2009 Saturn Aura problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (196) · Power Train (47) · Vehicle Speed Control (28)
🧭 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
331 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
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
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 (1,015)
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 1,015 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-18 · Steering“power steering quit working majority of the time but will randomly start working again but won't work for long.…”
2026-03-16 · Steering“my steering wheel started to randomly shake while i was driving this car through a car wash that i go through monthly. all of a sudden my wheel locked up and flashing warning signals appeared on my dashboard “service esc” making me at a loss of electric power steering assist. i never got in an accident or anything. it just happened while i was driv…”
2026-01-20 · Steering · 64,194 mi“the contact owns a 2009 saturn aura. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently lost power steering functionality. the message "eps failure" was displayed. the dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 14e044000 (steering); however, the contact related the fai…”
2026-01-14 · Steering · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 saturn aura. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making left or right turns on several occasions, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. the contact stated that the steering wheel became firm and required added effort to turn the steering wheel while driving. the contact stated that simultaneo…”
2025-10-28 · Vehicle Speed Control“i was driving and all of a sudden i lost power steering and i had to get over pull over and i was freaking out i could have crashed my dash was saying service ecs…”
2025-09-09 · Steering“the car turned off while driving on the highway. the car just recently within the last year or so started giving us electrical problems. the mechanic on august 14, 2025. replaced the alternator, the second within 3 years. the battery replaced twice within 3 years, as well. internal dashboard light flickers. the car fails to start several times a …”
2025-05-29 · Steering · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 saturn aura. the contact stated that while driving at speeds of 20 mph or slower, the power steering function failed to operate as intended. the contact stated that the loss of power steering warning light was illuminated. the contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off and then restarted the vehicle to regain…”
2025-05-27 · Steering · 124,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 saturn aura. the contact stated that while coming to a stoplight, the transmission failed to shift properly, and the vehicle jerked. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with the power steering warning light illuminated. the contact s…”
2025-04-19 · Steering“lost power steering while driving. the power steering warning came on. i pulled over and turned the car off. when i turned it back on the power steering returned. an inspection at the zeigler buick gmc of lincolnwood in chicago on 4/19/2025 confirmed that the power steering column needs replaced. i'm having it replaced, so the part will not be avai…”
2024-11-10 · Steering“electric power steering randomly disables assist but resumes with restart. brake lights randomly illuminate and randomly stop working.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.