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Saturn Aura slipping problems

19 of the 1,440 owner complaints about the Saturn Aura describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 2007 model year.

owner complaints
19
worst model year
2007
typical mileage
89,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 31, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · NM

engine fuse box gets extremely hot and after turning car off fails to turn on again until it has completely cooled down transmission slipping continuously

Filed Nov 3, 2022 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI

I went to the shop, and they said that my transmission was slipping, & that I didn’t have a third gear. Also they stated that it was a recall. There are leaks

Filed Dec 28, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · LA

Ets or etc comes on randomly when it's wet and rainy traction control comes on constantly brakes are sticking trouble shifting gears power steering locked up has to have the power steering pump changed I recently bought this 08 aura and approximately 1month of having it the front passenger wheel broke off including control arm throwing myself in the car into the other lane of traffic almost causing an accident very terrifying also when the power steering pump went out and it broke the serpentine belt had to have that changed along with power steering pump oil leak low tire pressure checked light constantly on traction control light comes on and off constantly ectecs light comes on constantly bakhtar spend constantly when trying to go uphill like there is no traction when parking brake is applied all wheel steel spin as if the brake is not applied brake rotors and brake pads where wear out very often back brake caliber problems transmission seeming to slip years rpms are fluctuating core having problems exhilarating in the previous boxes to check axing what was wrong with the vehicle I was only allowed to pick three I have more than three to complain about suspension steering wheels ABS system ABS light comes on and off constantly every day fuel system and lighting lights come on by there self brake lights do not work or work when they want to fuel system is burning a lot of gas for no reason no acceleration from stop rpms fluctuating dashboard lights cut on and off cruise will not disengage tire sensor light comes on constantly every day all day

Filed Sep 22, 2019 · Transmission · 107,244 miles · WA

I have a 2009 saturn aura, this vehicle was not recalled previously for the transmission issue, but I find now the transmission is going out on my car. It is only 10 years old and was wondering if somehow it was missed or something. It is slipping in the transmission and I was told that I would have to have a new transmission. It is worse in reverse. My car is now parked as I do not want to get out somewhere and have the transmission quit completely. I have never had a transmission go out this quick in a vehicle. There was a previous recall and I was wondering if somehow my car was missed or if something happened. Thank you

Filed Apr 29, 2019 · Driver assistance · 25,000 miles · OR

While driving, idling, and parked my electronic stability control engages and the car jerks/hesitates. It acts like it's slipping yet the weather is warm and sunny. The light will come on saying 'service traction' and ESC off and service ESC. I've taken it to many mechanics but they don not know what the issue is. I bought the car in 2013 and it's been doing it on and off ever since.

Filed Jun 20, 2018 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MI

Experienced complete loss of reverse gear and forward gears are slipping, and or not engaging so that engine rpms are well above normal before lunging into higher gear and/or not shifting at all. Difficult to reach speeds above 35 MPH. Problem first occurred two days prior and after sitting overnight, seemed to return to normal operation. After parking in angle parking spot with nose forward, the car would not reverse out of parking spot. I had assistance towing aura out of parking spot, and was able to drive forward at low speed to transmission shop. Diagnosis was failure of upper and reverse gears required transmission rebuild with suspected failure of wave plate. Obtained information on gm special coverage adjustment #14404 - transmission clutch wave plate (mar 3, 2015) which extended warranty to 10 yrs/120,000 mi. My 09 saturn aura is within 10 yr period having purchased in january 2010, and has approx 95k miles. I contacted gm customer assistance and was told that my saturn aura is not covered based on the fact that according to my VIN, I have a mh8 6-spd transmission, and the warranty applies only to "other" 6-spd transmissions . . . Even though the transmission failure is for the exact same issue identified in the special coverage adjustment, or specifically that the 6 speed fwd automatic transmission may experience a cracked or fractured wave plate, resulting in a loss of 3rd, 5th, and reverse gears.

Filed Oct 14, 2015 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · MI

After existing the freeway I stopped at a light. Once I tried to accelerate, the transmission started to slip. I was able to achieve 20-25mph before the engine would rev up to 6000-7000 RPM without accelerating significantly. Once I got home, I found I could no longer go in reverse either. Vehicle does not accelerate above 25mph normally or go in reverse. I took the car to a repair shop and they identified that the wave plate in the transmission was an issue. There is a 3-5-r wave plate fracture issue with gm automatic transmissions that this car seems to be affected by, but not covered by gm's service bulletin / extended warranty. Gm obviously has not identified all vehicles that have this issue. I am at 6.5 years and 90,000 miles and have a broken transmission.

Filed Jul 23, 2015 · Transmission · 110,800 miles · CA · crash

Car has had intermittent transmission issues for years, mainly stutters and slipping. At the dealership, we'd just get a shoulder shrug and were told it was not repeatable, despite our several visits for the same issue. Well it acted up more than normal as my wife was driving around town (bucked and raced with no power), barely making it home. She refused to drive it the next day, so I did. It drove to work fine. While running errands on the way home (2 miles, no highway, 35 MPH), it really hesitated from the green light and the engine would race as power to the wheels was lost (coasting slowly through the intersection). Then suddenly it would engage and act normal until it shifted to the next gear....and repeat. So, I found a wide spot in the road with no traffic and attempted to turn around, but the turning radius was not tight enough for the available space and I stopped at the edge of the road and put it into reverse. It was as if I put it into neutral. The engine raced and before I realized what was happening and catch it, the front end of the car had fallen off the edge of the road into the ditch with the car's rear end 90 degrees to one lane of traffic. The front end was embedded into the far bank of the ditch, but it was retrievable by the towtruck. The garage said it was the 35r clutch plates and needed an entirely new/rebuilt transmission to the tune of $4900 installed!!!!

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Transmission · MI

The 6t70 transmission prior to 2009 has a faulty weak wave plate. Caused my transmission to fail, began to start slipping at 3rd gear. Was able to exit the freeway, but the transmission completely stopped working in drive within 6 miles after the problem presented. I was in the middle of traffic with my children in the car, stopped at a traffic light. Ironically I was headed to the gm dealership. Gm has none of this problem and is aware of the problem. They made changes to the transmission in 2009, but have yet to address the faulty units still on the road.

Filed Sep 11, 2014 · Engine, Lights · 65,000 miles · IN

The gear shift would not go into to park, neutral , or reverse, the gear shift to the transmission broke. The steering column fluid is leaking, the front head light went out. The head gasket is wearing out, the car is rusting already on the body. The air conditioning fan is not blowing out cool air or heat. "the transmission feels like it slipping sometimes. I feel so betrayed to have been sold a car that needs so much work when all I wanted was a dependable car to get me to my part time job. Please advise? Thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shiftReported April 30, 2014 · 1,131,113 vehicles affected
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)Reported September 18, 2012 · 426,240 vehicles affected
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 shiftReported March 6, 2009 · 276,729 vehicles affected
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 slipping

Which Saturn Aura years have transmission slipping problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2007 (10 complaints), 2009 (6 complaints) and 2008 (3 complaints).

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