NHTSA Complaint #10349146 — 2004 SATURN ION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND SHE HAD TO HOLD ON TO THE SHIFTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUAL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE LOCAL MECHANICS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HAS REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT SHE NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO LOCKED IN GEAR AND SHE COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT 9,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THIRTY SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS NEVER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CONTACT WOULD NOT PAY $500.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.