NHTSA Complaint #10317222 — 2007 SATURN ION

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2007 SATURN ION COUPE ACROSS THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE IN PHILADELPHIA, PA AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING CUT OUT 5 TIMES. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR AND THE STEERING WOULD TEMPORARILY GO TO POWER AND THEN BACK TO MANUAL. THERE IS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. SHE STAYED CALM AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A POWER STEERING ASSIST REPLACEMENT TODAY. THE COST WAS $500. I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE 2004. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT HAD A HIGH SAFETY RATING AND ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS. WE CONTACTED ONSTAR TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE STEERING. ONSTAR APPARENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO STEERING FAILURE..AT LEAST I WOULD KNOW THAT SHE GOT HURT WHEN IT FAILS AGAIN. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHY HAS THIS PROBLEM BEEN ALLOWED TO GO ON FOR 6 YEARS. I SAW NO WARNING ABOUT THIS WHEN WE RESEARCHED THE CAR. WHEN I MADE A SPECIFIC INQUIRY ONLINE, THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED. MY DAUGHTER IS A 20 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT..SHE ISN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE PAYMENTS ON THE CAR, YET ON A CLEAR DAY ON A ROUTINE TRIP SHE COULDN'T KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR