Recall 12V460 covers 426,240 2007-2010 Saturn Aura, G6, and Malibu vehicles for fractured transmission shift cable tabs. Repair is free at any franchised Saturn dealer.
Saturn is recalling 426,240 2007-2010 Aura, G6, and Malibu vehicles because tabs on the transmission shift cable end can fracture and separate. If that happens, the shifter position and actual transmission gear can disagree, letting the vehicle roll away after the driver exits; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
In the 2007-2010 Aura, G6, and Malibu with a 4-speed automatic transmission, the shift cable is the link between the gear selector in the cabin and the transmission under the vehicle. When you move the shifter from Park to Reverse, Neutral, or Drive, that cable moves the transmission into the selected position. The PRNDL indicator is the display that tells you which gear position is selected.
On affected vehicles, the tabs on the end of the transmission shift cable can fracture and separate. Once those tabs break, the cable end no longer holds its connection the way it should. That leaves the shifter, the gear-position display, and the transmission connection out of sync or disconnected.
There is no warning sign before failure. After separation, the shifter can feel loose or fail to match the gear the vehicle is actually in.
Who's affected?
Spans Aura, G6, and Malibu cars across the 2007-2010 model years, all tied to the automatic transmission gear-position indication system.
| 2007 Saturn Aura | automatic transmission |
|---|---|
| 2008 Saturn Aura | automatic transmission |
| 2008 Pontiac G6 | automatic transmission |
| 2008 Chevrolet Malibu | automatic transmission |
| 2009 Chevrolet Malibu | automatic transmission |
| 2009 Pontiac G6 | automatic transmission |
| 2009 Saturn Aura | automatic transmission |
| 2010 Chevrolet Malibu | automatic transmission |
| 2010 Pontiac G6 | automatic transmission |
| 2010 Saturn Aura | automatic transmission |
| Units affected | 426,240 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the shift cable tabs fracture, the shifter can show PARK while the transmission remains in another gear. That creates a rollaway risk after the driver exits, with no warning sign before failure. Set the parking brake every time and confirm the vehicle is stable before exiting. Repair will be free at any franchised Saturn dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2010 Saturn Aura, G6, or Malibu is included in this recall.
- Review the owner notice GM mailed for this recall before arranging service.
- Contact a franchised Saturn dealer and ask about the free shift-cable retainer or replacement that keeps the shifter position matched to the transmission gear.
- Reference recall number 12V460 when you call, and ask whether the dealer needs the recall notice at dropoff.
- Set the parking brake every time you park until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Saturn technician checks the transmission shift cable end. The repair path is to install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable if the cable end is damaged. The dealer repair will be free once available for your VIN. After the work, the technician verifies that the shifter and transmission gear selection match correctly before returning the vehicle.
Timeline
| September 18, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V460?
Recall 12V460 covers 426,240 2007-2010 Saturn Aura, G6, and Malibu vehicles with a shift-cable-end defect. The tabs on the cable end can fracture and separate, so the shifter position and actual transmission gear no longer match. The dealer installs a retainer or replaces the shift cable for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2010 Saturn Aura, G6, or Malibu is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V460. If it is, contact a franchised Saturn service dealer or General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and reference recall 12V460. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy states that dealers will install a cable-end retainer or replace the shift cable as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 12V460?
The safety risk is rollaway after the driver exits the vehicle. If the shift-cable tabs fracture, the shifter can show PARK while the transmission is in another gear. The vehicle also can fail to restart. The dealer repair fixes the cable-end problem for free.
Is there a warning sign before this failure?
No. The recall consequence says the vehicle can roll away without prior warning after the driver exits. Until your VIN is checked and the repair is complete, confirm the vehicle is secure before leaving it and arrange the free dealer repair if your VIN is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V460000 |
|---|---|
| Saturn customer service | 1-800-521-7300 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V460 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V460000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →