Electrical System:wiring
NHTSA campaign 14V252000 · 2014 · reported 05/14/2014
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2009 Saturn Aura Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Steering — runs 8.6× the fleet median for that category across the 1655 model-years tracked on this site.
390Complaints
5Recalls
12Crashes
2Fires
10Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Steering (53.3% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Steering complaints here are 8.6× the median for that category across the 1655 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 208 · 53.3% | Recalled | Recall 14V153000 · Recall 14E044000 |
| Power Train | 62 · 15.9% | Recalled | Recall 12V460000 · Recall 09V073000 |
| Electrical System | 59 · 15.1% | Recalled | Recall 14V252000 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 59 · 15.1% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes | 40 · 10.3% | not available | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 28 · 7.2% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 390 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 5 campaigns
Steering:electric Power Assist System
NHTSA campaign 14V153000 · 2014 · reported 03/31/2014
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Steering
NHTSA campaign 14E044000 · 2014 · reported 07/21/2014
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
NHTSA campaign 12V460000 · 2012 · reported 09/18/2012
If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
NHTSA campaign 09V073000 · 2009 · reported 03/06/2009
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE IN…”NHTSA complaint 10641648 — filed 10/06/2014 · STEERING
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ESC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME…”NHTSA complaint 10633195 — filed 09/15/2014 · STEERING
“POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY QUITS ON THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT. RECENTLY UPON VEHICLE STARTUP THE CAR DINGED AND A MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED TO HAVE EPS…”NHTSA complaint 10627669 — filed 08/23/2014 · STEERING
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Saturn Aura?
Steering issues are the most-reported category, cited in 208 of 390 NHTSA complaints (53.3%), followed by power train (62), electrical system (59), electronic stability control (esc) (59). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2009 Saturn Aura have?
390 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 10 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 2009 Saturn Aura have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 14V252000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2009 Saturn Aura's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
