2008 Saturn Aura problems
Owners have filed 677 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Saturn Aura. Drivetrain & axles is the most reported problem area, at 17% of complaints. Next are steering (17%) and electrical system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 677 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 36 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 536 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 35 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 34 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 90 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 99 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 104 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 59 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 45 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 37 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 15 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 9 |
| 200k+ miles | 9 |
What the data shows
Of the 536 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 80,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (99 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 36 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
My husband was alone driving, was early a.m. When a coyote ran out on country road. He has had this many times before having lived in the area over 60+ yrs. He was in 2 lane road, he went to brake and swerved when he said the car became unable to control, he hit the burn on side of road flipping car numerous times ending upside down. He was stuck in seat belt unable to get loose for 15 min finally getting out of it. He was seen by drs @ hospital and released with bruised ribs, cuts and abrasions.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. While attempting to park the vehicle, the shifter would not switch to the park position. While examining under the hood, the driver discovered that the shift cable had detached. The contact manually readjusted the shift cable to correct the failure. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.
I would not even fill out this form if the things I am about to write down did not happen at such an unexplained and with extreme progression. The car started off with just a wobble and a jerk. Which now has progressed to the traction light popping on and off; the car sways from side to side so dangerously it is now almost not drivable; the passenger side tire has started to flatten and wear and tear very fast, even after getting brand new tires, now all of the tires are starting the same wear and tear; when…