2009 Saturn Aura Electrical Problems

The car turned off while driving on the highway. The car just recently within the last year or so started giving us electrical problems. The mechanic on August 14, 2025. Replaced the alternator, the second within 3 years. The battery replaced twice within 3 years, as well. Internal dashboard light flickers. The car fails to start several times a month. The driver & passenger seats is not stable, it shifts or moves. The battery's pos and neg poles are extremely hot. Steering wheel stiffened up hard to maneuver. The above problems are ongoing throughout the years. My wife hears a popping sound coming from under the hood.

NHTSA ID

11686169

Incident

Sep 9, 2025

Lost power steering while driving. The power steering warning came on. I pulled over and turned the car off. When I turned it back on the power steering returned. An inspection at the Zeigler Buick GMC of Lincolnwood in Chicago on 4/19/2025 confirmed that the power steering column needs replaced. I'm having it replaced, so the part will not be available for inspection. Thankfully, I was able to pull over right away after I lost power steering, so no damage was caused. This is the first issue I've ever had with my power steering in this car.

NHTSA ID

11655625

Incident

Apr 17, 2025

I went to the shop, and they said that my transmission was slipping, & that I didn’t have a third gear. Also they stated that it was a recall. There are leaks

NHTSA ID

11492115

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

Car will be driving fine and speed will drop dramatically .. safety issue in traffic can cause serious collision..

NHTSA ID

11490978

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

The contact's partner owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact's partner noticed that the brake lights randomly would illuminate. The contact stated that the failure occurred at various speeds and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). Additionally, when the contact's partner was coming to stop while driving, the power steering failed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The failure of the power steering occurred once. The failure of the brake lights was a recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11469051

Incident

Jan 17, 2021

Mileage

230,000 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle stalled without warning. Additionally, while driving and making either right or left turns, the vehicle pulled in the opposite direction. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The Bureau of Automotive Repair was contacted and the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) and 14V153000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

NHTSA ID

11452105

Incident

Jul 15, 2021

Mileage

133,000 mi

The steering locked up when i was driving on the highway. It was scary especially because I was changing lane and this has happened several time now I can't even drive my car

NHTSA ID

11420933

Incident

Mar 31, 2021

POWER STEERING GTOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING , CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

NHTSA ID

11354280

Incident

May 9, 2020

Mileage

144,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM I'M ASSUMING THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WAS INFORMED THERE WERE A FEW QUIRKS LIKE THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SOMETIMES AND THE AIR CONDITIONER SOMETIMES WORKS RANDOMLY.. I INVESTIGATED THE QUIRKS AND HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK I'M NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY IT DIED SOMEBODY'S EVENTUALLY LUNGES FORWARD AS IF IT JUST WENT INTO GEAR AND THEN THE KEY IS RELEASED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AND I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AC IS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OR IF IT'S DUE TO A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE HOWEVER IT ALSO SEEMS TO WHEN IT GOES OUT THE FRONT DRIVERS HEADLIGHT STOPS WORKING I SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR HOW DO I PUT THE VIN NUMBER IN IT STATES THAT THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329598

Incident

May 13, 2020

Mileage

19,970 mi

ANTI THEFT LIGHT IS ON, DISABLING MY CAR. WHEN THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON ALL OTHER DASH LIGHTS FLICKER AND MY NEEDLES GO UP AND DOWN. MY MESSAGE BOARD STATES ALL PWOER STEERING, SERVICE ESC, AND LOW TIRE AIR MESSAGES. I HAVE REPLACED MY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, STEERING COLUMN, AND MY BCM & NOTHING IS WORKING. IVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE CHEV DEALERSHIP FOR ALL SERVICES AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE ISSUE. SINGLE MOM STUCK WITHOUT A CAR NOW, BC GM WILL NOT RECALL THIS CAR FOR THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11310030

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

104 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. FREEDOM CHEVROLET BUICK GMC BY ED MORSE (LOCATED AT 8008 MARVIN D LOVE FWY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 330-4981) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

11245190

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

162,000 mi

ENGINE POWER REDUCED, TRACTION SERVICE ESC, AND ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON WHEN WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11241896

Incident

Jun 29, 2019

Mileage

2 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE; HOWEVER, ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MORAN BUICK GMC (14000 TELEGRAPH RD, TAYLOR, MI 48180, (888) 350-0669) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *BF *JB

NHTSA ID

11221201

Incident

Jun 18, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A WEIRD NOISE. THEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CAME ON (SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION). START THE AND DRIVING DOWN THE STREET.

NHTSA ID

11207013

Incident

May 11, 2019

Mileage

30 mi

TAKATA RECALL WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR A FEW TIMES THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE WHEEL IS BACK TO NORMAL. NOW WHEN DRIVING THE WHEEL SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE.

NHTSA ID

11190367

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

149,000 mi

MY PROBLEM STARTED WITH A LEFT TURN BLINKER, IT WOULDN'T TURN ON AND STAY FIXED. I HAVE TO HOLD IT DOWN. AND IF I WOULD TURN RIGHT IT WOULD STAY DOWN BUT WHEN TURN COMPLETED IT WONT GO BACK UP. THEN WHEN I START THE CAR I HEAR IT WORKING EXTRA HARD AND I HEAR ELECTRICAL SOUND IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN STATIONED ...SENSORS ON TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHANGED ON THE RIGHT...A YEAR AGO...BUT ALL TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS STILL DOESN'T SHOW PRESSURE CORRECTLY. WHEN BREAKING THE WHEEL SHAKING BADLY AFTER ALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ID

11185972

Incident

Mar 10, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL ITS A BAD THING THAT THE POWER STEERING IS ELECTRIC SO YOU CAN'T MONITOR IT YOURSELF AND WHEN IT'S MESS UP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO I WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY SWITCHING LANES AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO TURN OUT OF NO WHERE SO I PULLED OVER AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL

NHTSA ID

11180482

Incident

Feb 15, 2019

Mileage

163,000 mi

AT 64,467 MILES, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH JERKING OF STEERING WHEEL OCCURRED AND POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON. WENT OFF AGAIN. KEEPS HAPPENING AS THO IT IS SHORTING OUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS OF 20 MPH TO 55 MPH. AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW. ELECTRICAL STEERING MOTOR IS SHORTING OUT. HAVE NOT YET HAD REPAIRED. FEAR THIS CAR WILL CAUSE SERIOUS HARM, INJURY UP TO AND POSSIBLY DEATH IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ID

11140777

Incident

Oct 13, 2018

Mileage

64,467 mi

DRIVING THE CAR ANYWHERE MY CAR WOULD DRIVE GOOD THEN SOMETIMES LIGHTS START FLASHING SERVICE ESC, POWER STEERING, LOW FUEL AND THE GAUGES STARTS GOING WILD ON THE DASHBOARD, AND MY CAR WOULD START SKIPPING IF I DON'T PULL OVER OFF THE ROAD RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING FAST AND CRAZY AND WHEN YOUR CAR SLOWS DOWN ON ITS OWN IT COULD CAUSE A WRECK. I HAVE CHILDREN AND IT'S SCARES ME BECAUSE I DON'T NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WOULD ACT UP. IT SEEMS TO BE A REALLY BAD ISSUE WITH THESE CARS I'M HEARING WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR A CAR TO ACT THIS HIS OUT OF NOWHERE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE PEOPLE I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM AND IT NEVER ACTS WHEN I TAKE IT TO THEM PUT I'VE SHOULD THEM VIDEOS THAT I'VE TAKEN OF WHAT IT'S GOIN, SO THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO LOOK DEEPLY FOR THE PROBLEM. AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO GET ME AND MY CHILDREN AROUND & THE CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITIONING BESIDES WHAT'S GOIN ON WITH THE ELECTRICAL PART. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY CAN LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11130054

Incident

Dec 14, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED BY THE CONTACT. THE LOCK BUTTONS ALSO FAILED TO WORK ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11124294

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON (TRIANGLE ON DASH) WILL DISPLAY THEN GAUGES START FLICKERING BACK AND FOURTH LIKE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEN ON DISPLAY IT SAYS SERVICE ESC AND CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS AND YOU CANNOT STEER OR CONTROL VEHICLE PROPERLY WITH THESE ISSUES GOING ON. I ENTERED MY VIN BECAUSE THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THESE ISSUES BUT IT SAYS MY VIN WAS NOT RECALLED. ONCE CAR IS SHUT OFF IT WILL RESET ITSELF I GUESS BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW.

NHTSA ID

11078947

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE POWERING STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AN EYEWITNESS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING; HOWEVER, WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR BOTH OF THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) DUE TO THE EXTENDED MILEAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000. *LN UPDATED 8/21/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11042886

Incident

Aug 3, 2017

Mileage

166,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (AXEL ROD BUICK/GMC IN PARMA, OHIO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTAL CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,400.

NHTSA ID

11011128

Incident

Jul 23, 2017

Mileage

113,400 mi

TAKATA RECALL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR THERE IS RATTLE/VIBRATION WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTENANCE TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS FOR ELECTRICAL AND BREAK PAD REPLACEMENT AND I'M STILL HAVING A VIBRATION AND RATTLE SOUND WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11002867

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BOTH EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LATER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE CONTACT FULLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST AND THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OUT OF POCKET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10979859

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

155,000 mi