NHTSA Complaint #10531922 — 2004 SATURN ION

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR INCIDENT; WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, DRIVING ON A FREEWAY ABOUT 55-60MPH, I NOTICE A "PWR STR" WARNING LIGHT COME ON MY DASH. SINCE I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, I NOTICE NO CHANGE. AS SOON AS I ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LANES TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, I REALIZE THAT I CAN BARELY STEER THE CAR AND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE IS NO SHOULDER ON THIS FREEWAY, SO IT IS SAFEST TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. MAKING THE RIGHT TURN OFF THE FREEWAY IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND TAKES ALL OF MY STRENGTH JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND PUT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND NOBODY WAS HURT. THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, AND ONCE OFF THE FREEWAY, I COULD QUICKLY AND SAFELY COME TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD PULL OVER AND PARK. AFTER READING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SIMILAR PROBLEM, I AM AMAZED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO DATE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE BY WAY OF AN ACCIDENT... THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR