Model year guide

2008 Saturn Aura

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Saturn Aura is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 200 on record.

2008 Saturn Aura — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Saturn Aura at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints432
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$4,806

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2008 Saturn Aura recalls 5

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #14V224000 · 30/04/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007,…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Electrical System:wiring NHTSA Campaign #14V252000 · 14/05/2014

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 vehicle…

Fix: 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 le…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V153000 · 31/03/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin …

Steering NHTSA Campaign #14E044000 · 21/07/2014

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a prema…

Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl) NHTSA Campaign #12V460000 · 18/09/2012

General 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 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 20…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2008 Saturn Aura common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 432 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2008 Saturn Aura MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,783

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2008 Saturn Aura worth?

Low
$2,700
Typical price
$4,806
High
$6,990

From 198 comparable 2008 Saturn Aura listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Saturn Aura costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,915
Fuel only$13,915
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Saturn Aura trims & engines on record

Trims
XE · XR
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl · 3.6L 6-cyl

2008 Saturn Aura vehicles on record

Other Saturn Aura model years

2008 Saturn Aura — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Saturn Aura have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2008 Saturn Aura. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saturn Aura?

Based on 432 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, electrical system, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Saturn Aura get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2008 Saturn Aura at about 22 mpg combined (19 city / 28 highway).

How much is a 2008 Saturn Aura worth?

Comparable 2008 Saturn Aura listings run roughly $2,700–$6,990, typically around $4,806 (from 198 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.