repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
2008 Saturn AuraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 433 owner complaints about the 2008 Saturn Aura, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-224 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Saturn Aura has problems
433 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
124Power train9 crash/fire/injury
112Steering6 crash/fire/injury
93Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
59Service brakes5 crash/fire/injury
45Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
43Electronic stability control (ESC)2 crash/fire/injury
26Air bags
22Vehicle speed control
19Seats
10216 other systems12 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 124 | 9 |
| Steering | 112 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 93 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 59 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 45 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 43 | 2 |
| Air bags | 26 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 3 |
| Seats | 19 | 1 |
| 16 other systems | 102 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2008 Saturn Aura recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saturn.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
84kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 108 power train complaints. 63% were reported before 100,000 miles.
5under 30k miles68under 100k miles40100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
9 owners mentioned a cost$900median
Middle half: $700 – $988
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Aura year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Aura median. How we score
'07'08'09'10
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Saturn Aura safety ratings
2008 Saturn Aura 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Saturn Aura, and the recalls they led to.
- Transmission Shift Cable FailureLed to recall 14V-224
In owners' words
What Aura owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The power train has failed the car won't start the fuses and relays are burning up and the transmission shifts so hard at a jolt almost. The service ecs ecm and service airbag indicator staying lit and the back passenger airbag looks like it's about to deploy it's a safety hazard I love my car I've…
My vehicle’s make and model have received recalls as stated online, however, my specific VIN does not state any recalls. I am having the same symptoms with the airbags, electrical, and transmission as the recalls stated with my make and model. I believe there should be recalls for my vehicle’s VIN.…
Nobody has inspected my vehicle. However my rear passenger airbag on the driver's side has malfunctioned and blown out the rear interior panel and the service airbag light is on this just happened 4 days ago and there was no accident to cause it.. my transmission is not functioning properly as of…
Own a 2008 Aura?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.