NHTSA Complaint #10259843 — 2005 SATURN ION

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE IN 2005 SATURN ION IN LESS THAN 16000 MILES BUT 8 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. POWER STEERING BECAME OPERATIONAL AFTER EACH RESTART, BUT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 3-5 MINUTES OF DRIVING. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER POSING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY WIFE. DEALER REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN APPROACHING $1000 IN REPAIR COST. IGNITION SWITCH HAS ALSO FAILED TO PERMIT CAR FROM STARTING ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER ALSO REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER RETURNED BOTH PARTS TO ME. I HAVE LEARNED THAT BOTH ARE COMMON FAILURES WITH THIS CAR AND OTHER GM COMPACTS. SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF REPEATED FAILURES OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLS OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE PREMATURE FAILURES. NO WONDER GM IS GOING BUST WITH A PRODUCT OF SUCH LOW RELIABILITY AND POOR DESIGN. *TR