Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Saturn Aura owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with cruise control activated, the vehicle lost cruise control functionality with the "Service Traction" message displayed. Additionally, the brake lights turned on unintendedly. The contact stated that the brake lights remained illuminated; however, the brake lights would turn off while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Case # with GMC is 81598832107 9/30/15 was at left turn lane to go in my neighbor hood put in park to grab something of the floor when I put back into drive my car started to reverse. Put it back into park and then drive and the same thing. Lucky I had my neighbor behind me him and others help me push it to a safe zone very close to my house, pushed it half way on drive way and put in park and it rolled across the street while trying to stop it I put myleft foot down caused more pain due to me recent surgery. This car has been to GMC for the recall cable 3 times, this time they said they only place half of it and will now replace the whole cable. Was called on 9/30 5 hours at the shop and was told it was ready, I explained that I don't feel safe driving this car. …
The first sign of problems was while driving the automatic locks started locking and unlocking themselves. This would happen off and on with it locking and unlocking very quickly and repeatedly, ceasing and then starting it again forapproximately 2 or 3 days. Then it would stop all together for 3 or 4 days maybe a week and then repeat the same pattern. I also noticed a couple of times while my car was parked in my driveway the brake lights would be on. I'm not sure if they went off when I parked my car and got out for the day or if they just suddenly came on while my car was parked. I only noticed this around 3 or 4 times. The main event which brings me here is I was driving doing around 30 miles per hour on a side road when suddenly I could not control my steering easily. Around the same time or seconds after my dash lights started going crazy and all of them flickering off and on. …
I was driving in rush hour traffic on the interstate at approximately 25 MPH. All of a sudden the power decreased on my vehicle and the engine light came on. In addition, the following messages kept appearing on the dash message screen: service ESC.....service traction.....engine power reduced. When I was able to safely pull over, I turned off the engine and got out the owner's manual. However, I did not see anything about ESC in the index nor did I find a troubleshooting guide. I started the car back up and the messages were gone but the engine light was still on. I drove it home and kept a watch on all of the gauges/lights and it seemed okay although it felt like it was driving differently (less power), but it could have been my imagination. I am concerned because if I had been going faster someone could have ran into me from behind. …
I have a recall complaint... Recall#: 14e044000 --steering; the wheel is stiff and hard to turn recall#: 14V153000 --steering: electric power assist system; hard to turn wheel, leaking ps fluid, no longer has whining noise. Vehicle was in motion and turning I had previously replaced my battery, because I constantly had to use a battery booster to start it after every time I shut the car off, and the former one became faulty and it tested as a bad battery. Within 2 days of replacing the battery, the ps fluid rapidly started leaking after starting the car ignition and the steering wheel is stiff and very hard to turn now. I've put more ps fluid in my car, but it doesn't help the stiff steering at all almost as if I never even put any ps fluid in it to begin with. …
I was driving down the highway about 6 am it there was some snow on the ground. As I was driving my traction control keep going on and off. At that time I didn't know why it keep going on and off. The only problem I thought I had was for my brake light to randomly come on. Which I didn't know it cause all other functions to completely go out. I wasn't going but 35mph when all of a sudden I was spinning and in the ditch. I grew up driving in the snow knowing to drive a front wheel drive car in the snow it's better than a rear. Not until this winter have I had a problem. In this incident I spun completely out of control nothing that I could do to try and prevent it. Yes I know the snow is not safe conditions to drive in. I have clean record not once have I been into a wreck nor had problems driving in the snow. …
Was recalled for a electric power steering assist. Not even two months later the power steering system has completely failed. I cant even go a quarter mile down the road.it will drive a little down the road and power steering will flash on the dash and turns are almost impossible. I have to shut the vehicle off and turn it back on. This is very dangerous especially if there isn't a place to pull over without making a turn. I called GM and they told me I would have to pay out of pocket to get it fixed and they would not reimburse me for what it costs.I don't think this is right considering that this was the one thing that they were supposed to fix I cant afford to fix it. I have put over two grand in this car all within a year. Mind you this is my only car and I cant get another one. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While operating the vehicle, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and caused the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. In addition, the service brakes and electronic stability control indicators illuminated, and the brake lights remained illuminated without depressing the brake pedal. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (sutliff GMC in state college, pa) were notified, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control) in 2014, but the failures recurred. The failure mileage was 190,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. While driving approximately 20 MPH over a grass patch, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a pole. The contact indicated that the traction control light illuminated during the incident. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. Also, while driving at an unknown speed, the contact inadvertently made contact with the transmission shifter and the shifter switched to the neutral position. Also, the power steering malfunctioned and failed to work while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 47,000.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle jerked without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 12V460000 (power train) and 14V252000 (electrical system , electronic stability control , exterior lighting , service brakes, hydraulic , vehicle speed control) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Traction Control complaints in other Aura years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2008 Saturn Aura?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2008 Saturn Aura, 10% of the model year's 432 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Saturn Aura traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2008 Saturn Aura, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Saturn Aura traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.