2007 Saturn AURA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

I HAVE AN 2007 SATURN AURA, THE BACK SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH. WHEN YOU FASTEN THE BELT YOU HAVE "NO" MOVEMENT AT ALL. SO IN ORDER TO REACH THE REAR CONTROLS THE PASSENGERS HAS TO REMOVE THERE BELTS! EVEN IF YOU NOT REACHING FOR ANYTHING THE BELT CONTINUE TO PULL YOU BACK IN THE SEAT EVERY TIME YOU SIFT YOUR WEIGHT. THIS RESULTS IN THE PASSENGERS HAVING TO "UNDO" THEY BELTS RETRACT THEM AND REFASTEN THEM WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. NOT SAFE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO SATURN AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME, IT IS WHAT IT IS AND THERE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178689 at NHTSA ↗

2007 SATURN AURA XR CUSTOMER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND BELIEVES THAT DEFECT CAN CAUSE DEATH**CC WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT, IF FREQUENTLY INDICATED AN EMPTY SEAT. WHEN THE SENSOR INDICATED OCCUPANCY, IT WOULD SWITCH TO UNOCCUPIED AFTER DRIVING A MILE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10185832 at NHTSA ↗

IN OCTOBER 2006, MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 SATURN AURA. IN DECEMBER 2006, WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE SATURN OF GREENVILLE, NC DEALERSHIP. MODIFICATION # 06147. ON 12/29/06 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. AS EXPLAINED TO ME THE RECALL HAD TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE POWER STEERING. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2007, I HAD AN UPSETTING EVENT OCCUR WITH MY NEW AURA. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES FROM MY HOME TO A CHILD CARE CENTER TO DROP OFF MY ONE-YEAR OLD SON. I CONTINUED MY DRIVE TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186424 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST IS POSITIONED FORWARD AND DOES NOT ADJUST. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO SATURN AND HE WAS ISSUED CASE # 1-24206879. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 220.

Owner-reported narrative. 220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196276 at NHTSA ↗

2007 SATURN AURA WITH A SLIGHT GRADE PROBLEM CUSTOMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WOULD START TO STUMBLE AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT AS SOON AS IT SHOULD**CC THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A SLIGHT GRADE IN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WOULD STUMBLE AND NOT DOWNSHIFT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN BY A MECHANIC T…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,514 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199157 at NHTSA ↗

INCOMPATIBILITY OF ON-BOARD GARAGE OPENER SYSTEM WITH MY GARAGE DOOR, RESULTING IN BEING ASKED TO BUY A $38.00 CONVERTER KIT FROM LEAR. LATER, THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF A FRIEND WHO IS A GM PLANT MANAGER, HE WAS ABLE TO GET MY $38.00 CREDITED TO MY CARD. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT TOOK HIS INTERVENTION TO GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. THE DEALER HAD NO FIX (NOT EVEN AN EXPLANATION) FOR WHY THE IN-CAR UNIT WOULDN'T WORK, BUT INSTEAD REFERRED ME TO A LEAR 800 NUMBER, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CONVERTER UNIT. PERHAPS GM CAN ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WILL PROVID…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203444 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2012-09-18 (September 18, 2012)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

Consequence: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Reported: 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Consequence: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Reported: 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to 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.

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.