Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 113 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.
The 25 most recent of 113, in the owner's own words
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.
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.....
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 transmission shifter assembly fractured on this 2008 Saturn Aura. This defect was issued a recall in 2014. https://auto-recalls.justia.com/saturn/aura/2008/14v224000/index.html This recall was completed. However this same assembly has once again fractured. The vehicle remains in drive even when the transmission lever is shifted into the parked position. There have been dozens of crashes and injuries reported, and this dangerous safety issue has been a known defect on over a million GM models. I believe that since this is a serious safety issue which has been proven to potentially cause injury and death, GM should cover it for as long as the vehicle is driven by owners.
transmission shifter cable indicates in park. stoppped to get mail got out of vehicle car began moving in reverse tried to get back in car and was run over by vehicle. Medical injuries, missed many days at work, cannot get parts to repair vehicle, been without transportation for 3 weeks
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT GEAR HAD BEEN SELECTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER THOMAS CHEVROLET (4003 US-220 BUS, BEDFORD, PA 15522) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN DRIVE WITH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE HOUSING WAS FRACTURED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
GM RECALL 12106 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 12V460000) WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE ON 9-17-2014. GM CLAIMS THE RECALLED PART WAS REDESIGNED SO THAT THE SHIFT CABLE AND OR RETAINER WOULD NOT CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ORIGINAL DESIGNED PARTS DID. MY VEHICLE WAS IN FORWARD GEAR WHILE THE PNDL SHIFT KNOB WAS IN THE REVERSE POSITION, WHICH IS THE SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THIS INDICATES THE GM REDESIGNED PART WAS IN FACT NOT PROPERLY REDESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM REOCCURRING. GM IS UNWILLING TO PROPERLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS NOT PROPERLY PERFORMED.
I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE IN USE. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING BACKWARDS. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AS WELL.
I SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SELECTING THE "DRIVE" GEAR TO MOVE FORWARD. I MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SELECT "NEUTRAL" OR "PARK" TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER REMAINED STUCK IN THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
I HAVE A RECALL COMPLAINT... RECALL#: 14E044000 --STEERING; THE WHEEL IS STIFF AND HARD TO TURN RECALL#: 14V153000 --STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM; HARD TO TURN WHEEL, LEAKING PS FLUID, NO LONGER HAS WHINING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND TURNING I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED MY BATTERY, BECAUSE I CONSTANTLY HAD TO USE A BATTERY BOOSTER TO START IT AFTER EVERY TIME I SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND THE FORMER ONE BECAME FAULTY AND IT TESTED AS A BAD BATTERY. WITHIN 2 DAYS OF REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE PS FLUID RAPIDLY STARTED LEAKING AFTER STARTING THE CAR IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF AND VERY HARD TO TURN NOW. I'VE PUT MORE PS FLUID IN MY CAR, BUT IT DOESN'T HELP THE STIFF STEERING AT ALL ALMOST AS IF I NEVER EVEN PUT ANY PS FLUID IN IT TO BEGIN WITH. I'M ALSO HAVING AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE TO WHERE WHEN I GO TO PUT ON MY BRAKES SOMETIMES, IT'LL DIM MY LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, IT UNINTENTIONALLY ROLLED AWAY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MORGAN BUICK GMC SHREVEPORT (8757 BUSINESS PARK DR, SHREVEPORT, LA 71105, (318) 798-1600) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,285.
POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, POWER INSIDE CAR COMES ON AND OFF
ALL GM VEHICLES WITH V-6 MOTOR FROM 2007 TO 2009. THE VEHICLE WILL LOOSE THE ABILITY TO KEEP GOING FORWARD OR TO BACKUP. CAN HAPPEN AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY OR WHILE PARKED AND SHIFT TO BACKUP OR GO FORWARD. ONLY 1ST AND 2ND GEAR WILL WORK. THE CAUSE IS A TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAVE PLATE USED BY GM THAT EXPLODES AFTER VEHICLES HIT 100,000 MILES OR MORE. TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITH 6 LANES AND LOST ALL POWER TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. MAJOR RISK OF BEING REAR-ENDED OR KILLED TRYING TO GET CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY. GM FAILED TO DO A RECALL, INSTEAD GM CHOSE ONLY TO DO A SERVICE BULLETIN SENT TO DEALERS, NOT OWNERS OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. WHEN THIS FAULTY WAVE PLATE HITS 100,000 MILES OR MORE IT WILL EXPLODE AND THROW METAL INTO THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. GM CHOSE TO ONLY DO THE SERVICE BULLETIN. SAID BULLETIN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 21, 2018 AT THE SAME TIME THE 2007-2009 MODELS WERE REACHING OR PASSING 100,000 MILES. ATTACHED IS THE REPAIR BILL FOR $3,370.50 TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO A FAULTY CLUTCH WAVE PLATE. SERVICE BULLETIN IS NUMBER14404A. I WANT GM TO PAY ME MY REPAIR COSTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN AURA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED AWAY ON ITS OWN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AFTER IT WAS STARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL A LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
BROKEN GEAR SHIFTS. PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO PARK AND CAR SHUT OFF GEAR SHIFT WENT LOOSELY BACK AND FORTH. CAR ROLLED BACK ON IT'S OWN POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. GEAR SHIFT BROKEN. CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT START. I PUT KEY IN IGNITION AND IT LIT UP DASHBOARD AND WINDOWS LET UP AND DOWN BUT VEHICLE DIDN'T MOVE. *TR
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT THE SHIFT CABLE IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS! EACH TIME IT FAILED I WAS IN THE PROCESSING OF REVERSING INTO TRAFFIC AND WHEN I WHEN I SHIFTED TO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION CABLE SNAPPED AND THE VEHICLE CARRIED ON ROLLING BACKWARDS! I HAVE PAID FOR TWO REPAIRS MYSELF ONE WAS SHORTLY BEFORE THE RECALL, IT WAS FIXED AGAIN UNDER THE RECALLED AND IT WAS REPAIRED AGAIN LAST WEEK AT MY EXPENSE BY HOLLY CHEVROLET ON 2/12/18. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I'M JUST FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HIT SOMEBODY OR HAVE SOMEBODY HIT ME! ALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED BU HOLLY CHEVROLET ON EACH OCCASION, OF COURSE , I ALSO HAD TO PAY THE TOWING COSTS AS WELL. THE 2014 RECALL OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WORK IF THIS HAS FAILED AGAIN. I SHOULD ADD THAT MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73000 MILES ON IT AND I DRIVE 20 MILES A DAY ROUND TRIP.
THERE WAS A RECALL #12106 IN 2011. THERE IS A SHIFTER CABLE PROBLEM, IT BREAKS. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. WELL, IT BROKE AGAIN IN 2013, 2015 AND JUST RECENTLY, NOV. 24, 2017. THE PREVIOUS ONES WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS NOT. ON NOV. 24TH, WHEN IT BROKE AGAIN, I WAS ON THE STREET I LIVE ON; I LIVE ON A HILL; THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP; I HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET IT TO STOP ROLLING. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS IS THE 4TH REPAIR!
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET UTICA ROAD AND GRATIOT IN ROSEVILLE MI THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND THE CAR WHEN IT SHUT OFF OR ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION OR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP JUST CLICKING IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING KEY IN THE IGNITION. HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW AT 10PM. SHOP SAID SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH TIMING CHAIN AND COMPRESSION TEST SHOWED NO COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER 4 POSSIBLY BENT VALVES. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM REGARDING A CONDITION WHEN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE RESULTING IN VOLTAGE FLUCTUATIONS OR INTERMITTENCY IN THE BRAKE APPLY SENSOR DATED MARCH 2017.
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.
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS PROPERLY. WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL IN REVERSE, AND, TRYING TO PLACE IT IN DRIVE TAKES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES. ONCE ITS IN DRIVE SLOT, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT NOT GO FORWARD.
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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