2009 Saturn Aura Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while coming to a stoplight, the transmission failed to shift properly, and the vehicle jerked. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11663160

Incident

May 27, 2025

Mileage

124,000 mi

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. Additionally, while driving 50-55 MPH, the transmission jolted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control), 14V153000 (Steering), 12V460000 (Power Train), and 09V073000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

NHTSA ID

11513242

Incident

Feb 22, 2023

Mileage

126,000 mi

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

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while attempting to shift into PARK, the vehicle began to roll backward. The contact stated that the following day, the vehicle was unable to shift into PARK. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V460000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11444429

Incident

Dec 19, 2021

Mileage

200,000 mi

The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights will not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features. The car is available for inspection upon request. I am put at risk because there are multiple system malfunctions that occur that could result in a wreck or injury. The brakes selectively illuminating can result in a rear end collision and is not safe for travel. The traction control malfunction is unsafe for safe travel on the road. When the problem occurs the TSC will disengage with a light on the dashboard. The brake lights will stay illuminated.

NHTSA ID

11435015

Incident

Sep 30, 2021

THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY STAY ON. THE ESC ALERT/TRACTION CONTROL ALERT ALWAYS TURNS ON. ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. RPMS SHOOT UP AND JERKS INTO NEXT GEAR FROM WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON, AND SOMETIMES THEY HAPPEN AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE MODELS

NHTSA ID

11434713

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON HWY 59 AND MY 2009 SATURN AURA XE JUMPED INTO REDUCE POWER MODE AND CUT OFF ON ME ,,THIS HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, ALSO THE ENGINE RPMS GO HIGH EMGINE LIGHTS CUT ON AND CODES SAYS SENSORS AND THROTTLE BODY ALONG WITH AIR MASS BOX HAS A LEAK AND I HAVE TO CUT THE ENGINE TAKE OFF THE BATTERY TOO RESET THE COMPUTER, MY ABS SENSORS TURN ON AND OFF AND THE EXAUST KEEPS HAVING LEAKS IN THE MUFFLER EITHER BEHIND THE MOTOR OR UNDER THE CAR BY THE CATALAC CONVERTER ..

NHTSA ID

11373787

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

185,456 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY STAY ON. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THEY GO OFF FOR 5 SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON. THE ESC ALERT/TRACTION CONTROL ALERT ALWAYS TURNS ON. ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION ISSUES. RPMS SHOOT UP AND JERKS INTO NEXT GEAR. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS ARE LIKE THIS RIGHT FROM WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON, AND SOMETIMES THEY HAPPEN AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING A LITTLE WHILE. IT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR IT. I BROUGHT IT IN, AND WAS FIXED. ABOUT A YEAR LATER IT STARTED AGAIN BUT I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T COVER IT TO BE FIXED AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11355583

Incident

Dec 4, 2019

Mileage

160,000 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

I HAVE A 2009 SATURN AURA, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED PREVIOUSLY FOR THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BUT I FIND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON MY CAR. IT IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND WAS WONDERING IF SOMEHOW IT WAS MISSED OR SOMETHING. IT IS SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT IS WORSE IN REVERSE. MY CAR IS NOW PARKED AS I DO NOT WANT TO GET OUT SOMEWHERE AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION QUIT COMPLETELY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION GO OUT THIS QUICK IN A VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEHOW MY CAR WAS MISSED OR IF SOMETHING HAPPENED. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11257236

Incident

May 28, 2019

Mileage

107,244 mi

MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR REQUIRED AT 79,000 MILES.35R 456 CLUTCH DAMAGED DUE TO BROKEN WAVE PLATE CAUSING NO REVERSE AND LIMITED OPERATION. THIS REPAIR $2338.29. FAILED DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11221019

Incident

Jun 13, 2019

Mileage

79,990 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, I MADE A LEFT TURN INTO THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND STEERING WENT OUT. POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DASH READS SERVICE ESC. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. TURNED CAR OFF AND WENT TO CRANK AGAIN...STEERING RESTORED, INDICATOR WENT OFF.

NHTSA ID

11156072

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

Mileage

225,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TACHOMETER WENT FROM 2300 RPM TO 5000 RPM AND WOULD DO THIS REPEATEDLY FROM TIME TO TIME A SERVICE CODE STATING SERVICE ESC WOULD APPEAR EACH TIME IT OCCURRED IT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER DRIVING FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS 4 HOURS OR MORE AT THE SPEEDS STATED PREVIOUSLY, HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO REPEAT THE MALFUNCTION NO CODES APPEARED AND NO CHARGE FOR THE TROUBLE SHOOTING.

NHTSA ID

11120915

Incident

Aug 18, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE PLASTIC CASING ON THE SHIFTER CABLE HAS BROKEN AND THE SPRAG ON THE AT TRANSMISSION IS BAD.... OR SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD. IT IS IN THE DRIVEWAY NOW WITH THE ABC, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC LIGHTS LIT AS WELL AS ERROR CODES P0449 & P2101. I HAVE TEMP REPAIRED THE SHIFTER CABLE AND IT WILL SHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS BUT WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-635 WHEN IT STOPPED GOING INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11109828

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

TRANSMISSION (6T40) SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED SHIFTING ABOVE 2ND GEAR (25 MPH). ONCE I PULLED OUT OF THE HIGHWAY AND PARKED, I COULD NOT REVERSE. LEFT ME STRANDED. GM HAS A RECALL FOR SIMILAR 6T70 TRANSMISSION, BUT REFUSES TO COVER MINE EVEN THOUGH 6T40 HAS SAME PROBLEMS AS 6T70.

NHTSA ID

11103056

Incident

Jun 17, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF REVERSE GEAR AND FORWARD GEARS ARE SLIPPING, AND OR NOT ENGAGING SO THAT ENGINE RPMS ARE WELL ABOVE NORMAL BEFORE LUNGING INTO HIGHER GEAR AND/OR NOT SHIFTING AT ALL. DIFFICULT TO REACH SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED TWO DAYS PRIOR AND AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, SEEMED TO RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION. AFTER PARKING IN ANGLE PARKING SPOT WITH NOSE FORWARD, THE CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE OUT OF PARKING SPOT. I HAD ASSISTANCE TOWING AURA OUT OF PARKING SPOT, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD AT LOW SPEED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS FAILURE OF UPPER AND REVERSE GEARS REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REBUILD WITH SUSPECTED FAILURE OF WAVE PLATE. OBTAINED INFORMATION ON GM SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT #14404 - TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAVE PLATE (MAR 3, 2015) WHICH EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YRS/120,000 MI. MY 09 SATURN AURA IS WITHIN 10 YR PERIOD HAVING PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2010, AND HAS APPROX 95K MILES. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY SATURN AURA IS NOT COVERED BASED ON THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO MY VIN, I HAVE A MH8 6-SPD TRANSMISSION, AND THE WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY TO "OTHER" 6-SPD TRANSMISSIONS . . . EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IDENTIFIED IN THE SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT, OR SPECIFICALLY THAT THE 6 SPEED FWD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXPERIENCE A CRACKED OR FRACTURED WAVE PLATE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF 3RD, 5TH, AND REVERSE GEARS.

NHTSA ID

11102847

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TABS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11084284

Incident

Apr 8, 2018

Mileage

89,000 mi

TRANMISSION WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAVE PLATE BREAKAGE. I EXPERIENCED THESE CONDITIONS: 1) IN 3RD GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY SLOW DOWN IN CITY DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE AN ONCOMING DRIVER WOULD HAVE NO WARNING REGARDING THE SUDDEN DECELERATION OF YOUR VEHICLE BY >=10 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY ACCELERATING IN 3RD GEAR, THE SHIFT FLARE SETS IN, AND YOU LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. 2) IN 5TH GEAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS WHILE YOU ATTEMPT TO LEGALLY PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. ONCE IN FIFTH GEAR AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE SHIFT FLARE IN PLACE OF THE SHIFT TO 6TH WILL CAUSE YOUR VEHICLE TO SLOW SIGNIFICANTLY WITH NO WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF A HIGH-SPEED REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE DRIVERS FOLLOWING BEHIND YOU IN THE PASSING LANE ARE EXPECTING YOU TO PASS AND MOVE RIGHT, BUT IF THE VEHICLE FLARE SHIFTS ON ITS WAY TO 6TH GEAR, LIKELY WILL BE UNABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR PASS.

NHTSA ID

11078289

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

Mileage

119,000 mi

I BOUGHT 2009 SATURN AURA BRAND NEW AND IT ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES AND NOW I HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES . CALLED THE 800 NUMBER TO SATURN AND THEY GAVE ME A VOUCHER SO I COULD TAKE IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER SO I DID THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND IT CAME UP WITH A CODE PO601 TRANS ELECTRO CONTROL MODULE THEY SAID I NEED A TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WORK AND FLUSH . APRIL 2009 THEY CAME OUT WITH A TSB SEPT 7 2009 AND IN MAY THEY CAME OUT WITH ANOTHER TSB PIP-4327A. IN AUGUST OF 2009 I HAD BOUGHT MY SATURN AND I GUESS IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IF I WOULD OF KNOWN THIS ! I WOULDN'T OF BOUGHT THE SATURN . I BOUGHT MY FIRST 1991 SATURN SL2 AND IT GAVE ME 200,000 MILES. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY WARRANTY ON MY SATURN.

NHTSA ID

11073113

Incident

Feb 6, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11010335

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

35R WAVED PLATE BROKE AND DAMAGED TRANSMISSION INTERNAL COMPONENTS. ALSO DAMAGED TEAMS CASE. INDEPENANT SHOP SUGGESTED I TAKE THI CAR TO GM DEALER AS THIS IS HAPPENING ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH 6 SPEED ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED TRANSMISSIONS. GM DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS A SERVICE ACTION AGAINST THIS TRANSMISSION WITH A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT MY CAR HAS A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AND GM COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED I CONTACT NHTSA WITH MY CONCERN OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 41883 MILES AT TIME OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. WHEN WAVED PLATE SHATTERED, I WAS DRIVING ON I-94 WEST BOUND AT 55 MPH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE INTO LUMP MODE AS I BRAKED FOR TRAFFIC. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT HIT BY THE PICK UP TRUCK BEHIND ME AS HE CHANGED LANES TO PASS.. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT GORDON CHEVROLET IN GARDEN CITY, MI 48135. CUSTOMER NUMBER 2440373, INVOICE NUMBER 21573.

NHTSA ID

10995212

Incident

May 25, 2017

Mileage

41,880 mi

YIELDING ONTO A HIGHWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT HAD NO FORWARD MOMENTUM WHEN APPLYING GAS BUT CORRECTED ITSELF. NEXT, TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. ONCE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED, THERE WAS NO 3RD, 5TH OR REVERSE GEAR. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. MASSIVELY EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION REBUILD.

NHTSA ID

10992091

Incident

May 8, 2017

Mileage

75,442 mi

CAR GEAR SHIFT CABLE HAS SNAPPED CAUSING THE ABILITY TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF CAR WITHOUT IT BEING IN PARK AND ALLOWING THE CAR TO ROLL. THIS IS A RECALL FOR 2009 SATURN AURA BUT NOT FOR ONE WITH MY VIN EVEN THOUGH IT IS THAT PROBLEM IS THE EXACT THING THAT IS RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10960333

Incident

Mar 11, 2017

WITH ONLY 92500 MILES USE, VEHICLE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING A HARD SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ACCELERATING. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT 35R PISTON AND WAVE PLATE ARE DEFECTIVE. RECOMMENDING TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL TO CORRECT. THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT NOTED IN PREVIOUS NHTSA ACTIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH DEALER CLAIMS VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED BY CURRENT ACTIONS.

NHTSA ID

10958956

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

92,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, IT ROLLED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE INTO A FUEL STATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10946654

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi