2009 Saturn Aura Problems

Power steering quit working majority of the time but will randomly start working again but won't work for long.

My steering wheel started to randomly shake while I was driving this car through a car wash that I go through monthly. all of a sudden my wheel locked up and flashing warning signals appeared on my dashboard “SERVICE ESC” making me at a loss of electric power steering assist. I never got in an accident or anything. It just happened while I was driving through a car wash.. I know my vehicle should be involved in the loss of electric power steering assist as it has had every symptom and have had multiple 3rd party mechanics tell me the same thing that this is under a recall, but when I check I do not see this recall for my VIN. I was very concerned for my well being and am confused why this is not covered as I had a special coverage for this under my VIN : [XXX] . 2009 Saturn aura XE SEDAN. It is a consistent message I get on my vehicle when I start and am unfortunately not able to drive it because I do not want to put others at risk. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving and all of a sudden I lost power steering and I had to get over pull over and I was freaking out I could have crashed my dash was saying service ecs

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I was driving and all of a sudden I lost power steering and I had to get over pull over and I was freaking out I could have crashed my dash was saying service ecs

Electric power steering randomly disables assist but resumes with restart. Brake lights randomly illuminate and randomly stop working.

UNKNOWN i was driving my car and the airbag light popped on in my cluster

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GOT HARD WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG JUST START TO SHOW WITHOUT NO CAR ACCIDENT MAKE, NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT DO I HAVE TO TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP

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.

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS THE SPEED CONTROL WILL RELEASE AFTER BEING SET OR WON'T SET AT ALL, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE STEERING GOT JERKY WHILE TURNING CORNERS.

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 ..

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

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated she detected a strong abnormal odor of fuel in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

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.

TAKATA RECALL INFLATORS AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWS UP ON MY DASH SCREEN WHILE DRIVING NEVER GOES AWAY WHILE THE CAR IN MOTION EVEN WHEN ON IN PARK GEAR. AS SOON AS THE KEY IS INSERTED TO START THE VEHICLE THE READING SHOWS UP AS LONG AS THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS POSES A RISK BUT I AM CONCERN AS TOO IF THE AIR BAG MIGHT POP OUT WHILE DRIVING. THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. I AM TAKING THIS AS A WARNING THAT IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR TANK HAS A BLOCKAGE. FLUID DOES NOT COME UP HIGH ENOUGH TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MAY OR NOT BE UNDER A RECALL. CONCERN ABOUT DRIVING . DO NOT WANT THE AIR BAG TO POP OUT.

LINKAGE BUSHING FAILED AND FELL APART ON WIPER TRANSMISSION CAUSING BOTH WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

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.

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I HAD TO PULL OFF A CITY STREET AND TURN OFF MY CAR. I WAITED ABOUT 4-5 MINUTES AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS NOW THE 3RD TIME FOR THIS EVENT! NOW IT'S MY PASSENGER REAR TIRE! THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, DOES NOT READ PRESSURE, HAD IT CHECKED 2 X'S AND SERVICE CENTER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!!! HELP HELP!!

2009 SATURN AURA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON DECEMBER 3, 2012, HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. HE QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKE. HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN, BUT IT WOULDN'T START, EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT LEVER WAS SET TO PARK. HE LET HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AGAIN, AND IT STILL ROLLED BACKWARDS, SO, HE QUICKLY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $ 554.90. THE CONSUMER THEN DISCOVERED GM ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR HIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM, HE WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 12V46000 AND HE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AS HIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE DATES LISTED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN HE SHIFTED IT INTO PARK. UPON RELEASING HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,800.

SATURN AURA 2009 THE THIRD LIGHT STICKS WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT STAYS ON WITH THE BELT ENGAGED.

EVEN WHEN MY SEAT BELTS ARE BUCKLED MY SEATBELT/AIRBAGS ARE DINGING BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE... THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BUT FEEL THEY SHOULD BE FIXED FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. THE MOONROOF HAS LEAKED AND I HAVE PAID TO HAVE IT REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN THOUGH GM SAYS THEY AREN'T TO BLAME. THE LEAKS IN THE MOONROOF ARE ONLY WHAT I CAN START TO ATTRIBUTE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO. I RANDOMLY LOOSE RADIO CONTROLS, HAVE BUTTONS THAT DON'T WORK, CANT USE MY KEY FOBS AFTER REPLACING THEM AND REPLACING BATTERIES ONLY THE "PANIC" BUTTON WILL WORK. WHAT TAKES THE CAKE IS THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT THAT CAME ON YESTERDAY AND THE SERVICE ECM LIGHT, NEARLY KILLING US ON THE HIGHWAY. I GET REDUCE ENGINE POWER BUT WITH NO WARNING TO GO FROM 68 TO 35 IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE IS ASKING FOR DEATH. ON TOP OF IT THE MORE I'VE GOOGLED THE ISSUES IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM GM IS WELL AWARE OF AND NEVER HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT FROM 2007-2009 AURAS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT THE GM DEALERSHIP TRYING TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS T =O BE GIVEN NO REAL ANSWERS. I AM SCARED NOW TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AGAIN AS THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND IT "SEEMS" TO BE FINE. I AM EVEN MORE SCARED TO BRING IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE IF THE LIGHTS AREN'T ON THEY CANT DIAGNOSE IT, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT I'VE READ EVEN WITH LIGHTS ON DIAGNOSES' ARE POOR AND NOT ACCURATE. ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING THE SAME EXACT THINGS GOING ON WITH THEIR VEHICLES HOW IS THERE NO DEFINITIVE FIX AND WHY ARE PEOPLE BEING SENT BACK OUT ON THE ROADS WITH FAULTY CARS. NOT ONLY THAT IF 3 YEARS WORTH OF CARS ARE HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES ALL THE SAME HOW IS THERE NO RECALL???? *TR

MY WIFE HAD HER COAT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR AFTER SHE EXITED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE AWAY. WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. SHE LOST HER BALANCE AND FELL, LOSING HER BALANCE, BROKE HER WRIST. SHE COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE IT WAS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY.. THE CAR IS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE MANUAL SAYS THAT AUTOMATIC LOCKING OF DOORS IS PROGRAMMED AND CAN'T BE CHANGED. THIS IS NOT SAFE!! SHE COULD HAVE BEEN THROWN UNDER THE CAR. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 06/08/2016*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED TWO CONFLICTING INSPECTIONS. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE RACK AND PINION, AND THEN HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE. THE TIRES HAVE SINCE WORN OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/29/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 06/08/2016*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED TWO CONFLICTING INSPECTIONS. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE RACK AND PINION, AND THEN HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE. THE TIRES HAVE SINCE WORN OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/29/16.*JB