10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 83,173 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Heard clunks while steering then it was hard to steer..on highway speeds car gets pulled with the groove of an uneven surface. I almost crashed to a divider on the highway.
- Winchester, CA, USA
The steering on the car is very tight, meaning it does not turn smoothly. I feel every and any sort of bump the car goes over. When turning it feels as if the car is scrubbing the payment, not a thorough movement. There is also something loose or sounds as if something in the interior or under the hood is rattling or is may come apart. The dealership I purchased it from is saying that the sway bar and end links need to be replaced or tightened. Also, my air bag light popped on saying it needed to be serviced.... I have no idea about this alert on my display!!they explained to me it happens over time, however from reading other Saturn car owner's reviews this is a recurring complaint amongst many others. It is or was the top luxury sedan when it came out and it would appear the suspension would be a lot smoother on a sedan. Unhappy with results and I feel the history of car was not revealed at time of purchase. The repair bill estimate is around $500 and that is a lot of expense....there is another review referencing to the struts or type of strut to use should be the one made by Chevy. Frustrated and confused in memphis, tn!!
- Cordova, TN, USA
First it was my gear shift, I had to get it fixed back in may of this year 2013 because when I tried to put the car in park, and did not park at all, matter of fact, when I placed the car in park it started reversing, literally going backwards. I got it fixed but yet there seems to still be issues with the gear shift, just hasn't been the same. Now when I drive my brake lights stays on, but when I press on the brakes my brake lights shuts off. Very dangerous situation, and also inside my car the lights seem to flicker on my dash board and everywhere else lights are in the car so I'm assuming that's a electrical problem. Updated 08/15/13 the rack and pinion was replaced.
- Houston, TX, USA
While making a left-hand turn, the steering seemed to catch as if it was locking up. This does not happen with each left-hand turn, but is happening more frequently. It now happens with both left- and right-hand turns.
- Farmington, MN, USA
I was told that I am leaking steering fluid and I need a new rack and pinion. This is a major job and I feel shouldn't happen at 22K miles.
- Evanston, IL, USA
In late March 2013, I took my car to curry's auto service in dulles, va to determine the cause of squealing sound when I back my car out off parking spaces. I was advised to have rear rotors resurfaced, rear pads replaced and replace shocks and struts. On April 2, 2013, while in ga for business/personal purposes I took my 2007 Saturn Aura xr to tires plus in suwanee, ga to have the necessary repair work. Despite the completed repair work, for the next few weeks the sound kept coming back only occurring when I back out off parking spaces. On April 27, 2013 I took my car to the tires plus in chantilly, va. They determined the rear rotors were not resurfaced properly and rear left shock was loose. On May 4, 2013 tires plus, chantilly, va location resurfaced the rear rotors and tightened the shock. Within two hours off the repair the squealing noise is back again. The consistent noise occurs daily whenever I back out off parking spaces. I have already invested over $1,100 in repairs with no resolution. Scanning the internet, I found numerous other complaints from other 2007 satura Aura owners with the same exact squealing issue.
- Herndon, VA, USA
Transmission has started to slip around the same time the recall was released concerning gear shifter cable. I am highly concerned that this is related and now my power train warranty has expired.
- Centennial, CO, USA
Came home and attempted to park in driveway. Upon attempting to park, car would not shift all the way into park initially. I attempted to put the car into park. After several attempts car seemed to be in park. At this point I exited the vehicle. Upon returning to my drive way I found the car had drifted into my garage causing damage to my bumper and my right passenger side. Car will not start unless its in neutral. Gear shift will move to park but the car is not in park. Similar complaints on NHTSA. Spoke with GM and they're not taking any action until a recall is issued. So I have to pay for damages not caused by driving, but by GM's defect as well as pay GM to have car fixed since the car still will not stay in park causing a driving hazard.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Both in 2008 and 2010 was forced to have repairs made to steering to replace power steering gears due to groaning/grinding when turning. The car again has the same problem. Concerned about steering failure.
- Olathe, KS, USA
On approximately 06/01/2011 I noticed a small leak under the front end of the vehicle. About 6 days later the car started making a loud whining noise when accelerating and when turning in either direction. I checked the power steering fluid level and found the reservoir almost empty. I filled the reservoir with power steering fluid and made an appointment to have the vehicle inspected by ted & earls service center Inc. In Plymouth Michigan. Ted & earls service center diagnosed the leak as a failed rack and pinion and performed all repairs. I feel that the rack and pinion should have lasted many thousands more miles and its premature failure presented a serious safety risk that should be investigated.
- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA
I purchased this Saturn with 32K on it, two days after having the vehicle it started overheating and the air conditioner went out. I contacted the dealership because it was still under factory warranty. It took them a week to fix the vehicle because they had to completely rewire a few things. One month after that happened, I noticed when I turned I felt a popping in the floor board on the driver side. I again contacted the dealer and they had me bring the vehicle in and stated something was loose in the axel shaft and they 'fixed' the popping by tightening it up. Three months following the above events, I noticed the popping started again. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they replaced the front ball joint, rack, and pinion. I drove away from the dealership and immediately had to turn around and return the vehicle because the problem continued. At that point they had the vehicle for five months straight. They say they replaced everything from the steering column down. Every time I called for an update they always had a different answer. I have replaced the rotors on this car 3 times now and it only has 60K. The service airbag light continues to stay on. The dealership says they replaced the airbag coil but yet it continues to come on. Now the transmission is slipping constantly in 5th and 6th gear. This car has been the worst car I have ever owned. I will never purchase another GM product again. I have had nothing but issues with this car since the day I brought it home. My husband was called to deploy to iraq and we had a 2 week old baby so we had to get a bigger car before he left. We only had 3 days when he was called up to leave (he was inactive reserve and was called up). I did not have time to research this car before we bought it. If I could do it all over again I would never even consider this car. Reading into it now, it seems a lot of people have had the same issues with this car.
- Barnesville, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Aura. When depressing the brake pedal, the radio turned off, the red battery light flashed and the engine made a cranking noise. While the contact was driving, the power steering failed after the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but had not been diagnosed. The current mileage was 16,291. The failure mileage was 16,192. Updated 01/18/11 the consumer sated while waiting for the replacement hybrid battery, the vehicle would occasionally attempt to go into hybrid mode. When applying the brake, the vehicle attempted to go into hybrid mode but couldn't. the battery warning light then illuminated and the radio went out nd the engine made a strange noise as though the vehicle was just being started. Updated 04/15/11
- Malverne, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that the steering was very hard to handle while attempting to turn left or right the steering had to handle with force to maintain the turn without causing a crash to occur. The passenger drove the vehicle. The manufacturer stated that the VIN wasn't included in the recall; therefore, they would not offer any assistance, but he should take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 38,000 and the current mileage was 47,446.
- Waynesburg , OH, USA
Driving vehicle and turning causes a clunk in the steering system. Had dealer look at it, and stated it is the intermediate steering shaft. Happens at most speeds when turning. After some research online, it appears to be a very common problem.
- Johnson City, NY, USA
I own a 2007 Saturn Aura xr with the 3.6L V6 engine. When turning the steering wheel in either direction, it makes a moaning/groaning noise which emanates though out the passenger cabin, there are times when the sound gets really loud. It sounds like the steering pump or other mechanical part. I have been reading Saturn boards and with this vehicle, there has been a lot of people talking about the same issue that I have mentioned. I have not taken my vehicle to the dealership due to the vehicle being out of service warranty.
- Honolulu, HI, USA
While driving in town or on the highway the road was not level and was sloping down to the right and with the "hydraulic steering" you do not have a hard grip on the steering wheel and you are not expecting it, the car will go to the right or left depending on the slop of the road. If you are driving on the highway and the highway makes a long graded curve, depending whether it is a right of left curve, the car wants to catapult you to the opposite direction that you are turning. I am now on my 3rd. Rack and pinion steering that was changed by the dealership and hydraulic fluid has been added another 2 or 3 times. The old part is not available. The failure has happened several times and I have been pulled to the right off the road and bent several rims, which I had to replace. And Saturn says nothing is wrong with the car. I went to lemon law at the BBB, but when I walked in the door I knew I was wasting my time, when the arbitrator was driving a corvette and the people working for BBB were driving Saturn vue's. even the window sticker does not mention anything about power steering or the sales brochure. This has been going on since April 30, 2008.
- Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Since buying my Saturn Aura in March 2007 my life has been a complete headache. I first had to take my car into the shop with only 2300 miles on it for rack and pinion to be replaced. Since then it has been in the shop no less than every 6 months. I have had to replace the brakes and rotors two times, motor mount, passenger air bag, sunroof drain, water pump, coolant crossover pipe, water reservoir, steering shaft and more. Now my rack and pinion is bad again and they will not fix it. Also there is a major rattle in front of car and squeal coming from front drivers side tire. They tell me that there is nothing wrong and cannot duplicate. Just recently I have started to notice that my car steering is funny and also that it cuts out or accelerates on it's own. I am planning on getting it back in again to the shop soon. I do not feel safe driving this car. I have three small children and want something done to stop all the problems.
- Lacey, WA, USA
I have a 2007 Saturn Aura xr, great car, but when you hit bumps, or cross lanes where there is uneven pavement the steering over reacts regardless of how hard you hold the wheel. This causes the car to move in the direction that the uneven pavement throws it toward, so you have to over compensate quickly before you hit another car next to you or a guard rail. It often feels like the power steering is not responsive enough by the second as it's needed. Now I have driven a Chevy Malibu 08, which is the same platform/car to test the steering, and the steering felt solid and held too in the same route. So I think you need to look into GM's power steering that they have put into the Saturn Aura, as it is way too over reactive, and creates violent understeer.
- Stratford, CT, USA
I purchased a 2007 Saturn Aura xr new from Saturn of thornton rd. In March 2008. Beginning at purchase I have had to have the brakes replaced, 2 window motors redone, steering parts ordered and put on door handles replaced, and I am currently waiting for more steering parts and door handles to be ordered. I make monthly trips to this dealership to have something repaired...please help me.
- Winston, GA, USA
- Vineland, NJ, USA