2009 Saturn Aura Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 65about this part
- Share
- 17%of 390 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 65 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2009 Saturn Aura, 17% of the 390 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The plastic casing on the shifter cable has broken and the sprag on the at transmission is bad.... Or so I have been told. It is in the driveway now with the abc, brake, traction control and ESC lights lit as well as error codes p0449 & p2101. I have temp repaired the shifter cable and it will shift through the gears but will not go into gear. I was driving down I-635 when it stopped going into gear.”
NHTSA complaint #11109828, filed 2018-07, 138,000 miles“While driving my daughter to school, I made a left turn into the school parking lot at a low rate of speed and steering went out. Power steering light illuminated and dash reads service ESC. Very difficult to steer. Turned car off and went to crank again...steering restored, indicator went off.”
NHTSA complaint #11156072, filed 2018-12, 225,000 miles“Transmission (6t40) suddenly failed while driving. Stopped shifting above 2nd gear (25 MPH). Once I pulled out of the highway and parked, I could not reverse. Left me stranded. Gm has a recall for similar 6t70 transmission, but refuses to cover mine even though 6t40 has same problems as 6t70.”
NHTSA complaint #11103056, filed 2018-06, 108,000 miles“For two days when starting it made a weird noise but it sounded like the fan to the A/C might be going. Then my warning gauges started appearing warning of my air bag and oil. The next time I went to start the car the car would not start at all and the lights inside the car flashed and the car made a strange noise.”
NHTSA complaint #10893684, filed 2016-08, 86,000 miles“My car will not go into park. I was reading on it and it said that the shifter cable has been recalled before. We do not know if it was fixed, and we need to get it fixed before it causes an accident. The recall number that has been entered in 2012 is 12v460000. Can you please tell us what we need to do.”
NHTSA complaint #10680297, filed 2015-01, 109,000 milesRelated recalls
- 12V460000Sep 18, 2012General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a…Covers: Saturn Aura 2007–2010, Chevrolet Malibu 2008–2010, Pontiac G6 2008–2010
- 09V073000Mar 6, 2009General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook…Covers: Saturn Aura 2009, Chevrolet Cobalt 2009, Malibu 2009 +7 more
Related service bulletins
- 11009088Sep 16, 2024This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be…
- 11001321May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- 11000119Apr 26, 2024This service bulletin provides technicians with information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
- 10245395Nov 6, 2023This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing…
- 10247768Sep 1, 2023This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician of a complaint of a sag or hesitation when accelerating. The concern is present when coasting at…
- 10242061Aug 7, 2023This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
- 10237846Jun 7, 2023This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on automatic transmission shift and engine driveability concerns and/or MIL ON due to aftermarket oil bath air…
- 10237387May 30, 2023This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be…
- 10237659May 15, 2023This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2009 Saturn Aura
210 complaintsElectrical system
59 complaintsElectronic stability control
59 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsExterior lighting
26 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsSeats
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Saturn Aura
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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