NHTSA Complaint #10343050 — 2004 SATURN ION

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION (RED LINE). IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE THAT MONTH AND DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL JUNE OF THIS YEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT (OVER 90 DEGREES). OTHER THAN THAT, THERE IS NO SET CIRCUMSTANCE. IT CAN JUST GO OUT AT ANY TIME. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, BUT THE WAY THE CAR IS MADE, THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE THE PART, BUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD COST BETWEEN 700.00 AND 800.00 BEFORE LABOR. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM ON SATURNS PART AND THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU TAKE THESE COMPLAINTS INTO CONSIDERATION. *TR