2008 Saturn Aura Airbags Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11719644

Incident

Dec 6, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11696847

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11677968

Incident

Aug 2, 2025

NO AIR BAD DEPLOYMENT AT ALL. MY 21 YEAR OLD SON WAS KILLED. IGNITION KEEPED CUTTING OFF

NHTSA ID

11196555

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

I TAKE MY VEHICLE AT MARTIN CHEVROLET ON 02/22/2019 FOR THE INCOMPLETE RECALL TO BE FIX AFTER A DAY MY VEHICLE START HAVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AIR BAG TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON TAIL LIGHT NOT WORKING WIPER BLADE STOP WORKING THE CONSEQUENCE THAT ANY OF THE MENTION ISSUES WILL CAUSE FAILURE CONDITIONS INCREASES THE RISK OF FATAL ACCIDENT I WANT ALL THESE ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11182374

Incident

Feb 23, 2019

LETTER FROM SENATOR WARNER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE ASSISTANCE WITH IDENTIFYING THE BRAND AND MODEL NUMBER OF THE AIRBAGS INSIDE HIS 2008 SATURN AURA. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11081668

Incident

Mar 29, 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. NOT INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11062672

Incident

Nov 5, 2017

Mileage

139,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 11/05/2017 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE PROBLEMS EVERYDAY WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE CAR. MY POWER LOCKS RARELY WORK ON ALL OF MY DOORS. I MANUALLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER'S DOOR AND IF I TRY TO UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS WITH MY POWER LOCK CONTROLS, SOME OR NONE OF THE OTHER LOCKS WILL UNLOCK OR LOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE CAR BEING STATIONARY, IN MOTION, AND ON ALL VARIETIES OF DRIVING. MY SEATBELT LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD FLASHES EVEN WHEN MY SEATBELT IS ON. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE CAR BEING STATIONARY, IN MOTION, AND ON ALL VARIETIES OF DRIVING. THE TIRE MONITOR AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ARE ON AT ALL TIMES, EVEN AFTER HAVING MY TIRES CHECKED BY A SPECIALIST. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE CAR BEING STATIONARY, IN MOTION, AND ON ALL VARIETIES OF DRIVING. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED AND WEARING A SEATBELT. THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY BEEN NOTICED WHILE DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. THE OVERALL LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD WILL DIM, GO COMPLETELY OUT, AND TURN BACK ON AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE CAR IN MOTION AND ON ALL VARIETIES OF DRIVING. THE TRUNK, THAT DOESN'T HAVE EXTERIOR KEY ACCESS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T OPEN AND HAS TO BE ACCESSED FROM THE INTERIOR VIA THE BACKSEATS. THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY BEEN ATTEMPTED WHILE STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11047590

Incident

Nov 5, 2017

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK MY CAR TO MILES CHEVROLET TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME MY AIRBAG MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IT'S A 2008. THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE FOR BOTH OF THOSE REASONS. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS, AND I FEEL THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE. ASSUMINGLY, THIS MAY BE THE REASON THE SATURN AURA HAD BEEN RECALLED AND NOT DISTRIBUTED ANYMORE, DUE TO THE MANY RECALLS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. I AM ASKING THIS BE PUT ON THE RECALL LIST, AS I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE PARTICULARLY WITH THE SATURN AURAS, WHICH WERE ONLY PRODUCED FOR 3 YEARS, THEN TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713275

Incident

Apr 21, 2015

Mileage

63,000 mi

AIR BAGS WARNING SIGNAL COMES ON AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679108

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

18,775 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT. AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT REMAIN ON WHEN A PASSENGER OF 115+ LBS IS IN THE SEAT. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP CHECK IT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE THE PASSENGER WAS NOT SITTING PROPERLY. EXPERIMENTED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT SIZE PASSENGERS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. HOW SAFE IS MY PASSENGER? IS THE AIRBAG ACTIVATED EVEN IF THE LIGHT DOES NOT STAY ON? INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT---KEEP HEARING A CLUNKING/POPPING SOUND AS WELL AS FEELING A POP UNDER MY FEET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THAT NEEDS REPLACED BUT THAT IT IS NOT A HAZARD. HOW CAN A SHAFT RELATED TO THE STEERING NOT BE A HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671501

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 12/30/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED TWO AIRBAG SENSORS WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. UPDATED 05/28/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10660563

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10643561

Incident

Aug 4, 2014

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE THAT THE AIR SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED WHILE THE PASSENGER WAS SEATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER WEIGHED BETWEEN 115 AND 135 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10615361

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

58,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2008 SATURN AURA XE 3.5 V6 WHITE IN COLOR IN JANUARY FROM A CARMAX IN NEWPORT NEWS THE FIRST DAY WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT HOME THEY DIDN'T ALLOW US BECAUSE THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A AIRBAG LIGHT SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY,NOW A COUPLE AMOUNTS DOWN THE ROAD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STAYS OFF MOST OF THE TIME WHEN A PERSON OF 120+ POUNDS SITS IN THE SEAT ITS BECOME A HAZARD AS I HAVE TWO TEEN BOYS AND A DAUGHTER THAT HAVE TO RIDE IN THIS CAR CARMAX WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT WHEN ITS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY WARRANTY I NEED ADDITIONAL HELP THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED ALONG WITH THE PONTIAC G6 CARS THAT'S WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

10598010

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

2008 SATURN AURA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE, WAS NOT ON THE RECALLED LIST, BUT SHOULD BE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10597160

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT SUPPORT BRACKET FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY TO THE RESIDENCE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

NHTSA ID

10592664

Incident

Jun 13, 2013

Mileage

163,000 mi

THE ESC TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF RANDOMLY, THEN THE CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF RANDOMLY AND FUEL TANK AND THE ENGINE GAUGES GOING UP THEN BACK DOWN TO ZERO. AND NOW THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS "LOCKED UP" AND WILL NOT DISENGAGE. I FOUND A WEBSITE [XXX] LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, MANY START WITH CHANGING OUT TO A NEW BATTERY, THEN THE STATER AND THEN THE ALTERNATOR ONLY TO HAVE THIS ISSUE CONTINUE AND COSTING THEM A SMALL FORTUNE. IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER CONTROL PANEL HAVING A MALFUNCTION OR SHORT. BUT SINCE SATURN NO LONGER EXISTS, GM IS NOT DOING A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD MY CAR TOWED INTO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSIS / REPAIR THIS MORNING. THEY JUST CALLED ME BACK SAYING THAT THE "UNDER BUS ELECTRIC CENTER" HAS SHORTED OUT / MALFUNCTIONED? BECAUSE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY POWER TO IT WHEN THEY TESTED IT. AFTER READING ALL THE POSTS ON THE ABOVE WEBSITE, IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE. THE POINT IN FILING A COMPLAINT IS THAT #1) GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE COMPUTER PANEL SHORTING OUT / BEING DEFECTIVE AS THERE ARE MORE THAN A 100 REPORTS. AND #2) AS SOMEONE ELSE HAD POSTED, DOES IT TAKE THIS ISSUE HAPPENING WHILE A PERSON IS DRIVING THE CAR, BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND DYING BEFORE ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION OR RECALL IS ENFORCED? AND IF AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS, WOULD THE COMPUTER CONTROL PANEL EVEN BE TESTED? OR WOULD THE ACCIDENT BE ATTRIBUTED TO SOME OTHER CAUSE LIKE DRIVER ERROR OR WEATHER CONDITIONS OR WORN OUT TIRES? HOW DOES ANYONE KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE HASN'T CAUSED ACCIDENTS? *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

10546285

Incident

Sep 22, 2013

Mileage

47,500 mi

THE BACK RIGHT WELD ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO TILT TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION TO BEING UNCOMFORTABLE, I CANNOT BELIEVE HAVING A SEAT THAT IS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WOULD BE SAFE WERE I TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL SITES REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE OF THE FAULTY WELDS ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I'M SURPRISED TO FIND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET. ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG SENSORS, FOR WHICH I AM ALSO SEEING MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509689

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ID

10493097

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADDED AIR TO THE TIRES HOWEVER THE TIRE PRESSURE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ

NHTSA ID

10472068

Incident

Aug 16, 2012

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ

NHTSA ID

10441356

Incident

Dec 24, 2011

Mileage

63,000 mi

SIDE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE FORCE ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325534

Incident

Apr 11, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON MY 2008 SATURN WHILE DRIVING CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279662

Incident

Nov 22, 2008

Mileage

12,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND THE CONTACT'S NECK. HER NECK WAS INJURED AND SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A PHYSICIAN DUE TO THE CHEMICALS EXPELLED FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE IMPACT WAS FORCEFUL ENOUGH THAT THE CONTACT THOUGHT SHE HAD BEEN SHOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,495 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,600.

NHTSA ID

10246832

Incident

Oct 6, 2008

Mileage

10,495 mi