10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
70,717 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Feb 052016

Aura

  • 148,000 miles
I have a 2009 Saturn Aura xr, I was driving to get on the freeway going about 40-45mph then the light can on saying "ESC traction" "engine power reduce" the car started to lose power and the brakes felt really tight. I tried to accelerate but it wouldn't go no faster than 30mph. I exited the freeway parked the car turned if off and turned it back on. When I turned it back on the same problem "ESC traction" "engine power reduce" and the check engine light was on, the car was on parked position and the car started to jolt forward. I had to wait for about 1-2 hours before the car was back to itself but this time it felt different driving it. The car felt like it was accelerating too quickly and I wasn't going no more than 15mph. This has happened 3 times in the past month. Is there a recall on this car because its unsafe to drive not knowing when the 'ESC traction" "engine power reduce" lights will come on again.

- East Palo Alto, CA, USA

problem #17

Jan 012013

Aura

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds making a turn, the brakes malfunctioned making the vehicle very difficult to stop. The contact indicated that the failure would only occur while pressing the brakes and turning the steering wheel at the same time. In addition, the driver's side seat bracket had failed causing the seat to move while operating the vehicle. The seat bracket was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Lynn, MA, USA

problem #16

Aug 262014

Aura

  • 38,000 miles
After having all 4 tires replaced, my brakes were immediately disappearing on the drive home until I no longer had brakes. After taking the car into a repair shot to have looked at it was determined that due to the Saturn Aura design, the brake hoses just barely reach where they are attached to each tire. When the tire was put on a lift to replace the tires the suspension dropped just a little bit which caused the brake hoses to stretch and in this case it caused a tear on the two back brake hoses. This is a huge flaw in the design of the 2009 Saturn Aura xr that could cause brake leaks just by having the car put on a lift. I have had to pay $375 for this repair that was due to the design of the brake hoses in this vehicle.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #15

May 122014

Aura

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that the brake light illuminated when the pedal was not applied and when applied the light would not illuminate. The failure continued to occur for one month. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), however the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the defects. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.

- Beverly Hills, MI, USA

problem #14

Feb 212013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 1 miles
My mother was driving her vehicle when it suddenly accelerated to over 100 mph, she crashed her vehicle and died from the impact. Witnesses state she had her flashers on and she was observed trying to control the vehicle.

- Pleasant Grove, AL, USA

problem #13

Apr 272014

Aura 6-cyl

  • 58,200 miles
On 4/27/14, vehicle lost power steering and power brakes when driving vehicle in parking space at 10mph. Driver applied two feet to brakes and vehicle would not stop. Steering too difficult to turn. Emergency brake applied as vehicle extremely difficult to steer or apply brakes to stop vehicle. Narrowly missed being hit by another vehicle.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #12

Oct 162012

Aura 4-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
Rear brake lights work intermittently. Most of the time they do not work but there are rare occasions that they do work. I for sure know that the third brake light doesn't work almost all the time.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #11

Feb 142014

Aura

  • 35,945 miles
Lost brake lights - electrical issue.

- Amherst, OH, USA

problem #10

Jan 042014

Aura 4-cyl

  • 50,300 miles
When the car is braking, the brake lights do not come on. Other times, the brake lights are consistently on without pressing the brake. I was just alerted to this by another driver and am unsure how long this issue has been present. I tested this twice and the brake lights are not properly working.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 012013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 122,000 miles
My brakes lights are illuminated, while I'm driving and not pressing the brake pedal. The brake lights go off when I press the brake pedal. The "service ESC / service traction" is more-often-than-not illuminated on the instrument panel. When "service ESC / service traction" is lit, the cruise control will not work.

- Sylvania, OH, USA

problem #8

Oct 212013

Aura

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the brake lights failed to operate normally as the ESC traction warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that an unknown part had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 39,000.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #7

Aug 152013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles
Driving home from work boss behind me in his car flags me over told me my brake light stayed on except when I brake they just blinked then I do not know how long this has been happening.

- Berea, OH, USA

problem #6

Aug 142013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 47,000 miles
My son was pulled over by the local police for faulty brake lights. His brake lights work sometimes, stay on after he has released the brake pedal or don't come on at all. I read of similar problems with this same make and model of vehicle and wanted to report this issue.

- Ashland, KY, USA

problem #5

Aug 142013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
As I am driving the check engine light come on and off along with the ecs light. Also while I'm driving the brake lights are on and I have to either tap the brake or drive while lightly pressing the brake to have the light to go off. I have had the brake light switch replaced twice and it still does not seem to work.

- Gulfport , MS, USA

problem #4

Dec 122012

Aura 6-cyl

  • 30,549 miles
The brake lights are on all the time unless I ride my brake pedal. They wont come back on when I press the brake pedal till I almost lock up the brakes. Lots of electrical gremlins in this pos car.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #3

Jun 032013

Aura

  • 86,500 miles
Cruise control dropped off unexpectedly and the brake lights remained on throughout the rest of the drive. The brake lights stay on when passed 4th gear and the Saturn shifts unnaturally between 4th and 6th gears between 50 and 70mph.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #2

May 142013

Aura

  • 25,285 miles
Traction control and check engine light come on intermittently at or about the same time the engine or transmission seems to malfunction.

- Franklin, NC, USA

problem #1

Nov 222012

Aura 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
When driving the vehicle, the brake lights would come on randomly and would turn off when the brake pedal is pressed. They would operate in the opposite way that they should. This is extremely dangerous because vehicles behind you don't know when you are braking. This has been happening intermittently for months now.

- Kimball, MI, USA