Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 STAURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CAR AND REMOVE THE KEY. THE KEY WAS FROZEN IN THE ON POSITION. SINCE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, I DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND CHARGED ME $650.00. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH SATURNS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS. IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
WE WERE DRIVING TO PICK UP A FRIEND OF MINE, AND WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE I WAS PICKING THIS FRIEND UP FROM I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY HARDER TO TURN, TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN IT, SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE AFTER. I DROVE TO ANOTHER PLACE IN TOWN AND WAS PARKED THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF, MAYBE TWO HOURS, WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR ALL SEEMED WELL UNTIL I ROLLED THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP SO I DROVE TO A GAS STATION A FEW BLOCKS AWAY TO SEE IF I COULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND AS SOON AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SLOT AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT JUST SHUT ITSELF OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON AND THE DISPLAY ON THE DASH HAD A READ OUT THAT SAID "PWR STR". AFTER AN HOUR WAIT AT 3AM AT A GAS STATION ACROSS TOWN FROM WHERE I LIVE I WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD A KIND ENOUGH FRIEND TO COME JUMP START MY CAR. WHEN WE DID FINALLY GET THE CAR TO START THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK AT ALL AND I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL STEERING ON THE DRIVE HOME. ONCE I GOT THE CAR SAFELY HOME AND PARKED IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND IT HAS THE SAME READOUT THAT SAYS "PWR STR" ON THE DASH. I HAVE NOT DROVE THE CAR SINCE FOR SAFETY REASONS AS WELL AS NOT WANTING TO GET STUCK SOMEWHERE ELSE IN TOWN OTHER THAN HOME. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PART AS IT SEEMS TO ALREADY BE AN OVERWHELMING PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS AND HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL MOMENTARILY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,500.
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
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.
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY,POWER STEERING LIGHT WENT ON ANDWAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF AND TURN ON MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY, JUST SO THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TIME FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT WOULD STAY OFF TILL THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FREQUENCY PROGRESSED AND I CONTACTED A GM DEALER WHO FIXED THE CAR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WAS ENCOURAGE TO REPORT IT TO THIS SITE SINCE A RECALL INVESTIGATION WAS UNDERWAY. *TR
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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WAS TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE CABLE FROM THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. I PULL THE CAR OVER AND SHUT IT OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART IT AND THE STEERING WORKS AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. USUALLY ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. I WENT FROM MY HOME IN LAKE ORION, MI TO MILFORD MI THE OTHER DAY WHICH IS UNDER 30 MILES AND IT WENT OUT ON ME 6 TIMES. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. I SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE SAME ISSUES. I AM ALSO AFRAID THAT IF THE ROADS ARE SLICK HERE AND IT GOES OUT LIKE THAT WHILE I'M DRIVING I COULD GET INTO A CRASH. *TR
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 SO
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
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.
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
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A WARNING CHIME, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED IT OVER, TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT ON THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN, I DROVE ABOUT 10 MORE MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT GM HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME EXACT STEERING MOTOR USED IN THE COBALT BUT HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE SATURNS. I PAID OVER $1100.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I AM LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET IN A WRECK AS THIS MANIFESTED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *KB
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 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 LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
INITIALLY STARTED WITH GAS FUMES ODOR...NOW ONCE CAR STARTED HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER REAR END OF CAR. CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AS CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AT ANY TIME WITH AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING WHEN DRIVING AND ONCE PARKED!!! IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS/ISSUES REGARDING THIS YET NO RECALL IN THE STATE OF CALIF?? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR IS A DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND A CHIME WILL SOUND TO LET YOU KNOW YOU HAVE LOST POWER STEERING, THE ONLY TEMPORARY FIX IS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON. IF YOU ARE ON A STRAIT ROAD AND HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN A TURN WHILE THE STEERING GOES OUT, OR ABOUT TO TURN... BRAKE AND PRAY... THE DEALERSHIP DID REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT 20000 MILES AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND I HAVE HAD TIME TO NOT WORRY ABOUT LOOSING STEERING ABILITY FOR 3 YEARS. NOW MY CAR HAS 90,000 MILES AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD, I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING 6 TIMES IN 20 MILES. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE POWER STEERING MOTORS ON SATURN IONS AND CHEVY COBALTS BEFORE THEY CAUSE ANY MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. *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
WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE (AROUND OR BELOW FREEZING) OR JUST VERY WET OUTSIDE MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT HAS WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A "NO CRANK/NO START WITH FULL POWER" ISSUE. MY CAR HAS COMPLETE POWER, BUT IT WILL NOT TURN OVER. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS THAT IT IS MY IGNITION SWITCH OR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A "NORMAL" PROBLEM WITH ION'S IN ALL MODEL YEARS. *TT
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.
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.
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
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 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.
2006 SATURN ION. CONSUMER STATES IN JUNE 2011 THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO CARE CENTER, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD BE RELEASING RECALLS IN A BATCH AND THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR A FUEL LEAK. THE CONSUMER APPROVED THE REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $500 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, BECAUSE EVIDENCE SHOWED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE PUMP. SATURN ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THEM, ONCE HE RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER SO HE COULD BE REIMBURSED, BUT UNTIL THEN, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF OR REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
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
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
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
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 THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,080.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND NOW HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. WHENEVER IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY CAR DOES NOT START. ALL OF THE LIGHTS WORK AND THE CAR WILL MAKE A CLICK, BUT THE CAR ITSELF WILL NOT TURN ON. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES AT NIGHT IN THE FREEZING COLD WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HOME. TWO TIMES I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN A DARK PARKING GARAGE. THIS IS CONSTANTLY RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM AND I SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE SHOP I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED,AND THE FUEL TANK REPLACED. IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN TODAY BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL IN MY CAR WAS NOT HEATING UP THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE, AND I WAS GETTING ABOUT 30% LESS MILES PER TANK THAN BEFORE. OVER THE FEW YEARS I HAVE HAD CORDS TO THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED, REMOVED, ADJUSTED, ETV. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS FOR A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. AND IT IS THE SAME PROBLEMS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER. *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.
THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2006 ION WITH ONLY 43,500 MILES NEEDS A NEW FUEL PUMP DO TO FAILURE THAT IS COVERED UNDER GM RECALL 09226 IN CERTAIN STATES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED SINCE THIS ISSUE IS A FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE REQUESTED THE REPAIR, QUOTED AT OVER $1000, TO BE COVERED IN FULL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS FAILURE IS THE EXACT ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE DEALER AND GM DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIALLY LOSING ALL OF MY BUSINESS FOR REPAIRS AND FUTURE VEHICLE PURCHASES. *KB
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
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
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2006 Saturn Ion → · Every Ion year → · How the figures are calculated →