2008 Saturn Aura
The Verdict
The 2008 Saturn Aura has 431 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (135 complaints) and transmission (116 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 32/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Saturn Aura, consider the 2010 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2010 has 99% fewer complaints
View the 2010 Saturn Aura dashboard →
Klunk Score: Check Engine
More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The Air Bag Service Warning Message and warning light is illuminated I took the car back to the dealership had it serviced and a month later the message and light are on again. The passenger Air Bag sensor is malfunctioning sometimes it doesn't detect the passenger most times it detects a passenger when there isn't one. The tail and brake lights work intermittently. The steering system is dangerous. There's vibrating in the steering wheel and accelerator pedal at all speeds, the steering wheel pulls and jerks when braking and hitting bumps, the steering doesn't hold alignment and the power steering works intermittently.
My electric power steering stopped working. Not safe to drive. This was fixed prior on recall. I did not own car then.
My 2008 Saturn Aura had the transmission shift cable safety recall completed. The same rollaway condition has returned. GM and the dealer refused reinspection and repair, stating the vehicle ‘has lived its life.’ This recall addresses a known rollaway safety risk, and the condition still exists.
The power train has failed the car won't start the fuses and relays are burning up and the transmission shifts so hard at a jolt almost. The service ecs ecm and service airbag indicator staying lit and the back passenger airbag looks like it's about to deploy it's a safety hazard I love my car I've only had it a year and I don't know what is happening or why.
My vehicle’s make and model have received recalls as stated online, however, my specific VIN does not state any recalls. I am having the same symptoms with the airbags, electrical, and transmission as the recalls stated with my make and model. I believe there should be recalls for my vehicle’s VIN. My check engine light has been on, and it is not shifting the way it should. My airbag warning light also turns on at times.
I noticed a rattling while driving also smoking under the hood so I took it to a garage and he said that's no problem and that I have a severe oil leak under the front of car he showed me and oil is EVERYWHERE HE MENTIONED HE COULDNT FIX IT THERES A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS LINE AND POWERSTEERING AXLE OR PUMP. I HAVE TO ALSO PUT ANTI FREEZE IN THE CAR EVERY 2 DAYS. ALONG WITH POWERSTEERING FLUID AND MOTOR OIL. HE MENTIONED HE HAS NO IDEA WHERE THE OIL IS COMING FROM BECAUSE ITS SO MUCH ITS ALL OVER UNDER THE FRONT AND RECCOMMEND ME NOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT MAY CATCH FIRE. THIS IS MY only resource of a ride. Also I noticed when I go over a bump in the road the dash lights go brighter or darker.The traction control light is also on which just came on along with a s light.i took it to the car wash and did notice it looks like a car possibly swiped the right side because there's paint missing!
Power steering goes out sometimes it’s happened three times since I’ve owned the car in 2017. It just happened today (3/2/25) for the third time And it tells me that there’s a recall on Saturn aura that were made in 2008, but when I enter my VIN number, it doesn’t show that mine is on a recall. But I’m not sure why it’s goes out sometime and then works when I turn my car back on.
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became difficult to steer and did not function as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with a failed electronic power steering assist module. The contact was informed that the electronic power steering assist module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) was previously completed on the contact's vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Key ignition don’t engaged when turning.
Water is leaking into the passenger compartment to the point of pooling, I am constantly having to shop vac water out but, I feel this could lead to the floor pan rusting out and the seats falling through the floor. This is a GM TSB issue so, GM knows about the problem. There are many other Saturn Aura owners who have experienced this issue.
While I was driving my car going 40 mph down the road the wheel stuck and I couldn't turn or do anything. I had to pull over and reset the car by shutting it off and turning it back on. I've had to do that before when I first started the car and tried to back up in the wheel froze and it wouldn't move anywhere. I went to the garage today and they told me that it's my power steering.
Nobody has inspected my vehicle. However my rear passenger airbag on the driver's side has malfunctioned and blown out the rear interior panel and the service airbag light is on this just happened 4 days ago and there was no accident to cause it.. my transmission is not functioning properly as of yesterday it has a jolt like jerk when shifting into another gear and doesn't want to go all the way into park. And my speed odometer bottoms to 0 and all electrical equipment fails temporarily while driving I have video proof of this happening. My safety as well as other motorists are at risk if this keeps happening... ATTENTION THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS !!! YET.....
Yes my 2008 Saturn Aura 3.5 v6 has a Electrical issue it's goin to get someone killed...
The contact owned a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and ascending a grade in the road, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped the curb on the left side of the vehicle and then crashed into a telephone pole, he was unable to steer due to the loss of power steering functionality. The contact stated that the crash happened very fast and he was not able to depress the brake pedal to avoid the crash. The contact stated that the front driver's side bumper, grill, and lights were crushed. There was also damage to the driver's side front tire wheel well and axle. The contact stated that he called the police who then wrote a report. The contact stated that he was not injured, however the vehicle was undrivable and was towed to an impound lot. The contact stated that the vehicle was later declared a total loss by his insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
I bought this 2008 Saturn Aura from dealer on 09/13/2023. Since I bought it, I fractured my hand and foot while checking the tires and brakes. 10/27/23 - I put the car in park to investigate what was causing the constant rattling noise while at the same time the car would shudder. While I was on one knee with one hand on ground so l could bend and look into the wheel well, the car rolled the tire over my hand and foot that was in its path because I wasn't able to move quick enough and didn't expect that to happen. 11/16/23 - I found out what the rattling noise and shudder was caused by when I completely lost all steering control and hit a tree which damaged the vehicle and caused injury, not only to myself but also to my 5 year old nephew who was in the car with me. I was told by a mechanic that a damaged joint bearing caused separation of the u-joint resulting in loss of steering control. What the hell is wrong with this car. I paid $1500 for the vehicle, then to top it off add injury costs I paid; the repairs and/or replacement of the u-joint and transmission shift cable due to damage. I don't know what to do to remedy the situation. I can't even afford to fix the body damage or replace the wheel rim damage caused by the wreck. Where do I go from here? I can't afford a new vehicle that why I bought this car. What a joke. Please advise. Maybe I can find free council.
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake lights intermittently failed to illuminate. The brake lights occasionally illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electrical Stability Control) and was taken to the dealer and dielectric lubricant was added to the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector. The contact was unsure if attaching the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer and relearning the brake pedal home position was performed. The contact stated that the failure started 9 years after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Power steering went out as we were driving, making the wheel almost impossible to turn. There was a recall repair before I purchased the vehicle but I am skeptical it was actually done as I am having the same issue with the power steering that was supposed to have been fixed. This is a continuous problem that puts my life and the lives of others in danger.
Stuck in drive something to do with the Shifter cable have to use the emergency brake to stop the car and if shut off it wont start back up
Brake lights and headlights randomly go off mainly the brake light thats in the back window!
Power steering goes out while driving sometimes, can’t control car. Bought car from FB marketplace last month and previous owner states that it has happened before numerous times
431 total