Steering. Review the 210 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

59 reports

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81,000 miles · Mar 13, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON (TRIANGLE ON DASH) WILL DISPLAY THEN GAUGES START FLICKERING BACK AND FOURTH LIKE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEN ON DISPLAY IT SAYS SERVICE ESC AND CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS AND YOU CANNOT STEER OR CONTROL VEHICLE PROPERLY WITH THESE ISSUES GOING ON. I ENTERED MY VIN BECAUSE THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THESE …

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NHTSA ODI #11078947

166,000 miles · Nov 3, 2017

Electrical SystemSteering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE POWERING STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AN EYEWITNESS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING; HOWEVER, WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR BOTH OF THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V153000 (STEERING) AND 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) DUE TO THE EXTENDED MILEAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000. *LN UPDATED 8/21/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #11042886

113,400 miles · Jul 27, 2017

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (AXEL ROD BUICK/GMC IN PARMA, OHIO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTAL CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,400.

NHTSA ODI #11011128

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2017

Electrical SystemService BrakesWheels

TAKATA RECALL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR THERE IS RATTLE/VIBRATION WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTENANCE TWICE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS FOR ELECTRICAL AND BREAK PAD REPLACEMENT AND I'M STILL HAVING A VIBRATION AND RATTLE SOUND WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11002867

155,000 miles · Apr 21, 2017

Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BOTH EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LATER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE CONTACT FULLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST AND THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OUT OF POCKET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ODI #10979859

110,000 miles · Feb 2, 2017

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure

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MY CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. THE MOONROOF HAS LEAKED AND I HAVE PAID TO HAVE IT REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN THOUGH GM SAYS THEY AREN'T TO BLAME. THE LEAKS IN THE MOONROOF ARE ONLY WHAT I CAN START TO ATTRIBUTE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO. I RANDOMLY LOOSE RADIO CONTROLS, HAVE BUTTONS THAT DON'T WORK, CANT USE MY KEY FOBS AFTER REPLACING THEM AND REPLACING BATTERIES ONLY THE "PANIC" BUTTON WILL WORK. WHAT TAKES THE CAKE IS THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT THAT CAME ON YESTERDAY AND THE SERVICE ECM LIGHT, NEARLY KILLING US ON THE HIGHWAY. I GET REDUCE ENGINE POWER BUT WITH NO WARNING TO GO FROM 68 TO 35 IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE IS ASKING FOR DEATH. ON TOP OF IT THE MORE I'VE GOOGLED THE ISSUES IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM GM IS WELL AWARE OF AND NEVER HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT FROM 2007-2009 AURAS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT THE GM DEALERSHIP TRYING TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS T =O BE GIVEN NO REAL ANSWERS. I AM SCARED NOW TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AGAIN AS THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND IT "SEEMS" TO BE FINE. I AM EVEN MORE SCARED TO BRING IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE IF THE LIGHTS AREN'T ON THEY CANT DIAGNOSE IT, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT I'VE READ EVEN WITH LIGHTS ON DIAGNOSES' ARE POOR AND NOT ACCURATE. ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING THE SAME EXACT THINGS GOING ON WITH THEIR VEHICLES HOW IS THERE NO DEFINITIVE FIX AND WHY ARE PEOPLE BEING SENT BACK OUT ON THE ROADS WITH FAULTY CARS. NOT ONLY THAT IF 3 YEARS WORTH OF CARS ARE HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES ALL THE SAME HOW IS THERE NO RECALL???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10949055

140,000 miles · Jan 20, 2017

Electrical SystemPower TrainSteeringFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SATURN AURA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, IT ROLLED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE INTO A FUEL STATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10946654

160,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016

Electrical SystemEngineFireInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 SATURN AURA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON BOTH ARMS AND LEFT LEG THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10928831

99,000 miles · Sep 26, 2016

Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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THIS VEHICLE HAS SUPPOSEDLY ALREADY BEEN SERVICED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V252000. HOWEVER, INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED; THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED; DIFFICULTY ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND CRASH AVOIDANCE FEATURES SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND PANIC BRAKING ASSIST FEATURES BECOME DISABLED. THE DATE GIVEN BELOW FOR OCCURRENCE OF THE INCIDENT IS JUST THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. THIS ISSUE CAN HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE BUT NOTHING IS FOUND TO ADDRESS THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10909581

86,000 miles · Aug 6, 2016

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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 ODI #10893684

Official recalls

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)