NHTSA Complaint #11172216 — 2009 SATURN AURA

WAS DRIVING DOWN TOLLWAY (I-294) IN ROSEMONT ILLINOIS AND STARTED TO EXIT AT BALMORAL WHEN I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. IT TOOK EXTREME EFFORT TO STEER CAR UP THE RAMP AT 30 MPH. IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK AND YOU COULD ONLY TURN IT ABOUT 45 DEGREES MAX IN EITHER DIRECTION. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT HOME ON SIDE ROADS FOR SEVERAL MILES WHILE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. IT SEEMED TO LOCK-UP EVERY TIME I TURNED A CORNER. WHEN TURNING LEFT, YOU WOULD WIND UP ON THE RIGHT LANE AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN. YOU COULD NOT MAKE A TIGHT TURN WITH THE VEHICLE! SEVERAL CARS HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME AS I WAS TURNING! THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THE FOLLOWING "POWER STEERING/SERVICE ESC" WHEN I GOT IT IN THE GARAGE AT HOME, I SHUT ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. THIS IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND I HAVE READ THAT GM RECALLED CERTAIN 2009 SATURN AURAS FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CHECKED MY VIN, NO RECALLS WERE SEEN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE TO OPERATE.