2004 SATURN ION Steering Problems

S10 DIRECT REPLY- TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE EXPRESSING CONCERNS REGARDING GENERAL MOTORS RECALLS ON 2004 SATURN ION (RECALL NOS. 14063/14113 AND 14115. DATE OF PURCHASE DEC. 27, 2013). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON JANUARY 10, 2014, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ROADSIDE SERVICE WAS CALLED, AND THEY CHARGED THE BATTERY. AS THE CONSUMER BEGAN BACKING OUT OF HER PARKING SPACE, SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SEEMED VERY STIFF; SHE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THE POWER STEERING SIGNAL AND CONTINUED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE TO THE DEALER, ABOUT A MILE AWAY WITH POWER STEERING. WHEN SHE ARRIVED, SHE MENTIONED THE POWER STEERING ISSUE AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. A FUSE WAS REPLACED, WHICH CORRECTED THE ISSUE, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING AND IGNITION PROBLEM WERE RESOLVED. HOWEVER, WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, SHE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER PROBLEM. THEY KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND...

LOST POWER STEERING AFTER POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS 3RD INCIDENT IN 10 DAYS. TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING 3 TIMES. LOSS OF POWER STEERING MAKES TURNING DIFFICULT. VERY SCARY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING), AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 24, 2014. AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AFTER EACH INCIDENT THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE VERY SCARY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AND I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 10-1/2 YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 102,300. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TOOK MY SATURN IN YESTERDAY FOR THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH-GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE SWITCH ALSO NEEDS REPLACING, BUT GM WILL NOT COVER IT AND I NEED TO PAY FOR THAT PART AND THE LABOR. THE SWITCH CAN NOT BE REPLACED UNLESS THIS HOUSING IS REPLACED, BUT NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL SAYS THIS SHOULD BE AT NO COST TO ME. I CALLED GM AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE HOUSING IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL INFORMATION, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE SWITCH, BUT FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? IT DOES NOT MAKE SINCE TO ME. HAVE ME DO THE RECALL AND THEN ATTACH A...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A CHIME SOUNDED AND FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED DURING THE STEERING MALFUNCTION; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/15/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE REMEDY PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN CHANGING GEARS THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND RATTLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLES POWER STEERING FAILED AFTER TRYING TO REVERSE FROM A DRIVE WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD FOLLOWED BY A WARNING CHIME THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN SINCE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO REMEDY. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114.000.

MY SATURN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C UNIT THE DIAL HAS GOTTEN TO WERE IT WON'T WORK AND THE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR ABOUT 7 YRS. MY HAS CAR HAS CUT OFF ON ME TWICE. ONCE THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR. NOW THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS ON APRIL 25 2014. IT WAS AROUND 3:30 PM. HERE IN RICHMOND VA IT WAS A REALLY BAD THUNDER AND LIGHTING STORM. I STARTED TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL, THE BRAKES WERE ACTING STRANGE I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT STOP LIGHT AND WHILE I WAS A RED LIGHT I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED BEEPING SOUND AND THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. MY CAR WAS TOWED. AND THE HENRICO COUNTY BEAT AAA TO PULL IT TO ROYAL CHEVY. THE COPS HAD MY PLACED AT IMPOUND LOT. AND I FINALLY DID IT TOWED TO ROYAL CHEVY ON APRIL...

MY CAR WAR JUST REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL IGNITION, HOWEVER, IT IS STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OFF AND ON. THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF TWICE ON MY WAY HOME AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TWICE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY SHOW NOTHING ON THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE MY FAMILY HAS, AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE! I HAVE HAD FILES OPEN SINCE 2008 ABOUT THE POWER STEERING, AND OTHER ISSUES. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING REPLACED TWICE. *TR

I RECEIVED RECALLS BEGINNING IN APRIL 2014 REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEN ONE REGARDING THE IGNITION CYLINDER. BOTH RECALLS HAVE CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ALSO A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. (3 OPEN RECALLS IN ALL) I CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AS INSTRUCTED ON APRIL 18TH AND HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE @ 800-553-6000. I WAS ISSUED A CASE# 71-1300074576 BUT MY FAMILY IS STILL DRIVING THE CAR. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM TO LEAVE IT AT THE DEALERSHIP SO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JUNE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOANER CAN BE PROVIDED. I WANT TO DROP THE CAR OFF SOMEWHERE AND PICK UP A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE UNTIL THE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *TR

WHEN I START MY CAR I GET A MESSAGE THAT DAYS POWER STEERING SERVICE VEHICLE. THAT I LOOSE ALL DASH LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY RADIO AND AIR I DO NOT REGAIN POWER STEERING OR LIGHTS FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. I CAN HEAR A CHANGE IN THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS REGAINED. ONCE IT'S DONE I CAN DRIVE PERFECTLY NORMAL. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF. WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF THE LIGHTS ARE THERE DURING THE FIT AND OFF WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ALL THE CODES THROWN ARE ELECTRICAL. HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME I LOST THE POWER STEERING ROUNDING A BEND. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND I NEEDED THE ENTIRE THING REPLACED FOR 800.00, QUOTED 1200.00 AT A DEALER. I CALLED GM AND DESPITE THE GM WEBSITE STATING RECALL OF "SATURN ION ALL MODEL YEARS 2004-2007" FOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING POSTED ON 3/31/14, I WAS TOLD MINE WASN'T INCLUDED BECAUSE I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOESN'T "ALL MODEL YEARS" PERTAIN TO THE ION 1, 2, AND 3????? *TR

WHILE PARKING POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,720.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. WAS IN THE PASSING LANE MOVING BACK INTO THE TRAVEL LANE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. NO ALARMS WENT OF WARNING ME SOMETHING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BUT HAD A HARDER TIME MAKING TURNS ON THE SIDE STREETS. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE SUDDENLY AFFECTING MY CAR. *JS

HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEERING, SOMETIMES WANT STEER. IT IS PARKED FEAR OF DRIVING IT!! *JS

SHORTLY AFTER STARTING ON A VERY COLD WINTER DAY, AT LOW SPEED AND WITH THE BATTERY LIKELY LOW FROM STARTING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WARNING CHIMED AND THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE THEN (EVEN A FEW HOURS LATER WITH THE CAR WARMED UP AND BATTERY FULLY CHARGED), BUT THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AND I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A BETTER ONE. THE BATTERY HAD TESTED GOOD AT THE LAST OIL CHANGE/SERVICE/INSPECTION, BUT WAS NEAR THE END OF ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON DRY ROADS DURING THE DAYTIME BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT, WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. THE WHEEL LOCKED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. IT RESTARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. 3 YEARS LATER, THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO IS WHEN I HAD MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH SPEED ACCELERATION WITH MY SATURN. I LEFT WORK AND TURNED ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE AN HOUR TO GO HOME ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND I WASN'T PRESSING THE GAS. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POP MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET HOME BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS. WHEN I WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE ON WHILE IT WAS STILL IN PARK THE RPM'S WOULD GO CRAZY AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY AUTO SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD...

2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE ISSUES, AIR BAG MALFUNCTION AND SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS. HER DAUGHTER LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN HER DAUGHTER HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HER DAUGHTER WAS INJURED. ALSO, THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH THANKFULLY HAS A RECALL ON IT BUT I WANT THE POWER STEERING TO BE RECALLED AS WELL BECAUSE IT HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 SATURN ION DOWN A HILL AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE CAR. HE COULD NOT STOP AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULT STEERING THE VEHICLE. WE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I FRACTURED MY C-2 AND MY SHOULDER AND ALSO DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2004 MY POWER STEERING KEPT TURNING OFF PERIODICALLY, MY CAR IS STANDARD SO I ACTUALLY TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING PRESSING MY CLUTCH IN AND RESTARTED MY CAR. I DROVE LIKE THIS FOR ABOUT 5 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE FACT I WAS OVER 150000 MILES IT VOIDED MY WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECT TO MY STEERING MOTOR. I SPENT OVER 500 DOLLARS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, NOW KNOWING THAT IT WAS AN EXISTING DEFECT KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

POWER STEERING TEMPORARILY LOCKED IN RIGHT TURN POSITION, DURING RIGHT HAND TURN, BUT WAS ABLE TO FORCE BACK IN TIME BEFORE HITTING OTHER CAR. STEERING IS STILL ACTING UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (ESPECIALLY COLD), WHEN TRYING TO RETURN WHEEL BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION, WHEEL TIGHTENS UP AND NEEDS TO BE FORCED BACK. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, MAKING THE EFFORT OF STEERING THE VEHICLE INCREASE GREATLY. UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY, BUT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AT AN EVER-INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL THIS DATE. FOR THE PAST YEAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WITHIN DRIVING THE FIRST 200 FEET EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE OPERATED THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH SATURN IONS AND RELATED GM VEHICLES, CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, AND THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER DUE TO THE EXTREME PHYSICAL EXERTION REQUIRED TO STEER THESE VEHICLES AFTER THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS.

AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT-AWAY, ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD 3 DINGS IN MY CAR - SO I CHECKED THE DASHBOARD (I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE FUEL OR MAYBE OIL LIFE), IT READ PWR STR. THEN I NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER MY CAR...I HAD LOST MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. THE AMOUNT OF STRENGTH IT TOOK JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL WAS IMMENSE. THIS TOOK MORE EFFORT THAN DRIVING AN OLDER CAR THAT DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, I WAS JUST ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION. ALSO LUCKILY, THE ISSUE GOES AWAY ONCE I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE-START IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME - ONCE WHILE ON A HIGHWAY, ONCE WHILE PARKING MY CAR, AND ANOTHER WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN. *TR

THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER, I CALLED ROAD SIDE IN HOPES THAT THE BATTERY JUST NEEDED A JUMP, BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT TURNING OVER BECAUSE OF ANOTHER REASON. MY FRIENDS CAME OVER AND WE POPPED THE CLUTCH AND DROVE IT TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK, I WAS THINKING EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR. HE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT TO TELL ME TO CONTACT GM ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION IS BAD AND WILL NOT TURN THE CAR OVER. *TR

POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE IT HAPPENS YOU CANNOT TURN THE VEHICLE. MUST POWER DOWN THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. IT CAN HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES IN A 5 MILES STRETCH, INCONSISTENT. WARNING - HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE - I ALMOST CRASHED. HAD TO STOP AUTO IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION - VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES. THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE MID APRIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175. THE MILEAGE OF 175 WAS REAFFIRMED BY THE CONTACT. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES 2 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WOULDNT START, IT HAD HIGH IDLING PROBLEMS, AND MOST RECENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY ON A CLEAR DAY. I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHEN I TRY TO CHANGE LANE. I THEN DECIDED TO PULL OVER AT THE FIRST EXIT. WHEN I SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN, IT WAS CLEAR THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE DASH CONSOLE AND NO AUDIO ALARM. FINALLY, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AND I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN THE CAR STALLED OUT AND WE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION AND IT CAUGHT BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE OUR SATURN DEALERSHIP WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, WE HAD A TRUSTED MECHANIC TAKE CARE OF IT NOT KNOWING THERE WERE ISSUES. I RESEARCHED THREE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FROM SATURN. ONE INVOLVED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WHICH WE HAD TO HAVE FIXED TWICE WITH A HARNESS AND BULB REPLACEMENT IN ON 2/5/05 AND AGAIN ON 10/24/05. ANOTHER WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT ALSO ON 10/24/05. AND THEN THE THIRD WAS THE FAULTY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WHICH AS YOU KNOW WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/4/12. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT A REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY SAID NO BECAUSE WE WERE PAST 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, AND THAT THE...

WHILE DRIVING THIS 04 SATURN ION I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE. I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL. IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF THEN RESTARTED THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH. SOME TIMES THIS CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR WEEKS. IT CAN HAPPEN IN ANY WEATHER OR TEMP. IT KIND OF TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE, ONE SECOND ITS WORKING FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING IS GONE. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UPON PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLICKING NOISE, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE CONTACT HAS TO WAIT A MOMENT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE FAILURES STILL RECURR. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING MAGNETS AND REPLACE THE POWER PACK. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE POWER STEERING SHORTS OUT AT RANDOM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWS AN ERROR LIGHT FOR THE POWER STEERING. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES THE FAILURES STILL RECURR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE...

AS I WAS COMING UP TO A TRAFFIC CIRCLE, MY GEARS LOCKED UP AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT, RESULTING IN A CRASH INTO THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE MEDIAN, TOTALING THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP AWAITING MAINTENANCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING WITH ALARM CAME ON THE READOUT ON THE DASH. AT THAT TIME IT HAD BECOME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO ME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING RETURNED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THIS INCIDENT PUT ME IN A PANIC MODE BECAUSE I AM PHYSICALLY DISABLED WITH DISABILITIES THAT AFFECT MY ARMS AND LEGS. TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING FAILED CAUSED ME GREAT PAIN. I FEAR THAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR EVEN SERIOUS INJURIES TO PEDESTRIANS. THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD CONTROL THAT VEHICLE WITHOUT A FULLY FUNCTIONAL ELECTRIC STEERING. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENT. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WHILE REVERSING AND SPORADICALLY WHEN DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED WITH FORCE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

APPROACHING CURVE IN ROAD WHEN STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT. IT FELT COMPLETELY LOCKED, NOT JUST LOSS OF POWER STEERING, TO ME. I WAS ABLE TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD (FACING THE WRONG WAY) AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE STEERING WORKED NORMALLY AGAIN. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS COME AND GONE A FEW TIMES, SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR, IT FEELS LIKE THE MECHANICAL STEERING LOCK IS STILL ENGAGED, BUT AFTER SHAKING AND WIGGLING FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT USUALLY BEGINS TO WORK. SOMETIMES I CAN TURN ONE WAY, BUT NOT THE OTHER. IT SEEMS TO BE RANDOM WHETHER IT FAILS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THERE IS POSSIBLE CORRELATION TO LOW TEMPERATURES, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO BE CERTAIN OF THIS YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

WHEN SLOWING TO PARK MY CAR THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD NOT OPERATE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. DRIVING IT WOULD BE UNSAFE. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I DID THIS TWICE BEFORE THE STEERING WOULD WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, THE DATE LISTED ABOVE AND AGAIN SATURDAY 10-26-2013. I LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET FOR ANY REPORTED PROBLEMS ON SATURN ION STEERING. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A REPORTED PROBLEM AND NHTSA HAS MOVED THEIR INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AS OF OCTOBER 2011. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PART, OR IF A RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED. IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP AND INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE ME ON THIS. *TR