10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
73,261 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Saturn Aura:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #27

Nov 012022

Aura

  • miles
I went to the shop, and they said that my transmission was slipping, & that I didn-??t have a third gear. Also they stated that it was a recall. There are leaks

- Saginaw , MI, USA

problem #26

Sep 302021

Aura

  • miles
The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights will not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features. The car is available for inspection upon request. I am put at risk because there are multiple system malfunctions that occur that could result in a wreck or injury. The brakes selectively illuminating can result in a rear end collision and is not safe for travel. The traction control malfunction is unsafe for safe travel on the road. When the problem occurs the TSC will disengage with a light on the dashboard. The brake lights will stay illuminated.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #25

Sep 012021

Aura

  • miles
The brake lights constantly stay on. The ESC alert/traction control alert always turns on. Acceleration and transmission issues. Rpms shoot up and jerks into next gear from when I turn the car on, and sometimes they happen after I've been driving and there was a recall on these models

- Kokomo, IN, USA

problem #24

Jul 172020

Aura

  • 215,000 miles
Car reads service ECM, reduced engine power, service traction. Throttle body has been replaced, but the previous issues occurred. Car seems to want to stall.upon reducing speed to slow down. Then when I try to accelerate, I cant accelerate when engine is still on. Car will idle up and down and reduce power. If car is in park for a few minutes, error messages stated above will also appear. Car reduced engine power on highway while at 60mph, hard to steer. Car will hesitate when slowing down to make turns at reduced speed.

- Locust Grove, GA, USA

problem #23

Feb 162020

Aura

  • 123,350 miles
While driving on city streets and highways the speed control will release after being set or won't set at all, the third brake light works intermittently, and the steering got jerky while turning corners.

- Cumming, IA, USA

problem #22

Sep 162019

Aura

  • miles
While driving, the brake lights will remain lit up even though the brakes are not being engaged. My electronic stability control (ESC) light has been popping up alot lately, almost every time the car is being used, it has popped up on my dash while the car is parked and while the car is in motion. Twice in the last year, after just starting up the car, while still being in park the ESC light will show up and I will not be able to put the car into gear, I have to shut off the the car and restart it.

- Sheboygan, WI, USA

problem #21

Oct 012017

Aura

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. While driving 35 mph, the speed increased to 38 mph. While driving 40 mph, the speed increased to 43 mph. The failures occurred independently. In addition, the headlight bulbs failed prematurely and had to be replaced every four months. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #20

Jan 212019

Aura

  • 95,000 miles
My [xxx] daughter was driving her car and the steering went out. Her car has had the electric stability control turn on and the vehicle shut off in the middle of driving. This car is a huge hazard. I have never been notified of the recalls issued back in 2012 and 2014 regarding these issues and now no one will address them or fix them as they are expired.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #19

Dec 142017

Aura

  • miles
Driving the car anywhere my car would drive good then sometimes lights start flashing service ESC, power steering, low fuel and the gauges starts going wild on the dashboard, and my car would start skipping if I don't pull over off the road right away. This is so dangerous to be on the highway people are driving fast and crazy and when your car slows down on its own it could cause a wreck. I have children and it's scares me because I don't never know when the car would act up. It seems to be a really bad issue with these cars I'm hearing would've been nice to know this before I bought the car. This is a major issue for a car to act this his out of nowhere. I've taken it to the people I bought my car from and it never acts when I take it to them put I've should them videos that I've taken of what it's goin, so they are not trying to look deeply for the problem. And I'm very disappointed this is the only vehicle I have to get me and my children around & the car is in good conditioning besides what's goin on with the electrical part. I don't know what all can be done about this but hopefully somebody can look into the problem with this type of car. Thank you

- Jacksonville, AL, USA

problem #18

Aug 182018

Aura

  • 100,000 miles
Vehicle was traveling approximately 65-70 miles per hour on the highway when the tachometer went from 2300 RPM to 5000 RPM and would do this repeatedly from time to time a service code stating service ESC would appear each time it occurred it would happen after driving for a number of hours 4 hours or more at the speeds stated previously, have taken it to a mechanic but was unable to get the car to repeat the malfunction no codes appeared and no charge for the trouble shooting.

- Clovis, NM, USA

problem #17

Sep 252016

Aura

  • 99,000 miles
This vehicle has supposedly already been serviced under recall campaign number 14V252000. However, intermittently, the brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights don't illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty engaging or disengaging the cruise control, and crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features become disabled. The date given below for occurrence of the incident is just the most recent occurrence. This issue can happen on a daily basis and has been returned to the dealer that performed the recall service but nothing is found to address the incident.

- Elkridge, MD, USA

problem #16

Aug 042016

Aura

  • 171 miles
Need double check my car

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #15

May 012016

Aura

  • 167,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ESC service warning light illuminated and the cruise control had erroneously deactivated. In addition, while driving at various speeds the vehicle would suddenly began to jerk when shifting gears and the power steering had also malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 167,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #14

Jun 302014

Aura

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the brake lights illuminated independently. In addition, the cruise control ceased. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

- Pigeon Falls, WI, USA

problem #13

Oct 282015

Aura

  • 109,000 miles
While driving, the car suddenly reduced speed, engine light comes on stating to service traction. Had the car repaired. It happened twice since, each time a day after picking up the car from the dealership. The last time, Wednesday, October 28th, I was making a left turn, the car suddenly reduced speed, lights on. This is very dangerous. Contacted GM, no help at all!

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #12

May 112015

Aura

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle decelerated independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.

- Fort Mysers, FL, USA

problem #11

Aug 162013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles
I began having issues with my car constantly jerking as the car accelerated up to 40mph. I assumed I must have put bad gas in my car since I visited a gas station I normally do not frequent. I took the car in and they claimed it was bad gas but here we are a year later with the same issues and clearly it was not bad gas and I got ripped off for replacing my fuel pump and having to pay for a rental car. I have wasted over $2K trying to figure out what the issue is with my car and I still have all my receipts as proof. The car jerks when it is very cold out and very hot, my car stalled numerous of times since this issue has began. I have had tons of diagnostics done and no one can figure out why it is "misfiring". I had my throttle body cleaned, checked my fuel lines and injectors, had the spark plugs checked, and had the maf sensor replaced twice. The check engine light came on twice but threw false codes specifically the maf sensor. I have been researching online for a year and I noticed other Saturn Aura drivers have been experiencing the same issue with no help from GM or a solution. I keep the maintenance up on my car so I do believe there seems to be some sort of known failure with these cars. I had my transmission checked and flushed and was told its in good condition. So either this is some sort of electrical issue or a bad part that is not being recalled. I would like for recall to be made on this model since numerous of drivers have reported this issue.

- Burtonsville, MD, USA

problem #10

Jun 012014

Aura 4-cyl

  • 106,400 miles
While at highway speeds (55-75) power train surges, and cruise control will not engage. Also ESC service indicator warning light turns on. Contacted dealer and gave them this information. Had my car serviced on 7/14/2014 with new spark plugs, fuel line cleaning and new brakes (front and back) and the ESC indicator illuminating intermittently. Still have issues. They say that my VIN indicates that I do not have a recall for my vehicle. But, my car is showing all the tell-tale signs for what is described in GM recall #13036 from 5/14/2014.

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #9

Jun 092014

Aura

  • 115,000 miles
Vehicle continues to lose power driving on highway over 40 mph. Aaa contacted because the vehicle would not start. Aaa tested vehicle and noted that battery was good, alternator was good. Vehicle struggles to start at ignition. Vehicle is part of recall but when I run VIN at GM site it states my vehicle does not have an active recall. ESC and ABS light are always turning on and engine attempt to shut off at high speeds on fwy. Again, I call the dealer and my VIN is not part of active recall yet all safety and life threatening indications are there. Please advise.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #8

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

Read the next 7 complaints »