Saturn AURA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,439 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
83,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,208 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 384 of 1,439 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 391 | 27.2% |
| Braking behavior | 379 | 26.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 255 | 17.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 141 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 59 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 37 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 384 |
| Power Train | 340 |
| Electrical System | 249 |
| Service Brakes | 181 |
| Air Bags | 138 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 136 |
| Exterior Lighting | 124 |
| Engine | 100 |
Steering: 384; Power Train: 340; Electrical System: 249; Service Brakes: 181; Air Bags: 138; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 136; Exterior Lighting: 124; Engine: 100
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 112 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 150 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 247 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 263 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 307 |
| 150,000 and above | 129 |
Under 25,000: 112; 25,000 to 49,999: 150; 50,000 to 74,999: 247; 75,000 to 99,999: 263; 100,000 to 149,999: 307; 150,000 and above: 129
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (307). 231 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 42 |
| 2011 | 72 |
| 2012 | 91 |
| 2013 | 168 |
| 2014 | 320 |
| 2015 | 170 |
| 2016 | 117 |
| 2017 | 88 |
| 2018 | 96 |
| 2019 | 72 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 39 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2006: 1; 2007: 13; 2008: 20; 2009: 20; 2010: 42; 2011: 72; 2012: 91; 2013: 168; 2014: 320; 2015: 170; 2016: 117; 2017: 88; 2018: 96; 2019: 72; 2020: 43; 2021: 39; 2022: 23; 2023: 10; 2024: 14; 2025: 13; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 391 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 379 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 255 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10649802 · 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT AND WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE AP…
Owner-reported narrative. 877,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10837181 · 2016-02-19 (February 19, 2016)
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN 07-26-2009,12-26-2013 AND 12-15-2015 WHEN ON HWY AND CITY STREETS.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595798 · 2014-06-03 (June 3, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203677 · 2007-09-21 (September 21, 2007)
MY 2007 SATURN AURA HAD BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP APPROX. 1.5 WEEKS AGO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 PM, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE CAR REVVED, SURGED FORWARD THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY CAR HIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,286 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598956 · 2014-06-17 (June 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,335 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,435. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADDED THE VEHICLE TO THE RECALL. THE OWNER HAS BEEN REIMBURSED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,335 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174565 · 2006-11-28 (November 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE GEAR DISPLAY DID NOT CHANGE COLOR TO INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE SHIFTER PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS IMPPOSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT WHICH GEAR HE HAS THE VEHICLE IN. THERE IS NO LIGHT OR INDICATOR ON DASH OR THE CONSOLE. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211418 · 2007-12-11 (December 11, 2007)
I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH MY 2007 SATURN AURA. I HAVE HAD MY DASH GO OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON SATURN COULDN'T FIND OUT WHY IT JUST STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I ESTIMATING AROUND 13,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE MY THERMOSTAT REPLACED. THE CAR WENT DEAD AND WOULDN'T START HAD TO BE TOWED SATURN SAID THE BATTERY WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS THE HEATED SEATS. WHILE ON MY WAY FROM WORK AT 11PM ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY DEC 9 2007 THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE BURNED A HOLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SEAT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10211418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241098 · 2008-09-05 (September 5, 2008)
I LEFT MY LIGHTS ON ACCIDENTALLY OVER NIGHT, KILLING THE BATTERY. AFTER JUMPING THE BATTERY WITH STANDARD CABLES, DONE BY A MECHANIC FRIEND, MANY OF MY ELECTRICAL FEATURES ARE OUT OF SERVICE MAINLY THE RADIO/CD PLAYER IS POWERLESS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LAKELAND SATURN DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND THAT I MUST HAVE FRIED THE RADIO ITSELF, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND AM WONDERING IF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274914 · 2009-06-25 (June 25, 2009)
PURCHASED 2007 SATURN AURA IN JULY OF 2008. IMMEDIATELY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS INCLUDED; THE CAR NOT STARTING UP TWICE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER RESULTING IN IT BEING TOWED ONCE AND JUMPED ONCE, THE BRAKES SQUEAK UNBELIEVABLY LOUD AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN APPLYING MORE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BLEW OUT, THE ALARM REMOTE WILL LOCK THE DOORS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, WHEN PUT IN THE PARKING GEAR THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD WHEN MY FOOT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10274914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432607 · 2011-10-24 (October 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542427 · 2013-09-07 (September 7, 2013)
I RECENTLY NOTICE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM MY VEHICLE. I INITIALLY CHECKED THE FUNCTION AND FIT OF GAS CAP. I REMOVED TO ENGINE COVER AND STARTED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT FUEL LINES IN THE ENGINE BAY AREA AS WELL AS THE AREA OF AND THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM ITSELF TO THE MANIFOLD. ALL THE ABOVE INSPECTIONS PRODUCED NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF FUEL LEAKAGE. I LIFTED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE FUEL SYSTEM FROM THE FIREWALL AREA TO THE FUEL TANK. AGAIN, NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. AT THE FUEL TANK THE SMELL WAS MORE INTENSE BUT STILL NOTHING OBV…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553303 · 2013-11-22 (November 22, 2013)
AT THE MALL, CAR SPUTTERED 5-10 TIMES BEFORE FINALLY STARTING. AS I WAS LEAVING MALL PARKING LOT DOING 15-20MPH, CAR SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE / SHUTTER. DASHBOARD CONSOLE DISPLAYED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND SERVICE TRACTION. CAR WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 20-25MPH. I HAD TO TAKE SIDE STREETS TO GET HOME. CAR LATER TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND LEAKING FUEL PUMP AND THROTTLE BODY CABLE CONNECTOR LOOSE/DIRTY. TECH REMOVED CONNECTOR FROM THROTTLE BODY, CLEANED IT, ADDED DI-ELECTRIC GREASE AND RE-CONNECTED IT. ENGINE POWER REGAINED…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,404 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553303 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
2000: 0; 2005: 0; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 2