NHTSA Complaint #10390566 — 2004 SATURN ION

I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND THE PWR STR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I SAFELY EXITED, I READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND IT SAID THIS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I WENT DIRECTLY TO A FIRESTONE DEALER BUT THEY WERE NEAR CLOSING AND COULD NOT PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTICS AND ASKED ME TO RETURN IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY RETURNED. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED GM TO RECALL OTHER GM VEHICLES IN MARCH 2010, BUT NOT THE SATURNS. WHILE THE PROBLEM MAY BE TEMPORARILY RESOLVED BY REPLACING 2 FUSES, THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR WHICH IS A RATHER EXPENSIVE ITEM. I BELIEVE THE SATURNS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL GM ISSUED. *TR