This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Saturn Aura brakes problems
severe 50 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
50
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 50 brakes complaints filed for the 2007 Saturn Aura, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 50 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗16188 Special Coverage. Some vehicles may have a condition where increased resistance in the body control module (BCM) connection system can result in voltage fluctuations or intermittency in the brake apply sensor (BAS) circuit that can cause brake lamp malfunction. Specifically, the brake lamps may either illuminate without the brake pedal applied, or turn off when the pedal is applied. If this condition occurs within the stated terms, dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to the BCM X2 (C2) connector and the BAS harness connector, and relearn the brake pedal home position. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides technicians with a brake lathe calibration procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Saturn Aura's brake system is a persistent problem across this cluster of 50 complaints. The dominant issue is a sensor malfunction that inverts brake light logic: lights come on while driving without braking, then extinguish when the brake pedal is actually pressed. This occurs intermittently but repeatedly over years of ownership, disabling cruise control and making the vehicle invisible to following drivers—owners report near-rear-end collisions and traffic stops for inoperative brake lights. Temporary fixes (sensor replacement, switch replacement, dielectric lubricant cleaning) fail within weeks to months.
A second major category is premature rotor warping. Owners replace rotors and pads every 10,000 miles or sooner, far exceeding normal wear. Rear brakes fail before front brakes, contrary to standard wear patterns. Service managers at Saturn and Chevy dealers acknowledge the issue is known and ongoing but state it won't be resolved unless brakes are redesigned.
Owners also report ABS failures paired with loss of brake control—pedal goes to floor without stopping power, brakes fail or engage unpredictably, and in one case a vehicle surged through an intersection and hit another car. Brake drag and overheating occur intermittently, causing smoking tires. One customer reported brakes locking randomly, and another described wheels seizing on downhill snow.
Excessive pedal pressure, warning light cycling, and difficulty shifting out of Park appear in multiple complaints. The manufacturer issued Recall 14V252000, but parts were unavailable for months in 2014, leaving owners driving unsafe vehicles.
Same Saturn Aura brakes reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Brake light sensor malfunction (reversed logic)
Brake lights illuminate when brake pedal is not pressed; lights extinguish when brake pedal is applied. This inverted behavior defeats the safety function of brake lights and prevents following drivers from seeing braking intent.
When: Throughout ownership; typically intermittent, recurring repeatedly over months or years
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights come on while driving without braking; Brake lights turn off when brake pedal is pressed; Lights return on within 2-8 seconds of releasing pedal; Cruise control disabled or shuts off randomly when lights are on; Difficulty engaging cruise control; Lights flicker intermittently
Codes mentioned: ABS/Traction Control System Malfunction, Brake Apply Sensor malfunction, Brake Pedal Position Sensor internal fault
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pedal position sensor replaced (cost $227.33 cited in one case); brake pressure switch replaced twice in another case; temporary fixes that recur within weeks to months; body control module (BCM) replacement attempted; electrical connectors cleaned with dielectric lubricant as temporary DIY fix; some dealers unable or unwilling to diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign 14V252000 issued for electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes (hydraulic), and vehicle speed control; parts backordered in 2014, delaying repairs; manufacturer initially denied awareness of issue; some customers told manufacturer had no solution; dealer service bulletins acknowledge it as a known recurring problem with no permanent fix documented
Premature rotor warping and excessive pad wear
Rotors warp repeatedly at abnormally short intervals, requiring replacement approximately every 10,000 miles. Rear brakes fail prematurely before front brakes, contrary to normal wear patterns. Severe shaking in front end during braking.
When: Early in ownership (some within 13,000-15,000 miles); recurs continuously thereafter at ~10K mile intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Severe shaking/vibration in front end or steering column when braking; Pulsation at brake pedal; Grinding noise from brakes, especially passenger side front; Rear brake pads worn significantly before front pads; Rotors warped with visible grooves; Rust problems on rotors
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors resurfaced at 7,000–13,000 miles; rotors and pads replaced 2–4 times per vehicle over ownership; front and rear brake components replaced multiple times; one owner replaced with Brembo rotors and quality pads out of pocket; dealers state rotors show poor quality metal; warranty denied after first repair in some cases; one dealer stated problem will recur until brakes are redesigned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM investigated and found no defect in at least one case (Case 71-776581112); one service manager stated manufacturer is aware but won't fix; service bulletins confirm it as a known ongoing issue across 2007 and 2008 models
ABS and brake pressure system failures
ABS malfunction combined with loss of brake control. Brake pedal goes to floor without stopping vehicle; brakes engage or fail independently. One incident resulted in a collision when vehicle surged forward through an intersection.
When: At low mileage (14,000 miles in the collision case); can occur during normal braking attempts
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illumination; Brake pedal goes to floor with no stopping force; Vehicle accelerates/surges forward unintentionally; Brakes lock randomly without warning; Brakes engage independently while driving; Wheels seize in snowy/downhill conditions
Codes mentioned: ABS/Traction Control System Malfunction, OnStar codes: ABS/Traction Control System malfunction; abnormal behavior when driving and stopping
Repairs/costs cited: One case cited brake booster and master cylinder replacement needed (independent mechanic diagnosis at 130,000 miles); another case required brake system replacement (dealer estimate, vehicle not repaired); resurfacing and replacement of brake rotors did not resolve some ABS-related issues; in collision case, vehicle serviced for broken engine mount, leaking engine gasket, and brake rotor resurfacing at 7,000 miles prior to failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: ABS malfunction confirmed by OnStar readout in collision case; one customer told dealership had no idea how to fix brake light/sensor issue and warned of unlimited diagnostic costs; dealership could not duplicate failure in multiple visits in some cases
Brake drag and overheating
Brakes remain partially engaged, causing drag, overheating, and smoking. Vehicle slows unexpectedly. Front tires smoking on highway.
When: At 12,000 miles and beyond; can occur repeatedly
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slows down without brake application; Front tires smoking on highway; Brakes overheat; Brake drag during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Brakes and calipers replaced; problem recurred one month later; dealer requested customer pay for second replacement; one case diagnosed as normal wear and tear by dealer at 12,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed normal wear and tear; manufacturer stated customer responsible for failure
Brake pedal pressure and transmission shift problems
Brake pedal requires excessive force to depress or must be pressed to the floor to shift from Park. Pedal stiffness increases intermittently.
When: Occurs intermittently; can last 2–3 weeks at a time in one documented case
Symptoms owners cite: High pedal pressure required to operate brakes normally; Must press pedal all the way to floor to shift into gear; Pedal stiffness comes and goes
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives for this specific issue
Brake warning light malfunction
Service brake warning light illuminates at rest or while driving; light cycles on and off or remains on continuously, independent of actual brake status.
When: At various mileages and speeds; intermittent to continuous
Symptoms owners cite: Service brake warning light illuminates while driving; Light turns off when brake pedal pressed, returns on when released; Light cycles at short intervals (5 seconds on, then off again); Light remains illuminated at rest
Repairs/costs cited: No permanent repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mechanic stated problem was unknown
Synthesized from 50 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Saturn aura xr. The contact stated that the brake lights illuminated when the brake was not being applied and would not illuminate when the brakes were applied. The vehicle was never taken to a mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Saturn aura. The contact was driving approximately 5 MPH downhill in snowy weather when the wheels seized and the tires would no longer move. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the brake system would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 99,500.
Had brakes trouble with your 2007 Saturn Aura?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2007 Saturn Aura?
It's a meaningful issue. 50 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 37 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 30,000 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 44,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 90,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Saturn/Aura.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.