NHTSA Complaint #10332424 — 2005 SATURN ION

I WAS TURNING INTO SAM'S CLUB AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND, BECAUSE I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THIS HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY, I ALMOST HIT THE CAR THAT WAS WAITING TO EXIT THE SAM'S CLUB LOT. I THEN PARKED THE CAR AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. I WENT SHOPPING, CAME BACK AND, WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED, I HAD MY POWER STEERING. I HAD ANOTHER FAILURE WITHIN TWO DAYS, AND NOW THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVEN JUST GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE (ABOUT 2 MILES). I CALLED THE LOCAL GM DEALER WHO SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. WHAT I READ ONLINE IS THIS IS A $1000+ REPAIR USUALLY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I EVEN WENT TO AN AUTO SALVAGE AND WAS QUOTED $450 FOR THE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND INSTALLATION. MY CAR ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR WHICH GM CURRENTLY HAS A RECALL FOR COBALT AND PONTIAC G6 CARS. *TR