2008 Saturn Aura problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (96) · Power Train (87) · Service Brakes (42)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saturn Aura model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
359 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Steering 2014-07-21 · campaign 14E044000 · 7,304 vehicles
Defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
Risk: A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2014-05-14 · campaign 14V252000 · 2,440,524 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Satu
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift 2014-04-30 · campaign 14V224000 · 1,131,113 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, thr
Risk: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the PARK position, the transmission may not be in PARK. If the vehicle
Fix: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2014-03-31 · campaign 14V153000 · 1,373,177 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and M
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (Prndl) 2012-09-18 · campaign 12V460000 · 426,240 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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 cr
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Service bulletins (998)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 998 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-02-21 · Steering“the air bag service warning message and warning light is illuminated i took the car back to the dealership had it serviced and a month later the message and light are on again. the passenger air bag sensor is malfunctioning sometimes it doesn't detect the passenger most times it detects a passenger when there isn't one. the tail and brake lights …”
2025-12-31 · Steering“my electric power steering stopped working. not safe to drive. this was fixed prior on recall. i did not own car then.…”
2025-12-16 · Service Brakes“my 2008 saturn aura had the transmission shift cable safety recall completed. the same rollaway condition has returned. gm and the dealer refused reinspection and repair, stating the vehicle ‘has lived its life.’ this recall addresses a known rollaway safety risk, and the condition still exists.…”
2025-10-31 · Power Train“the power train has failed the car won't start the fuses and relays are burning up and the transmission shifts so hard at a jolt almost. the service ecs ecm and service airbag indicator staying lit and the back passenger airbag looks like it's about to deploy it's a safety hazard i love my car i've only had it a year and i don't know what is happen…”
2025-08-02 · Power Train“my vehicle’s make and model have received recalls as stated online, however, my specific vin does not state any recalls. i am having the same symptoms with the airbags, electrical, and transmission as the recalls stated with my make and model. i believe there should be recalls for my vehicle’s vin. my check engine light has been on, and it is not s…”
2025-07-21 · Wheels“i noticed a rattling while driving also smoking under the hood so i took it to a garage and he said that's no problem and that i have a severe oil leak under the front of car he showed me and oil is everywhere he mentioned he couldnt fix it theres a problem with the abs line and powersteering axle or pump. i have to also put anti freeze in the car …”
2025-03-02 · Steering“power steering goes out sometimes it’s happened three times since i’ve owned the car in 2017. it just happened today (3/2/25) for the third time and it tells me that there’s a recall on saturn aura that were made in 2008, but when i enter my vin number, it doesn’t show that mine is on a recall. but i’m not sure why it’s goes out sometime and then w…”
2024-10-17 · Steering · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became difficult to steer and did not function as intended. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with a failed electronic power steering assist module. the contact was informed that the electronic power steeri…”
2024-09-26 · Unknown Or Other“key ignition don’t engaged when turning. …”
2024-08-18 · Unknown Or Other“water is leaking into the passenger compartment to the point of pooling, i am constantly having to shop vac water out but, i feel this could lead to the floor pan rusting out and the seats falling through the floor. this is a gm tsb issue so, gm knows about the problem. there are many other saturn aura owners who have experienced this issue. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.