AI Damage2009 Saturn Aura: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Saturn Aura filed 390 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 390
- involving a crash
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 54% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 15% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- Steering: 210 complaints (54% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 65 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 59 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electronic stability control: 59 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 40 complaints (10% of all), 3 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
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.4 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 390 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 | 210 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 65 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 59 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 59 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 40 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 21 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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
Takata recall: granddaughter had a collision 26 aug 17, when she applied the brakes they traveled all the way to the floorboard and the airbags failed to deploy. She was traveling west at 30mph on arbrook blvd to the bowen rd intersection when a car in front of her changed lanes.
Car has had intermittent transmission issues for years, mainly stutters and slipping. At the dealership, we'd just get a shoulder shrug and were told it was not repeatable, despite our several visits for the same issue.
As my daughter was leaving a costco parking lot the steering wheel locked as she was making a right turn causing her to stop immediately and some one ran right into my car. Since then the steering will locks abruptly while driving and ill have to turn the car off and when I turn it back on its not locked anymore.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained unknown injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was informed that the frontal impact was not the initial impact; therefore, the air bags would not have deployed.
The airbags never deployed and the doctor stated the front airbag not deploying created issue with the severity of spine injury. Product liability of the saturn airbags needs to be addressed by gm.
The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into the rear of a vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered a head injury and required medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 09/05/14
I went to the shop, and they said that my transmission was slipping, & that I didnât have a third gear. Also they stated that it was a recall. There are leaks
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,000 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Aura has 240 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 390, above average.
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.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Saturn Aura?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 390. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (43%), warning lights, check engine (19%), loss of power / limp mode (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Saturn Aura?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Saturn Aura from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
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.