The saturn aura has repeatedly had door lock switches go out, each time the front head light is replaced, it blows out again, the lights inside the car dim randomly. The traction control/ABS lights are disabled on the car constantly despite replacing the ECM, upper and lower intake gaskets, coolant flushing, and other cleared codes. The car jerks and jolts when slowing down, parking, starting, and changing gears. It violently pushes the car. The engine light and tire pressure lights also remain constant despite consistent work on the car. Four different dealerships (including a chevrolet dealership) have been unable to fix the issues with the car. The car also engaged low power mode and almost caused numerous accidents because the car stopped being able to accelerate while on the road.
2007 Saturn Aura: jerking or lurching
18 of the 607 complaints about the 2007 Saturn Aura describe jerking or lurching.
- owner complaints
- 18
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 100,000
- recalls
- 2
Jerking or lurching by model year
What owners say
The car does not seem to go into park when you do think you have it in park it isn't another gear and as lurched out and almost smashed a couple people that have helped me with the car it also seems to have a tendency to roll because it is not fully going in the park and I cannot even start it
Car riding fine. No lights then all of a sudden I get in from the grocery store and my check engine light comes on, traction control light comes on, engine power reduced warning comes on and car starts jerking.
Transmission started to shift roughly. Shift from 6th to 5th, or 5th to 4th gear when going up an incline extremely jerky. Car dropped to 2nd or 3rd gear, engine raced to high rpms as speed declined from 60mph. No reverse gear after coming to a stop. Barely made if off the highway while navigating thru densely packed four lane highway speed traffic. Transmission shop estimates exceed $4k.
The car constantly jerks and shakes... It wont go past past 40 MPH without ...the vehicle shaking . The vehicle cant get enough power..burns gas like crazy. The gm dealership wont do anything about it ....
Travelling at 55 MPH vehicle stalled sharply and jerked. It will drive but has no power.
Driving north bound on 405 freeway in lane 1 (fast lane), orange county, california approximately 70 MPH with flow of traffic at night on the way home from work. The car jerked suddenly, quickly started to lose speed; unable to regain speed with pedal - caused additional, intense jerking. Concurrently, other motorists began honking and swerving around as the car continued to decrease speed. Signaled for lane change & began to merge right (across 5 lanes), turned on hazard flashers after merge into far right lane. Car could go no faster than 35-39 MPH range. Exited freeway. Reverse gear no longer functional. Visit to gm dealer next day, advised of widespread, known design defect to clutch wave plate on 2007-2009 gm cars with 6-speed automatic transmission. Wave plate heats up, disintegrates, and remnants shred into the transmission gears that - when occurring while car is moving, as it was in our case - will cause potential loss-of-control incidents similar to ours. Have since been informed that the wave plate design defect exists in all 3.6l v6 - 6-speed automatic transmission equipped models of chevrolet malibu 2008-2009, chevrolet equinox 2007-2009, gmc acadia 2007-2009, saturn aura 2007-2009, saturn vue 2007-2009, and saturn outlook 2007-2009. The wave plate component was redesigned by gm in 2009, but gm did not as has not recalled any of these models for this condition. Even more concerning, in spite of numerous incidents reported on the federal safety agency website and all over the internet (just google "gm wave plate" - it's now so prolific, that it automatically pops up as a search suggestion), the federal safety agency has yet to even open an investigation. This dangerous, potentially deadly defect exists and will likely fail - it's not a matter of "if," it's a matter of "when" - on all of the aforementioned models produced. Please, the federal safety agency, open this as an investigation.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn aura. The contact stated that the service traction control sensor illuminated and the vehicle was jerking forward while traveling at any speed. Also, the contact mentioned that it became difficult to shift gears. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 14v224000 (power train). However, the remedy failed to repair the problem. The contact notified the authorized dealer who refused to provide a remedy for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
I had my 2007 aura for 1 week when driving a freeway, the car would not shift past 4th gear. I took it in for service and the technician found strange particles in the gears. He described it as small white plastic pieces. No explanation where they came from or what they were. He had never seen this before. The aura, while not leaving me stranded has always has a "poltergeist", lights not functioning properly, engine lights coming on and off and no repairs needed, etc. I has always idled strangely, as if it might shut off at a stop and felt as if my RPM's increased but no speed during acceleration. Now, there is a problem with the fuel management system, which feels like a transmission issue (very hard jerking during shifting and down shifting),the car won't start after fueling. It has not been a vehicle of trust.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn aura. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle jerked violently and the gears failed to shift properly from the gear box. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v224000 (power train) and the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v460000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
I've had my 2007 aura since march 2013, never had issues until a year later in april 2014. I noticed when I got out of my car that my back break lights were still on, when I got in to start it up, I put the car into drive out of park and it jumped-no lurched forward so hard it felt as if I had been hit from the back. I had to slam my foot on the break to keep from running into the car parked in front of me! Than comes july 2014 I receive a notice that my aura is part of a recall #13036 which relates to the (bcm)-body control module, the (bas)-break apply sensor and the (ecs)-electronic stability control. All in which affects the issues I'm having at this very moment. Now as of a week ago (aug 2014) my check engine light is on and my auto start is no longer working! I've called saturn about me not feeling safe in my vehicle and what is the status on the parts coming in and all I'm told is that there is no set time when that will be. On top of that I'm told I may have to pay out of pocket for a diagnostic test and or repairs to my car to find out what is going on! I am a very dissatisfied customer. I just want my car fixed asap!!!! These are serious and can be dangerous issues!! This is my only vehicle and I must take myself and my child back and forth each and everyday.
Car ran fine this morning on the way to work, which is not even 2 miles from my home .went to work and straight back no problem. Got in my car this evening to go get food started the car, check engine light came on, and my air bag light came on went to pull forward and the car was jerking and making knocking noises...
Service bulletins that may apply
- This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or...
- This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- Power train
- This service bulletin provides information on OEM and Remanufactured Engine and Automatic...
- Power train
- This Warranty Admin service bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required...
- This bulletin provides information on Policies Applicable to All U.S. Dealers for Engine and Transmission...
- This Bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required to Contact the PQC for...
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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 PARK position, the transmission may not be in PARK. 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V224000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 12V460000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2007 Saturn Aura jerking
Is jerking or lurching a common problem on the 2007 Saturn Aura?
18 of 607 owner complaints about the 2007 Saturn Aura (3%) mention jerking or lurching. The model year with the most reports is 2007.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2007 Saturn Aura?
There are 2 recalls and 71 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2007 Saturn Aura
Airbag light 56Check engine light 49Adaptive cruise 43Won't start 38Won't shift 35Fuel pump 21Stalling 21Transmission failure 19Door locks 13Fuel smell 13Loss of power 13Harsh shifting 12Engine failure 11Fuel leak 10Slipping 10Grinding brakes 8Headlights 8Power steering loss 8Fire or smoke 7Steering lock-up 7ABS 5No deployment 5Knocking 5Premature wear 5
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