2008 Saturn Aura: harsh or hard shifting

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 May 19, 2019 · Suspension · 82,000 miles · NC

Failure of the wave plate. My vehicle has only 82,000 miles and the wave plate is failing. I'm unable to reverse and the gears shift while driving. This is a known issue in gm cars and they refuse to repair. Unfortunately, a single special bulletin was sent out and my vehicle met the criteria for mileage but was 5 months pass the 10 year mark. Since this is a known issue all vehicles should be recalled and a fix should be implemented or a reimbursement provided to others due to their negligence in design. This is a safety issue and causes the vehicle to do hard shifts while driving. My son, 16 years old, was driving and due to his inexperience he could have had an accident because the vehicle became difficult to drive.

Filed Jan 9, 2015 · Airbags · 80,000 miles · KS

Passenger airbag light. Airbag light does not remain on when a passenger of 115+ lbs is in the seat. I had the dealership check it and was told they could not find a problem. It was suggested that maybe the passenger was not sitting properly. Experimented with several different size passengers and the problem still persists. How safe is my passenger? Is the airbag activated even if the light does not stay on? Intermediate drive shaft---keep hearing a clunking/popping sound as well as feeling a pop under my feet on the driver's side. Dealership said it is the intermediate shaft that needs replaced but that it is not a hazard. How can a shaft related to the steering not be a hazard.

Filed Oct 24, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 92,000 miles · OH

My 2008 saturn aura xr had shifted very hard from 2nd to 3rd gear but then seemed to operate normally. Drove for approximately 20 miles and had just gotten off of the highway when the vehicle began to once again shift very hard from one gear to the next. Was traveling about 25 MPH when it suddenly did one last very hard shift. The engine light came on and the vehicle began to slow down and proceed to power down on its own. Came to a full stop and the vechicle would no longer move forward. Vehicle had to be towed home. I have spoken with gm and according to them, my VIN# does not currently have any recalls regarding transmission problems attached to it. I will have to cover the cost of repairs myself. Although my specific vehicle does not have any current or past recalls regarding engine or transmission issues, there are recalls listed out there for other saturn auras. There is obviously an issue and gm should step up and take care of it. I am so grateful that this did not occurr while I was still on the highway or it may have ended up being a very different outcome.

Filed Dec 3, 2013 · Body, Brakes · 75,000 miles · TX

After only 4,000 miles, the rotors needed to be replaced! Then I started noticing the dash above the glove box was beginning to crack as well as the left change holder (below the dimmer switch). Now the entire dash just above the glovebox is completely cracked and the glove box hangs down. The same issue with the dimmer switch...the dash area is completely cracked through. I am not rough on my car...this is not just wear and tear. Other issues include the drive shaft making a clunking noise when turning (especially to the left). The auto locks no longer work (button on door won't lock the doors...only unlocks them), and a real safety issue is the driver's side door sometimes won't unlock...even when the handle is pulled. It has to be manually lifted up.

Filed Mar 8, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 31,000 miles · UT

There is a clunk sound in the front end of the vehicle when moving from a full stop. A clunk can also be heard when slowing down preparing to stop. Took vehicle to authorized service center, dealer indicated the steering shaft needed to be replaced and a full 4 wheel alignment would be required. Repairs are scheduled for two weeks from today.

Filed Apr 11, 2012 · Steering, Suspension · MI

2008 saturn aura. Consumer states the front of the vehicle began making clunking noise *tgw the consumer took the vehicle to the local dealer, where they lubricated the intermediate steering shaft. As it turned out, that was only a temporary fix. In january 2012, the noise returned again, followed by a popping noise. Another visit to the dealer resulted in a quote of $500 to replace the left front control arm assembly and ball joint. An independent repair facility performed the work for $312 instead. The consumer stated the noise has since returned again to the steering shaft.

Filed Dec 2, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 19,247 miles · VA

Took my aura into saturn on 12/21/09 for clicking noise, saturn service repositioned intermediate steering shaft per technical bulletin. Now have the same prob going on again but I found another service bulletin 06-02-32-002d dated 06/17/2010 also another for front end clunk/rattle/knocks 06-02-32-007g dated 04/05/2010. I am currently out of warranty with the steering prob and noise from the front end. I have contacted saturn customer service, they are not very helpful. All they want me to do is take it in to the dealership to have it diagnose then we will go from there. Today I found out the noise problem in the from end, it is the struts, both have to be replaced, big bucks.

Filed Oct 17, 2011 · Steering · 15,000 miles · TX

Saturn aura 2008 xe 4cyl. Front end clunk felt in steering wheel and feet at low speed, especially when doing slight turns with braking. Repair shop said struts were no good (at 17,500 miles). Replaced struts at over $700. Clunking continued. Repair shop now says rubber bushings in power steering rack are no good. Replacement bushing are not available anywhere as far as we can tell - even checked on malibu and pontiac g? - no luck. Car is out of warranty. Repair shop was told that entire steering rack had to be replaced (hundreds of dollars) because there is no source to get $3 bushings. Repair shop said safe to drive, so car was not repaired and clunking will not get fixed. Shoulda bought a japanese car.

Filed Jan 19, 2011 · Body · 80,000 miles · NJ

Clunking noise and feel from the steering wheel column area when turning my steering wheel at low speeds or a stop. I do not have the car with me but there are 3 models, my model is the six cylinder 3.5 engine.

Filed Oct 20, 2008 · Steering · 15,000 miles · IL

I am having trouble with my steering. I hear a clunking sound and loose pop feeling in my steering shaft especially on stop and go on upgrades and turning hard sharp turns.. They lubed the intermediary steering shaft but its back again after 5000 miles. I feel the car is unsafe to drive at highway speeds.