Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Saturn Aura
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Saturn Aura has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 390 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14E044000 Steering Shaft Inadequate Support of U-Joint NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V252000 Brake Lights may or may not Randomly Illuminate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V153000 Sudden Loss of Electric Power Steering NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V460000 The Transmission Shift Cable May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V073000 SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR/FMVSS 102 & FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 210 complaints
- Power Train 65 complaints
- Electrical System 59 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 59 complaints
- Service Brakes 40 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 29 complaints
Of the 390 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 390 complaints, owners report 10 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Saturn Aura has a below-average reliability rating based on significant steering and powertrain-related complaints, coupled with multiple recall campaigns addressing serious issues like power steering failure and transmission problems. Steering issues, with 210 complaints, dominate the feedback, while powertrain complaints further affect its standing. Limited data on specific failure mileages or repair costs prevents a more precise evaluation.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering system | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | very common |
| Transmission | Unknown | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $300–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Battery inspection
- Suspension check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Gear shift issues
- Electric power failure
- Strange transmission noises
- Random stalling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Saturn Aura at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.