Is the 2008 Saturn Aura a bad year?
432 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 124.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2008 Saturn Aura were filed between 58k and 114k miles. You're at 84,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Aura owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 124 (29%) | 58k–114k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 112 (26%) | 45k–126k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 45 (10%) | 62k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 43 (10%) | 70k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 92 (21%) | 55k–115k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 62 (14%) | 60k–102k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bags | 26 (6%) | 38k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 22 (5%) | 66k–111k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 22 (5%) | 54k–109k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 19 (4%) | 45k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 19 (4%) | 56k–111k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 18 (4%) | 31k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (2%) | 58k–110k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 9 (2%) | 20k–103k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 432 complaints: 18 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 8 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Case # with GMC is 81598832107 9/30/15 was at left turn lane to go in my neighbor hood put in park to grab something of the floor when I put back into drive my car started to reverse.
I have a 2008 Saturn aura xe with only 58,000 miles on it and recently it started jumping gears when I get to 40-45 mph....
Vehicle will no longer shift into park. Transmission cable broke. There is a recall for this exact problem but GM won't honor it for this lot of vehicles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Saturn Aura: 5
The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure. 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.
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. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
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… 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.
In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving. 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.
On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate. If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Saturn: 317
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Saturn Aura. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Diagnostic aid information/procedures to perform inspections to determine if the engine needs to be replaced as opposed to just internal parts for knocking…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Transmission Shift Cable Failure
Neighbouring years
2007 Aura: 606 complaints, consider selling · 2009 Aura: 390 complaints, keep it.
Every Saturn Aura year
2000 · 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · All Aura years side by side
Other Saturn models: Saturn Astra · Saturn ION · Saturn LS · Saturn Outlook · Saturn SL · Saturn Sky · Saturn Vue. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Saturn Aura a bad year?
432 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 124. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2008 Saturn Aura were filed between 58k and 114k miles. You're at 84,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn Aura?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (124), steering (112), exterior lighting (45), stability control (43), electrical system (92). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 58k–114k miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Saturn Aura have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 14E044000), Speed control (NHTSA 14V-252), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 14V-224), Steering (NHTSA 14V-153) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.