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Exterior lightingPart report

2008 Saturn Aura Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
45about this part
Share
10%of 432 total for the year
Median mileage
80,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 45 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Saturn Aura, 10% of the 432 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Headlamp, low beams keep going out. It starts with one side then I replace it then the other side goes out. They driver side replaced worked for a month then went out then the passenger side lasted from october 2017 till jan 5 2018. I keep replacing the low beams. It cost 100$ every time one is replaced. I actually tried replaceing all 4, and still one low beam went out I replaced one then next month another one went out.”

NHTSA complaint #11062066, filed 2018-01, 94,000 miles

“Every 6-8 months I am having to replace both headlights as they are burning out on both sides. I'm not sure if this is a mechanical issue but while driving at night and having the lights burn out repeatedly, I am afraid of an accident occurring. Headlights should not need to be replaced so often. Is there a recall on the parts for the headlights? Are there other people with the same issue?”

NHTSA complaint #10763358, filed 2015-09, 81,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10536208, filed 2013-08, 85,400 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.”

NHTSA complaint #10533881, filed 2013-08, 80,000 miles

“The exterior brake lights come on when not touched and go off when the brake is applied. I call GM and they told me my VIN number was not on a recall, but it seems there was a recall for this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10914220, filed 2016-10, 87,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2009267%
20084510%
20077312%

Other parts of the 2008 Saturn Aura

Transmission and drivetrain
124 complaints
Steering
112 complaints
Electrical system
92 complaints
Brakes
62 complaints
Electronic stability control
43 complaints
Other or unknown
32 complaints
Air bags
26 complaints
Vehicle speed control
22 complaints
Engine
19 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
19 complaints
Seats
19 complaints
Body and structure
18 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Saturn Aura

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology