2004 Saturn Ion complaints

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

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.

I OWE A 2004 SATURN ION AND LIKE MANY OTHERS, I HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE POWER STEERING ALSO GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2006 AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS 3 MONTHS AFTERWARDS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY MY VEHICLE UNTIL I WAS LOOKING FOR A PART VIA THE INTERNET AND RAN ACROSS OTHER COMPLAINTS. IT'S A SHAME THAT GM HASN'T DONE A RECALL. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSUMERS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *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

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 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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTATED. THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SPORADICALLY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE, A YEAR AGO; THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 05/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PUT THE GEAR IN DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BECOME STIFF AS IF IT WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTIFIED A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN SHE TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER INSPECTING IT. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHE LOST POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. SHE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,318. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,250.

AT ANY SPEED THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS. MY CAR IS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. THIS IS A GM CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECENTLY RECALLED CHEVY'S AND PONTIACS. THE PROBLEM STARTED A YEAR AGO. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AUGUST 2009. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AN WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IN AN EMAIL TO ITS SERVICE AGENTS SAID SATURN IONS WERE NOT INCLUDED. WHY? THIS COULD HAVE AND MAY HAVE ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MOMENTS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD OPERABLE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

2004 SATURN ION THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, I AM LATE FOR WORK ALOT IT MIGHT TAKE 20 MINUTES TO START OR AN HOUR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THIS HAPPENS IN THE COOLER MONTHS I CAN COUNT ON IT. THE MOST CURRENT BEING THIS MORNING YESTERDAY MORNING THE DAY BEFORE THAT. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN LOOSING ITS POWER STEERING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN DURING THE TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT OR WHEN I TRY TO DO A 3 POINT TURN. I HAVE BROUGHT IT 2 TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT AND WHY ITS HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR ISSUES. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT RANDOM SPEEDS NOT USUALLY THE SAME TIME AT ANY TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE PREVIOUS DAY THE VEHICLE WAS USED TO JUMP START ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

CAR DOES NOT START WHEN BELOW 35 DEGREES. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES THEN IT WILL USUALLY START. POWER STEERING WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES AND GRADUALLY WORSENS OVER TIME. MY POWER STEERING IS NOW COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME SEVERAL MINOR TO MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING EITHER BY MYSELF OR WITH MY CHILDREN. I REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FUSES FIRST TO SEE IF THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO REALIZE ITS THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME $1100. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH THE CONSTANT FAILING OF THE POWER STEERING. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2004 SATURN ION REDLINE OFF & ON FOR THE LAST YEAR & 6 MONTHS. IT HAPPENS W/O WARNING ON THE FREEWAY, AROUND CORNERS, & SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT BACK TO BACK MANY, MANY TIMES IN A ROW. THIS IS THE SAME RECALL AS GM IS HAVING ON THEIR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTORS, IN FACT THE SAME PART #. THE CHEVY COBALT IS THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR, IN FACT THE SAME DRIVETRAIN. BUT FOR SOME REASON THE SATURN IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. WE HAVE THE SAME ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WITH THE SAME PART # & THE SAME DANGER AS THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LOWER MY CAR WILL NOT START IF IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN 4 OR 5 HOURS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS WILL HAPPEN EVERY MORNING AND OCCASIONALLY AFTER WORK IF THE TEMPERATURE IS TOO COLD. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL COST AROUND $200.00 TO FIX. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. MY CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER STEERING RANDOMLY. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD STOP. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK. THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 MONTHS. THEN, ON A LONG CAR TRIP, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN GOING OUT EVERY MILE OR SO. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. IF UNDER 15 MPH, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC STEERING. WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAY HAPPEN 4-5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP GAVE OUT. IT STARTED IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS WORKING ON AND OFF AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FINALLY GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

1. POWER-STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 2. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES 2-3 TIMES A DAY AND OTHER DAYS, ONLY ONCE. 3. IF YOU TURN IGNITION OFF AN RESTART POWER-STEERING WORKS UNTIL THE POWER-STEERING FAILS AGAIN. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP BEING FIXED AT THIS MOMENT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILS IN MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING. ODDLY, IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN DURING WARMER WEATHER. THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 AND THAT IT WOULD BE A USED COLUMN. *TR

MY GM 2004 SATURN ION THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ! IF I TURN MY CAR OFF , IT RESETS AND WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND GOES BACK OUT. *TR

POWER STEERING DISABLES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 SATURN ION. CYCLING IGNITION ENABLES POWER STEERING AGAIN, BUT THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WITH A BAD POWER STEERING MODULE. I READ TODAY THAT GM IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVROLET COBALT VEHICLES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE SATURN ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MODULE AS THOSE VEHICLES SO I HOPE IT IS ALSO RECALLED. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE IS AS FOLLOWS: START THE CAR, DRIVE AROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS, AND THE DASH DISPLAYS POWER STEERING AND THERE IS A "CHIME" SOUND INDICATING THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THEN STARTED AGAIN, AT WHICH TIME THERE IS ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS BEFORE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT $800 TO REPLACE THE MODULE. SO FAR WE'VE JUST LIVED WITH IT AND STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AND DECIDED TO NEVER BUY GM AGAIN. IF YOU SEARCH GOOGLE FOR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING PROBLEMS" OR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING RECALL" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED OFF AND ON AND IT RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HE HAD TO PAY $2000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND TOLD AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR AND COST WERE THE SAME THAT THE DEALER STATED. HE THEN FILED CLAIM# 71-808240519 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROADS (ANYWHERE FROM 15-65 MPH, NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO FREEWAYS) THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT. WE WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO REGAIN POWER STEERING. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY (AND THEN PROGRESSED TO EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED AT ALL). CAR WAS TAKEN TO SATURN DEALER FOR STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE DEALER SAYS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM", BUT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. TEN MINUTES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RUNS AT BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DROPS BACK TO AN IDLE (~800RPM). AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR AGAIN, THE CAR LUNGES ONCE AGAIN - THROW IT IN NEUTRAL - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, SLOWLY RECOVERS. AFTER TWO - THREE MINUTES THE ENGINE STABILIZES AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR - EVER! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND USUALLY DURING HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAINY CONDITIONS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT I HAVE NEVER SOUGHT HELP FROM A DEALER. IT IS NOT REPEATABLE IN A WAY THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76112.

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THESE VEHICLES. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD AND DAMP OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL GET THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LIVE IN MO WHERE IT GETS VERY COLD AND NOT ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP WHEN THE CAR DIES. SO I AM LEFT STRANDED IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES. SATURN KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THIS. PLEASE SEE THAT A RECALL TAKES PLACE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR

AFTER ONLY 9 MONTHS OF OWNING MY ION I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE AND CAN HAPPEN 8 TIMES IN A WEEK THEN NOT AT ALL FOR MONTHS. HOWEVER WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE AS I AM USUALLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WILL BE "LOCKED" INTO 4TH FOR EXAMPLE AND WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT TO 5TH I CAN NOT GET IT OUT OF 4TH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF 20 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I THEN TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECH TOOK THE CAR HOME FOR 1 WEEK, EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF, AND TOLD ME ALL HE COULD DO WAS REPLACE A WIRE AND HOPE IT HELPED BECAUSE SATURN WOULD NOT LET HIM INVESTIGATE ANY MORE OPTIONS. IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP MY CAR. AND SINCE THE LAST TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP MY POWER STEERING NOW GOES IN AND OUT. APPARENTLY THEY BUSTED A SEAL AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT TO ME, SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT, BUT ALSO LOSING MY POWER STEERING. THEY ONLY SOLUTION I CAN COME UP WITH IS TO TRY MY BEST TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT AND TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT. THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH: REVERSE SWITCH GOING OUT, AIRCONDITIONING GOING OUT, POWER WINDOWS NO LONGER WORK, POWER STEERING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT. I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS EVERYDAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME AT MOST TIMES. TH

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION CONTINUOUSLY FAILS. IT USED TO RESET AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, BUT NOW IT JUST FAILS AFTER A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THAT THERE A ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED THAT THIS TYPE OF REPAIR WOULD BE AROUND $500. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE STARTED. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION WONT START IN COLD TEMPERATURES LEAVING ME STRANDED. IF I LIVED IN GUAM THIS WOULD BE NO PROBLEM, BUT I LIVE IN CALGARY ALBERTA CANADA AND ITS GETS TO -40 CELSIUS AND ONLY TAKES MINUTES FOR FROST BITE TO SETTLE IN. *TR

SATURN ION 2004- SPONTANEOUS POWER STEERING OUTAGES. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL MOTOR IS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1100.00. AFTER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT EXISTS AMONG THESE MODELS AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HARM OR DEATH DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. A LOCAL NEWS STATION ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING THAT THE FEDS ARE INVESTIGATING THE CHEVROLET COBALT FOR THE SAME ISSUE- POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE SAME THING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED RELATED TO THE SATURN ION BEFORE PEOPLE START DYING. *TR

MY WIFE OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION, ONLY 50,000 MILES. FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMING ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING- ONCE YOU TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN MOMENTARILY- THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE REPLACED THE FUSES AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT AT LEAST A FEW TIMES A WEEK IF NOT A FEW TIMES A DRIVING TRIP AND IT IS GETTING TO BE VERY UNSAFE. IF THE POWER STEERING WERE TO CUT OUT ON THE FREE WAY DURING A SHARP TURN, I'M VERY CONCERNED MY 105 LB. WIFE COULD LOSE CONTROL AND SERIOUSLY HURT HERSELF OR OTHERS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF AND IS UNWILLING TO DO A RECALL- THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE MORE $$ BUY CHARGING OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IN A LOT OF CASES IT SOUNDS AS IF IT COULD BE A CHEAPER FIX THAN WHAT SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT A CAR WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND SATURN SHOULD BE LIABLE AND CORRECT THESE SAFETY ISSUES. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM A FEW DEATHS BEFORE THEY REALIZE THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED? *TR

IN COLD WEATHER(TEMP UNDER 32F), MY WIFE'S SATURN WILL NOT START. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS. SHE HAS LIGHT, RADIO BUT TURNING THE KEY EVERYTHING GOES DARK AND NO TURN OVER OF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE EVEN SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TW

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 30 DEGREES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PASS LOCK CIRCUIT THAT WAS INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE RESISTANCE VALUE WITHIN THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

MY DRIVER WIPER IS INOPERABLE. THE ENTIRE ARM PIVOTED 180 OPPOSITE OF ITS RESTING POSITION WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING 50MPH TO CLEAN MY WINDOW. INITIALLY MY PASSENGER SIDE WASN'T WORKING AT NORMAL SPEED. IT SEEMED 'SLUGGISH'. SO I INCREASED THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS UNTIL IT REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL. THIS OCCURRED 1 DAY AFTER ABOUT 8 INCHES OF SNOW FELL INCLUDING ICE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY. AFTER I REACHED MY DESTINATION I REMOVED THE BLADE FROM THE ARM SO THE ENTIRE WIPER WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH TRAFFIC. AN AUTO MECHANIC STATED THE PIECE IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I AM FIGHTING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO REPLACE THE PIECE AT NO CHARGE. THEY STATED THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE WIPER MOTOR, BUT NOT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. READING OTHER REVIEWS, OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER DOING A RECALL OR FIX FOR FREE. OCCURRED AT 54K MILES ON CAR. JAN 16, 2010. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND CHANGED. THEN ON JANUARY 13, 2010, MY CAR STALLED ON ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND CALLED THE NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A GENEROUS OFFER TO ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPORTS FOR ABOUT 15 SATURN VEHICLES ON RECALL LISTS, THE ION WAS NOT ONE OF WHICH I COULD READ ABOUT. IN SOME CASES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THE SATURN VUE CAN BE A RECURRING PROBLEM; FOR THE SAME CUSTOMER. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND LAST YEAR, THE WINTER OF 2008 WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 40, WHICH WAS ONCE OR TWICE, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THIS YEAR, 2009, THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN BELOW 40 FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND OUT OF THE 5 WORK DAYS OF THIS WEEK MY CAR STARTED ONCE ON THE FIRST TRY. WHEN I TRY TO START IT, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO START AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK THE SECOND TIME, USUALLY I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE THIRD TRY. *TR