My 2008 Saturn Aura had the transmission shift cable safety recall completed. The same rollaway condition has returned. GM and the dealer refused reinspection and repair, stating the vehicle ‘has lived its life.’ This recall addresses a known rollaway safety risk, and the condition still exists.
Saturn Aura rollaway problems
12 of the 1,440 owner complaints about the Saturn Aura describe rolls away in park, most of them for the 2008 model year.
- owner complaints
- 12
- worst model year
- 2008
- typical mileage
- 98,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20087
- 20074
- 20001
Often reported together
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. When the vehicle was engaged in park, it unintentionally rolled away. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Morgan buick gmc shreveport (8757 business park dr, shreveport, la 71105, (318) 798-1600) was contacted and stated that the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 142,285.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. While the vehicle was parked, it rolled away on its own. Also, the vehicle was unable to shift gears after it was started. The manufacturer was called and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was informed to call a local dealer for diagnostic testing and repairs. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 112,000.
On saturday, june 14 my car would not start. I moved the floor gear shift deeper into the park position and it started. On monday, june 16 I parked my car after purchasing an item at drive-through window. When I attempted to start it, it would not start. The gear shift moved through all of the indicators (prd...) and the car began to roll backwards nearly hitting another car. I called for a tow, and the driver noted the problem. Today, pep boys completed repair of the the gear shift assembly. There was a missing part. The incident notice (http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2008/saturn/aura/recalls/) recall id # 103875 - power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shiftplushide details recall date: apr 30, 2014 model affected: 2008 saturn aura summary: 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. Consequences: 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 saturn aura. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled away although the vehicle was in park. The contact mentioned that the emergency brake had to remain engaged in order to prevent the failure from occurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 101,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled away while secured in park. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection or repairs. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number 14v224000(power train) however, the VIN was not included and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 203,000.
I experienced the recently announced rollaway problem, but my dealer says my vehicle VIN is not on the recall list.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn aura. The contact stated that after parking, the vehicle rolled away. The contact immediately applied the brakes. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v460000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 98,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 saturn aura. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled away while in park. The contact was able to stop the vehicle but was unable to start the engine after placing the key in the ignition. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was found that the shifter cable had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v460000 (power train). The approximate failure and current mileage was 64,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn aura. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned off, parked and the key was removed from the ignition, he was still able to erroneously move the gear shifter from park. The contact stated that the vehicle had never rolled away because he constantly used the emergency parking brake. The contact was told by the auto parts store there was a the federal safety agency recall campaign id number: 12v4600000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl) for the transmission shift cable, but when they spoke with the manufacturer, they were told their vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 55,000.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
- 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
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
- Risk
- The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details
Questions about the Saturn Aura rollaway
Which Saturn Aura years have rolls away in park problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2008 (7 complaints), 2007 (4 complaints) and 2000 (1 complaints).
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