NHTSA Complaint #10568688 — 2007 SATURN ION

I WAS DRIVING HOME THROUGH THE MARYLAND MOUNTAINS AFTER VISITING FAMILY FOR THANKSGIVING. I WAS IN A LINE OF CARS TRAVELING AT 70MPH, PASSING A SEMI, WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I COULD BARELY STEER OR PUSH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I HAD LOST POWER. MY TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T WORK AND I CONSIDERED PUTTING MY HANDS OUT THE WINDOW TO WAVE TO DRIVERS WARNING THEM OF THE IMPENDING DANGER. THANKFULLY THE ONE CAR BEHIND ME MUST HAVE KNOWN SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE HE BACKED OFF ALLOWING ME TO COAST BEHIND THE SEMI AND EVENTUALLY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED MY DAD IMMEDIATELY AND HE STARTED GOOGLING ENGINE SHUT OFF PROBLEMS AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. WHEN I GOT HOME I CALLED MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALER. I CALLED THE GM SATURN DEALER IN TOWN AND THE PERSON LAUGHED STATING HE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE TIME, I DID NOT MAKE AN OFFICIAL REPORT WITH ANY OTHER AGENCY. BUT I DO HAVE EMAILS THAT WERE WRITTEN TO FRIENDS EXPLAINING THE FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT. THIS CAR IS A 2007 AND I DIDN'T PURCHASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL 2011! 5 YEARS AFTER GM KNEW OF THE DEATH TRAP ON WHEELS. WHEN I ORIGINALLY RESEARCHED THIS CAR NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS CAME UP ON MY SEARCH. IT WASN'T UNTIL I SEARCHED FOR THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM (ENGINE SHUT OFF) THAT HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS SURFACED. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE TODAY! I STILL DRIVE AROUND IN THIS DEATH TRAP BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. IT ONLY HAS 55K MILES ON IT AND I USED MY SAVINGS TO PAY IT OFF. *TR