2006 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

MY SON WAS DRIVING AND HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO CHANGE LANES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HE PULLED ON IT A BIT HARDER AND IT RELEASED WHICH MADE SPIN OUT AND HIS FRONT WHEEL HIT THE CURB WHICH PUSHED HIS WHEEL UP AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE CAR. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANICS WHERE IT STILL SITS WHILE PARTS ARE BEING ORDERED. CAR BRANDS MAY DISAPPEAR FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT THE CARS THEMSELVES STICK AROUND FOR YEARS OR EVEN DECADES. AND WHEN DISCONTINUED MODELS HAVE PROBLEMS THAT MAY AFFECT SAFETY THEY GET THE SAME ATTENTION FROM FEDERAL REGULATORS AS CURRENT MODELS. SUCH IS THE CASE FOR THE SATURN ION, A COMPACT-CAR MODEL FROM A DISCONTINUED GENERAL MOTORS DIVISION WHOSE PRODUCTION ENDED A FEW YEARS AGO. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT HAS INTENSIFIED ITS INVESTIGATION INTO COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALLEGED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER-STEERING SYSTEMS ON IONS FROM THE 2004 TO 2007 MODEL YEARS. THE AGENCY HAD PREVIOUSLY OPENED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPLAINTS. NHTSA SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 4,150 COMPLAINTS FROM DRIVERS ALLEGING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE AGENCY SAYS IN 16 CASES THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST RESULTED IN A CRASH, AND IN TWO CASES THE CRASHES RESULTED IN DRIVER INJURIES. NHTSA SAID IT BEGAN UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY INQUIRY TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES?? INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THESE SOMETIMES GROW INTO SAFETY RECALLS IN WHICH THE CARS MANUFACTURER HAS TO CORRECT. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING BEFORE HEADING TO WORK AND AS I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE PWR STR ALERT WAS DISPLAYED AND I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I MADE IT FINE TO WORK AND HAD NO PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. HOWEVER, THAT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY FOR A WEEKEND TRIP TO MI AND ONCE AGAIN THE PWR STR ALERT CAME ON AGAIN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS SOON AS I COULD SO THAT I COULD ATTEMPT TO RESTART MY CAR TO HOPEFULLY REGAIN POWER STEERING. I RESTARTED MY CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO GAIN POWER STEERING AGAIN. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS ON THE ROAD, I LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. IT WAS VERY HARD TO MANEUVER THE CAR AND I WAS VERY AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND IT ESPECIALLY HARDER TO TURN AT SLOWER SPEEDS SO MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WAS VERY HARD. THEN ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, I WAS DRIVING AGAIN AND AT FIRST THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE, BUT I FOUND THAT WITHIN 20 MINS OF MY TRIP THE PWR STR ALERT CAME ON AGAIN AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING AGAIN. I FIND THIS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE AND IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ANY DRIVER ESPECIALLY YOUNG LADIES SUCH AS MYSELF WHO HAVE TO USE BOTH ARMS PULLING DOWN ON ONE SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TO MAKE A SLIGHT TURN AROUND A BEND. WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GOING DOWN THE OFF RAMP I FOUND THAT MY FRONT WHEELS WERE SKIPPING ON THE PAVEMENT AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN AND I WAS PULLING REALLY HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TO BE ABLE TO TURN. I FEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT WENT OUT AND THERE'S SNOW. I HOPE THAT SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THOSE DRIVING THE CARS THAT ARE LOOSING THEIR POWER STEERING, BUT ALSO FOR THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

VEHICLE DOESN'T TURN ON IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ELECTRICAL WORKS, BUT ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER, JUST MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER TEMPERATURE WARMS, VEHICLE WILL START. *JS

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET I HEAR A CLICK AND THE CARS WARNING SOUND, THEN THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THAT MY POWER STEERING IS NO LONGER WORKING. I PULLED TO THE CURB AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND UPON TURNING IT BACK ON THE LIGHT WENT AWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THREE DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING, AGAIN I HEARD A CLICK THE WARNING SOUND, THE MESSAGE, AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAD TO GRIP THE WHEEL AND WORK TO GET IT TO FINISH THE TURN SAFELY. PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING WORKED FOR THE 10MIN DRIVE TO WORK. DURING THE DRIVE HOME THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF 4 TIMES, EACH TIME IT TOOK LESS TIME FROM THE RESTART OF THE CAR TILL THE IT FAILED AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,200.

SMELLED GAS INSIDE CAR. FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACED. *JS

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WON'T ROLL DOWN. WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WITH MULTIPLE REPAIRS. *JS

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FORWARD TURN SIGNALS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. REAR TURN SIGNALS STILL OPERATIONAL. *JS

AS I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL AT 60MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE DIGITAL DISPLAY PINGED THE PWR STEERING ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER PULLING OVER, SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED, BUT FAILED AGAIN ABOUT TWO MILES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. VEHICLE MAINTAINS PATTERN OF POWER STEERING CONTROL AFTER IGNITION, WHICH FAILS UPON REACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, I HEARD THE BEEP, THEN PWR STR SHOWED ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME TIME TURNING THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BECAUSE THAT NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. I SPOKE WITH MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. IT HAS SINCE THEN GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT AFTER THE CAR BEING DRIVEN FOR A FEW YARDS IT HAPPENS. I LIVE IN A CITY AND DO MOSTLY LOW SPEED DRIVING. I ALSO LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO STEER IT WITHOUT POWER STEERING, I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME TURNING THE WHEEL. I AM VERY SCARED IT IS GOING TO CAUSE ME TO WRECK THE CAR. *KB

I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF I-5 NORTHBOUND, IN PORTLAND, OREGON. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I WAS IN A LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES, MY CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT, I HIT THE WHEELS OF A SEMI ON MY RIGHT. I BOUNCED OFF, THE CAR SPUN 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, CROSSED THE INSIDE LANE (FORTUNATELY I DIDN'T GET HIT BROADSIDE), & WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE CONCRETE FREEWAY DIVIDER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, & HAVE HAD NECK & SHOULDER PAIN EVER SINCE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN A STRONG ODOR OF GASONLINE FUEL WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,700. UPDATED 02/22/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED $300 FOR THE FUEL PUMP, BUT NOT FOR THE LABOR WHICH WAS $200. UPDATED 03/01/12

12/29/2011 - DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT AROUND 55 MPH AND MY MESSAGE SCREEN SHOWED "PWR STR" AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. 01/01/2012 - DRIVING ON ROADWAY AT AROUND 45 MPH AND MY MESSAGE SCREEN SHOWED "PWR STR" AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. WITH BOTH TIMES WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RE-STARTED THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN UNPLUGGED THE IGNITION CONNECTION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION HOUSING AND LOCK CYLINDER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,598.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING REGAINED FUNCTIONALITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

LUCKILY MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING HIS MOTHERS CAR AT THE TIME. THEY WERE COMING BACK FROM THE GROCERY STORE WHEN THE STEERING TURNED INTO A 1955 MACK TRUCK AS HE DESCRIBED IT. WHEN THEY RETURNED WE LOOKED IT UP IN THE MANUAL AS BEING ELECTRIC. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR IT WAS WORKING OK, THEN I TOOK IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WAS OK AGAIN FOR ABOUT A HALF BLOCK WHEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF MY 81 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW HAD BEEN DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT A LOCAL MECHANIC WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FAILURE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO HAVING THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CLAIM WAS FILES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN MY SATURN ION 2006 WHILE ON AN OVERPASS ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. I HAVE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO DRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT I WAS IN AND IT SEEMED OK. I PULLED OUT TO GET BACK ON THE SIDE STREET, AND MY DASH SCREEN BLINKS TELLING ME "POWER STEERING" AGAIN. I WAS A MILE FROM HOME AND HAD TO PULL OVER 3 TIMES BEFORE I MADE IT HOME. NOW IT HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. NOT SAFE AT ALL! PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME OR REPLACE MY CAR. *TR

THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF. I FOUND A CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEB SITE THAT HAS 7700 LISTINGS FOR THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML GM WANTS ME TO BRING THE CAR IN AND CHARGE ME $115 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WITH THE AMOUNT OF INFO ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM HAS TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIES ISSUE WHEN A CAR CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF AND GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN CURSED WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY. I HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE RESPONSE AND ZERO SATISFACTION FROM GM. THE KEY OFTEN DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A VIOLENT FRONT END COLLISION THAT WAS CAUSED BY THESE ISSUES. I BOUGHT THE CAR (BASED ON A FALSE SATURN PROMISE) AND I HAD TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR DURING THE PREVENTABLE COLLISION. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOW I GET IT! THE CAR CUTS OFF WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I DO NOT BELIEVE A SINGLE THING THAT GM SAYS TO ME. I AM GOING IN FOR A RENTAL CAR TOMORROW. I. DO NOT EVEN BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL GO ACCORDING TO PLAN. I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY, "CANNOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM." GM SUCKS AND SO DOES NHTSA. EARN YOUR MONEY. I EARNED MINE. I WANT TO ADD, IN ADDITION TO STEERING, BRAKES, IGNITION -- THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN THIS CAR IS A COMPLETE MESS. ..........*TR

THIS CAR HAS BEEN CURSED WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY. I HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE RESPONSE AND ZERO SATISFACTION FROM GM. THE KEY OFTEN DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A VIOLENT FRONT END COLLISION THAT WAS CAUSED BY THESE ISSUES. I BOUGHT THE CAR (BASED ON A FALSE SATURN PROMISE) AND I HAD TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR DURING THE PREVENTABLE COLLISION. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOW I GET IT! THE CAR CUTS OFF WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I DO NOT BELIEVE A SINGLE THING THAT GM SAYS TO ME. I AM GOING IN FOR A RENTAL CAR TOMORROW. I. DO NOT EVEN BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL GO ACCORDING TO PLAN. I TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY, "CANNOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM." GM SUCKS AND SO DOES NHTSA. EARN YOUR MONEY. I EARNED MINE. I WANT TO ADD, IN ADDITION TO STEERING, BRAKES, IGNITION -- THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN THIS CAR IS A COMPLETE MESS. *TR

MY IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, COSTING $350.00 EVERY TIME. IT KEEPS GOING OUT. NOW MY FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING. I LOOKED UP AND FOUND 3 DIFFERENT WEBSITE SHOWING RECALLS ON THE FUEL PUMP FOR MY YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF MY CAR. SAFTYCAR.GOV, MOTORTREND.COM, AND USEDCARS.COM. I CALL BOTH GM AND SATURN NUMBER WHICH WERE PROVIDED AND THEY TELL ME THERE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. NOW IT GOING TO COST $600 TO FIX MY PROBLEM. THE SAD THING IS I HAVE TO FIX IT OR MY CAR CAN BLOW UP. I URGE PEOPLE NOT TO BUY SATURN THEY ARE NO GOOD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING. A MESSAGE ON THE CENTER CONSOLE SAID PWR STR. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT REST AREA AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. ABOUT ANOTHER 30 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED, AND IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE. RESTARTING THE CAR SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION I HEAR A CLICK AND A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THE CONSOLE PWR STR. POWER STEERING IS LOST AND VERY HARD TO STEER. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE TURNING AT THAT TIME. WHEN YOU TURN CAR OFF THE STEERING IS OKAY, BUT AFTER A WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND POWER STEERING IS LOST AGAIN. VERY HARD TO TURN AND PARK THE CAR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS IS A SIMILAR SYSTEM USED ON THE CHEVROLET COBALT AND PONTIAC G5 THAT HAD RECALLS ON THEM.

THE CAR WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL START AFTER 15-20 MINUTES. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. SO, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BIDDULPH MAZDA, WHICH IS WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY SERVICED THE CAR. THEY TESTED THE STARTER, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STARTER. THEY COULD NOT PIN POINT THE PROBLEM, SO THEY TOLD US TO HAVE A NEW KEY MADE. GOT A NEW KEY MADE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. TO THIS DAY, IT STILL HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. *TR

DRIVING THROUGH WAL MART PARKING LOT I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CONTROL. PWR STR WAS FLASHING A WARNING. VERY SCARY MANAGED TO DRIVE IT THE ONE MILE HOME LIKE THAT, PARKED IT AND IMMEDIATELY TOLD MY HUSBAND HE WENT OUT CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED TO PEOPLE. THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS RECALLED, WHY IS THIS VEHICLE NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM? *KB

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT MAKING A LEFT TURN, I THOUGHT MY CAR CUT OFF BECAUSE IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO TURN. INFORMATION WAS FLASHING PWR STR I DROVE HOME VERY CAREFULLY. CUT THE CAR OFF AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS GONNA TAKE IT TO O'REILYS AUTO STORE. HE CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS DRIVING FINE. TODAY 11-29-2011 2 DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR. I BROUGHT MY CAR HOME LET IT SET FOR A LITTLE BIT, GOT IN THE CAR AND IT DROVE WITH NO PROBLEM. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WOULD RESET THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,258 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,358.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE INVOLVING THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ALSO SMELLED FUEL. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,172.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE SAFELY, BUT VERY SCARY. *TR

EVERY TIME FUEL IS SLIGHTLY BELOW A QUARTER TANK THE ENGINE STALLS AS IF THE CAR IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND THE CARS DRASTICALLY REDUCES SPEED WITH MINIMUM POWER. ALSO, AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS AS WELL AS LIGHTING IRREGULARITIES. FURTHERMORE, AS I CONTINUED USING MY VEHICLE THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER BROKE CAUSING THE KEY TO BE STUCK AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION OF THE CAR. LUCKILY, I HAVE A STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR BY PUTTING IT INTO 4TH GEAR AND LETTING GO OF THE CLUTCH TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR BATTERY REMAINS ON AND IN ORDER TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE CAR I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLE SO THE BATTER LIFE IS NOT DRAINED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTINUED TO EMIT WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKAGE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,620.

THE CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN HAD A VERY BAD SMELL OF GAS BUT NO LICKING ANYWHERE, TWO WEEKS LATER JUST PARK THE CAR AT MY HOME AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN LITERALLY RAIN GAS OUT OF THE CAR , HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY AND FINALLY PAID EXTRA $250.00 SO THE DEALER CARMAX HAD TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, THEY ONLY COVER HAVE OF THE TOTAL, IT WAS REALLY SCARY THANK GOD IT DIDN'T CAUGHT FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET A REFUND OR HOW DOES IT WORK?? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,999.

TODAY WAS THE SECOND TIME THE IGNITION HAS SEIZED UP WHEN TRYING TO TURN OFF THE CAR WHEN PARKING. THE FIRST TIME (A FEW MONTHS AGO) WE HAD A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED. IT ALREADY IS DOING THE SAME THING. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, THE KEY/IGNITION WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL SO WE WERE UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR. WE HAD TO BLOCK THE AIRFLOW TO THE ENGINE TO STOP THE CAR AND ALSO REMOVE UNATTACH THE BATTERY BECAUSE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE STILL ON. *TR

AT START OF IGNITION, THE LETTERS: PWR STR, IMMEDIATELY FLASHES IN OIL LIFE DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF, THUS RESULTING IN REALLY SLOW TURNS. IT IS NOT SAFE WHEN TURNING ONTO STREETS WHERE VEHICLES ARE TRAVELING IN THE 45MPH RANGE DUE TO INCREASED NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS SET BY CITY. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT AND RESTARTING IT THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND THE STEERING WAS FINE FOR FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE PROCESS WAS REPEATED AND NOW THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. *TR

I AM EXPERIENCING A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING (IT REMAINS AT 0 REGARDLESS OF MY SPEED), ALSO THE ODOMETER DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK EITHER - MY MILEAGE DOES NOT INCREMENT WHEN I DRIVE. MY CAR REGISTERS A DIAGNOSTIC CODE OF P0502: VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR A CIRCUIT LOW INPUT. I SAW POSTS ONLINE IN VARIOUS FORUMS FROM 2007 SATURN ION OWNERS WHO SAY THAT THEY RECEIVED LETTERS FROM GM IN 2009 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WHY DIDN'T I GET A LETTER IN 2009? GM AND THE NHTSA HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN AWARE OF THIS AND "WATCHING" THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW - IT'S GM'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS SINCE THEY DIDN'T FOREWARN ME AND ENCOURAGE ME TO GET THIS FIXED BACK IN 2009 WHEN THEY KNEW ENOUGH TO HAVE 2007 SATURN ION OWNERS TAKE THEIR CARS IN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

THE POWER STEERING ON THE SATURN ION CONTINUALLY GOES OUT. IT TYPICALLY WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR RESTARTS ONLY TO GO OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT 2 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE, OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T GO OUT AT ALL AND OTHER TIMES IT'S AFTER 30 MINUTES. IT'S QUITE ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING HAD BECOME STIFF AND DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING MPH AND ABOVE, THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE COULD SMELL A VERY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,268.

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SATURN ION RECENTLY WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I QUICKLY DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE POWER STEERING FUEL WAS OKAY AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR AND THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP FIXING ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE THE MANUFACTURER'S FAULT. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF CARS AND A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED. I AM SEVERELY UNSATISFIED WITH SATURN AND THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I HAVE PUT INTO THIS CAR TO FIX PROBLEMS THAT NEVER SEEM TO BE SOLVED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE. *TR

CAR WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. HAND BRAKE WAS ON. TURNED ON IGNITION AND ENGINE STARTED. PUT RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE AND RELEASED HAND BRAKE. PLACED CAR IN REVERSE AND BEGAN TO LIFT FOOT OFF BRAKE. CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD, BUT WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE FOOT BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR I FOUND THAT I HAD NO POWER BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO STOP THE CAR FROM CONTINUING TO ROLL BACKWARDS. BY NOW THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED RUNNING AND SEVERAL ALERT LAMPS WERE LIT ON THE CONTROL PANEL. OVER SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, I HAD NOTICED INTERMITTENT AND MOMENTARY POWER STEERING FAILURES WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR