NHTSA Complaint #10526239 — 2006 SATURN ION

I HAVE HAD REPEATED INSTANCES OF HAVING MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKING WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. UPON INSERTING THE IGNITION KEY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WITHOUT REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. BEGINNING ON THE INCIDENT DATE, I PARKED MY CAR AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN FROM THE ON POSITION. I VERIFIED THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY AGAIN. AT ONE POINT, I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. AFTER REINSERTING THE KEY INTO THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND PUSHING IN ON IT, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. ALL SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS (APPROXIMATELY 4 DIFFERENT TIMES) HAVE REQUIRED ME TO JIGGLE THE KEY UNTIL IT WOULD FINALLY TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I DROVE IT TO A GM REPAIR FACILITY AND AT THAT POINT, WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OR TURN OFF THE ENGINE. IT NOW APPEARS THAT I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE IGNITION LOCK AND HOUSING ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. FURTHER ONLINE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM HAS TURNED UP HUNDREDS OF SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE REPEAT ISSUES WITH THEIR NEW LOCK/HOUSING ASSEMBLIES. TO DATE, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT GM HAS ISSUED ANY RECALL/REPAIR NOTICES FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR