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2009 Saturn Aura Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Saturn Aura carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering wiring and electric power assist system. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Automatic transmission wave plate and gear loss.” GM wound Saturn down in 2009, so parts now come through the GM catalog rather than a Saturn dealer. Which Saturn you own changes the maintenance picture completely. The S-series cars, meaning the SL, SC, and SW, use a 1.9 liter four with a timing chain, and the twin-cam version is known to burn oil as it ages, so checking the dipstick between changes matters more than the interval does. The L-series and Astra are Opel designs and want European-spec parts. The later Vue, Ion, Aura, Outlook, and Sky are mainstream GM under the badge. One item deserves a direct warning: 2002 to 2005 Vue models fitted with the VTi continuously variable transmission had a poor reliability record, and GM stopped building it. If you are buying one, confirm which transmission it has first.

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5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign #14V252000 · May 14, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #14V153000 · Mar 31, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

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.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

STEERING

Campaign #14E044000 · Jul 21, 2014

Issue: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.

Risk: A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Campaign #12V460000 · Sep 18, 2012

Issue: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

Risk: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Campaign #09V073000 · Jun 3, 2009

Issue: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Recall data refreshed Jul 9, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Saturn Aura.

Reported to NHTSA

Automatic transmission wave plate and gear loss

POWER TRAIN

27 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2025-05

“EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF REVERSE GEAR AND FORWARD GEARS ARE SLIPPING, AND OR NOT ENGAGING SO THAT ENGINE RPMS ARE WELL ABOVE NORMAL BEFORE LUNGING INTO HIGHER GEAR AND/OR NOT SHIFTING AT ALL. DIFFICULT TO REACH SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11102847
“35R WAVED PLATE BROKE AND DAMAGED TRANSMISSION INTERNAL COMPONENTS. ALSO DAMAGED TEAMS CASE. INDEPENANT SHOP SUGGESTED I TAKE THI CAR TO GM DEALER AS THIS IS HAPPENING ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH 6 SPEED ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED TRANSMISSIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10995212
“MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR REQUIRED AT 79,000 MILES.35R 456 CLUTCH DAMAGED DUE TO BROKEN WAVE PLATE CAUSING NO REVERSE AND LIMITED OPERATION. THIS REPAIR $2338.29. FAILED DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11221019

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake lights illuminate without pedal input, ESC disabled

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES

25 NHTSA complaints · 2016-06 → 2021-09

“BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE ERC, AND ESC OFF WARNINGS APPEAR ON DASHBOARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10873027
“THIS VEHICLE HAS SUPPOSEDLY ALREADY BEEN SERVICED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V252000. HOWEVER, INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED; THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED; DIFFICULTY ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10909581
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WA”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11245190

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel odor and leak detection

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2016-10 → 2021-10

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10919954
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT EVERY TIME THE GARAGE DOOR WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS PRESENT FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS, BUT HAS INTENSIFIED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11024630

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electric power steering assist loss while driving

STEERING

129 NHTSA complaints · 2016-06 → 2026-06

“My steering wheel started to randomly shake while I was driving this car through a car wash that I go through monthly. all of a sudden my wheel locked up and flashing warning signals appeared on my dashboard “SERVICE ESC” making me at a loss of electric power steering assist”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11724705
“The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making left or right turns on several occasions, the vehicle lost power steering functionality”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710982
“The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at speeds of 20 MPH or slower, the power steering function failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the loss of power steering warning light was illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11663626

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning indicator and seat sensor fault

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2017-04 → 2021-06

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING INDICATOR WENT OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS WARNING INDICATOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10980913
“THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR DOES NOT SENSE AT ALL TIMES A 130 LB ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT SO IT DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. I PAID THE GM DEALER TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION SENSOR REPLACED AND NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11061355

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 1, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Models from about 2003 on use the GM Oil Life System. Change when it asks and at least once a year. On S-series cars with the twin-cam 1.9, check the level every other fuel stop. Oil consumption on a worn one can empty the sump well before the next service is due.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check the sidewall date codes too. On cars this age, tires usually time out before they wear out.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, hoses, and hard lines at every service. Rear drums on S-series cars and rear calipers on the Vue and Ion both stick on vehicles that sit for long stretches.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace every 2 years. This is the single cheapest thing you can do to keep an aging ABS pump and calipers alive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Drain and fill every 45,000 miles. Fluid depends on the car: Dexron VI for most conventional automatics, a specific CVT fluid for 2002 to 2005 Vue models with the VTi, and Saturn-spec manual gear oil for the S-series manuals. Confirm the spec before anyone pours anything in.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

100,000 miles on platinum or iridium plugs. On the S-series 1.9 and the Ecotec fours, replace the coil pack boots at the same time. Brittle boots misfire and mimic a failing coil.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Serpentine Belt & Tensioner

Every 60,000 mi

Replace the belt and the tensioner as a set once either one is cracked, glazed, or noisy. A tired tensioner will destroy a new belt.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. Easy access on the S-series and the Ecotec engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Every 5 years on a car this old. Most Saturns use orange Dex-Cool, which must never be mixed with green coolant. Ask the shop to check for seepage at the water pump and the intake gasket while the system is open.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Power Steering Check

Every 50,000 mi

Most of the lineup uses conventional hydraulic steering, so check the fluid level and the hoses. The Ion and some Vue models use an electric power steering unit instead, which has no fluid but was the subject of GM recall activity. Worth confirming yours was addressed.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$185–$220

Shop

~$130–$155

DIY

~$15–$40

Most cars built after ~2012 use electric power steering and have no fluid to service.

Battery & Charging System Test

Every 25,000 mi

Test the battery and alternator once a year. A weak battery on this generation of GM electronics produces warning lights that look like much more expensive problems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

41 crashes 1990–2024

How the 41 occupant deaths break down

32

driver deaths

9

passenger deaths

41

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

12

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Saturn Aura reflects Saturn's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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