NHTSA — Steering Problems

2009 Saturn Aura (Page 1 of 10)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,410 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.

2009 Saturn Aura steering problems

steering problem

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2009 Saturn Aura Owner Comments (Page 1 of 10)

problem #193

Dec 262022

Aura

  • miles

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

Power steering keeps going off. Have to restart car to get it to work. Now it won-€™t work at all.

- Chelsea , ME, USA

problem #192

Dec 192022

Aura

  • miles
Wife has repeatedly mentioned loss of power steering and for a petite woman each incident was quite scary for her. I drove it for two days before it happened to me. It was much worse than simply a car with no power steering, which I've owned before. It seemed like something was actively working to prevent the steering wheel from turning. The force required was at my own limits to steer adequately. The next time the car was started it was fine. However, it goes out while driving; about 40 MPH, in my case, as I was merging onto the highway. As others have mentioned, my VIN is not included in the recall for the torque angle steering sensor. I also must advocate for the recall to be widened. Obviously GM purposely narrowed the recall, knowing the later vehicles had parts that were not substantially different.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #191

Jan 172021

Aura

  • 230,000 miles
The contact's partner owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact's partner noticed that the brake lights randomly would illuminate. The contact stated that the failure occurred at various speeds and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). Additionally, when the contact's partner was coming to stop while driving, the power steering failed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The failure of the power steering occurred once. The failure of the brake lights was a recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #190

Feb 172022

Aura

  • 133,149 miles

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

The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while her mother was turning into a gas station, the steering wheel lost power steering inadvertently. The steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel regained power steering. The contact's mother attempted to purchase a power steering fluid but became aware that the vehicle power steering was electrical. The contact stated that the steering wheel was making abnormal whining sounds and was jerking while driving. The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed her that the failure was related to an unknown steering recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,149.

- Vance, SC, USA

problem #189

Feb 182022

Aura

  • miles
Steering occasionally gives out without warning. There is a recall for this make, model, and year of vehicle, but my VIN search says it is not included. This recall needs to be expanded to include a wider range of VIN numbers.

- Fremont, OH, USA

problem #188

Jul 152021

Aura

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the vehicle stalled without warning. Additionally, while driving and making either right or left turns, the vehicle pulled in the opposite direction. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The Bureau of Automotive Repair was contacted and the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) and 14V153000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #187

Dec 152021

Aura

  • miles

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

Power Steering has failed. Yes, it is available for inspection. Can not properly control the steering, difficult to go around a corner. Problem is constant - but not yet inspected. Warning lights for Traction control and Check Engine appear, and Service Power Steering appears on the Information Station, but not prior to the failure. Problem started around Dec 15, 2021 after parking it overnight. Started it the next morning and that is when the problem started. A Recall posted in May 2014 calls for repair of some 2007 & 2008 cars for this problem, but not for this particular car, built in April 2009. Seems as though all Saturn cars using these same parts should have been recalled. Thank you

- Saint Cloud, MN, USA

problem #186

Feb 122022

Aura

  • miles
While I was driving on the freeway my power steering failed and the car became impossible to maneuver safely. I had to take back roads home to minimize risks. I took it to an autoparts shop to see if they could help me find the power steering fluid resovior. This was when I found out my vehilce had an electric power assist and did not have a power steering pump. I drove home and the power assist would go in and out intermittenly. I looked online and found that my year of Saturn Auras had a recall associated with this exact problem. My complaint is that I have had the exact same issue present itself in my vehicle, but my VIN number states it did not have a recall. My question is why was it not recalled? It is an expensive repair and logically it seems that the recall should apply to my vehicle. It is the same make and model, but was not in recall according to VIN. I'm complaining that both GM and National Department of Transportation should have included my VIN in recall. I'm left with a car unsafe to drive. I could have a fatal accident when the power assist failed.

- Pasadena, TX, USA

problem #185

Jan 302022

Aura

  • miles
The power steering completely failed while driving. This made the car very difficult to turn and because it happened at a high speed, if there had been an immediate need to swerve, it would not have been possible due to the power steering failure. It is not as if the steering became like a car with "manual steering", as I have driven one without power steering before. It was much worse. Similar to how a handicap access door is very difficult to open manually as it can also be opened with the push of a button. In addition, it should be noted that normal alerts made by the car are supposed to play a chime through the speakers. For this car, it seems to be played through the driver speaker, which also stopped working some time ago. In fact both the front speakers have failed and I've only been able to replace the passenger one thus far. Therefore, when you are driving, when the power steering fails randomly, the warning chime is not heard. The only way you would know it has failed is if you look down at the information center in the dash and catch the alert - or you try to make a turn. As you can imagine, finding out your steering has failed in the middle of a turn is incredibly terrifying and it is only by the grace of God that we have not had a wreck up to this point. We immediately stopped driving this car once this issue presented itself as it is not safe to drive. The dealer just made me aware that the failure was caused by the steering torque angle sensor. I had just recently had the power steering motor replaced because of the same exact problem. As it turns out, there is an outstanding product safety recall for the steering torque angle sensor: 14116B. However, my Saturn Aura was manufactured in 2009 making it ineligible for the safety recall. The recall only covers Auras (and other similar GM cars) manufactured through mid-2008. It is clear that this recall should be expanded to cover my vehicle for both of the aforementioned failures.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #184

Jan 162022

Aura

  • miles
Three separate incidents of complete loss of power steering while driving

- Merchantville , NJ, USA

problem #183

Jan 052022

Aura

  • miles

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

ESC disabled alarm and a loss of power steering

- Dundee, MI, USA

problem #182

Sep 082021

Aura

  • miles
The power steering fails intermittently while driving causing the vehicle to become extremely difficult to steer. This can happen at any speed and in any conditions.

- Franklin, TN, USA

problem #181

Oct 162020

Aura

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's husband forcefully steered the steering wheel and veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that as her husband turned off and restarted the vehicle, the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact's husband was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while her daughter was driving the vehicle. An unknown warning message was displayed. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Matthews, NC, USA

problem #180

Nov 132021

Aura

  • miles
Wife reported power steering went out while in city traffic and she was not able to execute right hand turn. She had to gradually approach side of road, park, turned car off, turned on, jiggled steering wheel and assisted steering returned. She says at least one dashboard lit up, but doesn't remember which one.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #179

Nov 102021

Aura

  • miles
I've lost power steering THREE times now. Once on the highway while changing lanes. Once while trying to pull into a parking spot, and the final time while pulling into my drive way.

- Inkster, MI, USA

problem #178

Mar 312021

Aura

  • miles
The steering locked up when i was driving on the highway. It was scary especially because I was changing lane and this has happened several time now I can't even drive my car

- Woburn, MA, USA

problem #177

Jun 012021

Aura

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was restarted and steering functionality was returned. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #176

May 012021

Aura

  • 182,000 miles
The power steering goes out and my daughter is unable to steer the car. This is a intermittent problem. The power steering well go in and out with no warning, and then start working again. This can happen while driving or were you just started up.

- Washington, MI, USA

problem #175

Apr 012021

Aura

  • 24,542 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was shaking and locked up. The vehicle was restarted and the power steering fault message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,542.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #174

Mar 152021

Aura

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and making a left turn, the contact heard a warning alert coming from the vehicle. The contact continued driving and then heard another warning alert and unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle loss power steering and the vehicle became difficult to drive. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

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