Saturn Aura problems
0 safety recalls. 389 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PLATE CRACKED PER DEALERSHIP. CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD. HAD THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE EXPRESSWAY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JS
WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM WORK TODAY I GOT THIS MESSAGE // POWER STEERING SERVICE ESC// MESSAGE AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHILE TRYING TO TURN.THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AFTERWARDS. AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON THE ERROR MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND THINGS…
Power steering keeps going off. Have to restart car to get it to work. Now it won’t work at all.
POWER STEERING FREEZES FOR A FEW SECONDS AND IS BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY IN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. ONCE A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN 'POWER STEERING......', BUT WENT AWAY BY THE TIME IT…
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Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Saturn Aura reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 389 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Saturn Aura is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Saturn Aura?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 209 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The cruise control is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Saturn Aura has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Saturn Aura?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 389 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $600, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.