WHILE DRIVING, AS WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'VE BEEN READING, THE CAR "BEEPED" AND THE PWR STRN INDICATOR CAME ON AND WE LOST THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S THE POWER STEERING MOTOR/POWER STEERING MODULE AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1000.-$1200. TO FIX. I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IF GM WILL NOT FIX THIS DEFECT THEN I AM FORCED TO CONCLUDE THAT THEY ARE A LESS-THAN-REPUTABLE COMPANY AS WELL AS A MANUFACTURER OF AN INFERIOR PRODUCT. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WE HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CAR BUT, WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD TRAVELING IN SUCH A VEHICLE. I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I WILL, MOST LIKELY, NOT CONSIDER GENERAL MOTORS IN THE FUTURE. *TR
2006 Saturn Ion complaints
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 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH UP A RAMP, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING POWER. THE CONTACT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A POTENTIAL CRASH. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. SHE HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT, WHICH WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,310 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,370.
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.
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.
I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION. SEVERAL DAYS AGO THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED. THE POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AND THEN CUT OUT AGIAN. THIS IS NOW A CONSTANT PROBLEM. IN RESEARCHING THE MATTER, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT GM RECALLED THE CHEVY COBALT AND PONTIAC G5 FOR EXACTLY THE SAME REASON. WHY WASN'T THE SATURN ION INCLUDED? I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT $1,100 TO $1,200. THE CAR IS STILL DRIVEABLE BUT PRESENTS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THAT IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAVE CALLED TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR BECAUSE MY CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHERWISE.
STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTION. POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHES AND DINGS AND POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING. HAVE TO TURN OFF VEHICLE FOR LIGHT TO GO OFF AND FOR POWER STEERING TO RESET SELF
POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHES AND DINGS AND POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING. HAVE TO TURN OFF VEHICLE FOR LIGHT TO GO OFF AND FOR POWER STEERING TO RESET SELF. ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED SEPTEMBER 1, 2009. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED SEPT 3, 2009. HAVING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ELECTRONIC AND DOES NOT REQUIRE POWER STEERING FLUID. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE AND WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WITH A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER WAITING A PERIOD OF 30 SECONDS THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
WHEN TURNING IGNITION OFF SOMETIMES THE SWITCH STICKS AND DOES NOT GO INTO THE LOCK POSITION. THE ENGINE DOES STOP. ALSO THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT RELEASE AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY PRESS THE UNLOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR TO RELEASE THEM. SOME THINGS THAT I HAVE TRIED ARE RESTARTING THE ENGINE, CHANGING TRANSMISSION FROM "PARK" TO "DRIVE" AND BACK TO "PARK". THIS WORKS SOMETIMES AND THEN IF NOT I WAIT FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME AND WAIT TO HEAR THE DOORS UNLOCK ON THEIR ON AT WHICH TIME I AM ABLE TO PLACE THE SWITCH IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY. THIS TIME IS FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES AND THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR ~$660.00 AND IT APPEARED TO HELP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 9000 MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 6000 MILES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A "RECALL" AS OWNERS ARE UNABLE TO SAFELY LOCK THEIR CARS. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM WILL BE MOST WELCOME. THANK YOU
DRIVING AUTOMOBILE, ALARM CHIMED, POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON, LOST POWER STEERING. WHEN CAR IS RESTARTED POWER STRG WORKS APPROX. A COUPLE MINUTES THEN LOOSE POWER STEERING. GM AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, HAS NOT INCLUDED SATURNS IN THIS RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ICON. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD. HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE SO HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN IN MARCH 2010. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,282. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,242. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED 05/14/10
SATURN ION 2006 BRAND NEW HAD THREE DAYS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.PHONED DEALER WAS TOLD TO STOP AND RESTART TO FIX PROBLEM.DID NOT CHANGE.STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOB SIDE TO SIDE.TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD AFTER DIAGNOSIS IT WAS BODY MOUNT.POWER STEERING PROMPT APPEARED AFTER REPAIR WWHILE DRIVING EXPRESSWAY POWER STEERING CEASED WORKING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST WRECK.WILL NOT START UNTIL 10 MINUTE DELAY.CANNOT DRIVE ANYWAY WITH MANUAL STEERING.THIS PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL.DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN OR LOCK PROPERLY.CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE IT.
1. THE POWER STEERING ON MY VEHICLE WENT OUT THREE TIMES LAST WEEK (3/14/10, 3/16/10, AND 3/18/10). 2. A WARNING NOISE WOULD SOUND LIKE WHEN THERE IS LOW FUEL, AND THE DASH SHOWED THE MESSAGE "PWR STR". A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. 3. I CONTACTED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND DIAGNOSTICS WERE RUN. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND A CODE RESULTING IN A NEW POWER STEERING MOTOR BEING NEEDED. FORTUNATELY, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE REPAIR AS THE COST TOTAL OVER $400.00.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. SHE EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY WHEN SHE TRIED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,500. UPDATED 09/29/10 *BF UPDATED 10/01/10*JB
MY CAR IS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR WILL GO OUT WHILE THE CAR IS IN OPERATION. IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WILL BE OPERATIVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BUT THEN DIE AGAIN. THIS PROCESS IS REPETITIVE. THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN OVER A DISTANCE OF 2-3 MILES. MY CURSORY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT IT CREATES A GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS ON THE HIGHWAY. EVERY CASE I HAVE RESEARCHED (AND THERE ARE MANY) SHOWS THIS IS HAPPENING BETWEEN 30,000 TO 60,000 MILES ON MOST IONS. PLEASE HELP - THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS ANYWHERE FROM $1200 TO $1500 DOLLARS. I TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL IN THIS CAR EVERYDAY AND SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE INCOME TO SCRAP THIS CAR AND GO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. I FULLY EXPECT THAT YOU WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS SINCE YOU ARE IN THE TANK FOR GM AND TO BUSY CHASING TOYOTAS, BUT YOUR OWN STATED POLICY IS TOO REMEDY ANY SITUATION WHERE SAFE OPERATION OF THE CAR IS RENDERED PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. WHAT COULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN OPERATING A CAR THAT LOSES IT ABILITY TO BE STEERED WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. PLEASE DO YOUR JOB AND ADDRESS THIS!! I BEG. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED AND IT IS TIME TO CURE IT. *TR
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
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.
POWER STEERING TURNS OFF FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING, IN A FIFTEEN MINUTE DRIVE TO WORK THE POWER STEERING WILL SHUT OFF AROUND 3 TIMES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT . WHEN I RESTARTED MY CAR IT WENT BACK ON, THEN WENT OUT AGAIN ABOUT 100FT UP THE ROAD. *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
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN OFF CAR, AND TURN BACK ON. THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. *TR
I PURCHASED A GM CERTIFIED 2006 SATURN ION WITH 41000 MILES ON THE CAR AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DRIVING MY POWER STEERING HAVE BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS. A WARNING CHIME COMES ON AND "PWR STR" SHOWS UP ON MY DASHBOARD, I WOULD THEN LOOSE POWER TO MY STEERING AND MAKES IT VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. IF I SHUT OFF THE MOTOR AND RESTART THE CAR THE POWER STEERING IS OK BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE UNTIL THE POWER STEERING GO OUT AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $800-$1000 TO REPAIR THE STEERING. I ALSO GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SATURN ION AND CHEVROLET COBALTS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. IS THERE A RECALL WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON THE GM'S COMPACT CARS? *TR
I WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN LOS ANGELES AND THE POWER WENT OUT ON THE STEERING. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE DIED, BUT REALIZED IT HAD NOT. I STRUGGLED TO KEEP IN ON THE ROAD UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOP. AFTER I TURNED OFF ENGINE AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. I DROVE A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AND THE BELL CHIMED AND THE MESSAGE ON DASH SAID, STEERING POWER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DECIDED TO TOW THE VEHICLE WITH AN RV TO THE NEAREST TO MY CAMPSITE SANTA MARIA. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH SATURN AND THE STEERING MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. I SAW ONLINE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON DOT AND THE SATURN DEALER CONFIRMED, IT WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE, BUT WORSE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR HURT OR KILLED OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
ON MARCH 8, 2010, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED AFTER I GAVE MY NEPHEW A JUMP START TO HIS CAR. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I READ IN THE NHTSA COMPLAINT FORUM WHERE A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED TO AN INDIVIDUAL. MY CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE; HOWEVER, I NEED IT FOR WORK PURPOSES AND EVERYDAY USE. IT HAS NO WARRANTY AND FROM WHAT I'M READING OF COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA FORUM, IT IS VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM WITH DOCUMENTED DATES EARLIER THAN 2010, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT GM RECALLS THIS STEERING PROBLEM (AS THEY HAVE DONE TO SIMILAR OTHER GM MODEL CARS) BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED!!! *TR
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUT OFF FOR SOME TIME, THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR A VERY SHORT TIME (30 SECONDS OR SO) BEFORE IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN ALL TOGETHER. IT APPEARS AFTER SOME RESEARCH THAT THE STEERING COLUMN POWER STEERING UNIT IS OUT. THERE IS ALSO A RECALL ON A GM PRODUCT THAT USES THE EXACT SAME UNIT FOR MY VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH MY SATURN WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH I HIT A BUMP (FROST HEAVE) AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. NO ENGINE, NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE AS WELL AS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. I FORCED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED THE KEY OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND RESTARTED THE CAR. *TR
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
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.
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING LIGHT AND WARNING SOUND ALERTS ME TO PROBLEM AS I TURN STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. POWER STEERING FAILED MANUAL STEERING VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS AS I RETURNED HOME. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION REDLINE. MY COMPLAINT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE RECALL ON THE CHEVY COBALTS. MY POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH A SERIES OF BEEPS. THIS MAKES MY CAR VERY HARD TO TURN AND NAVIGATE UNDER 15MPH. THIS HAS BECOME QUITE ANNOYING AND I CANNOT LET ANYONE DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO HURT THEMSELVES OR THE CAR. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO ADDING THE GM SATURN ION TO THE RECALL LIST. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME FOR BOTH CARS; P/N 19209137. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 78MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HE LOST POWER THE STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,005.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AS LOW WAS 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, FOLLOWED BY A DINGING ALARM. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. SHE WOULD HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS WITH EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF AND RETURN TO NORMAL. TO DATE, THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS ON THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE 67,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 67,662.
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.
MY SON'S 2006 SATURN ION HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. IT INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING WHILE HE IS DRIVING, IT WILL ONLY START WORKING AGAIN IF YOU PULL OVER, TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. IF YOU LOOK AT ON-LINE FORUMS OUR VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY SATURN WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. SINCE THE ION IS THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE COBALT, WHY WOULD THE ION NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN GENERAL MOTORS RECENT RECALL OF SMALL CARS WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS? WOULD YOU ASK GENERAL MOTORS TO RE-EVALUATE THE SCOPE OF THEIR RECALL? SURELY LOSING POWER STEERING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN HAVING HEAVY STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS. *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
LOST STEERING CONTROL OF MY 2006 SATURN ION. THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR HAS THE SAME STEERING ESC AS THE CHEVY COBALT. SATURN ION NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS WELL. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT MY COST OF $532.00. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 WEEKS WHILE A NEW MOTOR WAS FOUND. THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATING AND PERHAPS BE PART OF A RECALL. *TR
SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE CHEVROLET COBALT. I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. I WILL GET A WARNING CHIME AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASH BOARD. WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON THE SITUATION GOES AWAY. I HAVE TRIED TO PIN POINT WHEN IT HAPPENS BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PATTERN IE SPEED, ROAD CONDITION ETC. *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.
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.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH; A CHIME SOUNDED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE AND OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION, WHICH I BOUGHT FOR MY WIFE. I USED THE CAR TO JUMP START ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AS I WAS MAKING A TURN INTO AN INTERSECTION MY WHEEL CEASED TO TURN AND I DROVE INTO SOME CONES, WHICH WERE IN PLACE TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS. HAD MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING (WHO IS VERY PETITE), I DON'T THINK SHE COULD HAVE FORCED THE CAR OVER AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THIS WILL COST ABOUT $600 (UNTIL RECENTLY THEY WOULD FORCE YOU TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WOULD COST WELL OVER $1000). THIS IS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT TO SPEND ON SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY NOT UP TO A QUALITY STANDARD. I ALSO CANNOT JUSTIFY TAKING THIS TO A SHOP. IF THEY REPLACE THIS POORLY ENGINEERED PART WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE, IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT IT WILL JUST BREAK AGAIN, TO MORE COSTS. BEYOND THIS, I CANNOT TRUST THAT MY WIFE CAN DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SAFELY. IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER, I HAVE NO CHOICE OTHER THAN TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AND BUY ANOTHER THAT IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. *TR
MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT ON MY 2006 SATURN ION WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. WHEN I TURN IT OFF IT RESETS IT SELF, BUT THEN GOES BACK. IT HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE UNDER 15 MPH. *TR
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN THE CAR. AT FIRST IT WOULD GO OUT SPORADICALLY, BUT NOW IT GOES OUT WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF DRIVING THE CAR. IT ALWAYS GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHILE IN TURNS. IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT AROUND 64,000 MILES, THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. THEY STATED THAT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACED, AND ESTIMATED COST AROUND $900. *TR
IN JULY 2008, THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2006 SATURN ION (APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES) TURNED OFF WHILE EXITING AN INTERSTATE. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS COLLISION, BUT I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO TURN OFF AT RANDOM AFTER THAT. THE CAR DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN (AN $1,100 EXPENSE) TO FIX THE ISSUE, WHILE DENYING THERE WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS SITE AND SO DID NOT REPORT IT AT THE TIME. *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
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
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.
Reading these
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.
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