CarComplaints.com Notes: The Saturn Aura was a mid-size car meant to replace the somewhat problematic L-Series. Unfortunately, the Aura brought its own problems: namely cheap brake parts that needed early replacement and a gear shifter that could say it’s in park while the transmission was still engaged.

Brake problems, including uneven wear and warped rotors that cause the car to wobble, are common complaints from 2007 owners. Did GM use metal for its rotors that can’t stand the heat? That’s what some say, and it’s hard to argue when reports show that rotors could start to warp as early as 500 miles off the dealer lot.

Meanwhile, a busted gear shifter cable lead to some unwanted rollaways. That’s because the shifter could say “Park” while the transmission was still in drive, reverse or neutral. A defect investigation into the issue was opened in 2011, eventually leading to a recall of 56,000 vehicles in 2014.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,359 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2007 Saturn Aura brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2007 Saturn Aura:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2007 Saturn Aura Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #81

Apr 022021

Aura

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The brake lights are illuminated when I-??m not breaking, and when I do break, the brake lights will go off and I cannot set my cruise control because of it.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #80

Aug 162022

Aura

  • miles
While driving the car doesn-??t switch gear properly. The car made a stalling noise and as soon as I remove my foot from the gas pedal it-??s automatically braking.

- Horn Lake, MS, USA

problem #79

Jul 062021

Aura

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that she was calling on behalf of her deceased son. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing failures with the electrical system. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake lights would fail to illuminate while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that her son had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who had informed him that the brakes needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #78

May 202020

Aura

  • 104,128 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've recently bought this car and the brake lights keep illuminating when not pressed and has destroyed two brand new sets of rotors in less than 3 months due to hot spots and stress fractures. I have noticed it happens all the time whether I'm doing city or country driving. Also the third brake light will fail to light up some of the times whenever I'm only pressing the accelerator but it will refuse to light up when the brake pedal is pressed when this is happening.

- Lewisburg, TN, USA

problem #77

Jan 132021

Aura

  • 268,000 miles
So today driving to work car ran fine got off my exit came to the red light and stopped. When I gave it gas to go the engine reved up and went but very slowly then it stopped reving and drive fine. Then on my way home did the same thing till I went to pull on to the street I live on and had to wait for traffic my car would not move but rev the engine. Husband is checking transmission fluild levels. But has never dun this in the year I have had this used car. Not sure what to do now. Have ready a lot of fourms and alot of people having the same issues. But no recall

- Hammond, LA, USA

problem #76

Apr 012020

Aura

  • miles
While driving the vehicle the brakes will automatically start on there own. This will last about 15 seconds. This happens about once a week. This has been going on for the past year. When brought into a mechanic they cant help.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

problem #75

Jul 202019

Aura

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was on my way to wal-mart. As I was driving my car all of a sudden wasn't going as I pressed on gas so I notice something strange was going on tried to shift it wouldn't downshift. Then I pulled into middle lane that is were it slowly stopped. Then I shut it off started my car again to go to a safer place it started, continue driving about less then a mile turned into wal-mart and as I was turning in car gas pedals and shift was not working. So it rolled and I was able to get into parkingnlot wal-mart. When I tried to reverse and make the car straight it would not move in drive only reverse. I parked my vehicle and called my husband cause I was panic that I almost got hit behind me till I pulled into center lane I didn't want to drive it.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #74

Jul 152019

Aura

  • 122,950 miles
Takata recall my car's power fluctuated which high acceleration then basically down to no power and the RPM gauge shut down while still traveling at 55 mph but the breaks and steering had high resistance which made me go into a panic, I eventually pulled to the curb and turned the car off and called my husband he told me to try making it home at a slow speed if it still drives so I started the car and the RPM gauge was back working and I told him and he said the problem sounds electrical and dangerous so I got home and we hooked up a obd2 code reader and it gave us cofde C0561 so my husband googled the code and it mentioned a recall for this problem then we found your site NHTSA.gov we followed the steps and discovered there was a pending unrepaired reall on my vehicle and it was about that same problem and explain the fix remedy that involved the BCM so I contacted the chevrole, Cadillac T dealership in victorville ca and made a appointment for 07/15/2019 to have the recall performed and as we arrived for the recall we were greeted by robert khoury and he got information of our visit and immediately stated that if they check the BCM we'll be charged $139 that will be applied to the repair I then let him know NHTSA.gov said the recall will be done free of charge and Mr. Khoury then stated junk people post on websites so I told him NHTSA is a official site but he wouldn't listen and stated no pay no fix but we'll repair the break lamp only so I left the car with them hoping the mechanics would do the right thing, I went to my office and printed out NHTSA safety issues & recalls and took it back to the dealership and tryed to show mr khoury but he refused to read it. We left again then was contacted later saying the car was ready and on my way home it repeated the same thing it did which led to the recall I called the dealer and khoury said you didn't wanna pay

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #73

Oct 312018

Aura

  • 150,000 miles
While driving, my brake lights come on without the pedal being pushed and then will eventually go off.

- Clementon, NJ, USA

problem #72

Mar 012018

Aura

  • 120,000 miles
Since new, we have had passenger air bag issues, ie: Not sensing an adult passenger. Brakes have been operating poorly, with rear pads wearing out, and front not. Four new master cylinders, pads & rotors with no improvement. Now mid 2018, strong gasoline smell from under rear of vehicle. I have seen where other Saturn, have a fuel leak relating to the fuel pump fuel lines. I suspect the same for our car. Doesn't matter how full the tank is, and of course it is parked. Should be a recall on this defect. We live in Texas where it is hot. We now have about 130,000miles on the car.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #71

Aug 142018

Aura

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My external brake lights come on as soon as I crank my vehicle. They do not go off unless I press my brake pedal. I have almost been rear ended a couple of times. Also when I first get in my vehicle when I press my brake pedal it gets stuck and it makes it hard to put my car in gear. I need this checked almost immediately. This is my second time filing a claim. The first one was not looked at.

- Forest, MS, USA

problem #70

Aug 022018

Aura

  • 15,500 miles
Takata recall- I have a 2007 Saturn Aura and I am having problems with my brake lights. They are constantly on. I have had the brake sensors replaced and same outcome. I even had the brake switch replaced. While I am driving my brake lights are on and when I use the brakes the brake light goes off. Have almost been rear ended quite a few times.

- Forest, MS, USA

problem #69

Jun 082018

Aura

  • miles
On three separate occasions going at slow speeds, I step on the braks and the car jumps and go at a high speed when I am in traffic. In happens when the traffic is slow and then begins to move. The last occasion resulted in my car being totaled. It always the front end.

- Windsor Mills, MD, USA

problem #68

Jun 152018

Aura

  • 12,100 miles
Upon taken off my traction stabilizer control light comes on my car will then stutter upon accelerating my car will smooth out

- Electra, TX, USA

problem #67

Oct 102016

Aura

  • miles
2007 Saturn Aura. Consumer writes requesting reimbursement for vehicle repairs related to a safety recall. The consumer stated there was a recall for brake lamp malfunction, but the consumer was not notified. The failure recurred.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #66

Jul 312017

Aura

  • miles
I can not get service without making multiple trips to the dealer as required by GM to install a part that is known to them.

- Navarre, FL, USA

problem #65

Apr 242017

Aura

  • 93,108 miles
Brake lights stay on. When the brake is applied the brake lights go off and then on. This condition would happen while stopped with brakes on or while driving with brakes off. GM service policy previously complied with to fix condition. Brake sensor was at fault. Sensor replaced.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #64

Mar 182017

Aura

  • 210,000 miles
While driving 55 on a busy two lane highway the vehicle dinged and read service traction control on console, immediately the it flashed engine power reduced and engine disabled and my car lost all power and I was unable to get it all the way off the road due to the uphill incline - the car behind me shot out into oncoming traffic and almost caused a major multiple car pile up. The car restarted after sitting a few minutes with reduced engine power for the first twenty miles - I could top out at about 45 and hear an electrical engagement sound. I took it to the dealership but the traction control and engine lights were gone by the time I got there and it was back up to power. I was told it was likely a sensor on the brake pedal and they had to order the part. It has disabled on me about five times now without warning and does so at any speed. It started this before any other problems with the vehicle, specifically as I lost traction on some icy snow and spun the tires a few times when the car had 50,000 miles on it. Before the traction control was addressed I had to replace the engine as the timing chain and cam actuators failed at 210 K. we somehow forgot about the tc problem and three days into driving with a new engine the car disabled again stating service traction control.

- Oakridge, OR, USA

problem #63

Feb 012017

Aura

  • 86,000 miles
Brake lights illuminate when brake pedal not being pushed. Brake lights turn off when pedal is pushed. Electronic stability control fails when brake applied. Difficulty shifting out of park unless brake pedal applied.

- Hollister, CA, USA

problem #62

Nov 012016

Aura

  • 250,000 miles
Approximately 30 days ago, I started experiencing issues where the car will not shift from park gear to drive gear. This issue has occurred approximately 10 times during this window. Sometimes when this issue occurs the ESC light is on while other times the light is off. The only way to "trick" the car from shifting to park to drive is to turn the car off, press on the brake pedal or emergency brake to ensure car is still in park and gently push and hold the gear shift button then crank the car back on.

- Suwanee, GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?