AI DamageSaturn Aura: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saturn Aura across 6 model years: 1,440 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 27% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 26% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 10% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 9% of all complaints
- 8 Engine 7% of all complaints
- Steering: 390 complaints (27% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 375 complaints (26% of all), 15 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 257 complaints (18% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 211 complaints (15% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 150 complaints (10% of all), 14 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2008–2010
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2007–2008named in 2 complaints
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2007–2010named in 10 complaints
- 2.4 L · hybrid · 4 cyl 2007–2009
- automatic, 4-speed 2007–2009
- automatic, 6-speed 2007–2010
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,440 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 390 | 10 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 375 | 15 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 257 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 211 | 9 | 0 |
| Air bags | 150 | 14 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 145 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 136 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 100 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 97 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 58 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 28 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 24 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped the curb on the left side of the vehicle and then crashed into a telephone pole, he was unable to steer due to the loss of power steering functionality.
10/27/23 - I put the car in park to investigate what was causing the constant rattling noise while at the same time the car would shudder. While I was on one knee with one hand on ground so l could bend and look into the wheel well, the car rolled the tire over my hand and foot that was in its path because I wasn't…
While driving strearing just stops almost getting into accident and also brakes failed and had to repalce calipers and rotors was in motion on highway
The car does not seem to go into park when you do think you have it in park it isn't another gear and as lurched out and almost smashed a couple people that have helped me with the car it also seems to have a tendency to roll because it is not fully going in the park and I cannot even start it
The air bags did not deploy. The contact also noticed an abnormal odor coming from the steering wheel. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. It was unknown if the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact was injured and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was 50,000.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.