2006 Saturn Ion complaints

MY 2006 SATURN ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR DEFECT THAT THE RECALLED CHEVY COBALTS HAVE, MY POWER STEERING KEEPS CUTTING OFF, AND I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN A FEW ACCIDENTS. YET GM/SATURN FAILED TO INCLUDE MY CAR IN THE RECALL THEY STARTED TODAY. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILING & PWR STEERING ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. NOT CONSISTENT, STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO BUT BECOMING MORE FREQUENT THIS PAST MONTH. HAPPENS EVEN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS (NOT CONSISTENT OR DUE TO TURNS). MUST PULL OVER & TURN CAR OFF & RESTART. THIS HAS SO FAR "RESET" THE POWER STEERING MODE. NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. SPEED/STEERING NOT A FACTOR. DANGEROUS WHEN PASSING & THIS HAPPENS!!!! *TR

POWER STEERING LIGHT GOES ON AND POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. TURNING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING REMEDIES THE PROBLEM FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY WHEN THIS PROBLEM CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR

LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SATURN ION QUIT ON ME ABRUPTLY AND IT ALMOST LED TO A CRASH. I WAS ABOUT TO TURN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A BELL CHIME, AND ONE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND JUST AS THAT HAPPENED, THE STEERING GOT REALLY HARD AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER MOTORIST. AFTER I GOT HOME, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER WHEN IT WOULD SHUT OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN. I RAN IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHEN MY CAR HAD AROUND 45K MILES ON IT. THIS SOUNDS JUST LIKE WHAT THE COBALTS AND PONTIACS THAT WERE JUST RECALLED WENT THROUGH. I BELIEVE THE SATURN IONS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS WELL. I HAD THE REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM ON MY CAR AT A PRICE OF AROUND $900. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED MAKING THE CAR NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH LONG TRIPS AND SHORT. IT FAILS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN YOU RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF STARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, PWR STR LIGHTS UP ON MY DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, SO I CAN CUT THE IGNITION OFF, AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO RESET THE SYSTEM FOR A SHORT TIME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS. I HAVE CALLED SATURN, AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. OF COURSE, IT WILL COST ME OVER $1000 TO REPAIR IT AND IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AFTER EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. AS SHE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF IT RESET AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON TOMORROW SO THAT THEY CAN PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED STATING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING UNIT AT NOT COST. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS SINCE. UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB

AFTER COMING OUT OF CARWASH I ATTEMPTED TWICE TO START CAR. ON THE THIRD TRY IT STARTED & THEN KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF W/ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION. I THEN PROCEEDED TO SATURN DEALER WHO FORTUNATELY WAS OPEN AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO STOP ENGINE. HOUSING, KEY ASSEMBLY, & CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE EXPENSE OF $598.06. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY OR HOW SITUATION OCCURRED SO AS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE IN FUTURE. MILEAGE WAS 40,071. *TR

POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF DURING CAR OPERATION. *TR

ON SUNDAY, OCT. 25, 2009 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2006 SATURN ION SL3. RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT CAME BACK ON BUT WHEN OUT AGAIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER. TOOK THE CAR TO VAN CHEVROLET IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THE SAID I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS RUN OFF ELECTRIC MOTORS IN THE COLUMN. THEY RESET THE FAULT AND ORDERED A NEW COLUMN. WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE NEW COLUMN, THE POWER STEERING MOTORS WERE BAD, SO THE PUT THE ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN BACK ON. THE DEALER DID SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER MODULE AND THE FAULT HASN'T COME BACK, BUT THEY DID TELL ME THAT IT DEFINITELY WILL AND THE POWER STEERING WILL DEFINITELY REALLY GO OUT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER INFO AREA GIVES PWR STR MESSAGE. AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR DOWN IT WILL WORK PROPERLY AND PWR STR MESSAGE GOES AWAY. *TR

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY QUITS. OCCURS FREQUENTLY. LOW SPEED CONTROL REQUIRES PHYSICAL STRENGTH BEYOND THAT OF THE AVERAGE PERSON. RESETS WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION PURCHASED USED IN MARCH 2008. SHE STATED UPON ATTEMPTING TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION HOUSING WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE SAME PART HAD FAILED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE PARTS BUT NOT FOR LABOR, DUE TO THE PARTS HAVING A TWO MONTH WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 40,000.

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 SATURN ION. RUNS GREAT OTHER THAN ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING , THE (PWR STR) LIGHT WENT ON AND ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING AND WHILE MAKING THE TURN AT THE SAME TIME THE LACK OF STEERING HAPPENED SHE COULDN'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND COULDN'T STEER OUT AND SHE HIT THE CURB, DAMAGING THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF SHE WOULD'VE PANICKED OR JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT SIDEWALK . CURRENTLY ONLINE I'VE READ AND HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS WITH THIS ISSUE. MAYBE MORE THAT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST GOT IT FIXED. *TR

MY 2006 ION HAS ONLY 24,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. SUDDENLY, IT WOULD NOT START.....ALL DASH LIGHTS ON, HEADLIGHTS WORKED, ETC. BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. I TRIED LATER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. NEXT DAY, SAME ROUTINE. WHEN I GOT IT RUNNING, I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I HAD TO PAY. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT SO MANY OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NEVER ANY BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'VE READ THAT REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING STUCK SOMEWHERE AND DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO SIT IN A COLD CAR, HOPING THE 10-MINUTE WAITING PERIOD WILL ALLOW MY CAR TO START. *TR

AFTER EXPERIENCING LOWER FUEL ECONOMY AND A SMELL OF GAS WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THE DETERMINATION WAS A CRACKED FUEL PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR OF THE FUEL PUMP, CAUSING A GAS LEAK. WE HAD THE MODULAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT OUR OWN EXPENSE BEFORE FINDING OUT THERE WAS A RECALL BEING STARTED. WE HAVE THE OLD PART IN OUR POSSESION. *CN

NORMAL DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF LEFT TIE ROD. CAR HAS 65,000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO COLLATERAL DAMAGE. *TR

MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ABOUT 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES NOT START WORKING UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN. IT'S EXTREMELY SCARY DANGEROUS. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, THE SECOND TIME I DECIDED I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO GET FIXED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN.

I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION2 WHO'S POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO GM/SATURN A YEAR AGO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SATURN SHOP IN MANSFIELD, OH. THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR DUE TO SEEING SO MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT SEEMS BE A TEMPORARY FIX FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND WILL CLICK OFF SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING IN SPEED. *TR

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SATURN ION 2, FAILED AT AROUND 37,000 MILES. THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, BUT THEN SHUTS OFF. STEERING IS DIFFICULT WITH NO POWER STEERING. SO FAR NOW REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, SATURN SAID THEY WILL CHARGE ME AT LEAST $1,000.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS THE SAME STEERING SYSTEM AS USED THE CHEVY COBALT, "FEDERAL REGULATORS INVESTIGATE CHEVY COBALT STEERING COMPLAINTS." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH HE ENCOUNTERED A BUMP IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD RATTLING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO BOTH FRONT LOWER ARM BUSHINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 05/13/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SO THAT IT WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TO FIVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING A LONGER DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MOTOR AND COLUMN $1000 AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE SATURN MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF UPDATED 06/11/10.*JB

WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, I RECEIVED A POWER STEERING INDICATION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT. IT IS HARD TO TURN THE CAR. ONCE I STOP THE CAR AND RESTARTED THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY, BUT COMES BACK PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY, MORE LIKE TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY. *TR

2006 SATURN ION, 49000 MI. FUEL PUMP LEAK. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 09V419000. NO DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS GM RECALL # 090226. HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO START GETTING REIMBURSEMENTS? REPAIRS ARE OVER $600.00. *TR

2006 SATURN ION WENT TO WORK CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF ,KEY STUCK IN IGNITION UNABLE TO REMOVE. HAD TO DRIVE 35 MILES HOME HAVE SOMEONE GET THE CAR TAKE TO MECHANIC TO DISABLE AS SAFETY TURNOFF DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUE ACTUALLY GOT SHOCKED TRYING IT,TOOK TO SATURN DEALER IN DAYTONA BCH,FL WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW WAS TOLD IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THEN WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT REMOVE KEY SO THEY HAD TO BREAK HOUSING UNIT 500 + DOLLARS LATER.FILED COMPLAINT AFTER SEVERAL CALLS AND BEING BRUSHED OF OFFERED ME A LIMITED WARRANTY OIL CHANGES,TIRES ROTATED,RENTAL CAR IF SAME PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN THAT WAS LESS THEN 6 MONTHS AGO,NOW CAR WILL NOT START IGNITION STICKS WITH KEY IN OFF POSITION STARTER ENGAGES,NIGHTMARE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACTS FEELS THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSE A CRASH WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. JO

OCCASIONALLY, IN THE MORNING, OUR 2006 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY CHECKS OUT, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH DISPLAY, BUT TURNING THE KEY GETS NO RESULT. IF WE REMOVE THE KEY AND WAIT 10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL THEN START. I RECENTLY VISITED A BUICK SERVICE DEPT. WHERE THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, SOMETIMES CORRECTED BY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT (WHICH WE HAD DONE IN 2007, UNDER WARRANTY) AND IF THAT DOES NOT WORK, THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT WHICH WILL BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL FOR THESE 2 REPAIRS? IN EXCESS OF $1,100.00 !! HERE'S THE REAL KICKER, HE SAID THAT THIS WILL NOT NECESSARILY REMEDY THE PROBLEM! AND G.M. WANTS ANOTHER $3 BILLION IN BAILOUT FUNDS?? THE FUNNY THING IS THAT THE 1994 SATURN WHICH MY SON NOW HAS, WITH OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE CARS WE EVER OWNED. THE 2006 ION HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND AGAIN OVER IT'S LIFE SO FAR. THIS IGNITION PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ABOUT HALF A DOZEN TIMES, SO FAR. ONLY IN THE MORNING. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION, THE INCIDENT WAS ALL A SUDDEN. I COULD NOT TURN OFF MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. BECAUSE IT WAS A HOLIDAY, I HAD TO SIT IN MY VEHICLE ALL NIGHT UNTIL IT RAN OUT OF GAS. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION SYSTEM FOR $451.51+TAX. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A MECHANIC AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. *TR

MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND MY KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE LAST JULY, THE EXACT SAME ISSUE!!!! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND THAT "CORRECTED" THIS PROBLEM LAST YEAR AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE SAME ISSUE, IN WHICH IT WAS. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $40 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT WAS RAN ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST 451.51+TAX TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE PART EXPIRED 12 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OF THE CAR MAKER AND THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE FAILURE IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CALL ME BACK AND THAT THEY WILL DO THEIR BEST TO GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON REPAIRS. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM LOCKING UP? IS THE PART DEFECTIVE? AND IF SO WHY HASN'T THE MANUFACTURER DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT? *TR

I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION OR REMOVE MY KEY TWO SEPARATE TIMES. NOT ONLY THAT MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO BE FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP. MOST RECENTLY ALONG WITH THE KEY IGNITION PROBLEM, THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION WAS FIXED IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THIS TIME IT IS NOT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL BLOGS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM SUFFERING CONSUMERS. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON SATURN ION 2006 WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FUSE IS FINE. IT GOES OUT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THE DRIVE BEGINS. UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING IT, IT WORKS FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES. *TR

1. NO ABNORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SIMPLY TURNED OFF AT NIGHT, AND RETURNED IN THE MORNING TO A CAR WITH PERFECTLY WORKING ELECTRICAL BUT WILL NOT REACT WHEN TURNING THE CAR FURTHER. 2. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT MY CAR IS USELESS AT THE TIME THAT I NEED IT MOST, THE MORNING BEFORE WORK. 3. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING... IT IS A SATURN ION. THE ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, AND THE FIX IS COMPLICATED, LEAVING YOUR CAR ON FOR 10 MINUTES TO GET AROUND THE PASS LOCK. IF YOUR BATTERY SURVIVES YOUR CAR WILL WORK AFTERWARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THEN THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 01/20/10 *BF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE IN IDLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE SPEEDOMETER READ 120 MPH. UPDATED 01/22/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. SHE BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE FUEL PUMP SEAL AT AN EXPENSE OF $730.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE FILED REPORT NUMBER 7178545357 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V41900 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY REPAIRED THE FUEL TANK AT AN EXPENSE OF $310.00., DUE TO A CRACK. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR FACILITY FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE FUEL PUMP PLASTIC SEAL. SHE WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 09V419000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

WE NOTICED A STRONG OF GASOLINE AND A LEAK AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PLASTIC LINE CONNECTING ON THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS CRACKED AND GAS WAS LEAKING. WE PURCHASED THE PART FROM A SATURN DEALERSHIP AND HAD OUR MECHANIC INSTALL. THE PART COST $346.00 AND OUR MECHANIC CHARGED US $100.00 TO INSTALL IT. OUR MECHANIC SUGGESTED WE DO SOME RESEARCH REGARDING A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS PART AND WHEN I DID THAT I FOUND A RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE BUT ONLY FOR CERTAIN STATES. OUR STATE, MISSOURI, IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT MATTERS WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN. *TR

IGNITION FAILED TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR

2006 SATURN ION-3 AUTOMATIC 2.4L 1. POWER STEERING: POWER STEERING GOES OUT NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SATURN DEALERSHIP CHANGED A SENSOR I THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING IN THE CITY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. 2. IGNITION: CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 15-20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN BELOW FREEZING WEATHER FOR ALMOST AN HOUR BECAUSE OF THIS COMMON SATURN FAILURE. *TR

MY CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS START, IT GETS A PICTURE OF THE CAR WITH A PADLOCK ON THE DASH BUT WILL NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. IT DOES AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK AND TODAY IT DID IT FOUR TIMES ALONE. IT WILL START IN EXACTLY 10 MINUTES FROM THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO START IT. SO IN THE MEAN TIME MY CHILDREN AND I SIT THERE IN THE COLD AND WAIT. OR MY ASTHMATIC CHILDREN HOPEFULLY DO NOT STOP BREATHING. I HAVE CALLED SATURN NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL THEY TELL ME IS ITS THE IGNITION HOUSING WE CAN FIX IT FOR OVER 300 DOLLARS BUT IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN IN THREE MONTHS, WHICH THEY SAY WILL BE THE PATTERN FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *TR

A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY 2006 SATURN ION LOST POWER STEERING CAPABILITY WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY (DOING 65MPH)! NEEDLESS TO SAY, I NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WAS DISMAYED TO SUBSEQUENTLY FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR (ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP) WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2007 SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY SINCE IT ALREADY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT BUT IT WAS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE AFTER A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH MY FIRST SATURN FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. I WAS AT A NEW JOB AND NEEDED A CAR DESPERATELY. I CHOSE SATURN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE BRAND'S RELIABILITY, EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MY OWN PERSONAL SATISFACTION AS A PREVIOUS SATURN OWNER. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE LAST WEEK TO CHECK WHETHER THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A RECALL ITEM, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR. TODAY I WAS INFORMED BY GM/SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE $525.00 REPAIR OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE CAR HAD ACCORDING TO THEM, "EXCESS MILEAGE" (AT 50,000 MILES, A 3-YR. OLD CAR SHOULD NOT LOSE A MAJOR COMPONENT SUCH AS THE POWER STEERING TO MY THINKING). I WAS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THIS DEFECT TO CONTACT YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN BRING SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. I'VE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF SATURN ION OWNERS

2006 SATURN ION DOES NOT START ALTHOUGH ALL LIGHTS COME UP ON DASHBOARD. BATTERY IS FINE(HAD IT CHECKED) BUT THE STARTER DOES NOT ROLL OVER. AFTER 45 MINUTES (AND BATTERY REATTACHED) CAR STARTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE ON APRIL 1ST 2009 AND AGAIN NOV 21ST 2009. PROBABLY WEATHER RELATED AS BOTH DAYS WERE FAIRLY COOL AND PRECEDED BY RAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. AFTER 30 SECONDS OF VEHICLE OPERATION, THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50000. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/14/10.*JB

THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP. I NEED TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN BACK ON IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING ERROR MSG THAT APPEARS ON DASH... NOT LONG AFTER THAT IT FAILS AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 SATURN ION 2. DEALER SAYS ITS A COMPUTER CHIP IN STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE YET TO GET REPAIRED DUE TO OUTRAGEOUS REPAIR COSTS. SATURN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL, AND NEED TO STOP STEALING PEOPLES MONEY WHILE PUTTING THEY'RE LIVES IN JEOPARDY WITH A FAULTY STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILS AT HIGH OR LOW SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF HER VEHICLE. A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT A FUEL LEAK WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH SHE WAS ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE PRIOR TO INSPECTION. ALSO THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOOSE POWER STEERING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COMPONENT WOULD BE REPAIRED AS A FREE REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,865.

MY 2006 SATURN ION IS NOT STARTING OCCASIONALLY IN COLD AND WET WEATHER. I CALLED THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE REP THOUGHT IT WAS A SECURITY SYSTEM ISSUE AND WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT 2.5 HOURS AWAY TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP, AND THEY MIGHT HELP ME OUT. HMMM, I LOOK ONLINE AND HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL? IF IT IS SO COMMON AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL WHY CAN'T THEY SIMPLY TELL ME WHAT TO DO? COLD AND FRUSTRATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WHICH ALLOWED THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. ALTHOUGH SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE, THE FOLLOWING DAY THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CLOSEST DEALER TO HER RESIDENCE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF BUSINESS. A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

FUEL PUMP LEAKING ON 2006 SATURN ION AS DESCRIBED IN CAMPAIGN ID 09V419000 GM RECALL 090226. GM AND SATURN WOULD NOT COVER THIS AS STATED IN THE REPORT FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I ONLY RECEIVED A DISCOUNT ON THE PART. FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FITTER REPLACED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH SHASTA ON VERY WINDY AND DANGEROUS ROADS SURROUNDED BY BIG RIG TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES WHEN MY POWER STEER ON MY 2006 SATURN ION COMPLETELY STOPS WORKING. I STARTED TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHEN I WENT TO TURN ON A TURN AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY TWO BIG RIG TRUCKS. AFTER LOTS OF SCREECHING AND HONKING I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON, THE STEERING CONTINUED TO WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE POWER STEERING SINCE THEN HAS CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF AND I AM NOW FORCED TO DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS FIXED IN FEAR OF CAUSING A HUGE ACCIDENT. COST OF THIS REPAIR ON AVERAGE IS OVER $1100. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM, MANY HAVE AND HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT IT. I WAS ALMOST IN A HUGE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, I COULD ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT HAD I NOT ACTED QUICKLY THE WAY I DID. *TR