Saturn Aura Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,439 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file for the Saturn Aura, across 6 model years (2000–2010). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (607). The most reported problem area overall is steering.
Saturn Aura years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Aura year: 2007, 2008, 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 Aura: 607 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008 Aura: 432 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2009 Aura: 390 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 Aura: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2000 Aura: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 Aura: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Saturn Aura problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 390 | 5 | 10 |
| Power Train problems | 375 | 5 | 15 |
| Electrical System problems | 256 | 4 | 2 |
| Service Brakes problems | 181 | 3 | 8 |
| Air Bags problems | 150 | 5 | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 145 | 4 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 136 | 3 | 3 |
| Engine problems | 100 | 3 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 97 | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 58 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 43 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 28 | 3 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 26 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 2 | 1 |
| Suspension | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| Traction Control System | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| Tires | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Saturn Aura problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2009: steering (210) · power train (65) · electrical system (59) · electronic stability control (esc) (59)
- 2008: power train (124) · steering (112) · electrical system (92) · service brakes (59)
- 2007: power train (184) · electrical system (104) · air bags (101) · service brakes (82) · exterior lighting (73) · steering (65) · engine (64)
All Saturn Aura model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Aura | 2 | 2 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 Aura | 390 | 4 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Aura | 432 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Aura | 607 | 3 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Aura | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2000 Aura | 3 | 0 | — | Steering |
More from Saturn: all Saturn models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn Aura years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (607), 2008 (432), 2009 (390) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Aura year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Saturn Aura?
Steering, with 390 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Saturn Aura have?
5 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.