2005 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS FAILS WHILE DRIVING BOTH AT HIGHWAY AND RURAL ROAD SPEEDS. DRIVER HAS TO PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. SAME EPS ON THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V073000 CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION. MY WARRANTY RAN UP ON JUNE 11TH. JULY 1ST MY POWERSTEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING QUIT. TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WORKS AGAIN. NOW IT TURNS OFF AFTER 5 SECONDS SO BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT POWER STEERING FOR WEEKS NOW. I FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. TRIED REACHING SATURN DEALER KEPT GETTING TRANSFERRED TO VOICE MAIL FOR 2 WEEKS TO A JOHN. NO RESPONSE FROM THEM AFTER 2 WEEKS. WENT TO MY MECHANIC DID DIAGNOSTIC THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WENT BAD AT 42000 MILES. HE TOLD ME THAT ON LINE HE SAW THAT SATURN WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS MOTOR. TOLD ME TO GOTO SATURN. GOT HORRIBLE SERVICE THERE SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH ME. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT WHILE I WAS THERE AND THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESP ON BACK ROADS. I ASKED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR AND WAS TOLD "WELL THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED YET SO YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY." WENT TO ONE SITE HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T1167668-2004_SATURN_ION_POWER_STEERING_PROBLEM SAW PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MODEL THAT HAS SAME MOTOR FOR STEERING. ONE EVEN HAD THE SAME MILEAGE AS I DO. I GO BACK TO THE DEALER ON AUG 3 BECAUSE THEY SAID ITS NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL THEY DO IT THEM SELVES. ANOTHER $40 FOR SAME TEST MY MECHANIC ALREADY DID. WHAT SHOULD I DO. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL CAR. THANKS *TR

A WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE STATING "POWER STEERING OUT" IN CENTER OF DASHBOARD GOES ON, A LOAD BEEP SOUNDS AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A DAY IN MY 16 MILES ROUND TRIP COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE AS OF TODAY. I TURN ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2005 SATURN ION JUST SHUT OFF ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING. IT NOW SHUTS OFF AT LEAST ONCE PER TRIP. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE HAVE ALREADY TRIED REPLACING THE FUSE AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. MY CAR KEPT BLINKING "PWR STR" ON THE DASH BOARD. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME IN THE PAST 2 DAYS. LUCKILY, WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED SO FAR I WAS CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO REPAIR THIS, EXCEPT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY AS THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT POTENTIALLY WAS UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR HIS VEHICLE OR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,500.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, WHEN THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING "DING." MY POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. HOWEVER, I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT, SO I TOOK IT TO GET DIAGNOSED AND SERVICED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND SAID NO CODES WERE REGISTERING, NOT EVEN IN THE HISTORY. I READ THAT GM HAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THEIR COBALTS, WHICH USE THE SAME MOTOR SYSTEM AS THE SATURN IONS. WHEN I CALLED GM TO MAKE MY COMPLAINT, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE COBALTS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR

THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, STOPS WORKING WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN I MUST USE MANUAL STEERING UNTIL I GET TO MY DESTINATION. IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE MAY BE RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I CALLED 800-553-6000 AND GAVE THE VIN NUMBER. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE POWER STEERING, HOWEVER IF I TAKE IT AND TALK TO A DEALER TO GET IT FIXED TELL THE DEALER THERE IS "SPECIAL COVERAGE ASSISTANCE FOR THE POWER STEERING IT IS UNDER WARRANTY" IS THAT TRUE? I DON'T' WANT TO SHELL OUT A TON OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS BEING RECALLED. *TR

NO CRASHES OR INJURIES. MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING 'OUT'. ONE TIME I WILL DRIVE AND IT WILL BE FINE, I'LL START IT UP AN HOUR OR SO LATER AND BOOM FOR WHATEVER REASON THE P.S. LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE NO P.S.. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT, THE SAME PS 'COLUMN' THAT WAS ALSO INSTALLED IN A FEW OTHER GM CARS WERE RECALLED, BUT, FOR WHATEVER REASON THE SATURN ION WAS NOT? THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I AM TAKING IT TO SATURN FOR A DIAGNOSTICS TEST ON MON. I AM ALSO HOPING THAT SATURN CAN 'CLEAR THE CODES' IF THIS IS JUST AN ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM. IF NOT, IT SEEMS TO ME THEY SHOULD HONOR THE RECALL SET OUT TO THE OTHER CONSUMERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2005. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR OTHERWISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO ABNORMALLY JERK AND WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO A MISDIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

2005 SATURN ION KEEPS LOSING POWER STEERING AS I DRIVE. THE WHEEL TURNS VERY HARD AND REQUIRES AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TO TURN IT. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND I GET THE MESSAGE IN THE DASH "PWR STR" THEN MY POWERSTEERING SHUTS OFF. ITS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND ASSEMBLY AS THE 06-07 COBALT, PONTIAC G5 ETC. RECALL. THEY HAVE THE SAME SYSTEM. GM RECALLED THOSE BUT LEFT OUT SATURN. I WENT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND IT IS A $1,200 REPAIR. GM RECALLED THE SAME PART NUMBER MOTOR AND SAME SYSTEM ON OTHER CARS. THIS IS UNFAIR AND VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE HEARD IT IS A NORMAL THING FOR THESE ELECTRIC MOTORS TO BE GOING OUT LEFT AND RIGHT ON ALL CARS THAT HAVE THEM BUT ONLY SOME GET RECALLED NOT ALL.... I AM UNHAPPY AND CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY I HAVE TO CARPOOL NOW. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS WHILE DRIVING. NEARLY HIT A CAR WHEN IT WENT OUT AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. STARTED HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES LAST YEAR (2009). PULL CAR OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT OFF THEN TURN ON AND POWER STEERING IS BACK ON. THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN ROAD. NOW WE HAVE 53,000 MILES (JUNE 2010) AND IT IS HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY TIME WE ARE DRIVING THE CAR. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

MY 2005 SATURN ION WILL REFUSE TO START. I KNOW IT IS NOT THE BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS LET IT SIT FOR A MINIMUM OF 15 MINUTES AND VIOLA IT WILL START. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO WITH THE PASS CODE IN THE KEY IGNITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO HAVE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION HOWEVER; THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE MILE OF TRAVEL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR MAY HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO CONFIRM THE FAILURE. THERE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED .THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,093.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN IT WAS RESTARTED, IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION WITH APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN HAVING POWER STEERING FAILURE FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN OR ANYTHING-- THE CAR JUST LOSES POWER WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS, I AM NOT PREPARED AND I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN MY WHEEL. ONCE, I NEARLY HIT A CAR IN OPPOSING TRAFFIC BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MANY ION OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS IT SEEMS THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT THE HEFTY PRICE OF ABOUT $1000. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY SUCH AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY GM. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS BROKEN OFF AT THE BASE. NO SNOW IN AREA THAT WOULD OVERLOAD. I HAVE HEARD OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

2005 SATURN ION. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, NOT EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, JUST NORMAL DRIVING. WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK. THE CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE, ALBEIT WITH A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER AMOUNT OF EFFORT. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND THEN TURNING IT BACK ON CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. *TR

2005 ION COUPE - POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND STEERING BECOMES HARD TO TURN. COMES ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS IN DRIVING. STEERING IS HARD TO TURN SIMILAR TO MANUAL STEERING. *TR

2005 SATURN ION. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T RELEASE. AFTER SOME TIME THE KEY EVENTUALLY RELEASES ITSELF. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A GM DEALER AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEY LUBED UP THE PARTS AND SAID I WOULD BE FINE. THE KEY CONTINUES TO GET STUCK. *TR

2005 SATURN ION. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T RELEASE. AFTER SOME TIME THE KEY EVENTUALLY RELEASES ITSELF. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A GM DEALER AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEY LUBED UP THE PARTS AND SAID I WOULD BE FINE. THE KEY CONTINUES TO GET STUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

RE: BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK (BTSI) SOLENOID. THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN IGNITION AND NOT RELEASE, OR I WOULD BE UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON AFTER INSERTING THE KEY. NOTE: A COUPLE OF TIMES I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CAR, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD TO FORCE THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION CYLINDER TO THE OFF POSITION OVER SEVERAL MINUTES. I HAVE REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH 3 TIMES AND IGNITION HOUSING TWICE SINCE BUYING MY SATURN ION NEW IN 2005. THEREFORE, I AM NOW ON MY FOURTH IGNITION SWITCH SINCE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE BEEN FOUND DEFECTIVE IN CERTAIN GM CAR MODELS AND YEARS AND A RECALL IS IN PLACE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT IGNITION PROBLEMS IN GM SATURN IONS ARE ADDITIONALLY COMPLICATED BY BTSI SOLENOID AND SWITCH FAILURE. IN ADDITION TO REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HOUSING, I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BTSI SOLENOID AND SWITCH TWICE (MAY 2010, 50,263 MI; FEB 2013, 84,715 MI) DUE TO THE PART'S FAILURE IN ORDER TO FULLY ADDRESS THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS OF MY SATURN ION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE ADDITIONAL ISSUE OF BTSI SOLENOID AND SWITCH FAILURE AS BEING A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE OVERALL IGNITION SAFETY PROBLEMS OF GM SATURN IONS. *TR

2005 SATURN ION 3 QUAD. VIN# [XXX] , MILEAGE 54,698 VERY UNEXPECTED POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED AND I BOUGHT THE CAR 1 MONTH BEFORE SATURN SHUTDOWN. THUS I HAVEN'T OWNED THE CAR EVEN A YEAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOMENTS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 92,000. UPDATED 11/05/10 *BF UPDATED 11/05/10*JB

2005 SATURN ION 64,000 MILES. POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE. POWER STEERING IS NOT HYDRAULIC. IT IS VIA AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. NO FUSES BLOWN. STEERING WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL AND THEN FAIL AGAIN. MANY HAVE LOOKED FOR A SOLUTION ON-LINE BUT LITTLE HELP. ATTEMPTED REPAIR EVERYTHING FROM CLEANING ELECTRIC MOTOR BRUSHES AND INTERIOR OF MOTOR HOUSING TO REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF OVER $900.00. NOTHING DEFINITIVE. SAME SYSTEM AND SAME FAILURE ON GM CHEVY COBALT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. CAR IS USELESS AND CAN NOT EVEN BE SOLD DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. WE NEED URGENTLY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR

I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION 2 WITH APPROXIMATELY 37,000 MILES, 2 WEEKS AGO THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, ALMOST RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AS THE WARNING DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL AFTER THE FACT AND I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING A CORNER. INITIALLY THE POWER STEERING IS INTACT WHEN YOU FIRST START THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT FAILS AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, PERHAPS LESS THAN A MILE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL GM MODELS RECALLED FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM, COBALTS AND PONTIACS, PERHAPS THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST FOR SOME OF THE SATURN MODELS, LIKE MINE AND THEY SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST? THIS IS A NEWER MODEL WITH LOW MILEAGE THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $800 TO $1000 FOR THE REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM, I HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT IF I PAY FOR THE REPAIR NOW AND THIS VEHICLE IS ADDED TO THE LIST OF RECALLS FOR THE POWER STEERING THAT GM IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE EXPENSE, THEREFORE HESITANT TO PROCEED AS GM STATES ITS SAFE TO DRIVE THERE VEHICLE WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS AFTER VEHICLE IS ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON RESETS IT. FUSE IS INTACT (POWER STEERING IN THIS CAR IS ELECTRICAL, NOT HYDRAULIC). *TR

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON 4/24/10. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, IT RESET AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. ON 4/25/10, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN, AFTER CUTTING OFF IT WORKS AGAIN. AGAIN ON 4/24/10, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO TURN WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING NOT WORKING. THE CHEVY COBALT WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS THE SAME IN A 2005 SATURN ION. CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THIS TIME, WORRY ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING IT. *TR

MY SATURN ION IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS CHEVY COBALT WHERE I LOOSE POWER STEERING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONCE IT CUTS OUT I HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF ROAD TURN OFF CAR, THEN RESTART IT AND ALL IS FINE UNTIL IT DOES IT AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED TODAY AND IT IS THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, WHICH WILL BE REPLACED AS SOON AS PART COMES IN. I FEEL GM SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS TOO. THIS COULD BE A REAL DANGER IF ON A CURVING MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN POWER STEERING GOES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 SATURN ION UNEXPECTEDLY FAILS NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY; SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS AND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT NO RECALLS ?? *TR

WHEN I WOULD TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF I COULD ONLY TURN THE KEY HALF AND WOULD TAKE A WHILE BEFORE I COULD GET THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND THE KEY OUT. ON APRIL 17TH I WENT TO MY NIGHT JOB IT TOOK 3 TO 4 HRS FOR THE KEY TO FINALLY COME LOOSE AFTER TRYING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT EVENING AROUND 10:30 PM IT TOOK TILL 4:30AM TO FINALLY GET MY KEY OUT. ON COMSUMERAFFAIRS.COM THERE IS 47 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE STARTING BACK FROM 4-8-2006 AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPORTED ON 8-11-2010. WHY HASN'T GM STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALLED AND REPLACED THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO SPEND $442.65 FOR A NEW SHIFTER AND CABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD TO WAIT FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT HER EXPENSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. LUCKILY WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT. HAD WE BEEN TURNING A CORNER IT COULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THE SEARCH WAS ON FOR A MOTOR. IF NONE COULD BE FOUND, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTOR WAS FOUND AND ORDERED. I HOPE TO HAVE THE CAR BACK IN A WEEK OR SO. *TR

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I COULD NOT RELEASE THE CAR KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I COULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE ACC MODE. RELEASING THE KEY WOULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES. THESE WERE INCIDENTS THAT COULD NOT BE TIED TO ANY SPECIFIC ACTION FROM THE DRIVER AND THAT WOULD OCCUR RANDOMLY. EVERY TIME I DROVE, I WAS AFRAID THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND THAT THIS WOULD FINALLY BE THE TIME THAT I COULD NOT GET IT OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN THERE ARE SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE BATTERY IS IN DANGER OF DYING. THE GM DEALERSHIP FOUND WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE A RANGE OF PARTS. ANOTHER MECHANIC FOUND A DIFFERENT PROBLEM (A MALFUNCTIONING CYLINDER OF SORTS) AND REPLACED IT AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, I CAN DRIVE SAFELY AND WITH THE PEACE OF MIND KNOWING THAT THE KEY WILL NO LONGER GET STUCK. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON SATURN ION 2 SEDAN (4 DOOR). CAR PURCHASED 12/06/04. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 116,000. TWO FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE LAST MONTH WHEN CAR WAS IDLING AT AN INTERSECTION AFTER BEING DRIVEN A SHORT TIME. POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND POWER STEERING FAILS. CAR MUST BE STOPPED AND IGNITION SWITCHED OFF AND RESTARTED AFTER WHICH POWER STEERING WORKS. OCCURRENCE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND WE ARE REALLY WORRIED! OUR MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR FUSE THE FIRST TIME BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT 3 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUND WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED; THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THE RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,197. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,999.

2005 SATURN ION-3, WHICH SHARES THE STEERING SYSTEM WITH THE RECALLED CHEVY COBALT AND PONTIAC G5, HAD EXACTLY STEERING FAILURE. IT HAPPENED APR.10/2010 IN A PARKING LOT WHEN DRIVING AT 5MPH. IT CHIMED BUT I OBSERVED NO LIGHT ON THE CLUSTER COMING UP. THEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY HEAVY SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER RESTARTING IT IS FINE AGAIN. SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE IN 09 SUMMER, BOTH AT THE SPEEDING UP STAGE (<10MPH) AFTER A CONTROLLED STOP. *TR

POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND LOSE ALL POWER STEERING UNTIL CAR IS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. *TR

PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. NOW, EVERYTIME I START MY CAR THE POWER STEERING LAST FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THEN IT GOES OUT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2005 SATURN ION (55K MILES). THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL ON THE COBALT, G6 AND OTHERS. *TR

1ST TIME MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT MAYBE 5MPH AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE CAR STARTED DINGING, THE PWR STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP. TURNED THE CAR OFF, LET IT SIT FOR A BIT, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. HAS DONE IT 3 OTHER TIMES WHILE ON THE ROAD AT NO MORE THAN 45 MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED YET. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WAS VERY SCARY AS I HAD 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,700. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY A POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED. UPON RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AGAIN. HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,256. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. A CHIMING NOISE WAS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL ON THE 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,607.

POWER STEERING OUTAGE 2005 SATURN ION. *TR

DRIVING MY 2005 ION AT ABOUT 40 MPH A DING WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WHEN ON. IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER STOPPING FOR A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED THE CAR AND IT WORKED FINE, UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. FINALLY IT WOULD ONLY WORK FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AND THE LIGHT AND HARD STEERING STARTED. HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND HE PUT IN A ASSIST MOTOR AND COLUMN KIT. THE COST $1041.43. THE ONLY WAY WE GOT THE PART WAS THAT HE GOT IT FROM THE SHIPMENT MADE TO HIM FOR THE CHEVY COBALTS ON HIS LOT. THE PART WAS RECEIVED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER HE TRIED TO ORDER THE PART SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TO GET THE PART, AS NO ONE WOULD SHIP IT TO HIM BECAUSE OF THE RECALL ON THE CHEVYS. *TR