NHTSA Complaint #10354817 — 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK

1. WAS DRIVING ON I95 IN MARYLAND. SPEED ABOUT 65 MPH. 2. LOSS OF POWER STEERING (STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO DIRECT STEERING). BEFORE AUGUST 18, 2010 THE FAILURE HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES BUT WERE AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE LAST INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED ON AUGUST 18, 2010 WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND I ALMOST SIDE SWIPED A TRACTOR TRAILER BECAUSE I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. 3. I PUT IN A CALL TO SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME AD DUDLEY MARTIN CHEVROLET IN MANASSAS, VA TO CHECK THE CAR OUT. AFTER CAR WAS INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN EVER IT RAINS, WATER GETS ONTO STEERING BELTS WHICH CAUSES THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THEY ADVISED HAVING FENDER GUARDS INSTALLED WHICH IS OVER $300 WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. I ASKED SATURN/GM TO ADD GUARDS AT MY THEIR COST SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. SATURN/GM TOLD ME THAT THEY AGREE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS PROBLEM AND FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS REALLY HURT. I KNOW IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR ME. *TR