2008 Saturn AURA Saturn AURA 2008

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2008 Saturn AURA repairs by problem area

Engine (19%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (24%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (9%)

Other (10%)

Chart based on 356 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2008 Saturn AURA.

2008 Saturn AURA repair cost distribution

$2500+ (3%)

$1000 - $2499 (5%)

$500 - $999 (14%)

$100 - $499 (27%)

< $100 (52%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 236 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2008 Saturn AURA

Engine not specified

Saturn AURA in Colorado, United States
Sep 2009 - Mar 2010
Oct 2009

33000 mi
lubrication of steering shaft 

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2008 Saturn AURA 4dr Sedan

252-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Saturn AURA in California, United States
Nov 2009 - Jan 2010
Dec 2009

20500 mi
Wheel bearing replaced. Steering wheel squealing noise--told GM working on a fix. Clear coat peeling on wheels. New wheels ordered. Used ’manual’ (M5) while going down 6% grade. When transitioning from acceleration to deceleration between 50 and 60, the transmission would unload and bounce/shudder until put back under load or placed into M6. Reprogramming TCM didn't help. Transmission still loads / unloads poorly. Car pulls to right since R2 of right front wheel bearing. Noise in vicinity of transmission when car is remote started cold. Goes away when key is turned. Clear coat peeling off alloy wheels. 
Jan 2010 New wheels installed. Transmission whine or grinding when remote started addressed thru P.I. #PIC4773B--loose torque converter bolts were found and tightened and the ECM / TCM were reprogrammed. This rectified the whine / grinding and fixed sloppy transmission issue. Bad heater blower motor Could not fix transmission shudder, wheel imbalance, and alignment problems despite repeated attempts, car bought back by dealer. Steering wheel squeal never fixed. 
Saturn AURA in Virginia, United States
Jun 2012 - Jan 2022
Dec 2012

20000 mi
Some type of transmission leak from under the hood, drivers side. 
Nov 2015

34000 mi

US $440
There was a leak from the left rear brake caliper. This was covered under my GMPP warranty. I also required rear brakes which was not covered under warranty. 
Jan 2016 Hood strut worn out - replaced under warranty - no charge.rnrnWindshield washer hose broken - repaired - no charge. 
Oct 2016

45000 mi
Turn signal stalk fails to return to neutral position after turning on turn signals to the left or right. 
Nov 2016

45800 mi

US $24
Replaced gas cap chickens and light came on gas cap had felt loose for several months. New gas cap remedied problem entirely. 
Jan 2017

46700 mi

US $1750
Replaced both front struts and bushings. 
Jun 2017

50000 mi

US $800
Power Steering and power brakes stopped working properly. Dealer replaced PS pump and said car is ready. It is NOT repaired properly. Will need to take it back to dealer. 
Sep 2017

50000 mi

US $950
Dealer says vehicle needed new brake master cylinder as hard break pedal feel unresolved with new power steering pump installed in June 
Jun 2018

52000 mi

US $204
Had dealer check brakes as vehicle brake pedal feels hard when applying brakes. Brake system and brakes reported to be in proper operating condition. Had dealer check power steering as steering felt heavy as though operating non-power steering. Steering reported to be in proper operating condition. Alignment necessary due to vehicle ride feeling as though chassis wants to float right out from under body. Confirmed struts / shocks / springs in proper operating condition. Alignment did the trick! Car rides perfectly now. 
Aug 2018

53000 mi
Intake manifold bolts rusted out. 
Jun 2019

56000 mi

US $500
Center / 3rd Brake Light only worked intermittently. Had TSB performed several years ago for dealer to apply dieletic grease contacts but apparently light went bad within the past year. 
Oct 2019

56000 mi

US $400
Parking brake cable rubbing against right rear passenger brake line causing brake fluid leak. New brake line installed and parking brake cable adjusted. 
Jul 2020

56000 mi

US $1850
Radiator blew spontaneously while driving. Radiator, fan, water pump and radiator hoses replaced. 
Jun 2021

57000 mi

US $800
Leaking transmission lines replaced, transmission flushed. 
Jul 2021

57000 mi

US $3600
Noticed vehicle wasn’t shifting to higher gear when accelerating and noticed CEL on in instrument panel. Pulled over, turned engine off, and checked for leaks but none noticed. Continued driving with CEL on as only 5 miles from home and car drove fine. Next day, tested the car and transmission would not shift out of 1st gear. Took to dealer, and received bad news of wave plate 1-3-5 issue. This vehicle has been babied during its life and always been dealer serviced. No way a 13 year old vehicle with only 57k original miles should experience the number and types of problems and repairs this Saturn has required. Over the last 4 years this car has been bleeding me. I honestly doubt I’ll purchase another GM vehicle. I’ll either return to Honda or try a Toyota. 
Jan 2022

57000 mi

US $745
Bushings beginning to dry rot and vehicle makes a terribly annoying creaking sound over every bump on right front of vehicle. 
Saturn AURA in Texas, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2013
Sep 2013

53000 mi

US $360
Wheel hub completely stripped, had to replace. 
Saturn AURA in Ontario, Canada
Aug 2008 - Oct 2012
Mar 2009

6820 mi
Belt make a noise on cold starts. Was unable to duplicate or repair. Fan makes a whirring noise intermittently. Was unable to duplicate or find reason. 
Jan 2010

25660 mi
Sound in belt upon cold start. Could not replicate. Thumping noise in drive shaft - oiled and problem gone. 
Apr 2010

21860 mi

C $50
blower fan for inside climate system replaced under warranty. 
Dec 2010

32860 mi
Intermediate Shaft started thumping again. This time they replaced the whole shaft, including rack and pinion. Problem solved. 
Mar 2011

36580 mi
Master Brake Cylinder replaced under warranty. Check Brake light came back on again after repair and caliper replaced second time. 
Apr 2012

52680 mi
Catalytic converter replaced under warranty. 
Sep 2012

59520 mi

C $120
Rear brake light would stay on even after brake pedal was released. Needed 3 more trips before dealer was able to fix. 
Saturn AURA in Illinois, United States
Apr 2010 - Jan 2014
Nov 2010

38400 mi
Excessive noise when turning, replaced half shaft. 
Jul 2011

45700 mi
New Driver Seat assembly. 2 days (1 day to diagnose, 1 day in future to replace). Covered under extended warranty. Frame of seat is cracked. Not brought in to shop until now. Probably occured as far back as 1 year ago. Rear Passenger Side window regulator. 2 days (1 day to diagnose, 1 day in future to replace). Covered under extended warranty. Loud cracking/binding noise when lowering window. Determined new regulator was needed. 
Saturn AURA in Kansas, United States
Aug 2008 - Mar 2018
May 2014

114300 mi

US $1300
Replaced struts and shocks and did an all wheel alignment. These were probably normal wear and tear items that needed replacement. 
Sep 2015

139000 mi

US $204
Replaced EVAP solenoid valve sensor 
Oct 2016

152000 mi

US $3000
Rebuilt transmission 
Aug 2017

164000 mi

US $3500
Had to replace engine 
Saturn AURA in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2009 - Jul 2017
Aug 2010

20460 mi
When overfilling the gas tank, the gas gauge would suddenly drop to empty and the low fuel indicator would light up. After 3 days of driving with the indicator still at empty, I fixed by pumping the brakes to slosh the gas around in the tank. 
Dec 2013

52700 mi

C $67
A loud muffler noise. Replaced a gasket on one end of the exhaust flex hose section. Done... 
May 2014

57040 mi

C $165
The winshield wiper motor connecting rod disconnected as I stopped the wipers from high speed while the wipers were at the bottom of the glass. The sudden stop from high speed snapped as small plastic ball joint on the wiper mechanism. 
Nov 2015

91140 mi

C $140
The outer tie rod end on the passenger side needed replacing. Replacing the part was very easy, and now the knocking and the play is gone. $22 for the part and the rest for the alignment. 
Mar 2016

96100 mi
Replaced leaking trans cooling hoses. Replaced driver front wheel bearing 
Jul 2016

102780 mi

C $850
AC compressor bearing Rack and pinion was leaking fluid. The new wheel bearing failed. The noise is slight so I'll wait until the muffler get louder before I get it fixed. 
Saturn AURA in Connecticut, United States
Nov 2008 - Jan 2011
Mar 2009

18000 mi
Transmission did not downshift easily for passing or when extra power needed. 
May 2009

22000 mi
Car not downshifting soon enough when gas pedal pushed. Occasional loud groan and vibration in front end. Replaced power steering rack. 
Sep 2009

30000 mi
Transmission not downshifting when needed without flooring the gas pedal. Also rough shifting at times. Noticed a cracking noise when turning the steering wheel. Dealer replaced the intermediate shaft. 
Feb 2010

34000 mi
Severe rattle was coming from front end over even minor bumps in road. Dealership replaced front sway bar bushing. When accelerating on highway a "whooshing" noise similar to a turbo sound was coming from engine. Dealership did hear the noise but could not identify the source. 
Nov 2010

43000 mi
Both keyless remotes stopped working. One had a dead battery the other was broken. Replaced dead battery and did nothing with other one as quote was $125. 
Saturn AURA in Ohio, United States
Jul 2009 - Feb 2015
Feb 2010

22000 mi
Clunk in steering since last August. Brake pedal squeaks. Tail lamps have condensation. 
Apr 2011

39700 mi
Steering making a clunking noise and on very cold days on rough pavement would make a chatter. They replaced the control arms and steering. Steering still makes noise on days below 40 degrees but not like before. 
May 2011

41300 mi
They replaced the left rear electric door lock and my keyless remote. The solder for the battery came loose in the keyless remote. 
Mar 2012

54000 mi

US $120
Ball joint on passenger side went bad. Dealer covered repair other than the alignment 
Aug 2013

72000 mi

US $125
Windshield washer nozzle broke 
Dec 2013

77000 mi
Intermediate shaft replaced again. It was making a lot of noise. This is third time. It still makes quite a clatter when it is cold outside. 
Feb 2015

89000 mi
Turn signal stopped canceling. Sometimes it wouldnt stay to signal a turn. 
Saturn AURA in South Carolina, United States
Nov 2012 - Feb 2018
Jan 2014

88000 mi

US $1400
Replaced front struts, control arm and steering knuckle. 
Jan 2017

109000 mi

US $40
Replaced the struts that restrain the trunk lid. 
Saturn AURA in Washington, United States
Apr 2012 - May 2013
Mar 2012

30000 mi

US $800
Intermediate Steering Shaft replaced to eliminate very loud steering noises Steering rack tightened to attempt to eliminate a very loud steering noise. Not successful. 
Mar 2013

30000 mi

US $900
Strut mounts replaced to eliminate loud steering groaning noises 
May 2013

31000 mi
GM Was unable to fix steering. I've given up on this car 
Saturn AURA in Quebec, Canada
Jul 2009 - Apr 2012
Sep 2009

25420 mi
rattles from the dashboard, they changed something in steering column whistling noise from blower heater, they changed the motor for the second time, always making noise sporadically rust a few places on the deck lid 
Dec 2009

31000 mi
vibrations and noise from sunshade, computer reprogram car seem to have a loose engine or transmission mount in stop and go traffic, i can feel it 
Dec 2010

43400 mi
Whistling sound coming from ventilation blower 
Jan 2011

44020 mi
Changed defective blower motor resistor, whistling gone. 
Mar 2011

45260 mi
The sunroof was always noisy, after contacting GM of Canada they schedule me an appointement to the dealer. The dealer ordered a new sunroof assembly, i'm waiting for the parts. 
Jun 2011

47740 mi
They changed the sunroof assembly after they discover that it's was worn et make rattlings noises 
Saturn AURA in Michigan, United States
Nov 2008 - Jun 2015
Jun 2009

32000 mi
Steering shaft making clunking. All fixed before 36000 
Oct 2011

59500 mi
Drivers side door won't open from inside or outside. Latch was replaced at dealer. 
Mar 2015

83000 mi

US $2269
Saturn Aura XR with 80,000+ miles just stopped...pulled into parking lot couldn't move forward or backward. Was not on a main road and called for tow. 
Saturn AURA in New York, United States
Aug 2008 - Mar 2015
Aug 2012

34900 mi
replace o-ring in A/C system 
Mar 2013

38000 mi
intermediate shaft replaced 
Jul 2014

43300 mi
rear door lock actuator 
Saturn AURA in Virginia, United States
Jul 2008 - Jul 2011
Aug 2009

4000 mi
Rear defogger working very poorly. Defogger works brilliantly now. Driver's seat felt like an anchor bolt loose. Seat feels tighter. 
Aug 2010

7866 mi
Screw missing from dealer-installed mudguard. Also reattached dealer-installed wind deflectors on windows because coming loose. Installed one screw, driver's side front mudguard - screw apparently not installed upon original installation. No charge. Under warranty. Side window weather deflectors had to be reglued onto door frame - were coming loose. No charge. Under warranty. 
Saturn AURA in Nova Scotia, Canada
Jul 2010 - Sep 2016
Nov 2010

20460 mi
Replace radio 
Mar 2011

21700 mi
Automatic trunk latch needed to be replaced. 
Apr 2011

22320 mi

C $100
Trunk interminently not opening. Trip 1 - order actuator, Trip 2 - waited to install part - didn't have part, Trip 3 - installed part, Trip 4 - not working - part ordered, Trip 5 - installed part. Still having interminent problem. 
May 2011

23560 mi
Tested the trunck latch, seems to work. Dealer made more adjustments and testing before releasing car. They forgot to close the panel in the trunk, I did it. 
Apr 2012

29140 mi

C $300
Replace caliper ($300 was to repair/replace) 
Sep 2012

32240 mi
replaced switch for windshield wipers 
Oct 2012

32860 mi

C $473
I shaft was siezed, installed new I shaft Left rear coil broken, was replaced 
Nov 2012

33160 mi
Replace cracked hose for windshield washer 
Feb 2013

34300 mi

C $210
Replace liftgate shocks for trunk. 
Apr 2013

34820 mi

C $445
replace caliper replace tie-rod 
Apr 2014

41840 mi

C $300
Replace actuator in rear door drivers side (automatic locking mechanism) 
Jun 2014

42780 mi

C $260
Replace rear brake caliper passenger side 
Sep 2014

44020 mi

C $930
Replaced radiator & fans. Fan had pierced radiator - slow coolant leak. 
Apr 2015

46900 mi

C $900
Replaced front-end struts (2). Also included in price MVI, oil change, tire rotation. 
Jul 2015

48560 mi

C $680
Replaces worn brake pads and caliper 
Aug 2016

55800 mi

C $365
Replace left front wheel bearing. 
Saturn AURA in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2014
Jun 2013

123000 mi
poor mpg and running sluggish rough shifting 
Sep 2013

126000 mi

US $24
washer nozzles broke replaced myself 
May 2014

131000 mi
Hard starting replace battery. 
Saturn AURA in Nevada, United States
Feb 2008 - Oct 2010
Oct 2008

7000 mi
Driver power seat stopped working. Dropped it off night before and they called me to pick it up next day as it was ready. About to drive away and it was like it was never even looked at. Seat still not work. Left it overnight again and fixed. 
Saturn AURA in Michigan, United States
Apr 2008 - Jun 2011
Jul 2008

2000 mi
Cowl seal (windshield) replaced. 
Feb 2009

7000 mi
New radio installed since old radio experienced FM stations fading in & out - new radio did not fix problem Edge of trunk was rusting - dealer painted & applied new emblems to trunk - all fixed. Remote start does not work consistently - dealer could not replicate problem so nothing was done 
Saturn AURA in Texas, United States
Nov 2007 - Mar 2011
Mar 2008

1000 mi
Small compartment on driver's side on dash would not latch. Part ordered in January, finally came in and repaired in March. 
Jun 2008

2000 mi
DIC button defective - ordered new one  Paint peeling on driver side rear door window (triangular black piece on door). 
Jul 2009

5000 mi
remote start/keyless entry box had a short and was draining the battery 
Jul 2010

8000 mi
Onstar said we had a bad onstar box. all checked out fine at dealer and with onstar. 
Saturn AURA in Quebec, Canada
Aug 2007 - Dec 2017
Apr 2008

6200 mi
Condensation inside tail gate lamps. 
Jul 2008

10540 mi
The Intermediate Steering Shaft was replaced. 
Aug 2013

55340 mi

C $30000
The right weel bearing was changed. Ball joint was changed on the right side 
Oct 2013

56300 mi

C $200
Front right door actuator replaced 
Jun 2014

64480 mi
Catalytic converter replaced under warranty 
Jun 2015

86180 mi

C $175
Change the original battery 
Oct 2017

81840 mi

C $135
Exhaust resonator 
Saturn AURA in Connecticut, United States
Jan 2008 - Mar 2011
Sep 2009

23000 mi
steering arm 
Saturn AURA in California, United States
Nov 2007 - Feb 2014
Dec 2013

78000 mi

US $4000
Transmission was not shifting smoothly into 3rd. After dropped off, dealer even had issue shifting into reverse. Likely 3-5-R waveplate issue. Replaced entire transmission with GM remanufactured. 

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2008 Saturn AURA 4dr Sedan

219-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

Saturn AURA in California, United States
Apr 2011 - Sep 2012
May 2011

76000 mi

US $150
shocks and struts. replaced broken shift cable 
Saturn AURA in Illinois, United States
May 2011 - Sep 2014
Sep 2014

112000 mi

US $255
Transmission shift lever was hard to move through the gears to get from drive to park or reverse. Dealer repaired under Recall 13036 but the problem remains. Going back to dealer ASAP. 
Saturn AURA in Ohio, United States
Nov 2010 - Oct 2016
Mar 2011

54000 mi
Had a slow coolant leak. Was told it was a seeping gasket. Appears to have been fixed since no loss of coolant has been detected since the repair. Water leaking in through chassis into rear floor well from sunroof. Was detected due to puddling. As it got warmer, less moisture got in, however, it was detectable because of precipitation on floor mats. Believe problem has been fixed. 
Jun 2011

55000 mi

US $486
Sensor in left rear wheel bearing failed requiring the replacement of the whole bearing. 
Mar 2012

59000 mi

US $48
Exhaust gasket was blown/in the process of going and was fixed/replaced 
Dec 2012

67000 mi
Crossover gasket was leaking coolant 
Aug 2013

74000 mi

US $700
P1175 error from failing fuel injector. Replaced it. Took several trips to properly diagnose the problem, hence the high cost. (Actual repair was $400.) Prior to repair, did fuel system flush, sensor cleaning, and swapped oxygen sensors. 
Jun 2014

79000 mi

US $525
Coolant pump leaking and needed to be replaced. 
Dec 2014

83000 mi

US $995
Coolant leak, found to be leaking crossover gasket, bank1. This is the 3rd time I've had this happen. 
Aug 2016

97600 mi

US $870
Brake fluid leaking. Soaked pads. Was told had to replace rotors and calipers. (Not sure why they had me replace both side when only 1 brake was effected.) 
Oct 2016

99000 mi

US $60
Blown gasket between the engine and muffler needed replacing. 
Saturn AURA in California, United States
Aug 2010 - Jun 2015
Apr 2012

36000 mi
left rear automatic door lock was intermittently not working. It turned out to be a short. 
Oct 2014

59000 mi
Check tire monitor light came on. Tire monitor warning came on again, this time for a different tire. 
Nov 2014

59600 mi

US $550
Reported intermittent surging/bucking while driving on slight inclines. 
Saturn AURA in Utah, United States
May 2010 - Sep 2016
Jun 2010

40300 mi

US $7
Lock actuator failed on driver rear door Transmission shift cable failed due to clip broken on transmission side of cable. Saturn would not cover repair even though it is similar to 2009 Aura recall. Left rear door lock actuator failed Transmission console select cable (between shift lever and trany) failed due to broken clip. Similar to 2009 model recall. Coolant tank was leaking from weep hole at bottom so I tried a new radiator cap and leak has stopped. 
Apr 2013

75700 mi
Recall work for shift lever cable 
Jun 2013

77000 mi
Two TPMS sensors failed triggering tire warning light and DIC message every time vehicle is used. Sensors have not been replaced yet. 
Jul 2013

77300 mi

US $50
A/C wasn't as cool - just got it recharged. Not leaks found. 
Sep 2013

79000 mi

US $120
Intermittent coolant leak turned more regular and was losing about a quart per week. Diagnosed as known 3.5L engine coolant crossover pipe gasket. Replaced gaskets with new GM gaskets. Subsequent leaks with other coolant lines now. 
Oct 2013

79500 mi
Replaced o ring that was leaking after cross over pipe gasket was replaced. Solved coolant leak completely now. 
Sep 2014

90000 mi
The return of the cross pipe leak that was previously repaired approximately 9 months prior. Mechanic checked the tightness of the parts but didn't want to work on it again and thinks it is a design flaw. 
Aug 2015

97700 mi
The gearshift cable that was repaired previously under a recall broke again, in the same manner. Dealer/GM gave an extended warranty to fix the problem again free of charge. 
Nov 2015

99900 mi
Motor oil leak either from the oil filter area or valve covers. Leak makes engine smoke every time it'd driven. Considering getting rid of car. 
Dec 2015

101000 mi
Drivers door window motor failed. 
Feb 2016

101500 mi

US $365
Oil filter housing was leaking badly and had to be replaced. 
Jun 2016

104000 mi

US $200
Wiring in door broke so drivers window did not work. 
Sep 2016

106000 mi
Only drivers window works, the other 3 no longer work. 
Saturn AURA in Indiana, United States
Feb 2009 - Sep 2012
Nov 2009

19000 mi
Steering column needed lubricated because of a 'bump' feel when turning the steering wheel 
Sep 2010

35000 mi
Radio buttons sometimes are non-responsive. Dealer replaced the radio to fix. Rear driver side door lock actuator was not working reliably. Dealer replaced Harsh vibration in steering on slow speed turns. Dealer replaced rack and pinion. Problem returned about a week later. Waiting to schedule car in for dealer to look at again. 
Saturn AURA in Georgia, United States
Jul 2012 - Apr 2017
Jul 2013

79500 mi

US $250
Door actuators on driver's side were replaced with aftermarket parts. No BCM reprogramming was required. Actuators had been inoperative for more than a year. 
Mar 2016

128000 mi

US $500
Plastic radiator tank cracked and drained coolant. Radiator was replaced. Tanks are no longer metal. 
Saturn AURA in Ohio, United States
Sep 2010 - Jul 2011
Feb 2011

88000 mi

US $400
Door latch was broken, door would not close properly, part replaced at dealer  
Jul 2011

94000 mi
Metal valve caps on tires rust or corrosion caused them to stick on the valve stems. While a mechanic was removing one the valve stem blew off causing the tire to lose air. Another one was already planned to be replaced for a similar issue 
Saturn AURA in West Virginia, United States
Feb 2008 - Nov 2009
Apr 2008

3000 mi
Door rubbing on wheel house when open and close. 
May 2008

5000 mi
Door trim was rubbing on wheel house interior trim when door was opened and closed. Noticed engine surging under heavy load going uphill on interstate. Dealer couldn't duplicate problem. 
May 2009

28000 mi
One of the car's remotes quit working. The dealer fixed it in about an hour. 
Jun 2009

30000 mi
Car developed noticable thump in steering wheel during stop and go driving. Dealer replaced steering intermediate link, and, that solved problem. 
Oct 2009

40000 mi
Hose fittings broke off window washer nozzles. Managed to remove broken pieces, and re-attach to what was left of fittings. Secured hoses to fittings with homemade wire clamps. 
Saturn AURA in Wisconsin, United States
Apr 2011 - Aug 2013
Mar 2011

80000 mi

US $10
Replaced faulty door lock actuator. Dealer wanted approx $250 to replace. I replaced with an aftermarket one for under $10. 
Aug 2013

154000 mi

US $550
Replaced worn sway bar links Replaced Headlamp which is not user replaceable Replaced Serpentine Belt 
Saturn AURA in Ohio, United States
Feb 2014 - Jan 2018
Nov 2014

79000 mi

US $60
Replace sway bar links. 
Sep 2016

98000 mi

US $28
Replace Hood strut. 
Jul 2017

102100 mi

US $8
Replace wiring covers ( conduit ) connected to engine. Old conduit broken down by the heat of the engine. 
Saturn AURA in Illinois, United States
Mar 2008 - Mar 2010
Oct 2009

21000 mi
rough steering 
Saturn AURA in Michigan, United States
May 2009 - Jan 2014
Jan 2014

42000 mi

US $1500
Head gasket replacement. 
Saturn AURA in Michigan, United States
Jan 2008 - Jan 2016
May 2008

3000 mi
Paint on decklid had spots in it. Shop will repaint under warranty - decided to wait for now. 
Jan 2009

9000 mi
Various dirt specks were noted in decklid and one started to corrode paint. Dealer advised decklid to be repainted under warranty at body shop. also, decklid was hitting bumper, adjusted and bumper buffed out. 
Mar 2009

10000 mi
Decklid was hitting rear bumper again. Took to dealer, who realigned. The HVAC lights don't work when the outside temp is under 30. The system works fine (I still have heat!) but lights won't turn on until car warms up. Dealer couldn't replicate, but said they've heard complaint from other owners. no TSBs on issue. 
Aug 2009

16000 mi
paint was bubbling again in same spot on decklid. took back to dealer who sent to body shop to repair. continuing to watch for recurring issue. 
Feb 2010

20000 mi
steering column had a knock when turning at low speeds. dealer identified TSB and lubed per TSB. issue has been resolved. LED lights for HVAC system do not work when temp is cold - like under 10 degrees. dealer ordered new HVAC system, waiting for part. 
Mar 2010

21000 mi
Previous corrosion on decklid returned. took to a different Saturn dealer who outsourced to body shop. will monitor to see if it's fixed. 
Oct 2010

27000 mi
Lower crank seal was found to be leaking - saw small amount of oil on driveway. Dealer was able to successfully find problem and replaced lower crank seal. 
Dec 2011

37000 mi
The shifter cable broke. Engine would not crank at all, but lights/radio/key fob worked. Had TSB from GM a week prior, and was covered under warranty. had to replace shifter cable. drove car by manually engaging cable, could not park. 
Jan 2013

54700 mi

US $180
The crossover bar was leaking -I originally noticed the car wasn't heating quickly. Part replaced and works fine now. 
Saturn AURA in Wisconsin, United States
Aug 2008 - Jan 2022
Jun 2010

7000 mi
Replaced door actuator on right rear door. Original actuator failed to lock/unlock door when gear shift was put in/out of gear. 
Jul 2010

7000 mi
Replaced interior door handle on left rear door. Portion of handle inside door broke and door could not be opened from the inside. 
Saturn AURA in New Jersey, United States
May 2008 - Mar 2010
Jul 2008

1000 mi
Check Engine Light came on and odor of gas present. Gas Cap was replaced, thinking that was the problem. The problem returned within 2 days of having the car back. Ordered and replaced gas tank, fixing the CEL and gas odor problem. 
Saturn AURA in New Jersey, United States
Nov 2008 - Jan 2012
Jun 2009

7000 mi
Serpentine belt shredded and snapped due to a seized/stuck pully. Also damaged wiring harness to other parts. 
Dec 2009

14000 mi
clunking sound when steering. Dealer repaired under warranty, and said it's a defect with the car, and problem will probably come back! Glad I have an extended warranty. 
Apr 2010

19000 mi
new part installed to replace driveshaft part that was making clunking sound back in December 
Jun 2011

42000 mi
Brake lights intermittently turning on by themselves. Caused cruise control to disengage when it happened. Had to tap brakes to clear problem. 
Saturn AURA in Newfoundland / Lab., Canada
Sep 2008 - Sep 2018
Feb 2009

2666 mi

C $100
rim is damaged 
Jun 2011

17360 mi
leakage at front suspension and replace the suspension later Replace the suspension 
Jan 2012

27100 mi
wheel bearing 
Jan 2013

21760 mi

C $200
rear coil spring cracked 
Sep 2013

31000 mi
parking gear does not work and the car could not start at parking gear and does not park at parking gear 
Feb 2014

32940 mi

C $600
wheel bearing is damaged and repaired 
Jul 2014

34720 mi

C $520
wheel bearing is broken and replaced the mechanic also mentioned that the power steering pump is leaking and may require significant repair. wheel bearing is broken and replaced and the mechanic also mentioned that the power steering pump is leaking and may require significant repair. 
Dec 2014

37820 mi

C $1200
car stalls when cold Power steering failed and replaced rack and pinion 
May 2015

38520 mi

C $100
Rack and pion making noise. Shop grease the part. 
Jun 2016

42780 mi

C $1300
replace pad, rotor and caliper 
Nov 2017

49600 mi

C $800
replaced pad and caliper 
Mar 2018

50220 mi
replace fuel pump 
Apr 2018

50220 mi

C $1300
replace the coil spring and some pipeline 
Jun 2018

50530 mi

C $500
There is noise from the front of the car 
Saturn AURA in Oklahoma, United States
Nov 2008 - Dec 2015
May 2009

27000 mi
Made noise when turning steering wheel at low speed, fixed by replacing intermidiate steering shaft 
Jul 2009

33000 mi
Replaced passenger side power door lock actuator 
Aug 2010

56000 mi

US $50
The windshield washer nozzle (on the hood) broke. The place where the waterline hooks on broke, brittle plastic, during the repair on the passenger side the driver side also broke. It would not spray fluid on the window. 
Dec 2012

108000 mi

US $20
Headlight low beam bulb burn out requires removal of front bumper cover for access it is a 2 hour job. 
Dec 2015

180000 mi

US $10
Bad battery terminal unable to be tightened down had to be replaced 

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2008 Saturn AURA 4dr Sedan

169-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Saturn AURA in Pennsylvania, United States
Nov 2014 - Mar 2018
Aug 2017

77000 mi

US $24
Left door speaker was not functioning. Replaced speaker. Replaced intake and exhaust camshaft actuator solenoids. CEL was on and MIL were: P0013 ad P0014. Erased codes, after drive cycle completed the CEL stayed off. Easy repair, inexpensive parts. Also cleaned throttle body while engine cover was removed. 
Nov 2017

81600 mi

US $994
Cracked exhaust manifold- GM has a known problem with the combo exhaust manifold/ catalytic converter on the 2008 2.4l engine. “Customer Service” told me the extended warranty does not cover the combined unit, since they consider this one part to be “2 components “ which is beyond comprehension. Dealer charged $120 to confirm what I knew - the manifold was kaput. They wanted another $1,390 (before tax) and warranty was 12 months. Monro price was $ 994 (with tax) and the unit has a 5 year warranty. A car with this low mileage should not have this kind of problem. This car is babied, not abused. The GM rep kept emphasizing the age of the vehicle and repeatedly told me because it was SO OLD they couldn’t provide any cost contribution. Car is riding quiet and clean, no thanks to GM. 
Dec 2017

82300 mi
Noisy exhaust and fumes in air vents indicated the problem. A loose bolt caused the gasket between the flex pipe and exhaust to erode. Monro replaced the gasket and put Loctite on the suspect bolt - no charge. This was a follow-up to the replacement of the manifold/cat unit. 
Saturn AURA in Ontario, Canada
Aug 2012 - Dec 2014
Sep 2014

53320 mi

C $147
LUBRICATE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 
Saturn AURA in Florida, United States
Jan 2017 - Apr 2021
Apr 2017

92000 mi

US $56
rear shocks 
Saturn AURA in Quebec, Canada
Feb 2008 - Jun 2018
Jan 2017

31620 mi

C $800
Power steering would fail randomly and felt wrong (one second "on" and one second "off", once in a while for a few minutes then it was coming "back normal" for a while). Steering wheel also started wobling on its own randomly. Took to the garage and they recalibrated the power steering sensors which did not work. Dealer finally replaced the power steering control module which solved the problem. 
Saturn AURA in Indiana, United States
Dec 2013 - Dec 2018
Jun 2018

110000 mi

US $610
Right side tie-rod and two sway bar links replacement Replacement of calipers, rotors and pads for both rears and fronts 
Dec 2018

118000 mi

US $620
Preventive maintenance [brakes] 
Saturn AURA in Wisconsin, United States
May 2014 - Apr 2015
Jun 2014

68000 mi

US $700
I have taken my car in for the last 3 years to have someone diagnose the problem. It is electrical and the transmission ups into 3rd gear to start out from a stop. Have not repaired fully. GM should recall VIN 106727 for tranny repair! Help! Front struts are shot 
Saturn AURA in New York, United States
Jun 2009 - Dec 2011
Jan 2009

6500 mi
Warranty repair of rear window defogger 
Saturn AURA in California, United States
Jan 2009 - Mar 2010
Feb 2009

7000 mi
Fan making noise when heater is turned on. Sounds like a leaf rattling around. 
Saturn AURA in Minnesota, United States
May 2008 - Aug 2014
Saturn AURA in Wisconsin, United States
Aug 2008 - Mar 2015
Jul 2008

3500 mi
Saturn replaced cracked drivers front door sill plastic molding at zero cost under warranty. The original sill appears to have been forced into position at the factory, bending the tabs and cracking the piece. This seems to be a common issue on Auras. 
Aug 2009

19000 mi
Passenger side rear door lock actuator replaced. Was told this is a very common problem. 
Oct 2011

58000 mi

US $540
Replaced intermediate steering shaft.  Replaced intermediate steering shaft. 
May 2014

96000 mi

US $265
Hit large pothole. Replaced left front rim and had alignment completed. 
Saturn AURA in New York, United States
Apr 2008 - Aug 2011
Dec 2009

9000 mi
There was a bang, or clunk when turning to the right or left. 
Sep 2010

12000 mi
Drivers side rear power door lock stopped working. 
Saturn AURA in Florida, United States
Apr 2008 - Mar 2012
Jun 2010

19000 mi
Driver's side auto door lock malfunction License tag light fell off Parking brake intermittently makes loud breaking sound and pedal goes all the way to the floorboard, like a cable/spring snapped. Brake properly engages when depressed and reset again. Happens about 1 time per 30 depressions of the pedal. Dealer replaced driver side door lock mechanism 
Saturn AURA in Michigan, United States
Jan 2008 - Sep 2009
Feb 2009

17000 mi
Check engine light came on, scheduled repair.  Door Ajar warning stays on. As a result of this, Content Theft alarm continually goes off. To avoid, must manually lock using inside lock. Dealer faulted driver's door sensor, had to order part. 3 weeks later no part. Remote Keyless entry fob not working. Dealership found cracked circuit or board and repaired. 
Mar 2009

18000 mi
Return repair of previous visit -- part ordered and arrived ... repair made on this trip. 
Saturn AURA in California, United States
Feb 2008 - Jun 2011
Aug 2008

19000 mi

US $30
The driver side seat frame is damaged as well as the seat cushion all the parts were ordered still waiting to hear if thy have arived or not 
Dec 2008

33000 mi

US $27
They reinstalled all new seat. Squeaking persisted.  They reinstalled all new seat. Squeaking persisted. Took it back for readjustment, they decided they needed to install another seat cushion, a side airbag bezzel and a lumbar handle went in 2 weeks later and it was installed, everything seems to be ok.  
Sep 2009

57000 mi
Intermediate steering shaft replaced. 
Dec 2009

64000 mi
Intermediate steering shaft replaced again. Strut tower brace replaced. I hate this car! 
Saturn AURA in Ontario, Canada
Nov 2008 - Jan 2014
Jan 2009

12400 mi
Steering wheel would shake on its own intermittently at a stoplight and would feel jerky offcentre when the vehicle was in motion. Steering was initially reprogrammed, didn't fix the problem. Replaced electric steering column/motor, successful fix. 1 week after dealership replaced steering column and electric motor (separate issue), steering started to "pop" high up in the column during parking lot manouvers. Dealership replaced intermediate steering shaft, successful fix. 
May 2013

62980 mi

C $300
Caliper glides stuck, rotors warped, did a full brake reline and cleaned/lubricated all the glides. Aura continues to need brakes every 18 months on average 
Saturn AURA in California, United States
May 2008 - Sep 2013
Nov 2011

75300 mi
Rear passenger boot leaking. Replaced under warranty 
Mar 2012

82000 mi
Replaced a rear wheel bearing. Dealer reimbursed cost of part after contacting Saturn CS--found out covered under powertrain warranty. 
Jul 2013

107000 mi
Catalytic converter replaced 
Saturn AURA in South Carolina, United States
Jun 2009 - Jan 2013
Dec 2009

17000 mi
Intermediate steering shaft The lights that are for the rear window defrost, recir, lights would not stay on, blinked or would go completely off. 
May 2010

21000 mi
Musky smell coming from a/c A/C not cooling all the time. Evac A/C system & refilled Fan kit installed 
Saturn AURA in Virginia, United States
Jun 2008 - Jul 2018
Oct 2008

6141 mi
Sunroof water leak again, replaced headliner again,replaced left roof rail inflation module Sunroof water leak, replaced headliner 
Apr 2009

13797 mi
Replaced light bulb above drivers door handle, repositioned air cleaner assembly. 
Aug 2009

19202 mi
Sunroof leak again- GM factory engineer looked at car and made adjustments--headliner replaced for 3rd time 
Apr 2010

30459 mi
Front passenger door lock actuator replaced. 
Aug 2010

35100 mi

US $189
Intermediate shaft lubed to stop steering thump. Dealer could not duplicate the ticking from left front wheel.  Rear driver side door lock not working, part ordered. One remote replaced and the other one was ordered. Made appointment with dealer for clunking sound in steering when turning. Rear driver side door lock not working. Ticking sound coming from driver side front wheel. Driver door pull trim is peeling. Chrome trim on HVAC knob is peeling. Intermediate shaft lubed to stop steering thump. Dealer could not duplicate the ticking from left front wheel. Door lock was ordered by dealer. One remote replaced and the other one was ordered.Dealer recommended transmission fluid change 
Sep 2010

37000 mi
Power door lock motor replaced. Second remote received. 
May 2011

45000 mi
Check engine light came on. Car taken to authorized Saturn repair facility. Dealer replaced oxygen sensor (covered by extended warranty), exhaust manifold (covered by extended warranty),  and air intake tube, $245.00. Dealer claimed extended warranty does not cover the part. I challenged this with GM/Saturn, they reimbursed me. 
Sep 2011

48000 mi
Check engine light came on. Car was taken to authorized Saturn repair shop. Repair shop reprogramed engine control module. Cost zero Check engine light came on again at 47,570 miles. Dealer order and installed Camshaft Position Actuator Valves and seals both intake and exhaust. 
Mar 2012

54000 mi

US $40
The speaker in the front passenger door would intermittently play. Both front speakers were replaced with Pioneer speakers. 
Apr 2012

54800 mi
Thumping noise in steering appeared again. Dealer replaced the Steering shaft. Extended warranty cover all costs. Received 12 months/ 12,000 mile warranty on steering shaft 
Jun 2012

58000 mi
Passenger side windshield washer stopped working. Dealer found the nozzle tip was broken off and replaced under extended warranty 
Sep 2012

60000 mi

US $120
After a large storm, water started pouring in through the map lights. Dealer said sunroof drain tube became unattached. Dealer dropped headliner, reattached drain tubes and reinforced with zip ties. The right rear passenger door lock was stopped working. The dealer replaced electric door lock motor and was covered by the extended warranty. 
Jan 2013

64000 mi

US $167
Tire pressure monitoring sensor went bad. 
Sep 2013

73000 mi

US $101
Passenger side floor was flooded with water. Dealer cleaned out the HVAC box and drain tube and resealed outside drain tube with sealant. There was a GM document on this issue. 
Jan 2014

55800 mi

US $125
The finish on the hubcaps was fading away. I ordered reconditioned hubcaps from a on-line company. 
May 2014

80000 mi

US $6
Fuse blown for the interior lights for no reason 
Nov 2014

89000 mi

US $130
A second tire pressure sensor went bad. 
Mar 2015

91000 mi

US $200
Passenger side headlight went out. Due to a stupid design by GM, the entire bumper cover had to be removed. Dealer charged $150 for labor to replace all of the bulbs, I supplied the bulbs. 
Sep 2015

95000 mi

US $370
Leaking oil around engine, had to add a quart every two weeks. Dealer added dye to oil to try to find leak. Need to take car back to dealer shortly. Replaced spark plugs and recharged A/C 
Feb 2016

98000 mi

US $35
Replaced both gas struts that hold up the truck lid. 
Aug 2016

101000 mi

US $40
Turn signal switch would not cancel after making a left turn. 
Apr 2017

106000 mi

US $631
The 3rd brake light stopped working. Dealer ordered new 3rd brake light and installed it. The trunk opener would no longer work when pressing the button on the door or on the remote. Dealer spent 2 hours trying to find the "short" and gave up and rewired the circuit. 
Sep 2017

108000 mi

US $167
Replace both low beam bulbs 
Apr 2018

113602 mi

US $1553
Cracked Exhaust Manifold Oil leaking down the side of the engine Noise at front brakes 
Jun 2018

115000 mi

US $144
Replace tire sensor 
Saturn AURA in Georgia, United States
Aug 2014 - Mar 2018
Nov 2017

139300 mi

US $2948
Transmission rebuilt 
Saturn AURA in New Brunswick, Canada
Jan 2009 - Jun 2018
Jul 2009

12400 mi
rear passenger door scraping plastic trim in interior of vehicle 
Mar 2010

21700 mi

C $17
Slow leak in one tire. Fixed by removing dent in tire rim 
Mar 2011

34720 mi

C $400
One strut replaced under warranty One strut replaced under warranty Bent rim was replaced Worn brakes needed pads and rotors 
Jun 2011

37200 mi
Steering column replaced under warranty Dimmer swith for dash cluster would not control intensity of dash board lights. Noticed after Steering colum replaced under warranty. Dealer still trying to resolve issue and repair under warranty 
Oct 2012

55800 mi

C $389
Check engine light was on. repairs made to gas tank flap which was not working properly 
Nov 2013

69480 mi

C $33
hood would not close 
May 2014

75640 mi

C $200
replaced 3 Tire Pressure Monitors 
Nov 2014

83700 mi

C $800
replaced 2 rear sway bar bushings and 2 rear coil springs installed. 
Mar 2015

88040 mi

C $489
Noise in front right wheel. Noise increased as speed increased. 
May 2016

97960 mi

C $425
remove and replace ball joint and control arem 
Jun 2016

100440 mi

C $250
Did fuel injection system flush, replaced one of the injectors. Didn't fix. Eventually found a broken wire in the electrical system. Car is now working well. 
Jul 2016

100240 mi

C $100
continued problems with acceleration, sensor warning messages, poor performance 
Sep 2016

99200 mi

C $1300
Replaced one strut 
Dec 2016

100440 mi

C $320
Brake line to abs system broke. Could not find part from dealer or suppliers, had to manufacture brake line and repare Battery failed. Replaced with new battery 
Apr 2017

109740 mi

C $200
replaced flex pipe in exhaust system 
Sep 2017

107260 mi

C $400
Replaced 2 tie-rod ends, and had an alignment done 
May 2018

105400 mi

C $60
leaking manifold was given estimate for repair of $1500 Canadian, Opted to not do repairs at this time. 
Saturn AURA in New Jersey, United States
Dec 2008 - Mar 2016
Jan 2009

5000 mi
Drivers side window worked off track. Window would not return to closed position. Dealer removed inside panel and readjusted window/track.  
Sep 2010

18000 mi
Right rear door lock sticking; repaired by dealer. 
Saturn AURA in Kansas, United States
Mar 2011 - Jun 2022
Aug 2012

27500 mi

US $220
windshield washer failed 

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2008 Saturn AURA 4dr Sedan

164-horsepower 2.4L I4 Hybrid 4-speed automatic FWD

Saturn AURA in New Jersey, United States
Mar 2009 - Jun 2011
Sep 2010

22000 mi
The hybrid battery and a sensor needed to be replaced. We were given a loaner by Royal Chevrolet in Bridgewater, NJ while they waited for the parts to arrive 
Saturn AURA in Illinois, United States
Mar 2013 - Oct 2021
Sep 2014

60000 mi

US $750
transmission tubes for pump needed to be replaced (cracked) New fluid, new gaskets installed 
May 2015

67000 mi

US $900
All new pads rotors and calipers replace both front and rear axle 
Dec 2015

76000 mi

US $650
New flex pipe and catalytic converter and connection to exhaust manifold 
Apr 2016

77700 mi

US $130
Needed new battery got replacement from Advanced Auto replaced in 30 min. 
Apr 2017

89000 mi
Shifter cable replaced under recall warranty 
Jul 2017

91000 mi

US $200
Replace Engine Serpentine Belt (Hybrid BAS) belt 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans
See TrueDelta's information for all Saturn models.

2008 Saturn AURA Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2008 Saturn AURA problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.