Saturn Aura harsh shifting problems

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 Jun 6, 2017 · Steering · 92,826 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn aura. While driving and making left or right turns, the contact heard a clunking noise coming from the steering column. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,826.

Filed Jan 6, 2016 · Driver assistance, Engine · 110,000 miles · OH

This car has been a bust since the warranty expired. The transmission went out a year ago and was of course a recall for many other auras except our specific one. Had that replaced, now its the timing chain, which is also a common complaint of the aura yet there is no recall. The car misfires, shakes violently when in idle and when driving. It has a very hard shift. Its very hard to accelerate and the rpms shoot up. It also stalls and it sometimes just shuts off. Every light in the vehicle is on, check engine, stabilty, etc. It another expensive repair thats worth more than half the car.

Filed Sep 5, 2015 · Transmission · 72,600 miles · OH

When accelerating up to speed limit of 45 transmission shifted from third to fourth with a sharp thunk that shook the vehicle. I just had dealer service transmission {flush}. It hesitates when shifting into fourth gear a fraction of a second at slightly elevated engine speed {200-300} RPM then engages and shifts into fifth and sixth normal every time I drive it. The harsh shift only occurred once.

Filed Jun 3, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 145,619 miles · OH

I was stopped one evening on my home from dinner when my car would not shift and had to make arrangements to get car to the dealership for the second costly repair...then six months later I received a special coverage letter in the mail. I had followed the process through the dealership for reimbursement and never so quickly got turned down due to the mileage at the time of repair. Prior to 2009, this transmission had issues caused by a very weak 3,5,r wave plate, which made this transmission prone to failure in gm products. Updated wave plates were released for many clutches in 6t70. The old design wave plates weren't stress relieved and could break with use. The updated wave plates are available. First course of action was a tsb number: pip-4327a owners of 2007-2009 saturn aura and outlook, and 2008-2009 saturn vue equipped with the 6t70/75 6-speed automatic transmission may experience no reverse and slip/flare/harsh shifts in 3rd and/or 5th gear. Codes p0776 clutch pressure control (pc) solenoid 2 stuck off and p0842 transmission fluid pressure 14404a ? Special coverage adjustment ? Transmission clutch wave plate I am requesting a recall due to having defective parts...knowingly and waiting until consumers/customers were over the mileage to get out of any type of reimbursement that is due to them. I have never been so disappointed with gm customer service and repeating the same answer back to me every time knowingly that my car repair was due to defective parts....I followed the steps and nothing...as if this is all made up. The incident date above was the replacement of the wave plate, piston and spring, reaction gear etc. I have spoke with [xxx] at gm customer service many times and like I have told her I 'm not going away anytime soon. Sincerely, [xxx] 'information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Filed Apr 28, 2015 · Transmission · 67,390 miles · NJ

Transmission plates and gears blew out. This happened while driving and could have easily caused an accident had I been on a more crowded road and/or going a faster speed. There is a service bulletin from gm (#307164) regarding harsh shifting or no reverse which may be a broken clutch wave plate dated 3/1/2011 action #10038284. What that bulletin fails to indicate is that the damaged/broken wave plate can cause the gear to "explode" taking out the other gear. Since a service bulletin was issued it is highly likely that this is a known problem. My car has 67k miles (7k out of warranty). Clutch wave plate broken. This issue needs to be looked into. If gm knows this is a problem (which the bulletin indicates) then they should be responsible for any and all repairs for same. This is a major complaint by many on various forums.

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 Jul 29, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 50,000 miles · MD

Clunk, knock or rattle noise from front of vehicle while driving or turning over bumps at low speeds.