2008 Saturn Aura: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 21, 2026 · Airbags, Electrical · PA

The Air Bag Service Warning Message and warning light is illuminated I took the car back to the dealership had it serviced and a month later the message and light are on again. The passenger Air Bag sensor is malfunctioning sometimes it doesn't detect the passenger most times it detects a passenger when there isn't one. The tail and brake lights work intermittently. The steering system is dangerous. There's vibrating in the steering wheel and accelerator pedal at all speeds, the steering wheel pulls and jerks when braking and hitting bumps, the steering doesn't hold alignment and the power steering works intermittently.

Filed Jun 13, 2024 · Electrical, Fuel system · AL

Nobody has inspected my vehicle. However my rear passenger airbag on the driver's side has malfunctioned and blown out the rear interior panel and the service airbag light is on this just happened 4 days ago and there was no accident to cause it.. my transmission is not functioning properly as of yesterday it has a jolt like jerk when shifting into another gear and doesn't want to go all the way into park. And my speed odometer bottoms to 0 and all electrical equipment fails temporarily while driving I have video proof of this happening. My safety as well as other motorists are at risk if this keeps happening... ATTENTION THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS !!! YET.....

Filed Jul 10, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · 93,986 miles · OH

Traction and ESC service warnings come on randomly. Car reduces engine power randomly. Car jerks randomly and will not accelerate in traffic. Coolant leaks but coolant warning does not activate, car overheats.

Filed May 10, 2019 · Steering, Wheels · 155,000 miles · IN

I would not even fill out this form if the things I am about to write down did not happen at such an unexplained and with extreme progression. The car started off with just a wobble and a jerk. Which now has progressed to the traction light popping on and off; the car sways from side to side so dangerously it is now almost not drivable; the passenger side tire has started to flatten and wear and tear very fast, even after getting brand new tires, now all of the tires are starting the same wear and tear; when accelerating it starts to jerk and lock up not going over a certain speed limit even if you floor the pedal until it lurches forward; the break lights were also staying on and then turning off when we pressed the brakes, we got that fixed at the dealership though; the car is completely falling apart; we took the batteries out of the key chains and the car door still lock and unlock by themselves; the steering wheel doesn't seemed to be aligned or straight. Like if if you want to keep the wheel somewhat straight (a straight line is now almost impossible with this car) then you have to angle it kind of the left. Its so dangerous now to drive this car. The whole thing fell apart at once.and all of these problems happen while moving. While the car is in parked and also while its turned completely off. That only with the locks unlocking and locking. And the speeds at which im going when the other problems are happening are no more than 35 miles per hour.;' I know that we take very good care of the car and have all the service reports . Something is not right with my car.

Filed Feb 9, 2016 · Seats · 110,000 miles · AL

Started car and began adjusting seat. Car was still in park. Heard a loud "pop" and then the driver's seat tilted up and I was left in an awkward position. Tried to move seat again, seat jerked and wouldn't not adjust to proper position. Took car to dealer and they said the weld on the frame broke. Driver's seat now slides around when you're sitting in it, including during driving. Found out I was only one of dozens with similar issue.

Filed Feb 6, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 80,000 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle jerked without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 12v460000 (power train) and 14v252000 (electrical system , electronic stability control , exterior lighting , service brakes, hydraulic , vehicle speed control) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Oct 14, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · NC

After getting all the recalls on my car fixed I assumed it would stop the steering wheel of my car from moving by itself. Wrong. My steering wheel still moves by itself, happens when I'm stopped, parked, driving above 50 or below 20. The steering wheel itself feels jerky. Doesn't feel smooth or tight. I'm assuming because of the recall of the steering wheel module it somehow affected other parts of the steering but that's not a recall yet. I don't feel safe driving this car. I'm afraid to drive it especially on the highways. The problem of losing power steering might of been fixed but what about the steering shaking and moving by itself? There's other people with this problem, there's you tube videos of it. When will this be recalled? Probably not until someone likes me crashes because of it.

Filed Aug 6, 2014 · Brakes, Steering · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the power steering and brakes failed. The vehicle would also jerk and fail to accelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 98,150 miles · MO

I was driving to work and my car seemed to shift oddly between second and third gears. Rough, jerky and revving when it didn't need to. When I was backing into my parking space in the garage, I put the car in reverse and it didn't have any power. It hesitated like it didn't want to go and then it finally moved. I had to do this two or three times to get into my parking spot and each time it was worse. I called the shop and had it towed because I suspected the transmission was having issues, and even saw online that there had been some recalls on the saturn aura for that year on the transmission, but the dealer said there are no active recalls on my vehicle. I need a new transmission now according to the dealer.

Filed May 15, 2014 · Steering · 50,000 miles · NC

The steering wheel of my car will move by itself. It will shake and turn while driving at any speed. While the car itself doesn't jerk when it does it, it's extremely frightening. It will happen at any speed and happens at random times.

Filed Feb 24, 2014 · Transmission · 101,000 miles · TN

The car would not go forward or back up once you have stopped and take your foot off the brakes. The transmission failed without any warning. The warning light never came on; it had never stalled or jerked. After researching this make and model car, this is a common flaw. Another owner left the campaign number 12v460000 on the internet. I don't know the significance of this number. I do know that many owners are have the same issues with this car at 100,000 miles or 6 years after ownership. This is a $4,000.00 repair. Most all concerned have two years of car payments left owing on their cars. Gm has selectively chosen several individual owners and repaired their transmissions.

Filed Feb 2, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 79,000 miles · KY

This vehicle is a major safety concern for me. This car started jerking out of nowhere when I was on my way home from work. The other major problem it has is that if I have the car in one gear it forces itself to drive in another gear. I try to switch gears and that became almost impossible to do. This car did not switch to the correct gear when I was driving amidst traffic. A car could have easily toppled me over with this car not wanting to drive when I know that it is in the right gear. Most every other saturn has had plenty of issues in regards to recalls. How this car seems to escape the same fate is beyond me. I never thought that I would be posting anything negative about my car but this needs to be brought to attention. This car is more of a safety issue than any other car I have previously owned.