NHTSA Complaint #10618506 — 2008 SATURN AURA

I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A RECALL FROM GM ON MY VEHICLE AT THE END OF JUNE/BEGINNING OF JULY FOR A POWER STEERING ISSUE. THE NOTICE SAID I WOULD BE FURTHER CONTACTED WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. ON 7/19/14, I BEGAN NOTICING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING: THE WHEEL WOULD CLICK AND TURN SLIGHTLY LEFT TO RIGHT, SOMETIMES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED (AT A LIGHT). ON 7/22/14, THE WHEEL TURNED SLIGHTLY AND CLICKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND MY POWER STEERING INDICATOR WARNING BEGAN FLASHING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO HANDLES SATURNS AND THEY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS. THE INDICATOR LIGHT ONLY CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AT THE TIME AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE STEERING ISSUE RELATED TO THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY SAID GM HAD NOT SENT PARTS YET. THEY WERE EXTREMELY DISMISSIVE OF MY CONCERNS. SINCE THAT TIME, THE POWER STEERING WARNING HAS PROGRESSED TO STAYING ON ALL OF THE TIME WHILE THE CAR IS OPERATING. UPON STARTING, THE WHEEL CLICKS AND TURNS SLIGHTLY, A CHIME SOUNDS, AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR WARNING COMES ON AND STAYS ON. I HAVE HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK THE STEERING AS WELL AND HE AGREES THAT THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE RECALL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS I FEEL A FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING MAY BE IMMINENT. IF IT FAILS FOR INSTANCE WHILE I AM CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AND I AM NOT ABLE TO EASILY STEER THE CAR INTO THE PROPER LANE, I COULD BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ONE OR MORE FATALITIES. THE GM DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO CONTACT GM TO TRY TO GET PARTS QUICKLY. AFTER A HEATED ARGUMENT, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY EMAILED GM AND THEY HAVE HAD NO REPLY. *TR