NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2008 Saturn Aura (Page 3 of 6)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Aura’s issues with brakes, such as worn out rotors, isn’t as severe as the prior model year, but let’s just not start awarding them any brake awards just yet. Does that even exist? “The Brakies”?

One thing the 2008 does share with the 2007 is a recall of a busted gear shifter cable which can make it look like your car is in park, when the transmission is still engaged. You can only imagine what kind of fun that causes.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,839 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Saturn Aura drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Saturn Aura Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #70

Jan 012015

Aura 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2008 Saturn Aura. Consumer writes in regards to transmission shift cable recall repair issues. The consumer stated she received a recall letter in November 2012. She scheduled an appointment at the dealer and the repairs were made in January 2013. However, sometime in early 2015, it became difficult for her to shift gears, particularly between reverse and drive. Finally on July 3, 2015, while trying park, the gear would not move from drive to reverse. After quite a struggle she was able to get the vehicle into park, remove the key and set the parking brake. However, when she tried to re-start the vehicle minutes later, the ignition would not start. With the vehicle still in park, with the parking brake set, the vehicle began to roll forward into another vehicle when the battery was being jumped. Fortunately, the consumer was able to stop the vehicle before it made contact with the other vehicle. In order to start the vehicle she had to find where the neutral was on the transmission;park on the gear was reverse for the transmission; drive for the transmission was between neutral and reverse; and park for the transmission was absent requiring the emergency parking brake to hold the vehicle in place. An independent mechanic replaced the transmission shifter cable and the bracket that was replaced back in January 2013. The original part, that was not a problem at the time, was replaced with a part that became a problem later. The consumer referenced recall # 12V460000.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #69

Jul 062015

Aura

  • 167,000 miles
7/6/15-pulled into a parking space, put car in park, got back in, put car in reverse, pulling out backwards. When I put car back into drive it wouldn't go into forward. Car was running but I had no gears and my shifter was loose...nothing. I looked on line for any other recalls on my 2008 Saturn Aura for this problem and found bulletin # 14152, which states my vehicle has a condition which the transmission shift cable could fracture at any time. When this fracture occurs, the drive may not be able to select a different gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended direction. The car may not be able to be shifted into park or any other gear. I believe this is what has occurred. When I called the phone # for Saturn I was told that my car does not come under this recall, yet back in November of 2012 I did receive a recall for a similar problem with the transmission shift cable that has end fitting tabs that may fracture or break. This problem was fixed by a GM dealer in August of 2013. Checking online I found that recall # 14152 expands an earlier recall #12106 (which was corrected 8/2013), yet Saturn says this June 2014 recall # 14152 does not apply to my car. I believe that it does. Can anyone help me with this so I can drive my car again?

- Mount Laurel, NJ, USA

problem #68

May 292015

Aura 4-cyl

  • 110,765 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While traveling at a low rate of speed to back out of a parking space, the transmission cable fractured without warning. As a result, the contact's vehicle rolled backwards on an incline and across two lanes of traffic. The vehicle was unable to be moved due to the failure. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where a transmission cable kit and brackets were installed. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V224000 (power train) and 12V460000 (power train). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,765. Updated 09/14/15 updated 10/18/2017

- Florence, KY, USA

problem #67

Mar 262015

Aura 6-cyl

  • 253,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

35R wave plate failure.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #66

Apr 092015

Aura

  • 108,120 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While shifting gears, the vehicle shook. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,120.

- Gunnison, MS, USA

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problem #65

Apr 012015

Aura

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure recurred after the vehicle was serviced for an oil change. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

- Flint , MI, USA

problem #64

Feb 102015

Aura 6-cyl

  • 91,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle would shutter when I placed it into reverse. Also, when going into 3rd and 5th gear, the rpms would jump suddenly. I took the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership who said it was the transmission and recommended I sell the vehicle immediately and buy a new one. I then took the vehicle to three transmission shops who confirmed the transmission has known problems with the wave plate breaking. My Saturn Aura will be fixed Tuesday, February 24th. It was confirmed the wave plate broke which tore up the drum. The transmission shop has boxed up the bad parts for me to keep.

- Fort Mill, SC, USA

problem #63

Nov 012014

Aura

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the check engine light illuminated as the contact heard a loud noise and felt a pull on the vehicle. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but there was no diagnosis or repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was notified of NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control), the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #62

Feb 052015

Aura

  • 67,265 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to reverse. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,265.

- Fenton, MO, USA

problem #61

May 012014

Aura

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 mph, the vehicle jerked without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 12V460000 (power train) and 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Mansfiled, MA, USA

problem #60

Jun 152013

Aura

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. Also, the transmission failed to shift out of park intermittently and the four doors failed to lock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Eight Mile , AL, USA

problem #59

Jan 082015

Aura 6-cyl

  • 147,000 miles
Driving entering the freeway when my 1008 Saturn Aura suddenly when into neutral mode while the gear lever was still on drive. The felt like it went to neutral - pressing on gas RPM is up but the car was not responding. Truck was behind me almost hit me.... I have read up on the issue its there are a lot of similar story about this event.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #58

Dec 212014

Aura

  • 62,922 miles
Got to the bank parked a car and it did not want to go to park, somehow got it to drive and got back to the work place, did not want to go into the reverse or any other gear, pushed car into the parking lot. Did get recall notice earlier in the year but did not have time to take it in for the fix.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #57

Nov 162014

Aura

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While shifting the gear into reverse, the shifter suddenly became loose. The failure occurred after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V224000 (power train). The dealer diagnosed that the transmission shift cable fractured. The dealer installed a retainer over the cable, which was not the expected repair for the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #56

Feb 012010

Aura

  • 47,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While driving approximately 20 mph over a grass patch, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a pole. The contact indicated that the traction control light illuminated during the incident. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. Also, while driving at an unknown speed, the contact inadvertently made contact with the transmission shifter and the shifter switched to the neutral position. Also, the power steering malfunctioned and failed to work while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 47,000.

- Farmersville, LA, USA

problem #55

Sep 242014

Aura 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
My 2008 Saturn Aura xr had shifted very hard from 2nd to 3rd gear but then seemed to operate normally. Drove for approximately 20 miles and had just gotten off of the highway when the vehicle began to once again shift very hard from one gear to the next. Was traveling about 25 mph when it suddenly did one last very hard shift. The engine light came on and the vehicle began to slow down and proceed to power down on its own. Came to a full stop and the vechicle would no longer move forward. Vehicle had to be towed home. I have spoken with GM and according to them, my VIN# does not currently have any recalls regarding transmission problems attached to it. I will have to cover the cost of repairs myself. Although my specific vehicle does not have any current or past recalls regarding engine or transmission issues, there are recalls listed out there for other Saturn Auras. There is obviously an issue and GM should step up and take care of it. I am so grateful that this did not occurr while I was still on the highway or it may have ended up being a very different outcome.

- Germantown, OH, USA

problem #54

Feb 112009

Aura 6-cyl

  • miles
2008 Saturn Aura. Consumer writes in regards to transmission recall notice and requests reimbursement for repairs. The consumer was informed, the intermediate steering shaft needed to be replaced

- Kentwood, MI, USA

problem #53

Aug 032014

Aura 6-cyl

  • 66,728 miles
While driving home from work, my temp gauge shot up just beyond the 3/4 mark into the red zone. I pulled over and waited for about 14 minutes till the gauge came down to just under 1/2. I began to move the vehicle again and the gauge kept jumping up and down till I got home. I looked under the hood and noticed that the radiator fluid reservoir was about empty. I added radiator fluid and left the car parked till the next day. Drove the car around for almost 29 days when it began to overheat again. Once again when I looked under the hood, the reservoir was about empty again. I look up the problem on the internet and have found that a lot of GM owners with vehicles that have the 3.5L or 3.9L engines have been experiencing the same problem but GM will not fix the issue (gasket leak at the side of the block). According to what I have read, this is a known issue with these engines but GM has not done a thing to correct the problems.

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

problem #52

May 012014

Aura

  • 5,300 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. When the vehicle was started, the contact could not shift from the park to the drive position. The failure occurred multiple times. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,300.

- Defiance, OH, USA

problem #51

Jun 192014

Aura 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
After stopping the car in the driveway my wife put the car in park and when she removed her foot from the brake the car started moving backwards. While trying to get the transmission in park it continued to roll out of the driveway and into the street. We were able to get the car put back into a forward gear and drive back into the driveway where when put back into park it was in reverse again (the indicator showed park but the transmission was in reverse). At that time I shut off the car and applied the parking brake. The car was towed to the local dealer (fisher Chevrolet) where it was determined that the shift cable had broken. I then checked the recall list and found that the Saturn Aura had a recall for that specific issue (NHTSA campaign number: 14V224000). We contacted the dealer and was told that our car was not on the recall list!!" we then contacted GM and was told that the cable had been inspected prior to the recall and was determined to not be a problem and therefore not covered under the recall. Talking to the service manager and asking him about the inspection he told us that they had not inspected the cable and he doesn't know why our car is not part of the recall. If a vehicle model is recalled for a specific problem and a vehicle actually has that issue occur wouldn't that indicate that vehicle should be included in the recall"

- Yuma, AZ, USA

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