The 2007 draws 12.23 complaints per run and the 2005 1, a 12.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 91.8% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 357 complaints, typically at 7.7 years.
Saturn Aura years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 359 | 39 | yes | |
| 2008 | 394 | 41 | yes | |
| 2007 | 526 | 43 | yes | |
| 2005 | 3 | 3 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2007 Aura asks a median $2,700, against $2,500 for a 2008, the next model year: 8% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.
Among the 4 Saturn Aura years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2007, 2008, 2009; the three worth hunting are 2005, 2009, 2008.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 3% | covered | |
| 1 year | 5.4% | covered | |
| 2 years | 8.2% | covered | |
| 3 years | 14.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 22.3% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 35.1% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 51.4% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 63.8% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 72.7% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 80.5% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 87.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 91.8% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 95.1% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.4% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 98.9% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 8.2% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 91.8% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 27% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Steering at 7.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7.7 yrs | 9 | 1 | |
| Power Train | 6.5 yrs | 15 | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 7.2 yrs | 1 | 5 | |
| Service Brakes | 6.6 yrs | 9 | 2 | |
| Air Bags | 5.9 yrs | 12 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7.7 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting | 6.6 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6.6 yrs | 5 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Aura's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 10.7 for the Aura. That is the most complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Aura | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Saturn Aura reliable?
By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 10.7 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Aura years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2007, 2008, 2009. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2005, 2009, 2008. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Aura problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 7.7 years, followed by Power Train.
Will the warranty cover Aura problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 8.2% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 27% of the complaints here.
Is the Aura more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
No: 10.7 complaints per production run for the Aura against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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