Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Saturn Aura owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights will 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. The car is available for inspection upon request. I am put at risk because there are multiple system malfunctions that occur that could result in a wreck or injury. The brakes selectively illuminating can result in a rear end collision and is not safe for travel. The traction control malfunction is unsafe for safe travel on the road. When the problem occurs the TSC will disengage with a light on the dashboard. The brake lights will stay illuminated.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. While driving at any speed, the brake lights remained illuminated when the brake pedal was not depressed. In addition, the cruise control would not engage, the traction control warning light illuminated, and the remote starter would not work. The vehicle was repaired in September of 2014 per NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ESC service warning light illuminated and the cruise control had erroneously deactivated. In addition, while driving at various speeds the vehicle would suddenly began to jerk when shifting gears and the power steering had also malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 167,000.
Car reads service ECM, reduced engine power, service traction. Throttle body has been replaced, but the previous issues occurred. Car seems to want to stall.upon reducing speed to slow down. Then when I try to accelerate, I cant accelerate when engine is still on. Car will idle up and down and reduce power. If car is in park for a few minutes, error messages stated above will also appear. Car reduced engine power on highway while at 60mph, hard to steer. Car will hesitate when slowing down to make turns at reduced speed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the brake lights illuminated independently. In addition, the cruise control ceased. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V252000 (electrical system, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
Vehicle was traveling approximately 65-70 miles per hour on the highway when the tachometer went from 2300 RPM to 5000 RPM and would do this repeatedly from time to time a service code stating service ESC would appear each time it occurred it would happen after driving for a number of hours 4 hours or more at the speeds stated previously, have taken it to a mechanic but was unable to get the car to repeat the malfunction no codes appeared and no charge for the trouble shooting.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Saturn Aura. While driving 35 MPH, the speed increased to 38 MPH. While driving 40 MPH, the speed increased to 43 MPH. The failures occurred independently. In addition, the headlight bulbs failed prematurely and had to be replaced every four months. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 115,000.
While driving, the car suddenly reduced speed, engine light comes on stating to service traction. Had the car repaired. It happened twice since, each time a day after picking up the car from the dealership. The last time, Wednesday, October 28th, I was making a left turn, the car suddenly reduced speed, lights on. This is very dangerous. Contacted GM, no help at all!
My [redacted] daughter was driving her car and the steering went out. Her car has had the electric stability control turn on and the vehicle shut off in the middle of driving. This car is a huge hazard. I have never been notified of the recalls issued back in 2012 and 2014 regarding these issues and now no one will address them or fix them as they are expired.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
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…
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…
Acceleration complaints in other Aura years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2009 Saturn Aura?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2009 Saturn Aura, 7% of the model year's 390 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Saturn Aura acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-252 (cruise control, May 14, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Saturn Aura acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries and 1 death to speed control & acceleration 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.