2008 Saturn Aura Electrical Problems

engine fuse box gets extremely hot and after turning car off fails to turn on again until it has completely cooled down transmission slipping continuously

NHTSA ID

11774810

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

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

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.....

NHTSA ID

11594289

Incident

Jun 9, 2024

Yes my 2008 Saturn Aura 3.5 v6 has a Electrical issue it's goin to get someone killed...

NHTSA ID

11577035

Incident

May 20, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11544463

Incident

Aug 14, 2023

Mileage

120,000 mi

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 ID

11498012

Incident

Nov 19, 2022

Mileage

160,000 mi

My ABS, traction control service, and ESC service warning lights came on everytime i started my car for about a week and they kept shutting themselves off and on every now and again. Now none of those service lights come across my dashboard and none of my fuses are bad. I found a recall for my car, that applies to my vehicle but its not showing up when i put in my VIN number.

NHTSA ID

11461365

Incident

Apr 11, 2022

The brake light comes on by itself for no apparent reason it will turn on like you Are braking this could cause and accident it also will slip out of park for no rhyme or reason also which is scary I park on a.hill and luckily I had my wheels turned towards the curb so it didn't move when it happens multiple times

NHTSA ID

11454783

Incident

Jan 5, 2022

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11448876

Incident

Jan 22, 2022

Check engine, ABS, and traction control indicator lights have come on and gone off intermittently, even though the car has received routine services, as indicated -- though prior to that, for many months, the tire pressure indicator light would come on and go off intermittently. As I drove about 25 to 30 mph, the above mentioned control lights came on as I came to a stop, followed by the power steering indicator light (for the first time). Immediately, there was loss of power steering control. With great difficulty, I drove the car about 3 blocks and attempted to park. It took about 15 minutes to parallel park in a large space, with great difficulty. I turned off the engine and let the car sit for about 10 to 15 minutes, then restarted the car, which then seemed to be fine (at least drivable) -- though the check engine and traction control lights remained on. (Still, I was afraid to drive -- thinking the power steering could go out at any time, knowing it could easily result in no control of the car, grave danger, and serious accident. Anyway, with trepidation, I drove the car back home, where it has sat since. I find the host of this car's repairs troublesome and expensive. As for the loss of power steering -- I find this unconscionable.

NHTSA ID

11442040

Incident

Nov 8, 2021

REPLACED ALL BREAKS, POWER STEERING IS OUT, CHUGS WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND BLINKER, POWER SEATS AND WINDOWS BLOW FUSE ALL THE TIME. THE BLINKER IS A HAZARD. ONE OWNER PREVIOUS US AND ONLY ONE RECALL WAS DONE

NHTSA ID

11323167

Incident

Apr 30, 2020

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 ID

11322426

Incident

Apr 27, 2020

Mileage

152,840 mi

HEAD LIGHT STOPPED WORKING THEN WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR AGAIN WOULD TURN OVER TRY OR ANYTHING STARTER WAS CHECKED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED IF IT EVER CRANKS CAN'T TURN OFF OR IT WON'T CRANK AGAIN FOR 2 PLUS HOURS CHECKED RELAYS SEEMS AS IF IT MAY BE WIRE SHORTENED OUT WHEN WON'T CRANK

NHTSA ID

11306907

Incident

Jan 16, 2020

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 ID

11291690

Incident

Nov 29, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DOWN A HILL, WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESS AND FAILED TO STOP/LOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE TRYING TO DIVERT THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES SHE WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11221688

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

124,000 mi

WHEN IN MOTION AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE MOTOR GOING INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND DRIVES SLOW. I HAVE REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND THE CAR STILL GOES INTO REDUCED POWER. THIS IS S SAFETY CONCETTA'S I AM AFRAID OF GETTING INTO A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE THAT STILL CAN NOT BE PINPOINTED.

NHTSA ID

11208431

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

DOORS TO THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT UNLOCK, EITHER WITH KEY FOB, OR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER LOCK BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. AT THIS TIME THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN, EVEN WHEN THE LOCK IS MANUALLY PLACED INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IN AN EMERGENCY THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS UNABLE TO BE OPENED, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN OCCUPANT TO BE TRAPPED. THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH OR KEY FOB. THOSE DOORS ARE ABLE TO BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY. THIS POSES A SECURITY ISSUE AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PROPERLY SECURED. I WOULD LIKE GENERAL MOTORS TO PAY FOR THE NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE DOORS/DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11174859

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND VARIOUS INDICATORS FLASHED ON AND OFF ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11162556

Incident

Dec 19, 2017

Mileage

142,000 mi

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST" RECALL. DROVE IT THERE, BUT HAD TO TOW IT OFF BECAUSE THE SHIFT CABLE BROKE. IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR, JUST STUCK IN DRIVE. ALSO WONT START NOW I ASSUME BECAUSE IT WONT GO IN PARK. THE LOCK BUTTONS/ WINDOWS DONT WORK EITHER

NHTSA ID

11161261

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

Mileage

1,640,000 mi

3RD BRAKE LIGHT IN FEAR WINDOW OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND IS KNOWN ISSUE ON AURAS. ALSO HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND THAT IS ALSO INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA ID

11129383

Incident

Oct 20, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE POWER LOCKS WILL NOT WORK BUT, RANDOMLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THEY WILL START GOING UP AND DOWN AND THEN IN PARK WHEN I'M NOT IN THE VEHICLE THE DOORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BUT, ANY OTHER TIME THEY DO NOT WORK. ALSO 2 DAYS AGO ON MY WAY TO WORK THE POWER STEERING INSTANTLY WENT WHEN I PULLED INTO WORK. I PARKED THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. I'M VERY SCARED OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11123358

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

153,000 mi