Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Saturn Aura submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
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!
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.
TRACTION AND ESC SERVICE WARNINGS COME ON RANDOMLY. CAR REDUCES ENGINE POWER RANDOMLY. CAR JERKS RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC. COOLANT LEAKS BUT COOLANT WARNING DOES NOT ACTIVATE, CAR OVERHEATS.
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.
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.
MY CAR HAS 106,000 MILES, AND ENGINE IS BAD, ALWAYS TOOK GREAT CARE OF MY CAR, AND HAD OIL CHANGES ON TIME ETC. WHY IS THERE NOT RECALLS WHEN THERE IS SO MANY ISSSUES WITH THERE ENGINES?
MY TRUNK BUTTON ONLY WORKS ON OCCASIONS AND 2 OF MY DOOR WON'T LOCK OR UNLOCK IF IT'S HOT OUTSIDE. IF IT'S COLD ALL MY DOORS WORK. IT'S CRAZY! I HAVE TO WALK AROUND MY CAR LOCKING ALL MY DOORS. ALTHOUGH LOCKED OR NOT THE ALARM WILL GO OFF. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY WATER PUMP 2 TIMES IN THIS CAR. I TOOK IT IN FOR BRAKES & THEY'RE SAYING IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AGAIN! THERE'S NO WAY I SHOULD BE DOING THIS. THE WATER PUMP WAS CHANGED TWICE BY AN ACTUAL DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR HAS SERIOUS ISSUES ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAT!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT, AND THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE DTC INDICATED A FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES RELATED TO THE RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
WHILE PARKING MY SATURN ANY PARKING SPOT I ATTEMPTED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CLIP BROKE FOR THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR CONTINUE ROLLING AND LEFT THE CAR IN OPERABLE AND I NOTICED OTHER RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE SAME DESCRIPTION REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE THAT MY VEN SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION HAVING ISSUES AT THIS POINT WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING A REPLACEMENT CLIP FOR THE TRANSMISSION WIRE WHICH OPERATES FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO NEUTRAL.
ON THE GROUND I WOULD SEE SMALL AMOUNTS OF OIL. I TOOK IT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC SAW AND SHOWED ME WHERE THE OIL WAS COMING FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE A VALVE LEAK FROM THE ENGINE AND SHOWED ME. I ONLY HAVE 73,879 MILES ON THE CAR AND FEEL THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. I ONLY USE THE CAR TO GO ABOUT 8 HRS OF DRIVING A WEEK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE? I HAVE A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND I HEAR IT EVERY TIME I BACK THE CAR UP. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT. WOULD SOME ONE PLEASE GET BACK TO ME CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. I AM ASKING BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I AM STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. THANK YOU [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRACTION AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT 4 RPMS. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR TO MERGE ONTO AN OFF RAMP, I ACCELERATED AND THEN LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL AS I EXITED. IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD TICKING NOISE WHICH CONTINUED AS I DROVE HOME ON SURFACES STREETS. UPON STARTING THE CAR THE NEXT DAY I HEARD A LIGHT KNOCKING NOISE. I DROVE TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THE KNOCK GOT LOUDER. THEY ADVISED TEARING THE ENGINE DOWN FOR $1,000 TO DETERMINE THE ISSUE. THEY SAID THERE WAS METAL IN THE OIL. I BELIEVE MY ISSUES ARE THE SAME AS MANY 3.6LTR VVT ENGINE OWNERS, THE TIMING CHAINS AND SUPPORTS FOR THEM. THE NOISE IS PERSISTENT AND VARIES IN TONE. I HAD BARELY 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE KEPT THE OIL CHANGES REGULAR, I EVEN HAD MOBILE 1 SYNTHETIC PUT IN ITS LAST OIL CHANGE. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AS THIS WAS MY FIRST AMERICAN MADE NEW CAR PURCHASE AND THERE WERE ONLY EIGHT MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PAID OFF WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURED. I AM A USAF VET AND RETIRED FROM A CITY JOB OF 30 YEARS. AFTER SPENDING $32,000 ON THIS CAR, I EXPECTED SO MUCH MORE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 1/13/16 LN *TR
MY 2008 SATURN AURA XR HAD SHIFTED VERY HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR BUT THEN SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AND HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ONCE AGAIN SHIFT VERY HARD FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT. WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY DID ONE LAST VERY HARD SHIFT. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND PROCEED TO POWER DOWN ON ITS OWN. CAME TO A FULL STOP AND THE VECHICLE WOULD NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GM AND ACCORDING TO THEM, MY VIN# DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE ANY RECALLS REGARDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ATTACHED TO IT. I WILL HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS MYSELF. ALTHOUGH MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY CURRENT OR PAST RECALLS REGARDING ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION ISSUES, THERE ARE RECALLS LISTED OUT THERE FOR OTHER SATURN AURAS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE AND GM SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF IT. I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS DID NOT OCCURR WHILE I WAS STILL ON THE HIGHWAY OR IT MAY HAVE ENDED UP BEING A VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY TEMP GAUGE SHOT UP JUST BEYOND THE 3/4 MARK INTO THE RED ZONE. I PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR ABOUT 14 MINUTES TILL THE GAUGE CAME DOWN TO JUST UNDER 1/2. I BEGAN TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE GAUGE KEPT JUMPING UP AND DOWN TILL I GOT HOME. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID RESERVOIR WAS ABOUT EMPTY. I ADDED RADIATOR FLUID AND LEFT THE CAR PARKED TILL THE NEXT DAY. DROVE THE CAR AROUND FOR ALMOST 29 DAYS WHEN IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, THE RESERVOIR WAS ABOUT EMPTY AGAIN. I LOOK UP THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT OF GM OWNERS WITH VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE 3.5L OR 3.9L ENGINES HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT GM WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE (GASKET LEAK AT THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK). ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES BUT GM HAS NOT DONE A THING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. *TR
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 14 MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I MOVED THE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT DEEPER INTO THE PARK POSITION AND IT STARTED. ON MONDAY, JUNE 16 I PARKED MY CAR AFTER PURCHASING AN ITEM AT DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVED THROUGH ALL OF THE INDICATORS (PRD...) AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS NEARLY HITTING ANOTHER CAR. I CALLED FOR A TOW, AND THE DRIVER NOTED THE PROBLEM. TODAY, PEP BOYS COMPLETED REPAIR OF THE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. THERE WAS A MISSING PART. THE INCIDENT NOTICE (HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2008/SATURN/AURA/RECALLS/) RECALL ID # 103875 - POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFTPLUSHIDE DETAILS RECALL DATE: APR 30, 2014 MODEL AFFECTED: 2008 SATURN AURA SUMMARY: GENERAL MOTORS LLC (GM) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY ON APRIL 29, 2014, THAT THEY ARE RECALLING 56,214 MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 SATURN AURA VEHICLES. CONSEQUENCES: IF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FRACTURES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION MAY NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED OR UNEXPECTED DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE DRIVER GOES TO STOP AND PARK THE VEHICLE, DESPITE SELECTING THE 'PARK' POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE IN 'PARK.' IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION THERE IS A RISK THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL AWAY AS THE DRIVER AND OTHER OCCUPANTS EXIT THE VEHICLE OR ANYTIME THEREAFTER. A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO EXITING OCCUPANTS AND BYSTANDERS. REMEDY: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND GM DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY AND MOUNTING BRACKET, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS AT 1-800-553-6000. GM'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 14152. *TR
BACK IN JAN 2014 CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AT SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT ENGINE SHUT OFF EXITED VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM ENGAGED WITH REMOTE I WAS HAVING DINNER WHEN POLICE CAME IN TO ASKED WHO OWNED THE SATURN AURA AND THAT MY CAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE ISSUES . AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS CONSTANTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR HOURS . AUTOMATIC START MALFUNCTIONED NOW CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL EVEN WITH USING THE KEY . *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. THIS CAR STARTED JERKING OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM IT HAS IS THAT IF I HAVE THE CAR IN ONE GEAR IT FORCES ITSELF TO DRIVE IN ANOTHER GEAR. I TRY TO SWITCH GEARS AND THAT BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. THIS CAR DID NOT SWITCH TO THE CORRECT GEAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING AMIDST TRAFFIC. A CAR COULD HAVE EASILY TOPPLED ME OVER WITH THIS CAR NOT WANTING TO DRIVE WHEN I KNOW THAT IT IS IN THE RIGHT GEAR. MOST EVERY OTHER SATURN HAS HAD PLENTY OF ISSUES IN REGARDS TO RECALLS. HOW THIS CAR SEEMS TO ESCAPE THE SAME FATE IS BEYOND ME. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE POSTING ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MY CAR BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION. THIS CAR IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED. *KB
HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WENT HOME AND NOTICED A FEW DAYS LATER THAT I WAS LEAKING OIL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE LOCATED A OIL GASKET UP BY THE TIMING BELT AREA WAS LEAKING. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO MY WIFE DRIVES THE SAME CAR AND HER VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE SAME AREA. THIS CAN'T BE A COINCIDENT. SHE DRIVES HER CAR LESS AND BOTH VEHICLE ARE SERVICED AS REQUIRED. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE 800.00 DOLLARS OR MORE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000. UPDATED 10/28/10. *LJ THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/02/10*JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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