NHTSA — Service Brakes Problems

2008 Saturn Aura (Page 3 of 3)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Aura’s issues with brakes, such as worn out rotors, isn’t as severe as the prior model year, but let’s just not start awarding them any brake awards just yet. Does that even exist? “The Brakies”?

One thing the 2008 does share with the 2007 is a recall of a busted gear shifter cable which can make it look like your car is in park, when the transmission is still engaged. You can only imagine what kind of fun that causes.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,602 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.

2008 Saturn Aura brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Saturn Aura Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Oct 082013

Aura 6-cyl

  • 76,000 miles

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

I was followed by a passerby to my work parking lot notifying me that the for the 8 miles they were behind me on the highway my brake lights were on. The next morning I noticed it again, could see through my rear view mirror that my brake light was illuminated. I pulled over to the side of the road, put my car in park and the break light remained on. I applied my brake foot pedal and the light turned off until I had the pedal to the floor, after I pulled my foot off the brake the brake light went back on. I verified that my parking brake was not engaged. This issue is not continuous to the point that it happens every time I drive my car but intermittent. The times I notice it are in the morning, most likely because I can see the light illuminate at that time of the day. The temperature those mornings were around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I have also noticed that when this issue is occurring my cruise control does not work, which makes sense considering my car thinks I am applying the brake. I have an appointment scheduled with my dealership to take a look at the issue and have also called GM. From the investigation I have done online I see that you were investigating this issue and I hope that you are continuing. I currently do not feel safe in this car and will be borrowing a friends vehicle for my daily commute until my scheduled appointment.

- Grafton, OH, USA

problem #17

Nov 012012

Aura 6-cyl

  • miles
My car has been serviced at the dealer numerous times, for the following issues. Service lights would come on I.e. engine, traction, air bags, tire pressure, etc. The remote on the car stopped working, and the door locks would open and shut on their own at various times while driving. I continuously have to manually lock the car. On a total of 3 occasions my car would not start. I cut the car off and went to start it again and it would not start at all. While driving the car I came to a complete stop, the car was in drive and as I accelerated the car moved in reverse. Oil leaking. I have taken this car to the shop multiple times within the last few months. Please note it is currently sitting from the last time it would not start. I have receipts totaling over $3,000 for this car in a short period. I took it to the dealership, only to have to take it back a month later and was told I need a new battery. On another occasion when it stopped I had just gotten the car out of the shop and 2 days later it stopped running. I paid for a tow and went to pick it up from the dealer who could find nothing wrong. Then the next week it stopped running again, where it is sitting now. Updated 03/07/14 updated 03/18/2014*

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #16

May 312010

Aura 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Ever since I have bought my car a 2008 Saturn Aura used. My brake light come on and stay for no reason and when they are on I can not use my cruise control. And when I press the brake pedal the light will go off. So if I'm driving 60 and my brake lights are on and need to slow down and brake they go off I could get rear ended which almost happened tonight. I took it into the dealer and all they did was grease something it did not work!!!! I will be getting a ticket from our local sheriff because I live in a small own and he has said something to me. It happens frequently. Please help I do not feel safe transporting my family. I have filed a complaint over the phone months ago and never heard anything.

- Paradise, MI, USA

problem #15

Aug 172013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 85,400 miles

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

My brake lights were illuminating like the brake pedal was being depressed; however, the brake pedal was not being depressed. When I did depress the brake pedal, the brake lights would go off completely. Then, after approximately 10 seconds, they would come back on like they were being depressed. Also, the cruise control was not working. It would not set and hold the car at a specific speed.

- Mentor, OH, USA

problem #14

Aug 122013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 55,364 miles
Cruise control disengaged and brake lights came on and stay on without hitting brake.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #13

Jun 202012

Aura

  • 80,000 miles
I was driving on the highway with my cruise engaged. When all of a sudden, my cruise turned off. I look in my rear view mirror and I saw my third brake lights on. That's when I found out that my back brake lights come on randomly when I drive. When I use my brake pedals than my brake lights turn off. And when I accelerate, my brake lights turn on. I need some help. I have a 6months old in the car and I feel this could get us into an accident.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #12

Jul 312013

Aura 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles

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

While driving my 2008 Saturn Aura ABS light, traction control, and ESC light comes on. Car starts. Transmission on route 95 South in Florida went from speed limit of 70 to 20 with no warning. Got off the highway car would not go any faster. Also could not put car into reverse.

- Melbourne , FL, USA

problem #11

Jul 132013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 76,002 miles
I was driving home from work when I saw my high mount brake light on the brake pedal was not being pushed. Then when the brake pedal was lightly pushed the brake lights would turn off. The problem only occurs sometimes.

- Aurora , IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 032013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 44,562 miles
Noticed that the brake lights stay illuminated all the time regardless of brake pedal position.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #9

Apr 112013

Aura 6-cyl

  • 78,500 miles
This is my second complaint on here for the same brake light issue. I had trouble with my car brake lights working backwards (on when driving, off when braking) about two years ago, had them fixed and they worked for about eight months and then stopped working again. I took them to a certified GM service station on 4/5/2013 to have them fixed for the second time. I picked up my car from said repairs on 4/8/2013 to only find that on 4/11/13 the brake lights were working backwards again. I took my vehicle back to the same GM service station to have them re-re-repaired on 4/13/13 and picked the car up the same day. On 4/14/13 I am having the same problem with the lights working backwards less than 24 hours after they were supposed to be fixed for the 3rd time! so I will take my car back to the GM center on 4/15/15 to have the brake lights re-re-re-re repaired. The certified service center closest to me is about 30 miles away so everytime I go to get them fixed two vehicles have to drive the round trip (1 vehicle twice and my vehicle once). It is ridiculous to have to pay the exorbitant gas prices because the people at GM are apparently icopatent (which has been corroborated by there inability to make a safety related repair) the us government must force GM to recall the vehicles affected by these faulty break lights and force them to find a solution that will fix the potential dangerous problem. The thing irritating me most is that they are not even trying to find a problem that will actualy correct the faulty equipment. At this point I will even be willing to pay for the repairs if they will just find a permenant solution! signed, very upset with the quality of american made vehicles!

- Hawesville, KY, USA

problem #8

Apr 092013

Aura 4-cyl

  • 63,893 miles

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

I purchased my 2008 Saturn Aura in May 2012. I started noticing that my brake light in rear window would come on by itself without braking and would stay on for periods of time. A T first it didn't bother me, but lately it has become frequent. The light would come on and stay on even when cranking the car up. It also comes on while driving, doesn't matter the speed limit it still comes on and stays on for a period of time. It is very misleading because in the middle of flowing traffic the light will come on giving the driver behind me the impression that I am breaking. Also when the light is illuminated, cruise control does not work. I am very concerned for my safety and others safety at this point because it happens so frequently and I have had a driver to become very irate with me because of my brake light coming on giving the impression that I am braking. I am hoping that this issue be thoroughly investigated. Thank you

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #7

Oct 072011

Aura 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
About two years ago I noticed intermittent issues with my brake lights. They would be on when I was not pushing the brake, and then they would turn off when I applied pressure to the brake. I got this problem corrected at a certified GM service center. To my knowledge (without the repair report available) they applied grease to a part of the vehicle as described in the service bulletin. That worked for about eight months and now I am having the same problem again with my brake lights, so clearly the service bulletin issued by GM is not correcting the problem. Due to my inability to pay to get this fixed and the major safety concern it possesses if driven I have left it parked in my driveway for about two months, which in turn has left me with battery issues. I am scheduling service to be done on the car today, because I can no longer go without a vehicle, but GM needs to recall the vehicles which are having problems with brake lights. This is a major safety concern that could result in serious wrecks. I have had several close calls due to this issue and after said close calls stopped driving my vehicle.

- Hawesville, KY, USA

problem #6

Jul 272011

Aura 4-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
The brake lights illuminate randomly during the operation of the vehicle. I will be driving on the highway at night and can see a reflection in my rearview mirror that my top brake light is illuminated for a majority of the trip and cars behind me believe that I am braking and will try to speed up past me despite my car traveling at the speed limit. Additionally, when the brake lights come on, it disengages the cruise control feature as the car tends to believe that I am braking. I bought the car in may, 2011, started noticing that the cruise control feature stopped working but didn't think much of it. Then a friend was driving behind me and asked why I was braking the entire time we were driving. I brought it to the original dealership where it was purchased in July 2011 and brought it back on two separate occasions. The dealership could not repair it thinking it was a brakelight switch, then they tried to replace the cruise control. I then brought it to a GM dealership in August 2011 and they repaired it. The repair lasted for about a year, until it started occurring again in Sept. 2012. I brought it to a local repair shop and their repairs lasted until February 2013 when it started happening again. I am unsure who to take it to because I do not want to have to pay for this a third time for an issue that never seems to be fixed and makes me feel unsafe on the road.

- Waltham, MA, USA

problem #5

Feb 232013

Aura 6-cyl

  • 70,280 miles
Regardless of how fast I am driving, whether 35 mph or 60 mph, my brake lights operate in a reverse manner. As I apply my brakes, the brake lights turn off. On the other hand, when I release my brakes, the brakes lights comes on. This causes a distraction and a danger to me and the traffic behind me. The issue occurs often and sporadically. I have noticed a pattern; when this issue occurs my service ESC light comes on and my traction turns off.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #4

Jan 182013

Aura

  • 83,000 miles
Was driving on freeway with cruise control on then suddenly the cruise control disengaged. When I looked in the rear view mirror I noticed that my 3rd brake light was coming on by itself and staying on and I was not pressing brake. Brakes come on and stay on when not pressing brake pedal and turn off when brake pedal is pressed. Makes other cars behind me think I'm braking when I'm not and when I do brake it looks as if I'm not braking. Risk getting rear ended because of this. Safety issue.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #3

Dec 012011

Aura

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph and completing turns, he would hear loud popping noise from the steering column. Also, when depressing the brakes he would feel a vibrating sensation. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. The current mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable. Returned by usps. 2nd attempt on 1/16/2013 failed.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #2

May 012010

Aura

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that the brake lights failed. The brake lights would remain illuminated when the brake pedal was not being depressed. The brake light would shut off once the brake pedal was engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. A diagnostic was performed however, the diagnostic was unable to generate a failure code because the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was test driven and the failure was duplicated however the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.

- Paradise , MI, USA

problem #1

Sep 192012

Aura 4-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
Was in back to back traffic using brakes often, when I tried to use the brakes it was not working, the car run into another car in front of me, damaged the entire front of my car. To repair this car it will cost xxxxxwhich is as the value of the car. The car involved had very little damage only my Saturn Aura has serious damaged. I have had this similar issues with the breaks previously. On the Saturn Aura reviews they are few brakes problem reported. This 2008 Aura was manufactured in 2007. There is many 2007 Aura reported brakes problems. I want to pursue an investigation and possible replacement or reimbursement from the manufacturer. Please advice me if I should fix the car or if I should get a lawyer or what I need to do.

- Davie, FL, USA

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