2006 Saturn Ion complaints

WE HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING IT LOOSES POWER STEERING. SAME PROBLEM GM IS HAVING WITH COBALT. WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLING THE SATURN ION'S. NUMEROUS CONCERNS AND VERY DANGEROUS? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

MY SATURN ION 2006 POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. MY PROBLEM BEGAN AROUND THE 40,000 MILE MARK. THE COST IS EXTREMELY HIGH TO REPAIR OVER $1,200. *TR

I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. SPEED DOES NOT MATTER. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING GOES OUT. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OF IT COMES BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH OR MORE SO I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS. GM HAS RECALLED SOME CARS WITH THE SAME STEERING UNITS BUT NOT IONS. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED IT WILL BE $500 OR MORE TO FIX. MANY PROBLEMS ARE DOCUMENTED ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE ION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND GET A RECALL STARTED FOR THIS. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A KNOWN GM PART PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,888. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,868.

THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED WAS WHEN THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. I PULLED INTO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT SOME POWER STEERING FLUID. THE POWER STEERING TURNS OUT IS ALL ELECTRIC AND NEEDS NO FLUID. I THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON TO CONTINUE DRIVING HOME AND I MADE IT THERE WITH NO PROBLEMS. I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM CHURCH TWO DAYS LATER AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND STARTED IT BACK UP. POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. IT WENT OUT ON ME AGAIN 5 MINUTES LATER AND I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND STATED IT BACK UP. POWER STEERING WORKED FINE AGAIN FOR ABOUT 10 MORE MINUTES BEFORE IT WENT OUT AGAIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE POWER STEERING QUIT ON ME THREE TIMES IN ONE TRIP HOME FROM CHURCH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND PAID $70 BUCKS TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC RUN. TURNS OUT THEIR IS AN INTERMITTENT SHORT IN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR- CODE "CO429". THE POWER STEERING MOTOR MUST BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH IS QUITE COSTLY, $429.39 ON TOP OF THE $70 DOLLARS I HAVE ALREADY PAID. *TR

POWER STEERING HAS WENT OUT ON MY 2006 ION 2. LIGHT COMES ON AND A SOUND ALARM GOES OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *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

SATURN ION 2006 PWR STEER MESSAGE AND THEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND THAN BACK ON FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. *TR

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE ON A 2006 SATURN ION. THE SYSTEM FAILS WITHIN 5 SECONDS OF STARTING THE VEHICLE AND NEVER WORKS AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASH CONFIRMS THE FAILURE. GM RECALLED THE CHEVY COBALT FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT THE ION, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. *TR

EVERY TIME I START MY 2006 SATURN ION, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. I CAN RESTART THE CAR EITHER IN MOTION OR WHILE STOPPED AND THE FUNCTION RETURNS, BUT THEN FAILS AGAIN AFTER 30 SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES. THE RESULT IS A VEHICLE WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS WHILE MAKING TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS OR IN TIGHT SPACES. *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

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2006 SATURN ION, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2005 AND HAS 52000 MILES ON IT. ALL WINTER LONG, DURING DAYS WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW 40 DEGREES, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. UPON PLACING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNING, THE "PASSLOCK" THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED AND LOCKS MY CAR'S STARTER FROM FIRING FOR 10 MINUTES. THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES IN MY CAR WORK, BUT THE STARTER BECOMES LOCKED OUT FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE I CAN TRY AGAIN. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN IONS. APPARENTLY THE GREASE WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN THE IGNITION SYSTEM FREEZES AT COLDER TEMPERATURES AND THUS THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY. SINCE IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS MY CAR OUT FOR THE 10 MINUTE LOCK OUT PERIOD. SOMETIMES I CAN TRY 6 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 1 HOUR AND THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON VERY COLD DAYS. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND THIS PAST WINTER WE HAD RECORD SNOWFALL WITH MANY DAYS DIPPING INTO THE 0'S, 10'S, 20'S AND 30'S. IT WOULD BE VERY UNFORTUNATE IF SOMEONE WERE TO DIE OF EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS SINCE A CAR HAS NO HEAT WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. SOMEONE COULD DIE FROM BEING STRANDED IN THE COLD DUE TO AN IGNITION SWITCH WHICH GM/ SATURN COULD REPLACE FOR $50. I KNOW I SPENT MANY COLD DAYS (~5-6 PER WEEK) SITTING IN MY FREEZING COLD CAR FOR SOMETIMES OVER AN HOUR JUST PRAYING THAT MY CAR WOULD START SO I COULD GET SOME HEAT. PLEASE MAKE GM/ SATU

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2006 SATURN ION, WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2005. IN WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS, MY CAR'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNEXPECTEDLY CUTS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE ALARM SOUNDS IN THE DASH AND THE CODE "PWR STR" APPEARS IN THE MESSAGE WARNING INDICATOR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO RETURN IS TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF, AND RESTART IT. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ON THURSDAY AND IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT EACH DAY. IT HAPPENED TWICE FRIDAY, THEN ABOUT 20 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF A 15 MILE DRIVE ON SATURDAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO CUT OUT ON YOU BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. ONE OF THE TIMES IT HAPPENED I WAS MAKING A TURN ONTO A RAMP AS I WAS COMING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. LUCKY FOR ME THE TURN WAS GRADUAL ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO STEER, BUT HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A SLIGHTLY SHARPER TURN, I MAY HAVE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. ADDITIONALLY, IT CANNOT BE SAFE FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO PULL OVER ON THE INTERSTATE (GOING 55 MPH) 10 TIMES IN A 20 MINUTE TIME FRAME JUST TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND ON TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. IT'S QUITE DANGEROUS TO CHANGE LANES JUST TO GET IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC WHEN YOU HAVE POWER STEERING. IT'S EVEN MORE DANGEROUS TO DO SO WITHOUT POWER STEERING. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP MAKE GM/ SATURN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! *TR

POWER STEERING MOTOR DEFECT CAUSES CAR TO HOW TIGHT STEERING AT TIMES. EVERYTIME I TRY TO GET IT SERVICED I GET THE RUN AROUND AT DEALER. *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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IMMEDIATELY, THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS CABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91000. UPDATED 7/16/10 UPDATED 07/21/10*JB

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,381 AND THE CURRENT WAS 32,391.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOLLOWED BY AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (PERTAINING TO THE 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT MODELS: STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) WAS APPLICABLE TO HIS VEHICLE SINCE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS THE SAME MODEL AS THE CHEVROLET COBALT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER CONCEDED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR THE LABOR COSTS AND THE OWNER WAS LIABLE FOR THE PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,500.

I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION 3. MY PROBLEMS BEGAN IN 2006, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, I STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION. WHEN I RETURNED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I COULDN'T PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD DONE WRONG. FAST FORWARD TO 2008,NOW THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. THE LIGHT INDICATING POWER STEERING STARTED COMING ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN WHENEVER I WOULD COME TO A STOP OR SIMPLY TURNING A CORNER. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT NO LONGER COME ON BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUE TO STOP. AS I BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AND HAS TO BE TURNED BACK ON AT LEAST 3 TO 4 TIMES BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE. WHEN I FINALLY GET IT STARTED AND WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE PARKING SPACE OR DOWN THE ROAD IT SHUTS OFF AGAIN. IT SHUT OFF WHEN EVER I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I AM TERRIFIED THAT I AM GOING TO BE STRUCK AND KILLED. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO DEALER WHO TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE THE POWER STEERING MODULE OR SOME OTHER PART DEALING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO ANOTHER AUTOCARE CENTER TO HAVE IT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE WHICH THEY QUOTED ME $100.00 JUST TO CHECK IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I'M EVEN MORE AFRAID OF THE REPAIR BILL, BUT FROM READING ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT ARE LIKE MY STORY, I AM SURE THERE IS A DEFECT WITH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP; THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT EXTREME FORCE TO TURN AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART; SHE TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED A MILE LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A U-TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME ALTHOUGH IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER, WHEN CALLED, VERIFIED THE INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,537. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,847. UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF THE CONSUMER SENT IN A TSB REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UPDATED 07/09/10/*JB UPDATED 07/15/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED GM/SATURN HAS AGREED TO ASSIST WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/19/10*JB

SATURN ION 2006 STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES OR SO STEERING ERROR WOULD APPEAR PERIODICALLY AND WHEN THE KEY CYCLED IT WOULD CLEAR THE CODE. AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGED IT NOW APPEARS TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST 3 MINUTES OF START-UP. COBALT HAS A RECALL AND THIS IS THE SAME PART USED ON SATURN. HAS GM JUST WASHED THERE HANDS OF ALL THE SATURN USERS? NO CRASH AT THIS TIME BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE I CAN'T THROW THAT MUCH MONEY IN A CAR WITH ITS CURRENT RESELL VALUE FOR ONE AND GM SHOULD OWN UP TO THERE ISSUE LIKE TOYOTA FINALLY DID. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY 2006 SATURN ION DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE PWR STR WHICH I IMMEDIATELY KNEW MEANT "POWER STEERING". I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN STARTED IT BACK UP AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES AND MY POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL. I CONTINUED DRIVING HOME WHEN THE PWR STR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING AGAIN. I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND ONCE AGAIN THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I HAVE READ OF A RECALL FROM GM WITH CARS THAT ARE USING THE SAME STEERING PARTS USED IN MY ION AND AM CONFUSED AS TO WHY THE SATURN ION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE SAME PARTS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED ARE FAILING IN MY CAR. NOW I HAVE TO PAY $1,000 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ON THE VEHICLE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE CONTACT REACHED SPEEDS OF 30 MPH OR HIGHER, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART WHICH WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,811.

AFTER GOING OUT TO DINNER KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN SINCE OWNING CAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN WAS ON 10/21/07 (MILEAGE 22,006). I TOOK CAR TO SATURN DEALER. IGNITION WAS FIXED ON 10/22/2007 IGNITION REPLACED NO CHARGES COVER BY DEALER WARRANTY. SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN WAS ON 3/31/2010 TOOK CAR TO SATURN DEALER NEXT DAY 4/01/2010 9 AM.(MILEAGE 37,369) THEY DID NOT HAVE PART SO I WAS CHARGED SHIPPING CHARGES ($15) TO GET PART TO SATURN DEALER. EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED COVER PARTS & LABOR. THEY REPLACED SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS CAUSING KEY TO STICK TO IGNITION DEALER CLAIMS. OUR CAR WAS RETURNED ON 4/02/2010 AT 3 PM.. MY SATURN ION 2006 HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS RECENTLY 1/30/2010 (MILEAGE 35,987)THE CAR HAD BEEN SMELLING LIKE GAS INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF CAR I TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM FUEL PUMP THEY REPLACE FUEL PUMP MODULE. EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED COVERED COST LABOR & PARTS. A MONTH LATER WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM SATURN ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. WE ARE AFRAID THAT THESE PROBLEMS WILL REOCCUR. CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF, DEALER IS ONLY ONE WHO SERVICES CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 3. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CHIME SOUND. SECONDS LATER, THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,806.

THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ROUGHLY 55 MPH. THE CAR BECAME HARD TO CONTROL AND SHOWED ON THE DASH BOARD THE PROBLEM MESSAGE. IT HAPPENED PERIODICALLY WITH SEEMINGLY MORE OFTEN OCCURANCES. IT NOW IS WITHOUT POWER STEERING MOST OF THE TIME IT IS DRIVEN. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I AM STILL TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION ON WITH 43,000 MILES (A WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE AT THAT). THE PROBLEM (A COMMON ONE FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ/HEARD): RECENTLY, I WAS UNABLE TO SHUT MY VEHICLE OFF; THAT'S CORRECT... I COULD NOT TURN MY CAR OFF. THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION (GET IT TO A DEALER, DISCONNECT THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND BATTERY, AND SPEND $451 TO HAVE THE IGNITION CYLINDER COMPLETELY REPLACED; THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE). NOT BEING ABLE TO SHUT OFF A VEHICLE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN (FOR SO MANY REASONS); YOU CAN'T SIMPLY LEAVE A VEHICLE RUNNING, AND YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T LEAVE A RUNNING VEHICLE UNATTENDED (ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE...HOW DANGEROUS IS THAT?). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,000.

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 10 TO 50 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIFTEEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NOT A SERVICE WARRANTY RELATED TO THE FAILURE OR RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE SERVICE COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,927.

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.

OWN A 2006 SATURN ION , THE POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING AND A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS WHERE THE ODOMETER IS MESSAGE IS CK PWR STEER. CAR IS BASED IN LAS VEGAS WARMER TEMPS CAUSE IT TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN. I AM A FEMALE OF MEDIUM BUILD AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT SEAMS TO RESET AND OPERATE OK. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN . I DID HEAR OF A RECALL ON OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME CONCERN. IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THOSE CARS WHY NOT THIS MODEL AND YEAR? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE TURNED IF OFF AND RESTART IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL 10V073000 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,416.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ACCOMPANIED BY A CHIME SOUND. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING SOON AFTER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; THE POWER STEERING THEN FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ

KEEP BLOWING FUSES ON THE POWER STEERING. FUSES BLOW ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS AND ARE REPLACED. LOOSENESS IN THE POWER STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN WORKING. *TR

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

COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING, HAD TO PULL THE SPARK PLUGS OUT TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO KEEP FROM DRAINING DUE TO BEING IN THE ON POSITION. THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS BOUND IN THE HOUSING. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING SEEMED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,340. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,342.

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. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WITH A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AND THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WITH A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AND THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 05/18/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2006 SATURN ION SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION CAUSING THE CAR'S ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A 2 DAY PERIOD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. COST WAS $200. *TR

2006 SATURN ION NEVER WRECKED IGNITION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, AND THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION RESULTING IN HAVING THE CAR LEFT RUNNING UNTIL THE CAR WAS CUT OFF BY PULLING THE CABLES OFF OF THE BATTERY POSTS. WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RUSTED AND THE SPRING IN THE SWITCH HAD BROKEN AND HAD GONE BAD BY A MECHANIC AND HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND KEY RECODED. *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

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

POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT. *TR

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