2008 Saturn Aura Exterior lighting Problems

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

Brake lights and headlights randomly go off mainly the brake light thats in the back window!

NHTSA ID

11511084

Incident

Mar 8, 2023

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

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

BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PRESSED. LIGHTLY PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL DEACTIVATES BRAKE LIGHTS. FULLY PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WILL CORRECTLY ACTIVATE BRAKE LIGHTS. UPON RELEASING BRAKE PEDAL BRAKE LIGHTS WILL DEACTIVATE FOR SOME TIME BEFORE ACTIVATING ON THEIR OWN. AT FIRST THIS STARTED HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY BUT HAS PROGRESSED TO HAPPENING AT ALL TIMES INCLUDING WHEN STATIONARY IN PARK, AND IN MOTION. DUE TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ACTIVE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NOT BEING APPLIED OTHER DRIVERS ARE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT I AM DOING, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11361940

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

56,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). HEIDEBREICHT CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 64200 VAN DYKE, WASHINGTON, MI 48095, (586) 372-6569) REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11233956

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

HEADLAMP, LOW BEAMS KEEP GOING OUT. IT STARTS WITH ONE SIDE THEN I REPLACE IT THEN THE OTHER SIDE GOES OUT. THEY DRIVER SIDE REPLACED WORKED FOR A MONTH THEN WENT OUT THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE LASTED FROM OCTOBER 2017 TILL JAN 5 2018. I KEEP REPLACING THE LOW BEAMS. IT COST 100$ EVERY TIME ONE IS REPLACED. I ACTUALLY TRIED REPLACEING ALL 4, AND STILL ONE LOW BEAM WENT OUT I REPLACED ONE THEN NEXT MONTH ANOTHER ONE WENT OUT.

NHTSA ID

11062066

Incident

Jan 5, 2018

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11061426

Incident

Dec 3, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHEN I'M DRIVING THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON BUT WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF. I'VE HAD PEOPLE STOP ME WHILE I'M AT A RED LIGHT TO TELL ME THAT WHEN I STEPPED ON MY BRAKES MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF, BUT THEY'RE ON WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT'S VERY SCARY. I'VE TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC BUT THEY STEP ON THE BRAKES THE LIGHTS COME ON.THEY COME ON WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING STILL IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN I'M DRIVING IS WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK RIGHT. I DRIVE AT NIGHT TIME AND IF I'M AT A RED LIGHT WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS SOMEBODY MIGHT RUN INTO THE BACK OF ME. I'M REALLY ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE CAR SEEMS FINE.

NHTSA ID

11024966

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

Mileage

146,845 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LAMPS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED UNTIL SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) AT DUNN CHEVROLET BUICK LOCATED IN OREGON, OHIO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 231,000.

NHTSA ID

11018811

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

Mileage

231,000 mi

THIS IS A REPEAT PROBLEM FOR A MALFUNCTION THAT WAS REPAIRED BY A DEALER UNDER RECALL # 13036. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY ARE ON (LIT) WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO OFF (DARK). THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR DESPITE A PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10919941

Incident

Oct 7, 2016

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT TOUCHED AND GO OFF WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. I CALL GM AND THEY TOLD ME MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON A RECALL, BUT IT SEEMS THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10914220

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

87,000 mi

THE CRUISE CONTROL IN MY 2008 SATURN AURA IS NOT FUNCTIONING. SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKES LIGHTS ARE ON CONSTANTLY, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SATURN-APPROVED CHEVY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REFERENCED THE NHTSA RECALL #14V252000 FROM 2014. THE MECHANICS CHECKED THE SCAN DATA AND FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL LEARNED POSITION DATA WAS ERRACTIC IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND WON'T HOLD THE SETTINGS. THEY CHECKED THE CIRCUITS AND CONNECTIONS (AND SUPPOSEDLY REPERFORMED THE 2014 RECALL REPAIR) BUT CONCLUDED THAT THE FAULT IS IN THE BCM. THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE BCM, AT A COST OF $600. I EXPLAINED TO THE MECHANIC THAT I BELIEVE THE FAILING BCM IS DUE TO THE VOLTAGE FLUCTUATIONS THAT PROMPTED THE RECALL, LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, AND CALLED GM. A SENIOR ADVISOR AT GM EXPLAINED THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE APPARENT SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE THE RECALL DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE BCM.

NHTSA ID

10894336

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

SATURN AURA 2008 TAIL LAMP MALFUNCTION. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO TUSTIN GM FOR BRAKE REPAIR AND BRAKE LIGHT REPAIR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, I WASN'T TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL. 2 WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED MY TRACTION CONTROL, ESC AND PANIC BRAKE ASSISTANCE WERE NOT WORKING ALONG WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND A FEW OTHER FEATURES. IT OCCURRED RANDOMLY AFTER AT LEAST AN HOUR OF DRIVING. I NOTICED AFTER A FEW TIMES THIS OCCURRED MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE I WAS IN PARK WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. I TESTED IT, AND THEY INDEED TURNED OFF WHEN I ENGAGED MY BRAKES, ONLY TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN WHEN I DISENGAGED MY BRAKES. I WAS VERY NERVOUS DRIVING IT HOME AND HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS ON THE CITY STREET STOPPING AT STOP LIGHTS. I BROUGHT THIS BACK TO TUSTIN GM'S ATTENTION AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S BEEN CORRECTED AND IT'S NOW MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE CHARGES OF FIXING IT. I REFUSED AND BROUGHT IT TO ORANGE COAST BUICK GMC AND CADILLAC. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL, WOULDN'T EVEN CHECK. I MADE A CASE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID MY ONLY OPTION IS TO DRIVE THE UNSAFE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM OCCURS AND THEN BRING IT INTO A DEALER SO THEY CAN FIND OUT THE ISSUE. THEY CLAIM MY PROBLEM DOES NOT CORRELATE WITH THE RECALL IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, AND HAVE DONE EVERYTHING SHORT OF CALLING ME A LIAR. I NOW HAVE A RENTAL VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM DEPENDED ON BY MY ELDERS TO BRING THEM TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS. I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED, PROPERLY, AND HOPEFULLY SOME TYPE OF COST ASSISTANCE WITH THE RENTAL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO CAN'T SEEM TO TELL ME THE EXACT DATE THE RECALL WAS REMEDIED. FIRST THEY SAID JANUARY, THEN THEY SAID AUGUST. [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

10823512

Incident

Jan 26, 2016

LOW BEANS NOT WORKING, REPLACED LIGHT BULBS, RELAYS AND FUSE ARE GOOD

NHTSA ID

10785860

Incident

Jan 30, 2015

EVERY 6-8 MONTHS I AM HAVING TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AS THEY ARE BURNING OUT ON BOTH SIDES. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A MECHANICAL ISSUE BUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND HAVING THE LIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY, I AM AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING. HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE PARTS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS? ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

10763358

Incident

Aug 17, 2014

Mileage

81,000 mi

2008 SATURN AURA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION SYSTEM RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING, PRIOR TO THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER ATTACHED THE RECALL NOTICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10702642

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

42,776 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY CAR ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE IN NO RELATION TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE ON THEIR OWN AND TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED. SOMETIMES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PULLED UP IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED ON THE FOLLOWING OCCURRENCES: JULY 21, 2011, JULY 27, 2011, AUGUST 21, 2012, MARCH, 29, 2013, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014, NOVEMBER 19, 2014. REPAIRS HAVE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED (2 TIMES); DIELECTRIC GREASE APPLIED TO BCM CONNECTORS (APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES); CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES REPLACED; BRAKE PEDAL HOME POSITION RECALIBRATED (2 TIMES). THE ISSUE STILL HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED, DESPITE IT BEING INCLUDED IN A GM RECALL FROM AUGUST 2014 NUMBER 13036, AND HAVING IT TWICE BEEN ATTEMPTED UNDER SAID RECALL. THE GM DEALERSHIP TO WHICH THIS CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT FOR THE RECALL, COLONIAL BUICK PONTIAC GMC IN WATERTOWN, MA CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL AND IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS THAN IT MUST BE PAID BY THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS ANTITHETICAL TO THE PURPOSE OF THE RECALL, WHICH IS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, DESPITE THE TERMS OF THE RECALL NOT FULLY ADDRESSING THE ERROR. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIM THAT WHAT SHOULD BE FIXED NEXT IS REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, DESPITE THAT HAVING BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE GM RECALL IS NOT FULLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, AND I, AS THE CUSTOMER, SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FIXING THE MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661371

Incident

Jul 21, 2011

Mileage

51,763 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF AND WHILE THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ID

10615007

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

33,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AT NIGHT TIME, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10597306

Incident

Feb 13, 2014

Mileage

102,000 mi

IT'S HARD TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW THE BRAKES POWER STEERING AND LIGHT HAS TO BE CHANGED FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587052

Incident

Oct 19, 2013

Mileage

97,000 mi

THIS IS AN ISSUE I EXPERIENCE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALER. IT HAS SINCE RETURNED AND IS GETTING WORSE. REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING AND IN NEUTRAL ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT FUNCTION ONCE THE BREAK LIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN THE PEDAL IS PRESSED LIGHTLY AND THE BREAKS ENGAGE SLOWLY, THE BREAK LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF. UPON MODERATE TO HEAVY BREAKING THE LIGHTS WILL THEN TURN BACK ON. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. UPON RELEASING THE BREAKS I WILL HAVE APPROX. 7 SECONDS WHERE I CAN USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE BREAK LIGHTS ARE OFF BEFORE THE LIGHTS TURN ON AGAIN AND DISENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL. DURING THAT 7 SECONDS LIGHT BREAKING WILL STILL NOT TURN ON THE BREAK LIGHTS. THIS ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT BUT IS APPEARING MORE REGULARLY. DURING A RECENT 40 MILE TRIP I COULD USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR A COUPLE MILES, THEN LOOSE IT FOR A COUPLE MORE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON, THEN REGAIN NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY FOR A COUPLE MORE, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575373

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

FIRST WAS DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING BY ITSELF RESULTING IN DEAD BATTERY. 2ND WAS TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON AT A STOP LIGHT. 3RD WAS CAR ALARM GOES OFF WHEN ITS NOT SET. MOST RECENTLY ESC ACTIVE CAME ON DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION MERGING INTO TRAFFIC CAR WOULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED VERY NEARLY CAUSING BEING REAR ENDED BY A SEMI. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES LUCKILY NO ONE WAS KILLED. 5TH THE RADIO TURNS VOLUME DOWN BY ITSELF AND YOU CAN HEAR COMPUTER OR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN DASH. DEALER SAYS NO CODES PRESENT. THERE MAY NOT BE A CODE BUT ALL THIS IS HAPPENING. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574509

Incident

Oct 6, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN PEDDLE IS NOT PRESSED, ALSO THE CUTS THE CRUISE OFF WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552417

Incident

Oct 18, 2013

Mileage

102,500 mi