2008 Saturn Aura: sudden loss of power

Filed Feb 6, 2024 · Steering · 198,000 miles · NY · crash

The contact owned a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and ascending a grade in the road, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped the curb on the left side of the vehicle and then crashed into a telephone pole, he was unable to steer due to the loss of power steering functionality. The contact stated that the crash happened very fast and he was not able to depress the brake pedal to avoid the crash. The contact stated that the front driver's side bumper, grill, and lights were crushed. There was also damage to the driver's side front tire wheel well and axle. The contact stated that he called the police who then wrote a report. The contact stated that he was not injured, however the vehicle was undrivable and was towed to an impound lot. The contact stated that the vehicle was later declared a total loss by his insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

Filed Jan 1, 2022 · Transmission · IN

The list goes on. Shifting issues started and we've been trying to figure it out among other issues.. Transmission shift cable. Power train transmission. Car randomly won't accelerate while driving. Dials not moving periodically. Coolant holds normally then randomly is emptied like their is a leak. Fill it up & it sucks it on like it won't hold it. Thirsty. Coolant leak but no service light. Car overheated for awhile but now doesn't. Wouod just shoot up to red zone. Got a call last night that it wasn't shifting right & sounded bad. Wks before randomly hard shifted. Our kid was stranded in the cold. Got to him & the car wouldn't shift from neutral. It rolled backwards on him & he threw on the parking brake thankfully!! Scary ordeal & thankful he is ok. When shifting gears, the shifter moved but sounds like it's not connected to anything & the gears don't shift. It stays in neutral. Car won't start. He also randomly has battery issues when his alternator & battery are good. Car just won't start randomly. It is available for inspection once we get it home.. I was led here thinking, it has to have recalls & we weren't notified then I saw recalls for this make & model, just not ours. No warning lights this time. Service engine has came on before them go off intermittently. We've had it connected at auto zone & fixed a few codes it through then service light went off. It's reduced engine power while driving & doesn't accelerate. Drives slow. Reduced power. All these previous issues now the shifting cable. :(

Filed Nov 29, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · MD

Check engine, ABS, and traction control indicator lights have come on and gone off intermittently, even though the car has received routine services, as indicated -- though prior to that, for many months, the tire pressure indicator light would come on and go off intermittently. As I drove about 25 to 30 mph, the above mentioned control lights came on as I came to a stop, followed by the power steering indicator light (for the first time). Immediately, there was loss of power steering control. With great difficulty, I drove the car about 3 blocks and attempted to park. It took about 15 minutes to parallel park in a large space, with great difficulty. I turned off the engine and let the car sit for about 10 to 15 minutes, then restarted the car, which then seemed to be fine (at least drivable) -- though the check engine and traction control lights remained on. (Still, I was afraid to drive -- thinking the power steering could go out at any time, knowing it could easily result in no control of the car, grave danger, and serious accident. Anyway, with trepidation, I drove the car back home, where it has sat since. I find the host of this car's repairs troublesome and expensive. As for the loss of power steering -- I find this unconscionable.

Filed Mar 15, 2021 · Steering · 220,000 miles · MI

On sunday february 7 2021, I was driving in the grocery store parking lot at a slow rate of speed making a right turn when my 2008 saturn aura lost all power steering almost causing an accident. I had a difficulty getting the vehicle to straighten out to get into a parking space. I shutoff the engine and when I restarted my car and it was fine. On tuesday february 23, 2021, I was backing out of my driveway and again I lost all steering power. I pulled back into my driveway, shut off the engine, started it and it was fine. As I was driving to work on the freeway, on march 4 2021, the vehicle again loss power steering. I am worried of another complete steering failure in a critical situation. This failure has happened intermittently several more times, and the vehicle is too unpredictable to drive. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v153000 (steering). The fix gm released under the recall doesn't look to be a long term durable fix and is a safety concern.

Filed Dec 28, 2020 · Steering · 152,940 miles · CA

Loss of power steering withought warning, shut the car off and turned back on and it was fine, but this has happened twice now that while driving the car the power steering suddenly went out

Filed May 18, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · TX

When in motion at any given time the motor going into reduced engine power and drives slow. I have replaced throttle body and the car still goes into reduced power. This is s safety concetta's I am afraid of getting into a accident because of this issue. I have researched this issue and it is a well known issue that still can not be pinpointed.

Filed Jan 2, 2019 · Transmission · 131,674 miles · WI

All gm vehicles with v-6 motor from 2007 to 2009. The vehicle will loose the ability to keep going forward or to backup. Can happen at 70 MPH on highway or while parked and shift to backup or go forward. Only 1st and 2nd gear will work. The cause is a transmission clutch wave plate used by gm that explodes after vehicles hit 100,000 miles or more. Traveling on highway with 6 lanes and lost all power to keep moving forward. Major risk of being rear-ended or killed trying to get car off the highway. Gm failed to do a recall, instead gm chose only to do a service bulletin sent to dealers, not owners of the effected vehicles. When this faulty wave plate hits 100,000 miles or more it will explode and throw metal into the transmission completely destroying the transmission. Gm chose to only do the service bulletin. Said bulletin expired on august 21, 2018 at the same time the 2007-2009 models were reaching or passing 100,000 miles. Attached is the repair bill for $3,370.50 to replace my transmission due to a faulty clutch wave plate. Service bulletin is number14404a. I want gm to pay me my repair costs.

Filed Oct 1, 2018 · Steering · 196,000 miles · MD

On sunday september 30 2018, I was driving in the church parking lot at a slow rate of speed making a left turn when my saturn aura lost all power steering almost causing an accident. I had a difficult time getting the car to straighten out to park. I turned if off and when I started my car and it was fine the rest of the day. On monday october 1, 2018 I was backing out of my driveway to go to work and again I lost al steering power. I pulled back into my driveway, turned it off, started it and it was fine; however, I work 50 miles from home and did not want the chance it would do that during highway driving. Gm which made the saturn as of sept 13, 2018 has a recall on a number of their vehicles with this very problem. Is it possible to be included in this recall as this car is made by gmc and it is the same problem? This could be very serious if I had been driving in traffic.

Filed Sep 11, 2017 · Steering · 75,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that the steering wheel lost power intermittently without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Filed Dec 31, 2016 · Driver assistance, Steering · 125,000 miles · MI

While driving on the overpass/highway, car jumps/skips to the side (opposite of turning direction). Steering shaft has been replaced and didn't solve this issue. We have had front end basically re-done also. Losing power steering fluid; power steering whines and is very stiff. I am convinced that this vehicle should be on the recall list!!! Very disappointed in the amount of money we have had to sink into this car. We've been dealing with a continuum of repeated problems for 3 plus years!

Filed Dec 14, 2016 · Steering · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power steering while driving. The steering wheel was extremely tight and the contact had to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. The eps warning indicator flashed shortly after the failure occurred. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle on more than one occasion because the power steering failed while in drive; however, it functioned when the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14e044000 (steering) and 14v153000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Nov 15, 2016 · Steering · 175,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering ability. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v153000 (steering). The failure mileage was 175,000.