Is the 2009 Saturn Aura a bad year?
390 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Aura years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Saturn Aura are in line with other Aura years. Steering and stability control stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 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 124,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 210 (54%) | 85k–150k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 59 (15%) | 85k–148k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 59 (15%) | 64k–140k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 26 (7%) | 65k–133k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 65 (17%) | 70k–108k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 40 (10%) | 49k–105k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 29 (7%) | 93k–115k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 21 (5%) | 48k–89k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 17 (4%) | 78k–120k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 8 (2%) | 63k–110k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Traction control | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 124,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 390 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission (6T40) suddenly failed while driving. Stopped shifting above 2nd gear (25 MPH). Once I pulled out of the highway and parked, I could not reverse.
For two days when starting it made a weird noise but it sounded like the fan to the A/C might be going. Then my warning gauges started appearing warning of my air bag and oil.
Went to take daughter to school vehicle would not move in reverse or drive. Yesterday transmission bucked all day while driving.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 124,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 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.
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.
These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention". 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.
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: 332
Repair instructions Saturn sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 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
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Neighbouring years
2008 Aura: 432 complaints, consider selling.
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 2009 Saturn Aura a bad year?
390 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Aura years. At 124,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Saturn Aura?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (210), stability control (59), electrical system (59), exterior lighting (26), transmission and drivetrain (65).
How many recalls does the 2009 Saturn Aura have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 14E044000), Speed control (NHTSA 14V-252), Steering (NHTSA 14V-153), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 12V-460) 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.