NHTSA Complaint #10294136 — 2006 SATURN ION

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 HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN PRECARIOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS. IS GM WAITING FOR A FATALITY BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL, OR IS IT BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS BANKRUPT THAT THEY DECIDED TO PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR SAFETY? NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY TRUST AND FAITH IN GM IS COMPROMISED AND I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR