NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Saturn Ion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION-2 AND MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY POWER STEERING. I FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAPPENS AT RANDOM AND THE CAR BECOMES INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER AND MANY OTHER SATURN DRIVERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MYSELF AND I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THE CHEVY COBALT HAS THE EXACT SAME STEERING COLUMN AS THE SATURN ION AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE COBALT BUT NOT ON THE ION. THIS BAFFLES ME BECAUSE IF THE SAME MECHANISM IS ON BOTH CARS THE BOTH CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT JUST ONE. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE ON THE ROAD DRIVING MY CAR NOW BECAUSE I HAVE NO INDICATION IF AND WHEN MY POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. THE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS HAPPENING AND I REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FUSES IN HOPES THAT THE FUSES WERE BLOWN BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FROM SOME INTERNET RESEARCH THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE HAVING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BUT I DO NOT FEEL SATURN ION DRIVERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING A DEFECT ON A CAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.
2004 SATURN ION WITH INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAPPENS RANDOMLY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. *TR
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE IN MY 2004 SATURN ION. POWER STEERING SYSTEM STOPS WORKING AND STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD AND HEAVY. IT OCCURS DAILY SINCE 6-19-10. CALLED DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE BY SATURN EVEN THOUGH SAME PROBLEM HAS CAUSED A RECALL OF CHEVY COBALT, WHICH USES THE SAME ELECTRIC PART (MOTOR) AND HAS EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GO OUT AS YOU ARE DRIVING HARD TO CONTROL CAR. *TR
THERE WAS A ERROR MESSAGE ON THE PANEL THAT SAID "POWER STER" , 5 SECONDS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON A BRIDGE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, ANYWHERE FROM TWO MINUTES TO TWENTY MINUTES LATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND DOES NOT CORRECT UNTIL THE ENGINE IS RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY,UP TO 5 TIMES A DAY. *TR
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IN 2004 SATURN ION 2 STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER SEVERAL TIMES FOR NO APPARENT/SPECIFIC REASON. *TR
WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, AND THE POWER STEERING IN HER SATURN ION JUST QUIT WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DEALER IS THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE STEERING COLUMN OVER HEATS AND JUST STOPS WORKING. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RE-STARTING MAKES IT WORK AGAIN, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
POWER STEERING HAS WENT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. UPON LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I WAS FLOODED WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT RISK. THE CHEVY COBALT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND CONTAINS THE SAME ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED AND PEOPLES LIVE ARE AT RISK EVERY DAY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF ITS HEALTH RISKS. *TR
TL*THE DRIVER OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,300. UPDATED 10/13/10*BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/14/10*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,433.
POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 65,232.
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION (RED LINE). IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE THAT MONTH AND DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL JUNE OF THIS YEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT (OVER 90 DEGREES). OTHER THAN THAT, THERE IS NO SET CIRCUMSTANCE. IT CAN JUST GO OUT AT ANY TIME. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, BUT THE WAY THE CAR IS MADE, THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE THE PART, BUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD COST BETWEEN 700.00 AND 800.00 BEFORE LABOR. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM ON SATURNS PART AND THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU TAKE THESE COMPLAINTS INTO CONSIDERATION. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY/ROAD IN MY 2004 SATURN ION 3. POWER STEERING INDICATOR GOES OFF WHEN I LOOSE THE POWER STEERING. PULL OVER AND SHUT OF CAR AND RESTART EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE FOR A FEW MILES THEN THE PROBLEM STARTS OVER AGAIN. SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE- ESPECIALLY WHEN MY WIFE IS DRIVING WITH THE KIDS. AFTER RESEARCHING, FINDING OUT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM- WHY NO RECALL? *TR
WHEN PARALLEL PARKING OR PARKING IN A CONVENTIONAL SPACE, STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT. AT FIRST IT WAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, NOW IT IS BECOMING MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A MONTH. IT LAST HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. WHILE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, IT IS A PROBLEM NONE THE LESS. TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER CRANKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT OR OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. ITS AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING WHEN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM RESULTING FROM RESISTANCE FROM A CURB, NOR IS IT FROM LACK OF THE VEHICLE MOVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN REVERSE AND BACKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. TYPICALLY COINCIDES WITH A FULL CRANK OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH I AM UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ON A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT OF DUPLICATION. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT TO BE AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I WAS TEACHING A FRIEND HOW TO DRIVE IN MY CAR, AND HE WAS SAYING THAT THE WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST GOING THROUGH THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A PERSON LEARNING TO DRIVE. SEEING HIM LABOR MORE OVER THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO GET IT TO TURN. I HAD HIM STOP THE CAR AND I SWITCHED WITH HIM. I STARTED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PARALLEL PARK. I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE AS HIM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED.
POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME UP. VERY HARD TO STEER NO POWER ASSIST. TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND POWER STEERING IS BACK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING EVENT SINCE 6/2010. *TR
2004 ION BOUGHT 2 MONTHS AGO, POWER STEERING GOES OUT ALMOST EVERY DAY. I HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE-START IT. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WOULD BE A 1000 DOLLAR COST. WHICH I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE WHEN IT'S A NEW CAR TO ME.. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE HEARD A CHIMING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. HE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND STATED THAT HE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH DIFFICULTY TO HIS DESTINATION. FOUR HOURS LATER HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. HE HAD TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON THE WAY HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WITH OTHER 2004 IONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT; AFTER RESTART, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STANDING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND REACHING FOR AN OBJECT IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE REAR LIFTGATE CAME DOWN ABRUPTLY ON HER HEAD AND SHOULDERS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE LIFTGATE AND IT WOULD NOT REMAIN UP IN THE OPEN POSITION WITHOUT HOLDING ONTO THE LIFTGATE MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,300. UPDATED 12/23/10*LJ UPDATED 01/04/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD AND THE CONTACT HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL WITHOUT POWER STEERING ASSIST. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAD YET BEEN CONTACTED. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THE FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,890.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO STOP AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,623.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING . THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH INTO A PARKING LOT. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY FOR A PERIOD OF TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE OCCURRED REPEATEDLY; AND WHENEVER IN OPERATION DURING WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION AND STATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 07/19/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING GOES OUT 4-5 TIMES A DAY IN A 45 MINUTE TO HOUR TIME FRAME. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/22/10
2004 SATURN ION. POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY I HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES TWICE WITH IT GOING OUT AT LOW SPEEDS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. WHEN CAR STOPS & IS RESTARTED POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN. I DRIVE 10 MI TO AND FROM WORK USUALLY HAPPENS IN AFTERNOON 4 OUT OF 5 TIMES. *TR
2004 SATURN ION WITH 118K MILES. THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 90K MILES BUT GM REFUSED TO REPAIR. WHEN IT ORIGINALLY HAPPEN IT WOULD OCCUR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH BUT NOW HAS PROGRESSED TO A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. THE ON BOARD SCREEN NEXT TO GAUGES WILL SHOW "PWR STEER" AND BEEP LOUDLY. THIS MEANS THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT. CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED OR ROAD TYPE. CAR WILL BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK IS TO RESTART THE CAR BY TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. *KB
POWER STEERING JUST STARTED TO GO OUT ON MY SATURN ION 04. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 2MOS AGO, APRIL, 2010. IT APPEARS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE. WHEN TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, POWER STEERING WORKS, BUT THEN MAY GO OUT AFTER DRIVING A WHILE MORE. WHEN CAR WAS FIRST BOUGHT, WITHIN 24 HRS WE HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERSHIP ENDED UP FIXING FREE OF CHARGE. VERY DISTURBED THAT THE COBALT WAS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOT THE SATURN. MAKES NO SENSE SINCE THE POWER STEERING IS THE SAME IN BOTH VEHICLES. *TR
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 SATURN ION JUST WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH OUT ANY WARNING. AND AFTER TALKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND A MECHANIC IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND NOT ON A TURN SINCE WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THE POWER STEERING APPARENTLY RESET ITSELF AND THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE FOR THE NEXT 20 MILES WHERE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT'S BECOMES MANUAL STEERING. IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE WE HAVE AND IT IS USED TO DRIVE 17 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK SIX TIMES A WEEK. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. THE DEALER WANTS A FORTUNE TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ON A RECALL. *TR
THE POWER STEERING SIGNAL SHOW ON DASH DISPLAY AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. WHEN THE CAR IS TURN OFF AND AFTER FEW MINUTES IS TURN BACK ON, POWER STEERING WORK FINE AGAIN FOR SOME TIME. FUSES ARE OK. THIS HAPPEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND IS VERY HARD TO GET KEEP OF THE CAR. THIS HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST YEAR. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR SHUTS OFF, I WAS GOING 20MHP THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT CAME TO A RIGHT HAND BEND IN THE ROAD AND CAR WAS OFF NO ABS, NO PWR STER, THERE WERE CARS SITTING AT THE STOP SIGN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. TO GET THE CAR STARTED I HAD TO PUT IN PARK TURN KEY OFF THEN TURN KEY OVER AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. THIS IS NOW THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME SITTING AT A RED LIGHT CAR WAS RUNNING LIGHT TURNED GREEN GAVE IT THE GAS MID WAY THROUGH INTERSECTION CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN AND DRIFTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A BUNCH OF CARS HONKING. I THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP AND THAT WAS 3MONTHS AGO. THAT HAPPENED UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH WARNING, IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE HIT THE BACK END OF THE CAR THAT WAS STOPPED @ A STOP SIGN. 2004 SATURN ION 2.2L I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THIS PART DO TO NO INCOME RIGHT NOW. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE REOCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
I WAS TAKING COMING OFF A RAMP AT 40 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. DEALER SAYS THE MODULE IS BEGINNING TO FAIL. *TR
DURING MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, AND THE PWR STR ERROR LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY MY POWER STEERING GIVING OUT. I COULD HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL, BUT STRUGGLED WITH TWO HANDS TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN MY CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS GONE. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I MADE IT HOME. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO RETURN TO WORK WHERE I PLANNED TO TAKE IT INTO THE MECHANIC NEAR THERE. AGAIN, AS I WAS COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN AND MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP AND FORCED THE WHEEL TO TURN OFF TO THE SIDE. AGAIN, BY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE TEMPORARILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK WELL ENOUGH TO GET TO WORK. MY MECHANIC OBSERVED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING PROBLEM. TO FIX IT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,000 AND NEEDS TO BE DONE AT A CERTIFIED SATURN DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SOFTWARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIX. THIS PROBLEM IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS REPORTED IN THE GM RECALL OF COMPACT CARS TO FIX THE POWER STEERING. THE STEERING COLUMN PARTS ARE THE SAME IN THE 2004 SATURN ION 3, WHICH IS WHAT I DRIVE. YET, MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHY? I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AS I AM BARELY STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I WAS ONLY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS IN DIFFERENT PLACES OF MY COMMUTE OR THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH DOWNHILL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY ON THE WARNING PANEL. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THEY WILL SEND THE PART TO THE CONTACT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 84000. THE FAILURE MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START RANDOMLY NO CRANK NO START ISSUE WHICH IS FROM GM'S FAULTY PASSLOCK SYSTEM ITS NOT JUST COLD WEATHER RELATED IT WAS 50 DEGREES THIS MORNING WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT WHEN I CAME HOME IT STARTED JUST FINE ITS DONE THIS ALOT OVER THE YEARS AND ALWAYS AT THE WORST TIMES I KNOW IM NOT THE ONLY SATURN/ GM OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE EVEN TSB 'S RELATING TO THESE ISSUES WHY ARE WE STUCK DEALING WITH GM'S FAULTY ENGINEERING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE CAR MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF FOR 30 SECONDS, THEN RE-STARTED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES GET ABOVE 55-60 DEGREES F, AND HAPPENS AT LEAST EVERY 3RD TIME AUTO IS DRIVEN. NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, AND THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL INTO A PARKING LOT. SUPRISINGLY, WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAME ON AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, BUT I ALMOST CRASHED. NO WARNING. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER 2004 ION USERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND WHILE GM RECALLED THIS ISSUE ON COBALTS, IT'S IGNORING THE SATURN 2004 SAME ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING ALARM ON MY DASH CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I AM WAITING TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY A POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING A SPECIAL WARRANTY COVERAGE UP TO 100,000 MILES FOR THE POWER STEERING BUT THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
MY 2004 SATURN ION2 RANDOMLY WON'T START. IT'S GENERALLY HAPPENS IN THE MORNING. I INSERT MY KEY, THE INTERIOR/ EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, AND THEN I TURN THE KEY. THE ENGINE WILL NOT CRANK AND WILL NOT MAKE ANY NOISE. I TRY NUMEROUS TIMES TO START IT, BUT IT WON'T CRANK OVER. THEN, BETWEEN 10-30 MINUTES LATER, IT WILL START. MULTIPLE MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND ONE OF THE WIRES MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
1. DRIVING CAR NORMALLY - DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE 2. POWER STEERING WENT OUT -- RECEIVED MESSAGE PWR STR SIMILAR TO RECALL CHEVY COBALT RECALL ID#10V073000 3. THE FAILURE DID NOT CORRECT
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, MY 2004 SATURN ION III LOST ITS POWER STEERING. THE CAR CHIMED AT ME AND DISPLAYED A "PWR STR" MESSAGE. THE CAR INSTANTLY BECAME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN TURNS AND AT LOWER SPEEDS. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK. WHEN I RESTARTED MY CAR LATER IN THE DAY, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. BASED ON A BRIEF ONLINE SEARCH, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH THE SATURN IONS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR/MODULE AS THE CHEVY COBALT. A RECALL HAS RECENTLY BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE COBALT'S POWER STEERING ISSUE.
I AM SENDING THIS AS A WORRIED SON OF A 2004 SATURN ION 2 OWNER. MY MOTHER HAS CALLED ME SEVERAL TIMES ASKING ABOUT THE STEERING ON HER CAR. SHE WILL BE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARS A CHIME AND SEES A LIGHT ON HER DASH INDICATING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WHEN SHE RESTARTS THE CAR THE ISSUE GOES AWAY. ALSO ON MARCH 31ST 2010, THIS HAPPENED ON HER DRIVE TO WORK IN CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS, ONCE AGAIN HAVING TO SHUT OFF HER CAR TO RESET THE STEERING TWICE IN 5 MILES. THE PART CAUSING THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT IS BEING RECALLED IN 1.3 MILLION GM CARS CURRENTLY BUT THE SATURN ION IS NOT ON THE LIST. I URGENTLY ASK YOU TO INCLUDE THESE CARS ON THE RECALL. WITH VERY LITTLE TROUBLE I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE ON MANY MESSAGE BOARDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE MY MOTHER IS HAVING WITH HER CAR. PUT YOUR SELF IN MY PLACE, IMAGINE YOUR MOTHER WHO LOVES TO GO VISIT HER FAMILY OVER 100MI FROM HOME AS OFTEN AS SHE CAN, DRIVING ON I-35 IN MINNESOTA TO THE MINNEAPOLIS -ST. PAUL AT 65-70MPH AND HAVING TO PULL OVER ON AN INTERSTATE SEVERAL TIMES PER TRIP SO SHE CAN TURN OFF HER CAR ONLY TO RESET THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THEN HAVING TO SAFELY MERGE BACK ONTO THAT INTERSTATE. I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD BE AS WORRIED AS I AM. IF NOT YOUR MOTHER THEN WHAT ABOUT YOU SON/DAUGHTER, WIFE/HUSBAND OR ANY ONE YOU KNOW HAVING TO DO THE SAME THING, ALL BECAUSE OF A PART THAT IS ALREADY BEING RECALLED IN OTHER CARS. GOD FORBID SHE GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND GETS HURT OR WORSE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. I DO KNOW THAT MY CHILDREN WILL NOT BE IN THAT CAR UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. I UNDERSTAND AN ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANYTIME BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE CAUSED BY A KNOWN FAULTY PART. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN EFFECTED WITH TOYOTA'S ISSUES, LETS NOT LET THIS ISSUE TO CAUSE THE LOSS OF ANY OR ANY MORE INJURIES OR DEATHS. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND ON YESTERDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ALTHOUGH I COULD STILL REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT TURN OFF. IN 2009, I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER INFORMING ME ABOUT THE RECALL ON MY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IGNITION SWITCH HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT ISSUE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT. WHEN I CALLED CHASE CHEVROLET HERE IN STOCKTON, CA, ON MARCH 30, 2010 AT 7:10 AM, THE REPAIR MAN TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF SATURN CARS THAT HAD TO REPAIR THIS SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. AND THAT EITHER THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR TURN ON AND IN MY CASE, THE CAR WOULDNT TURN OFF. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT EXACTLY 6:00 PM WHEN ALL DEALERSHIPS WERE CLOSED. I WAS IN SACRAMENTO, CA AND HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO STOCKTON, CA JUST SO I COULD TURN MY CAR OFF BY THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT TOOK A FAMILY MEMBER TWO HOURS TO FIGURE OUT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY OVER $300.00 FOR THE REPAIR, BUT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF SATURNS, I FEEL ITS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME AND YOUR GRATITUDE TOWARD OUR SAFETY.
POWER STEERING ON 2004 SATURN ION GOES OUT 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK WHILE DRIVING SINCE DEC 09. I MUST PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOP, AND RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT THE FUZES CONTROLLING THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR ARE SERVICEABLE - THEY HAVE NEVER BLOWN OR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
POWER STEERING BECOMES INTERMITTENT WITH NO WARNING STOPS WORKING AT ANYTIME. I GOT TO DOING SOME READING AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR AND UPON FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR IS THE SAME ONSATURN ION AS ON THE COLBOLT AND G5 THAT GM HAS ALREADY RECALLED
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026