Head-to-head reliability
Saturn AURA vs Honda Accord
How the Saturn AURA and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Saturn AURA vs Honda Accord: The AURA averages 358 complaints per year, with steering failures a major concern, while the Accord averages 444, with engine and ADAS issues. The AURA has 2 deaths reported, the Accord 3. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Saturn AURA or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Saturn AURA
The Saturn AURA, a mid-size sedan sold from 2007 to 2009, shows a concentrated pattern of failures in steering, transmission, and electrical systems. Owners report sudden power steering loss at highway speeds, making the car difficult to control, and transmission issues that cause jerking or prevent shifting. Brake light malfunctions are also common, often linked to electrical problems. These issues suggest a vehicle that may require frequent repairs and could pose safety concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular mid-size sedan with a longer production run, has a higher total complaint count but a similar average per year. Complaints focus on engine problems, electrical glitches, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like forward collision avoidance. Owners report engine stalling, warning lights, and intermittent ADAS failures. While some issues are minor, others, like sudden loss of power, can be serious, but the overall pattern is less concentrated than the AURA's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Saturn AURA | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,432 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 44 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 358.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 30 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Saturn AURA
- 01STEERING387
- 02POWER TRAIN373
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM256
- 04SERVICE BRAKES213
- 05AIR BAGS149
Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist, especially at highway speeds, making the car very difficult to turn. This is a critical safety issue that can lead to loss of control.
Transmission problems include jerking, hesitation, and failure to shift properly. Some owners also report issues with the gear shifter and brake lights, which may be related to a faulty transmission range sensor.
Electrical failures cause brake lights to illuminate randomly or not at all, and can lead to stalling. These issues are often intermittent and hard to diagnose, creating unpredictable driving conditions.
Brake light malfunctions are common, sometimes staying on constantly, which can confuse other drivers. Owners also report traction control and ESC alerts turning on, indicating potential brake system issues.
“The power steering completely failed while driving. This made the car very difficult to turn and because it happened at a high speed, if there had been an immediate need to swerve, it would not have been possible due to the power steering failure. It is not a…”
“THE CAR WAS EXITING THE OFFRAMP AT 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WILE TRYING TO EXECUTE A LEFT TURN WITH NO POWER STEERING. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE RECALL WAS TURNED INTO A # 15356 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTM…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine problems include unusual noises, stalling, and loss of power while driving. Some owners report critical warning lights and the vehicle losing speed, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues range from TPMS warnings to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. Some problems lead to catastrophic tire failures, while others cause intermittent warning lights and system malfunctions.
The forward collision avoidance system can malfunction, giving false alerts or failing to work properly. Owners report intermittent messages about adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which can be distracting and undermine trust in safety features.
Brake-related complaints include issues with the antilock brake system and traction control. Some owners report the brakes engaging unexpectedly or warning lights appearing, affecting vehicle control.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Saturn AURA — 16 recalls
The defect: 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…
The risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The 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,…
The defect: 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.
The risk: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may no…
The 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 instruct…
The defect: 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…
The risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The 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,…
The defect: 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…
The risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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 co…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Saturn AURA or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Saturn AURA has fewer complaints per year (358) than the Honda Accord (444), but the AURA's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like steering and transmission. The Accord's higher count is spread over more model years and includes many ADAS-related complaints. In practice, the AURA may present a higher risk of sudden loss of control, while the Accord's issues are more varied but less likely to be immediately dangerous.
Key differences
- The AURA has a higher proportion of steering complaints (387) compared to the Accord's engine complaints (985), but the AURA's steering failures are often sudden and at speed, posing immediate danger.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance complaints (821) are unique to newer models with ADAS, while the AURA lacks such systems, so buyers of older Accords may not face these issues.
- Both vehicles have electrical problems, but the AURA's brake light issues are more prominent, while the Accord's electrical complaints include rodent damage and TPMS failures.
- The AURA's transmission issues are more severe, with reports of jerking and failure to shift, whereas the Accord's engine problems include stalling but are less frequent per year.
- Inspect the power steering system for any signs of failure, such as difficulty turning or warning lights, and check if recall 15356 (special coverage) has been performed.
- Test the brake lights and transmission shifting thoroughly, as owners report intermittent electrical issues that can affect both.
- Check the engine for any unusual noises or stalling, and review maintenance records for fuel pump or wiring issues.
- Test all driver assistance features (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, etc.) to ensure they work consistently, as owners report intermittent failures.
Before you buy
- For the Saturn AURA, verify that all recalls, especially the steering-related ones, have been completed and get a mechanic to inspect the power steering assist.
- For the Honda Accord, ask for a diagnostic scan to check for any stored error codes related to the engine or ADAS systems.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds to feel for any steering or transmission anomalies.
- Check the brake light operation on both vehicles, including pressing the pedal and observing if they stay on.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any repeated repairs to the same components.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Saturn AURA or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Saturn AURA vs Honda Accord
- Saturn AURA total complaints
- 1,432
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Saturn AURA total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Saturn AURA avg complaints/year
- 358.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Saturn AURA
- Saturn AURA top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE