Last night started out like any other night with our 2007 Saturn Aura XR: A couple neighbors remarked on its upscale appearance. I was slightly annoyed by the disharmony between its sharp throttle response and slow steering response. (I really hope a quicker steering ratio is on the list for the mid-cycle refresh.)
And although I was worried the trunk's high lift-over would be a problem on laundry night, it wasn't an issue. Plus, the net dividers proved useful for corralling laundry detergent and fabric softener...
Unfortunately, the Aura also did something it didn't do the last time I drove it: When making large steering inputs at low speeds (in the parking lot), there's both an audible and tactile clunking and shuddering from the steering column. This happens about 2/3 of the time, and it's not the result of wrenching the wheel to full lock -- it occurs even if you're delicate in your inputs. It's coming from deep within, so it's definitely not a loose trim piece and it goes beyond the noisy power steering pump issue we had the dealer investigate earlier.
Other editors have noticed it, too, so we have a dealer appointment scheduled for Monday morning. Rest assured that we'll be luring an actual mechanic into the car with us so that we can demonstrate the issue and avoid seeing the words "cannot duplicate customer concern" on the final receipt.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 14,684 miles
barryc737 says:
08:47 AM, 10/13/08
So what ever happened on this? I've got the very same issue....same mileage!