2008 Saturn Aura Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 124 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2008 Saturn Aura, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 84,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “shift cable” (19% of reports).
- 124power train complaints
- 84,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 13%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Shift cable: mentioned in 23 of 124 complaints (19%)
- Emergency brake: mentioned in 11 of 124 complaints (9%)
- Park position: mentioned in 10 of 124 complaints (8%)
- Power train automatic: mentioned in 9 of 124 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2008 Saturn Aura at $1,150, and half of them between $500 and $3,750.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2011–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 108 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 124 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 3 an injury.
Saturn Aura power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
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 may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ÂPARK position, the transmission may not be in ÂPARK. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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 vehicleâs 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 vehicleâs…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Saturn Auras have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 124 owner complaints about power train for the 2008 Saturn Aura (29% of the 432 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Saturn Aura power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 84,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2008 Saturn Aura?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,150 (half paid between $500 and $3,750), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2008 Saturn Aura?
The most frequent phrase is “shift cable”, in 23 of 124 complaints, followed by “emergency brake” (11).
Other 2008 Saturn Aura problems
See all 2008 Saturn Aura problems or power train problems across all Aura years.