FaultScore

Saturn Aura stability control problems

154 of the 2,227 complaints filed about the Saturn Aura are about the stability control — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2009.

154

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

Stability & Traction Control complaints by model year

2007 Aura 43 27.9%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

2008 Aura 47 30.5%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2009 Aura 64 41.6%

Median failure at 105,500 miles

What owners said

2008 Saturn Aura at 160,000 miles Green Bay, WI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with cruise control activated, the vehicle lost cruise control functionality with the "Service Traction" message displayed. Additionally, the brake lights turned on unintendedly. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated; however, the brake lights would turn off while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #11498012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 160,000 miles Sanford, ME

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY STAY ON. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THEY GO OFF FOR 5 SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON. THE ESC ALERT/TRACTION CONTROL ALERT ALWAYS TURNS ON. ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. RPMS SHOOT UP AND JERKS INTO NEXT GEAR. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS ARE LIKE THIS RIGHT FROM WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON, AND SOMETIMES THEY HAPPEN AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING A LITTLE WHILE. IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR IT. I BROUGHT IT IN, AND WAS FIXED. ABOUT A YEAR LATER IT STARTED AGAIN BUT I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T COVER IT TO BE FIXED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11355583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 86,000 miles Mullica Hill, NJ Crash

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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

NHTSA complaint #11354147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 144,000 miles NEW Castle, KY

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING GTOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING , CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

NHTSA complaint #11354280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn Aura at 141,200 miles Littleton, CO

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SERVICE ESC WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON RANDOMLY CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT PUSHING THE BRAKES. BRAKE LIGHTS WILL SOMETIMES TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND HAS BEEN IN FOR THE RECALL TWICE BUT STILL HAVING ISSUES. THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE MOVED FROM PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE LIGHTS WILL MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11354046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn Aura at 170,000 miles Ypsilanti, MI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE SATURN AURA HAS REPEATEDLY HAD DOOR LOCK SWITCHES GO OUT, EACH TIME THE FRONT HEAD LIGHT IS REPLACED, IT BLOWS OUT AGAIN, THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR DIM RANDOMLY. THE TRACTION CONTROL/ABS LIGHTS ARE DISABLED ON THE CAR CONSTANTLY DESPITE REPLACING THE ECM, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS, COOLANT FLUSHING, AND OTHER CLEARED CODES. THE CAR JERKS AND JOLTS WHEN SLOWING DOWN, PARKING, STARTING, AND CHANGING GEARS. IT VIOLENTLY PUSHES THE CAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS ALSO REMAIN CONSTANT DESPITE CONSISTENT WORK ON THE CAR. FOUR DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS (INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP) HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO ENGAGED LOW POWER MODE AND ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CAR STOPPED BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #11343370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 120,000 miles Litchfield Park, AZ

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN IT'S HOT OUT AND I TURN A/C ON THE VEHICLE'S REDUCED ENGINE POWER POPS UP AND MY VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO 10 TO 20 MPH,IF I'M ON THE FREEWAY IT DROPS DOWN TO THAT MPH AND IS SO NOT SAFE I'VE TRIED FIXING CODE AFTER CODE AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUE,EVERYONE ONLINE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT EITHER AFTER TAKING IT TO MULTIPLE GM DEALERSHIPS OR HAVING THERE OWN MECHANIC TRY TO FIX IT.WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK FOR 10 MIN.IT WILL KICK ON AND DO IT ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #11341301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 72,000 miles Vancouver, WA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

EVERY SO OFTEN AS THE CAR IS IN MOTION IF ON THE MAIN ROADS OR THE FREEWAY I GET A WARNING REGARDING THE 'TRACTION CONTROL' AND ESC WARNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THE BREAK LIGHTS ARE LIGHT UP WHEN I'M NOT EVEN PUSHING ON THE BREAK PEDALS. AND SOME TIMES WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, I'LL LOSE SOME SPEED AND AGAIN WOULD HAVE TO ACCELERATE WHENEVER I'M DRIVING JUST TO STAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT. IT GETS VERY ANNOYING WHEN IT JUST KEEPS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA complaint #11340950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 215,000 miles Locust Grove, GA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #11340012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn Aura at 98,000 miles Wilson, NC

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE VEHICLE'S ABS, TRACTION AND ECM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER AND STEERING WHILE GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON AND CAR CAN NO LONGER MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER ( IT HAS FRIED A ECM IN UNDER TWO WEEKS).

NHTSA complaint #11328055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn Aura Willoughby, OH

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION, OR FALSE CODE. POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING IN TRANSIT. CAR HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO REGAIN USE.

NHTSA complaint #11322501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn Aura at 152,840 miles ST Petersburg, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I BOUGHT MY 2008 SATURN AURA XR USED OFF A CAR LOT LAST YEAR AROUND MARCH I STARTED HAVING STARTING ISSUES IN MAY SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR . I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER BATTERY & OTHER COSTLY THINGS BUT STILL HAVE THE NO START NO CRANK ISSUE WITH MY CAR IT'S STILL DRIVEABLE BUT WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP MY CAR WONT START UNTIL AFTER THE CAR COOLS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR MY CAR IS NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF OVERHEATING THIS PROBLEM IS VERY STRESSFUL & DANGEROUS I'M TIRED OF BEING STUCK WHEN I GO PLACES ALSO SOMETIMES MY CAR DOESN'T GO PAST 20 MPH & I HAVE TO PULL OVER SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND WAIT 15 MINUTES & MY DRIVER SEAT STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA complaint #11322426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 104 miles Oakdale, MN

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ANTI THEFT LIGHT IS ON, DISABLING MY CAR. WHEN THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON ALL OTHER DASH LIGHTS FLICKER AND MY NEEDLES GO UP AND DOWN. MY MESSAGE BOARD STATES ALL PWOER STEERING, SERVICE ESC, AND LOW TIRE AIR MESSAGES. I HAVE REPLACED MY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, STEERING COLUMN, AND MY BCM & NOTHING IS WORKING. IVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE CHEV DEALERSHIP FOR ALL SERVICES AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE ISSUE. SINGLE MOM STUCK WITHOUT A CAR NOW, BC GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS CAR FOR THIS ISSUE

NHTSA complaint #11310030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn Aura at 90,000 miles Anchorage, AK

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WAL-MART. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WASN'T GOING AS I PRESSED ON GAS SO I NOTICE SOMETHING STRANGE WAS GOING ON TRIED TO SHIFT IT WOULDN'T DOWNSHIFT. THEN I PULLED INTO MIDDLE LANE THAT IS WERE IT SLOWLY STOPPED. THEN I SHUT IT OFF STARTED MY CAR AGAIN TO GO TO A SAFER PLACE IT STARTED, CONTINUE DRIVING ABOUT LESS THEN A MILE TURNED INTO WAL-MART AND AS I WAS TURNING IN CAR GAS PEDALS AND SHIFT WAS NOT WORKING. SO IT ROLLED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO PARKINGNLOT WAL-MART. WHEN I TRIED TO REVERSE AND MAKE THE CAR STRAIGHT IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE ONLY REVERSE. I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND CALLED MY HUSBAND CAUSE I WAS PANIC THAT I ALMOST GOT HIT BEHIND ME TILL I PULLED INTO CENTER LANE I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA complaint #11292318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn Aura Bunkie, LA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ETS OR ETC COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN IT'S WET AND RAINY TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON CONSTANTLY BRAKES ARE STICKING TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS POWER STEERING LOCKED UP HAS TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP CHANGED I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS 08 AURA AND APPROXIMATELY 1MONTH OF HAVING IT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE OFF INCLUDING CONTROL ARM THROWING MYSELF IN THE CAR INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT VERY TERRIFYING ALSO WHEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT AND IT BROKE THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD TO HAVE THAT CHANGED ALONG WITH POWER STEERING PUMP OIL LEAK LOW TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY ECTECS LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY BAKHTAR SPEND CONSTANTLY WHEN TRYING TO GO UPHILL LIKE THERE IS NO TRACTION WHEN PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED ALL WHEEL STEEL SPIN AS IF THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED BRAKE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WHERE WEAR OUT VERY OFTEN BACK BRAKE CALIBER PROBLEMS TRANSMISSION SEEMING TO SLIP YEARS RPMS ARE FLUCTUATING CORE HAVING PROBLEMS EXHILARATING IN THE PREVIOUS BOXES TO CHECK AXING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE I WAS ONLY ALLOWED TO PICK THREE I HAVE MORE THAN THREE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SUSPENSION STEERING WHEELS ABS SYSTEM ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY EVERY DAY FUEL SYSTEM AND LIGHTING LIGHTS COME ON BY THERE SELF BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK OR WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO FUEL SYSTEM IS BURNING A LOT OF GAS FOR NO REASON NO ACCELERATION FROM STOP RPMS FLUCTUATING DASHBOARD LIGHTS CUT ON AND OFF CRUISE WILL NOT DISENGAGE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY EVERY DAY ALL DAY

NHTSA complaint #11291690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura Sheboygan, WI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #11269745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 162,000 miles Duncanville, TX

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. FREEDOM CHEVROLET BUICK GMC BY ED MORSE (LOCATED AT 8008 MARVIN D LOVE FWY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 330-4981) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #11245190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 162,000 miles Duncanville, TX

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. FREEDOM CHEVROLET BUICK GMC BY ED MORSE (LOCATED AT 8008 MARVIN D LOVE FWY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 330-4981) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #11245190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 130,000 miles Barstow, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND SERVICE ESC LIGHT WILL COME ON. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SNATCH WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE TRACTION WILL DISABLE AND WONT ENABLE. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY. *TR

NHTSA complaint #11241749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn Aura at 2 miles Addison, IL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ENGINE POWER REDUCED, TRACTION SERVICE ESC, AND ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WHEN WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #11241896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn Aura problems