2009 Saturn AURA: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER DOES NOT HAVE AN INDICATOR DIAL OR LIGHT TO INDICATE WHAT GEAR IS BEING USED. HE STATED THAT HE IS ALWAYS OFF BY ONE GEAR WHENEVER HE STARTS HIS VEHICLE. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY OF 2009. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263661 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER IS COVERED IN CHROME. THE SUN REFLECTS ON IT AND BLINDS THE DRIVER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,027.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,027 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273897 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 13,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295810 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD TRAVEL OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN SHE COULD NOTICED A BUMPING SOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8200. UPDATED 02/23/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/12/10*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299841 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA XR. WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARRANT. WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND TRAVELING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR UNEVEN ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO EITHER SIDE OR VEER OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332534 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN THE POURING RAIN ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 16, 2010, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WIPER SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, QUIT WORKING. AS A RESULT, I LOST TOTAL VISIBILITY RESULTING IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO MYSELF AND THE DRIVERS IN FRONT OF ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP MY WITS ABOUT ME, TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND SLOWLY MADE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER EMERGENCY LANE WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIPER ARM WHERE IT BOLTS TO THE WIPER MOTOR SHAFT. THE GROVES IN TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367411 at NHTSA ↗

(1.) I PURCHASED 2009 SATURN AURA XR ON 5/22/10 WITH 17,458 MILES AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. (2.) ON 1/20/11 TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR AN ISSUE OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FAILURE DURING OPERATION; THE MILEAGE ON VEHICLE WAS DOCUMENTED AT 46,563 MILES. (3.) DEALERSHIP PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND A BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) INTERNAL FAILURE. DEALERSHIP QUOTED REPAIR COSTS OF $514.10 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 100K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP DID STATE THAT THE 36K MILE OR 36 MONTH…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,563 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378803 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE FROM BEHIND WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404563 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-03-06 (March 6, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

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: 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

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.