NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Saturn Ion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES ON 3/1/2010. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER IN TURNERSVILLE, NJ ON 3/2/2010 AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING MOTOR FOR A COST OF $520.00. THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE EXACT THING THAT WARRANTED A RECALL OF GM VEHICLES LAST WEEK. *TR
CAR INTERMITTENLY WONT START. IF YOU STALL THIS CAR AND YOU ARE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU WONT BE ABLE TO START THIS CAR RIGHT AWAY. THIS COULD CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK THEN THE SAME PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SEEMS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE ON THE CAR.
POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON OUR 2006 SATURN ION AND IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT WILL DO IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO PULL OVER YOU CAN SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND IT STEERS FINE. WE ARE WORRIED THAT THIS IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION, AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAILING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTH. THE FAILURES STARTED WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS THE 2ND OWNER IN 2008. THE PROBLEMS STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES. THE ELECTRIC STEERING WILL WORK SOME DAY FOR A COUPLE OF MILES, AND THERE ARE DAYS THAT IT FAILS AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. I AM ABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE ELECTRIC STEERING GOES OUT AGAIN ANYWHERE FROM A FEW BLOCKS TO A FEW MILES LATER. MY WIFE HAS ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURES. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES, AND EVERYTHING APPEARS IN WORKING ORDER, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE 1200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION WITH THE CAR RUNNING. I HAD TO DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE HIM DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO STOP. HE REBUILT THE IGNITION, BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY GETTING STUCK AFTER SHUT OFF. THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER CONTINUING IGNITION PROBLEM IN MY 2006 ION FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BEFORE AND AFTER THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE KEY CONTINUALLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT COME OUT UNTIL I PLAY WITH IT (RESTARTING THE CAR, MOVING IT A BIT, PLAYING WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, ETC.) FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
WHILE DRIVING, PWR STR LIGHTS UP ON MY DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, SO I CAN CUT THE IGNITION OFF, AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO RESET THE SYSTEM FOR A SHORT TIME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS. I HAVE CALLED SATURN, AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. OF COURSE, IT WILL COST ME OVER $1000 TO REPAIR IT AND IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AFTER EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN ANY WEATHER CONDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51000.
I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION. MY CAR IS AT 80,000 BUT SINCE THIS STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO I WOULD SAY 74,000 MILES WAS THE OCCURRENCE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGHER AND ROUGHER. I KNEW THE SOUND TO BE AN EXHAUST LEAK. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AND HE JUST CHECKED THE HOSES, AND SAW NOTHING. I KEPT DRIVING WITH IT. I STARTED GETTING BAD HEADACHES, AND SLIGHTLY NAUSEOUS WHEN I DROVE LONG DISTANCES. I TRAVEL 400 MILES ROUNDTRIP WHEN I VISIT FAMILY OUT OF TOWN AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. I ALSO NOTICED THE ODOR OF EXHAUST IN THE CABIN WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. I CRACKED MY WINDOWS WHEN I DROVE AND WHEN I HAD A CHANCE MY MECHANIC FOUND I HAD A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE ON THE SAME GM ENGINE 2.2L 4CYL ABOUT 6 TIMES THIS YEAR ALREADY. CHEVY HAS IT ON COBALT I THINK. HE SAID IT IS PROBABLY A FACTORY DEFECT SINCE IT IS WEARING THIN IN THE SAME PLACE. CONSIDERING MY CAR WAS POISONING ME FOR MONTHS I THINK THIS QUALIFIES AS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I KNEW THE SOUND AND WARNING SIGNS BECAUSE OF PAST EXPERIENCE. IT IS A DANGER TO THE MAJORITY OF DRIVERS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, PROCEEDED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
POWER STEERING FAILING & PWR STEERING ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. NOT CONSISTENT, STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO BUT BECOMING MORE FREQUENT THIS PAST MONTH. HAPPENS EVEN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS (NOT CONSISTENT OR DUE TO TURNS). MUST PULL OVER & TURN CAR OFF & RESTART. THIS HAS SO FAR "RESET" THE POWER STEERING MODE. NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. SPEED/STEERING NOT A FACTOR. DANGEROUS WHEN PASSING & THIS HAPPENS!!!! *TR
WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY EVERYTHING DIED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER PULLING TO A STOP, DROVE SLOWLY TO SATURN DEALERSHIP, THEY TEST DROVE IT SAID ALL WAS OK, SENT ME HOME. SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK LATER, WENT TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN, THEY HAD TECH HOOK UP TO COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE APPS - ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THIS DEFECT CAUSES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AND IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. THEY ARE NOT SURE IF IT'S THE APPS OR THE WIRING. IT MAY BE DUE TO MOISTURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO STEER . THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE VEHCILE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. HE DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79000.
IN FEB 2010 I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR BEEPED AND THE PWR STRNG WARNING CAME ON. NO PLACE TO STOP OR PULL OVER AND WAS DARK. I SLOWED DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE STEERING SEEMED OK, SO I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, IT JUST SCARED ME. I CONTINUED ON TO MY OFF RAMP WITH NO PROBLEMS, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE THE TURN ONTO THE SIDE RODE, IT WAS LIKE STEERING AN OLD TRUCK. VERY DIFFICULT. IF IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY TO MAKE A SHARP SWERVE ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT, THUS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HAVE HAD DIAGNOSTICS RUN ON IT, BUT "NO CODES" SHOWS. WHEN YOU RESTART THE ENGINE, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, IT REENGAGES THE POWER STEERING. IT HAS GONE OUT AT LEAST 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, AND I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A CHIME ALSO ALERTED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. SHE USED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54000.
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING POWER STEERING FAILURE EVERY DAY SINCE 2-16-10. WHEN I START THE CAR THE POWER STEERING IS WORKING, THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE POWER STEERING FAILS, THE MESSAGE COMES UP PWR STR AND IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
THE POWERING STEERING MOTOR ON MY 2006 SATURN ION FAILED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR STREET IN MY CITY. I HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE GMC DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101N HIGHWAY THE OTHER DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A CHIME, LOOKED AT MY DASH AND SAW PWR STR MY STEERING WENT OUT!!!! IN A PANIC I MANAGED W/ ALL MY STRENGTH TO PULL THE CAR OVER. MY CAR HAS APPROX 50,000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED! I CALLED THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY. A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED BEFORE AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY COST OVER $1000 TO FIX. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE!!!!! ODI NUMBER: 10316824. *TR
FOR THE PAST 4-5 MONTHS, THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS HAVE NOT WORKED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS ALL AROUND THE CAR WITH 3 DIFFERENT BRANDS AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS..STILL NOTHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MATTER ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT ONLY ON THE 2003-04 MODEL SATURN IONS, NOT MINE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE..I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP 5 ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO. I HAVE ALSO FOUND ONLINE OTHER 2006 ION OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS ME. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS, AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING ASSIST CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
AFTER EXPERIENCING LOWER FUEL ECONOMY AND A SMELL OF GAS WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THE DETERMINATION WAS A CRACKED FUEL PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR OF THE FUEL PUMP, CAUSING A GAS LEAK. WE HAD THE MODULAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT OUR OWN EXPENSE BEFORE FINDING OUT THERE WAS A RECALL BEING STARTED. WE HAVE THE OLD PART IN OUR POSSESION. *CN
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 SATURN ION. RUNS GREAT OTHER THAN ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING , THE (PWR STR) LIGHT WENT ON AND ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING AND WHILE MAKING THE TURN AT THE SAME TIME THE LACK OF STEERING HAPPENED SHE COULDN'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND COULDN'T STEER OUT AND SHE HIT THE CURB, DAMAGING THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF SHE WOULD'VE PANICKED OR JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT SIDEWALK . CURRENTLY ONLINE I'VE READ AND HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS WITH THIS ISSUE. MAYBE MORE THAT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST GOT IT FIXED. *TR
I SMELLED GASOLINE AFTER I WOULD EXIT THE VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN SEPT. OF 2009. INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE AND FOUND GASOLINE COMING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK. REMOVED GAS TANK, AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IN OCT. OF 2009 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. MY CAR IS A 2006 BUT THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN THE STATE OF FL AND I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A SATURN DEALER IN NC BUT THEY HAD PURCHASED IT AT AN AUCTION IN FL EARLIER IN THE 2009 YEAR. BY BUILD DATE MY CAR WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING A 2007. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. AN OEM FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED BY MYSELF. *TR
MY 2006 ION HAS ONLY 24,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. SUDDENLY, IT WOULD NOT START.....ALL DASH LIGHTS ON, HEADLIGHTS WORKED, ETC. BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. I TRIED LATER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. NEXT DAY, SAME ROUTINE. WHEN I GOT IT RUNNING, I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I HAD TO PAY. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT SO MANY OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NEVER ANY BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'VE READ THAT REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING STUCK SOMEWHERE AND DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO SIT IN A COLD CAR, HOPING THE 10-MINUTE WAITING PERIOD WILL ALLOW MY CAR TO START. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. AS SHE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF IT RESET AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON TOMORROW SO THAT THEY CAN PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED STATING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING UNIT AT NOT COST. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS SINCE. UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH A LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF STARTING THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHICH THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NORMAL DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF LEFT TIE ROD. CAR HAS 65,000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO COLLATERAL DAMAGE. *TR
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY QUITS. OCCURS FREQUENTLY. LOW SPEED CONTROL REQUIRES PHYSICAL STRENGTH BEYOND THAT OF THE AVERAGE PERSON. RESETS WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY FOR TEN MINUTES AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED. A LOCAL TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT SHOWED "NO CODES". THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE OWNER TO REPLACE THE ECM FUSE WHICH HE DID BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAPPENED EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ABOUT 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES NOT START WORKING UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN. IT'S EXTREMELY SCARY DANGEROUS. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, THE SECOND TIME I DECIDED I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO GET FIXED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN.
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION RED LINE. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR GOES OUT RANDOMLY. I CAN FIX IT BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I KNOW GM IS DOING RECALLS ON SOME MODELS,BUT I HAVEN' SEEN MINE ON THE LIST. I THINK THIS SHOULD INVOLVE MY CAR SINCE IT IS THE SAME THING HAPPENING O THE RECALLS AND GM DID MAKE SATURNS.*TR
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER INFO AREA GIVES PWR STR MESSAGE. AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR DOWN IT WILL WORK PROPERLY AND PWR STR MESSAGE GOES AWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. HE DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY MY POWER STEERING LIGHT WILL COME ON WITH A WARNING CHIME AND MY POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. ONCE I TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN THE CAR BACK ON THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WILL RETURN UNTIL THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF. MY CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE CALLED SATURN AND ISSUED A COMPLAINT. THEY STATED THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE DEALER RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ($100 AT MY EXPENSE) BEFORE THEY COULD PROCEED WITH THE COMPLAINT PROCESS AND OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE IS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME ALTHOUGH ONLINE IT DOES SHOW THEY HAVE HAD BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. ALSO ONLINE TODAY IS A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM CONCERNING THIS VERY ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS. THEY HAVE MULTIPLE GM BRANDS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT NOT THE SATURN BRAND WHICH IS ONE OF THE BRANDS THEY ARE DISCONTINUING. URL FOR THE ONLINE REPORT IS : HTTP://WWW.MSNBC.MSN.COM/ID/35655693/NS/BUSINESS-AUTOS/?GT1=43001. *TR
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THEN ON WILL RESET THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND THE CAR WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 10-30 MINUTES OF DRIVE TIME WITHOUT REGARD TO DRIVING CONDITIONS OR WEATHER. UPON FAILURE THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER AND MANEUVER. *TR
MY 2006 SATURN ION 2 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE POWER STEERING TURNS OFF AND WE HAVE TO MANUALLY STEER THE CAR. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN OR WHY IT COMES ON. WE WILL THEN TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AND THEN THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN. THIS MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING OUR MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF HE CAN FIX IT. APPARENTLY THE SATURN'S STEERING COLUMN IS THE SAME ONE THAT IS IN THE CHEVY COBALT THAT WAS RECENTLY RECALLED. *TR
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 SATURN ION, IT STARTED OUT WITH A START PROBLEM JUST ON COLD MORNINGS, WHEN THERE WAS DEW OR FROST OR IT RAINED ON THE CAR. TO RESLOVE THE ISSUE THE CAR WAS MOVED INTO THE GARAGE AND THEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM CONTINUED EVEN WHEN CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE. THE START PROBLEM BEGIN HAPPENING EVEN IN WARM WEATHER. IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT EVEN WHEN I WOULD PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE I COULD GET UP THE NEXT MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START AT FIRST IT WAS FREQUENTLY THEN IT BECAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED AT SCHOOL, WORK AND EVEN AT HOME SITTING IN THE GARAGE. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO HAVE THE AAA SERVICE TRUCK COME TO MY HOME AND JUMP START MY CAR. ON ONE OF MY SERVICE APPOINTS TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE TECH AT THE GM DEALER AND WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO SIMULATE ON THE COMPUTER AND THE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE NOTED A NUMBER OF BLOGS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND INSTEAD OF GM HELPING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IT HAS BEEN LEFT UP TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO GIVE EACH OTHER ADVISE AT BLOG SITES. *TT
WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, I RECEIVED A POWER STEERING INDICATION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT. IT IS HARD TO TURN THE CAR. ONCE I STOP THE CAR AND RESTARTED THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY, BUT COMES BACK PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY, MORE LIKE TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED MAKING THE CAR NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION RESPONDED AS IF IT DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. NO MATTER WHAT KEY WAS USED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR 20-25 MINUTES. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $90 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THIS DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY OTHER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE CONSUME WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEING DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND WHEN WOULD SHE BE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 03/29/10 THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/04/14
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). MY 2006 SATURN ION'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GOES OUT (SUDDENLY STOPS) WHILE I'M DRIVING EVERYDAY. IT GOES OUT ON THE HIGHWAYS, OFF/ON RAMPS, PARKING LOTS, SCHOOL ZONES, ETC., ETC... EACH TIME I START THE CAR AND DRIVE IT GOES OUT WHENEVERTHIS CAR HAS THE "EXACT" SAME ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AS THE CARS GM RECALLED ON MARCH 2, 2010 BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHY??? IS THIS BECAUSE SATURN IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS? DOES THIS MEAN WE ARE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG, SO-TO-SPEAK, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENTS THAT MAY HAPPEN WHEN THE STEERING SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. THANK GOODNESS MY DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING IT AT THE TIME. BIG SAFETY ISSUE! I WOULD LIKE MY CAR INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL SINCE IT'S THE EXACT SAME ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MANUFACTURED INTO IT. PLEASE HELP BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. [XXX] FYI - GM RECALLS COMPACT CARS TO FIX POWER STEERING ASSIST SAFETY RECALL COVERS 1.3 MILLION CHEVROLET AND PONTIAC MODELS 2005 - 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT 2007 - 2010 PONTIAC G5 2005 - 2006 PONTIAC PURSUIT (CANADA) 2005 - 2006 PONTIAC G4 (MEXICO). *TR
2006 SATURN ION, 49000 MI. FUEL PUMP LEAK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 09V419000. NO DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS GM RECALL # 090226. HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO START GETTING REIMBURSEMENTS? REPAIRS ARE OVER $600.00. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND RUNNING FOR A PERIOD OF 30-60 SECONDS THE POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING. IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42669.
POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF DURING CAR OPERATION. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH LONG TRIPS AND SHORT. IT FAILS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN YOU RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. *TR
THE POWER STEERING ON 2006 SATURN ION'S WILL RANDOMLY STOP WORKING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE THROUGH NUMEROUS BLOGS FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HIGHWAY TRAVEL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AROUND A CURVE COULD EASILY RESULT IN FATALITIES. *TR
I HAVE 2 SATURN IONS. ONE IS A 2004, AND THE OTHER IS A 2006. BOTH ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING MODULE WHICH TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THEN RESETS WHEN VEHICLES TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, ONLY TO TURN OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A MINOR PROBLEM @ SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 20MPH, BUT @ LOWER SPEEDS THE WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TR
MY 2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. TODAY IT HAPPENED 9 TIMES. THIS IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE BEING THAT I KNOW GM HAS PUT OUT RECALLS FOR BOTH THE CHEVY COBALT AND SOME PONTIAC G SERIES VEHICLES WITH THE SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR. THERE ARE MANY SITINGS OF THIS CONDITION ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND IS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM WOULD CHIME AND ILLUMINATE ON THE WARNING PANEL. AT LOW SPEEDS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ALARM CHIMED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL FAILURES FOLLOWING THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.