ME. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE POSTING ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MY CAR BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION. THIS CAR IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED. *KB
CLICKING SOUND AS STEARING WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. SOUNDS LIKE A UNIVERSAL. USUALY TWO CLICKS PER FIRST REVOLUTION. WILL CLICK BOTH WHILE STOPED AND MOVING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA XR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,207.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DRIVE; HOWEVER THE SHIFTER FAILED TO RESPOND AND REMAINED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE FRACTURED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11015 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION; PRNDL). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND EXITED. UPON EXITING, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,689.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND COMPLETING TURNS, HE WOULD HEAR LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES HE WOULD FEEL A VIBRATING SENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. RETURNED BY USPS. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 1/16/2013 FAILED. *KB
I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, PUT MY CAR INTO PARK(2008 SATURN AURA)TURNED THE KEY OFF TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AS I HAD PARKED ON A SLIGHT HILL, THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS AND ALMOST KNOCKED ME DOWN AS I HAD NOT CLOSED THE DOOR YET. THE CAR ROLLED APPROX 15-20 FEET BEFORE I COULD RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AS IT WAS NOW PART WAY INTO THE STREET AND BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, THE SHIFT LEVER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN I SHIFTED THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK DOWN TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK IT FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT ENGAGING ALL THE WAY INTO THE PARK POSITION, JUST BEFORE THE LEVER GOT TO THE PARK POSITION THERE WAS A LITTLE RESISTANCE AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS MAKING IT NOT GO ALL THE WAY INTO PARK EVEN THOUGH THE SELECTOR WAS AT THE PARK POINT IN THE COLUMN. I OPENED THE HOOD AND LOOKED AROUND & NOTICED THE SHIFT CABLE CASING JUST BEFORE THE MOUNTING BRACKET WAS BROKEN. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE ROD BY THE MOUNTING BRACKET WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE TRANSMISSION SLIGHTLY AND HEARD A CLICK NOISE. I RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED IT AS IT WAS NOW ENGAGED FULLY INTO PARK. I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND DROVE IT 4 BLOCKS TO MY HOUSE AND PARKED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY WHERE I SHUT IT OFF, APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, OPENED THE HOOK AND MANUALLY PUSHED THE ROD INTO THE PARK POSITION. I FEEL THAT THE 2008 SATURN AURA SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND I'VE BEEN READING THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY DIFFERENT YEAR SATURN AURA'S. I HAVE FOUND THE 2009 AURA'S HAVE A RECALL. WHY NOT 2008? I FEEL THAT EVERY SATURN WITH THIS STYLE SHIFT CABLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CABLE REPLACED ! NOT TO MENTION, THERE SHOULD BE A REDESIGNING OF THIS CABLE SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
INTERMITTENT STEERING AT ANY SPEED AND STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES WHEN PARKED IDLING. *TR
I STARTED HEARING A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL. AT TIMES, THERE WAS ALSO A POPPING SOUND. I TOOK IT TO GM DEALER ON 11-1-11 AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING GEAR WAS BAD AND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $988.00. WARRANTY RAN OUT IN MAY OF 2011. *TR
SATURN AURA 2008 XE 4CYL. FRONT END CLUNK FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND FEET AT LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN DOING SLIGHT TURNS WITH BRAKING. REPAIR SHOP SAID STRUTS WERE NO GOOD (AT 17,500 MILES). REPLACED STRUTS AT OVER $700. CLUNKING CONTINUED. REPAIR SHOP NOW SAYS RUBBER BUSHINGS IN POWER STEERING RACK ARE NO GOOD. REPLACEMENT BUSHING ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL - EVEN CHECKED ON MALIBU AND PONTIAC G? - NO LUCK. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. REPAIR SHOP WAS TOLD THAT ENTIRE STEERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED (HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS) BECAUSE THERE IS NO SOURCE TO GET $3 BUSHINGS. REPAIR SHOP SAID SAFE TO DRIVE, SO CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED AND CLUNKING WILL NOT GET FIXED. SHOULDA BOUGHT A JAPANESE CAR. *TR
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO I NOTICED INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY WOULD BE ON WHEN I WAS NOT PUSHING THE BRAKE, AND THEN THEY WOULD TURN OFF WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE. I GOT THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED AT A CERTIFIED GM SERVICE CENTER. TO MY KNOWLEDGE (WITHOUT THE REPAIR REPORT AVAILABLE) THEY APPLIED GREASE TO A PART OF THE VEHICLE AS DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AND NOW I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS, SO CLEARLY THE SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY GM IS NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. DUE TO MY INABILITY TO PAY TO GET THIS FIXED AND THE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IT POSSESSES IF DRIVEN I HAVE LEFT IT PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, WHICH IN TURN HAS LEFT ME WITH BATTERY ISSUES. I AM SCHEDULING SERVICE TO BE DONE ON THE CAR TODAY, BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER GO WITHOUT A VEHICLE, BUT GM NEEDS TO RECALL THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS WRECKS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND AFTER SAID CLOSE CALLS STOPPED DRIVING MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO PARK WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IS WAS IN PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN OPEN CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11015 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 7/18/12 *CN
INTERMITTENT STICKING IN STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. *KB
ONCE AGAIN(4TH TIME OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD),I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR STEERING VIBRATION AND CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURN. THE CONSTANT FAILURES IN THE STEERING EQUIPMENT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING EQUIPMENT. *TT
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE RANDOMLY DURING THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND CAN SEE A REFLECTION IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR THAT MY TOP BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED FOR A MAJORITY OF THE TRIP AND CARS BEHIND ME BELIEVE THAT I AM BRAKING AND WILL TRY TO SPEED UP PAST ME DESPITE MY CAR TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, IT DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE AS THE CAR TENDS TO BELIEVE THAT I AM BRAKING. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY, 2011, STARTED NOTICING THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE STOPPED WORKING BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. THEN A FRIEND WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME AND ASKED WHY I WAS BRAKING THE ENTIRE TIME WE WERE DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2011 AND BROUGHT IT BACK ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPAIR IT THINKING IT WAS A BRAKELIGHT SWITCH, THEN THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP IN AUGUST 2011 AND THEY REPAIRED IT. THE REPAIR LASTED FOR ABOUT A YEAR, UNTIL IT STARTED OCCURRING AGAIN IN SEPT. 2012. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEIR REPAIRS LASTED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2013 WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. I AM UNSURE WHO TO TAKE IT TO BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS A THIRD TIME FOR AN ISSUE THAT NEVER SEEMS TO BE FIXED AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE ON THE ROAD. *TR
DRIVING INTO GAS STATION CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR... TOWED IT TO HOUSE.....FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BROKEN...SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE VERY HELPFUL...CAR STILL UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. HOPE THEY CAN GET IT FIXED. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO EVERYONE WITH A 2007-2009 SATURN AURA. *TR
VEHICLE: 2008 SATURN AURA XE WITH 45,000 MILES. PROBLEM: TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAIDED BRAKE LINE SEGMENT UNDERNEATH THE MASTER CYLINDER RUPTURED ALLOWING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY. THE STEEL BRAID WAS COMPROMISE BY WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CHEMICAL CORROSIVE. THE ACTUAL HOLE WAS LESS THAN ONE EIGHTH INCH IN DIAMETER. THE BLUE PLASTIC BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED/BUBBLED LIKE AN ANEURYSM. TOTAL BREAK FAILURE RESULTED WITHIN A FEW BRAKE PUMPS. REPAIR: THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GM DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKE LINES (2) WERE REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. BOTH LINES HAD SEVERAL SIGNS OF CORROSIVE ACTIVITY ON THE STEEL BRAID. CONCLUSION: I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY CAR ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE IN NO RELATION TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE ON THEIR OWN AND TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED. SOMETIMES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PULLED UP IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED ON THE FOLLOWING OCCURRENCES: JULY 21, 2011, JULY 27, 2011, AUGUST 21, 2012, MARCH, 29, 2013, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014, NOVEMBER 19, 2014. REPAIRS HAVE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED (2 TIMES); DIELECTRIC GREASE APPLIED TO BCM CONNECTORS (APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES); CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES REPLACED; BRAKE PEDAL HOME POSITION RECALIBRATED (2 TIMES). THE ISSUE STILL HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED, DESPITE IT BEING INCLUDED IN A GM RECALL FROM AUGUST 2014 NUMBER 13036, AND HAVING IT TWICE BEEN ATTEMPTED UNDER SAID RECALL. THE GM DEALERSHIP TO WHICH THIS CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT FOR THE RECALL, COLONIAL BUICK PONTIAC GMC IN WATERTOWN, MA CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL AND IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS THAN IT MUST BE PAID BY THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS ANTITHETICAL TO THE PURPOSE OF THE RECALL, WHICH IS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, DESPITE THE TERMS OF THE RECALL NOT FULLY ADDRESSING THE ERROR. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIM THAT WHAT SHOULD BE FIXED NEXT IS REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, DESPITE THAT HAVING BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE GM RECALL IS NOT FULLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, AND I, AS THE CUSTOMER, SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING THE MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL. THE CONTACT REENTERED THE VEHICLE WITH CAUTION AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE IT. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, WHERE IT WAS STARTED AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE WAS FAULTY. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2009 MODEL YEAR ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: COLUMN SHIFT). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED IN THE SERVICE WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE 2008 SATURN AURA XE: THE TRANS. SHIFT CABLE IN MY 2008 SATURN AURA WITH 47,305 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I TRIED TO HAVE A PASSERBY JUMP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE INITIALLY I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THE BATTERY. WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD AND BEGAN TO PLACE THE CABLES ON THE BATTERY THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD ALMOST KNOCKING HIM DOWN. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE CAR AND FELT THE VEHICLE MOVE AND PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PUSHING ON THE SHIFTER TO THE POSITION FOR PARK BELIEVING THAT MAYBE IN ERROR I HADN'T HAD THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT IT WAS IN PARK ALREADY - I THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME TO TOW THE VEHICLE I EXPLAINED I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THAT IT HAD MOVED ALMOST RUNNING OVER SOMEONE. HE SAT IN THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND STARTED THE CAR STATING THAT IT WAS IN NEUTRAL SAFETY MODE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS STRETCHED OR BROKEN. THE CABLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY ME AND WASN'T COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. *TT
CRUISE CONTROL BECAME DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE REVERSED FUNCTIONALITY; BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE BUT WILL REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN NO PRESSURE IS APPLIED. *TT
DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THEIR OWN DOOR LOCK SWITCHES ARE UNRESPONSIVE ONLY MANUAL LOCKING OR KEYLESS ENTRY FOB WILL LOCK OR UNLOCK WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. AS A SAFETY MEASURE I THOUGHT THE KEYLESS ENTRY WAS DISABLED DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. *TT
I HAVE A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH NOBODY INSIDE IT AND THE, KEYS REMOVED, IN A PARKING LOT WITH A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. WHILE MY WIFE WAS INSIDE A STORE THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD 100 FEET ONLY TO BE STOPPED BY A PARKING BLOCK. THE PRNDL STILL SHOWED THE VEHICLE AS BEING IN PARK. *TT
HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WENT HOME AND NOTICED A FEW DAYS LATER THAT I WAS LEAKING OIL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE LOCATED A OIL GASKET UP BY THE TIMING BELT AREA WAS LEAKING. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO MY WIFE DRIVES THE SAME CAR AND HER VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE SAME AREA. THIS CAN'T BE A COINCIDENT. SHE DRIVES HER CAR LESS AND BOTH VEHICLE ARE SERVICED AS REQUIRED. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE 800.00 DOLLARS OR MORE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK GEAR. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE EXPENSES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,000.
I HAVE A 2008 SATURN AURA. CAR FAILS TO ENGAGE IN PARK 75% OF THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS HOT. DOES NOT ALLOW CAR TO AUTO-UNLOCK, NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED UNLESS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, CAUSES CAR TO ROLL UNLESS EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED........DEALER CLAIMS SHIFTER CABLE IS CRACKED AND IS CHARGING $360 TO REPLACE.......I NOTICED A RECALL FOR ALMOST THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2009 AURA....SHOULD THIS MODEL YEAR BE INCLUDED ALSO? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE STOPPED WITH THE GEAR IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT SWITCHED THE GEAR TO PARK AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER WAS WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11015 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
I DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL TODAY. WHEN I ARRIVED, I DID NOT PUT THE CAR IN PARK. HE EXITED THE CAR, CLOSED THE DOOR, AND I DROVE AWAY. ABOUT 100 YARDS LATER, I MADE A LEFT TURN, AND THE PASSENGER DOOR FLEW OPEN. HAD SOME ONE BEEN IN THAT SEAT, THEY COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT EASILY. I TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR, BUT IT WOULD NOT LATCH. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED AGAIN. IT STILL DID NOT LATCH. I LOCKED AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING THE POWER LOCK SWITCH, AND THAT ONLY WORKED AFTER TWO OR THREE TIMES. LATER ON MY WAY HOME, I STOPPED AT THE STORE. TURNED THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR. AGAIN, IT DID NOT LATCH, AND WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCEDURE. THEN A REPEAT SITUATION WHEN RETURNING HOME. I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SET UP AN APPT WITH MY GM DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE BETWEEN $50 AND $100 TO JUST HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. REALLY? TO ME, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FREE OF CHARGE.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED 3/7/11 AND THEN ON 11/15/11 I HAD TO HAVE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED IN THE SAME YEAR. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF A RECALL WAS MADE ON THESE PARTS? *TR
DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKEN. SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE AND WAS SLIDING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. SEAT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE AGAIN NOVEMBER, 2011. PART OF THE SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE. INSPECTION SHOWED THE FRAME WHICH ANCHORS IT TO THE FLOOR WAS BROKEN AGAIN. THIS CAR IS A 1 OWNER, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
REAR DOOR LOCKS NOT RESPONDING TO REMOTE, INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, OVER A COUPLE MONTHS NOT RESPONDING AT ALL. THIS WOULD BE FINE IF THERE WERE A KEY HOLE TO UNLOCK BACK DOORS BUT THERE ARE NOT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOORS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK IS MANUALLY AND THIS IS A PROBLEM AS LOCKS ARE NOT REACHABLE FROM FRONT SEAT. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE ONLY WAY IS TO START THE CAR, UNROLL THE BACK WINDOWS AND MANUALLY UNLOCK. NOW DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME, IT IS INTERMITTENTLY NOT RESPONDING TO THE REMOTE. I AM SURE IT IS A MATTER OF TIME FOR THIS TO FAIL TOO. ALSO, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS STRANGE. SOME FRONT SPEAKERS GO ON AND OFF, AS DO LIGHTS. OCCASIONALLY UPON STARTING VEHICLE NO LIGHTS GO ON, WITH IN A FEW MINUTES THEY WILL POP ON. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE AND FEEL FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS OR A STOP. I DO NOT HAVE THE CAR WITH ME BUT THERE ARE 3 MODELS, MY MODEL IS THE SIX CYLINDER 3.5 ENGINE. *TR
SQUEALING NOISE IN SATURN AURA 2008 STEERING COLUMN WHEN ENGINE WARMS UP..SOME LOSS OF STEERING POWER ASSIST WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CHEVY DEALER SAID PREMATURE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING UNIT..MUST BE REPLACED FOR $900. HAD PROBLEMS SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM DEALER USED WITH 44,000 IN FEB 2010. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E044000 (STEERING) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,549.
REAR DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING INITIALLY, THEN DRIVERS DOOR STOPPED WORKING RANDOMLY, NOW ALL ARE WORKING RANDOMLY. ALSO, GEAR SHIFTER WHEN IN PARK, IS NOT ALWAYS ENGAGED AN HAS ROLLED. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO CAUSE THE CAR NOT TO START AT TIMES AS IT DOESN'T THINK IT IS IN PARK, GIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT AND IT WILL START. THESE ARE SAFETY ITEMS AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE GOING AT 50,000 ISH MILES.
2008 SATURN AURA. CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING CLUNKING NOISE *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHERE THEY LUBRICATED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. AS IT TURNED OUT, THAT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. IN JANUARY 2012, THE NOISE RETURNED AGAIN, FOLLOWED BY A POPPING NOISE. ANOTHER VISIT TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN A QUOTE OF $500 TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY AND BALL JOINT. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY PERFORMED THE WORK FOR $312 INSTEAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE HAS SINCE RETURNED AGAIN TO THE STEERING SHAFT.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF AND WHILE THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
PLACED CAR IN PARK, CAR DOORS DID NOT UNLOCK AND KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDED SELECTING REVERSE AND GEAR SHIFT STAYED IN NEUTRAL, CAR SHUT DOWN OK AND WOULD NOT RE-START. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT WOULD RETURN AT RANDOM INTERVALS. TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CLEAR UP BY REPEATEDLY CYCLING THE SHIFT SELECTOR. THE LAST TIME WAS THIS WEEKEND WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CONSOLE INDICATOR AND POSITION INDICATED PARK. TOOK THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER TODAY AND THE SHIFT CABLE AND BRACKET WERE REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE OK NOW. FILED THIS REPORT BECAUSE THE CHEVY 1-800 LINE SAID NO HELP BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF THE VIN NUMBER RANGE -- WAS TOLD THAT ANOTHER AURA OUT OF THE VIN RANGE ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS TOWED IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RANGE GM HAS IDENTIFIED IS APPARENTLY TOO NARROW AND MORE CARS ARE INVOLVED THAN GM ACKNOWLEDGES. IT WAS MY FAULT THIS WASN'T ADDRESSED SOONER -- BUT JUST COULDN'T FIND TIME OR RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH IT AFTER THE LOCAL GARAGE FOUND NOTHING. *TR
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH VISIBILITY WITH MY 2008 SATURN AURA SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE INTERIOR WINDSHIELD PANEL. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME NUMEROUS WRECKS. IN ADDITION I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REMOVE ALL 4 HEAD RESTS IN ORDER TO SEE. AFTER 30 YEARS OF DRIVING WITH NO ACCIDENTS OR CITATIONS, DUE TO THE SAME VISIBILITY PROBLEM, I WAS T-BONED CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND MY SATURN HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE GEAR SHIFT THAT WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK OR DRIVE IT REMAINED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE RESEARCHING THE WARRANTY WITH THE GENERAL MOTORS MANUFACTURER TO CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THERE ARE NO RELATED RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 43,287.
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL/ESC LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON CONSTANTLY GO OFF WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS TAPPED!!! *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026