NHTSA Complaint #10608147 — 2006 SATURN ION

MY CAR EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE AND IS UNDER A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE GM DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PART TO FIX THE STEERING IS UNAVAILABLE AND MAY BE UNAVAILABLE FOR MONTHS BUT THAT I SHOULD DRIVE IT ANYWAY. I HAVE REQUESTED A RENTAL VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTICE SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS AT AN "INCREASED RISK OF CRASH" AND THAT THE PROBLEM COULD "OCCUR AT ANY TIME". THE DEALERSHIP AGREES WITH ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE BUT THAT THEY ARE UNDER ORDERS TO NOT OFFER RENTAL VEHICLES FOR THIS PARTICULAR RECALL. OPERATORS AT THE GM HOTLINES REFUSE TO GIVE THEIR NAMES OR OFFER ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN COMMENTS OF "WORK HARDER TO STEER YOUR CAR" ([XXX]) AND "AT LEAST IT'S STILL DRIVABLE" ([XXX])... GM'S WEB SITE SAYS THAT "RENTAL CARS ARE AVAILABLE WHEN REQUESTED BY CONCERNED OWNERS AT GM'S EXPENSE" BUT STILL NO ONE WILL HELP ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR