2004 SATURN ION Steering Problems

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 SATURN ION JUST WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH OUT ANY WARNING. AND AFTER TALKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND A MECHANIC IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM. *TR

THE POWER STEERING SIGNAL SHOW ON DASH DISPLAY AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. WHEN THE CAR IS TURN OFF AND AFTER FEW MINUTES IS TURN BACK ON, POWER STEERING WORK FINE AGAIN FOR SOME TIME. FUSES ARE OK. THIS HAPPEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND IS VERY HARD TO GET KEEP OF THE CAR. THIS HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST YEAR. *TR

DURING MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, AND THE PWR STR ERROR LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY MY POWER STEERING GIVING OUT. I COULD HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL, BUT STRUGGLED WITH TWO HANDS TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN MY CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS GONE. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I MADE IT HOME. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO RETURN TO WORK WHERE I PLANNED TO TAKE IT INTO THE MECHANIC NEAR THERE. AGAIN, AS I WAS COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN AND MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP AND FORCED THE WHEEL TO TURN OFF TO THE SIDE. AGAIN, BY SHUTTING OFF THE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THEY WILL SEND THE PART TO THE CONTACT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 84000. THE FAILURE MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS TAKING COMING OFF A RAMP AT 40 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. DEALER SAYS THE MODULE IS BEGINNING TO FAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH DOWNHILL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY ON THE WARNING PANEL. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE CAR MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF FOR 30 SECONDS, THEN RE-STARTED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES GET ABOVE 55-60 DEGREES F, AND HAPPENS AT LEAST EVERY 3RD TIME AUTO IS DRIVEN. NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING ALARM ON MY DASH CAME ON AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I AM WAITING TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, AND THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL INTO A PARKING LOT. SUPRISINGLY, WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM CAME ON AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, BUT I ALMOST CRASHED. NO WARNING. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER 2004 ION USERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND WHILE GM RECALLED THIS ISSUE ON COBALTS, IT'S IGNORING THE SATURN 2004 SAME ISSUE. *TR

I AM SENDING THIS AS A WORRIED SON OF A 2004 SATURN ION 2 OWNER. MY MOTHER HAS CALLED ME SEVERAL TIMES ASKING ABOUT THE STEERING ON HER CAR. SHE WILL BE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARS A CHIME AND SEES A LIGHT ON HER DASH INDICATING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WHEN SHE RESTARTS THE CAR THE ISSUE GOES AWAY. ALSO ON MARCH 31ST 2010, THIS HAPPENED ON HER DRIVE TO WORK IN CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS, ONCE AGAIN HAVING TO SHUT OFF HER CAR TO RESET THE STEERING TWICE IN 5 MILES. THE PART CAUSING THIS IS THE SAME PART THAT IS BEING RECALLED IN 1.3 MILLION GM CARS CURRENTLY BUT THE SATURN ION IS NOT ON THE LIST. I URGENTLY ASK YOU TO INCLUDE THESE CARS ON THE RECALL. WITH VERY LITTLE TROUBLE I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE ON MANY MESSAGE BOARDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE...

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, MY 2004 SATURN ION III LOST ITS POWER STEERING. THE CAR CHIMED AT ME AND DISPLAYED A "PWR STR" MESSAGE. THE CAR INSTANTLY BECAME MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN TURNS AND AT LOWER SPEEDS. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK. WHEN I RESTARTED MY CAR LATER IN THE DAY, THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. BASED ON A BRIEF ONLINE SEARCH, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH THE SATURN IONS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR/MODULE AS THE CHEVY COBALT. A RECALL HAS RECENTLY BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE COBALT'S POWER STEERING ISSUE.

1. DRIVING CAR NORMALLY - DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE 2. POWER STEERING WENT OUT -- RECEIVED MESSAGE PWR STR SIMILAR TO RECALL CHEVY COBALT RECALL ID#10V073000 3. THE FAILURE DID NOT CORRECT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTATED. THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

POWER STEERING ON 2004 SATURN ION GOES OUT 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK WHILE DRIVING SINCE DEC 09. I MUST PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOP, AND RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RESET. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT THE FUZES CONTROLLING THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR ARE SERVICEABLE - THEY HAVE NEVER BLOWN OR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED AN ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

POWER STEERING BECOMES INTERMITTENT WITH NO WARNING STOPS WORKING AT ANYTIME. I GOT TO DOING SOME READING AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR AND UPON FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR IS THE SAME ONSATURN ION AS ON THE COLBOLT AND G5 THAT GM HAS ALREADY RECALLED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTIFIED A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN SHE TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER INSPECTING IT. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHE LOST POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. SHE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE...

AT ANY SPEED THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS. MY CAR IS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. THIS IS A GM CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECENTLY RECALLED CHEVY'S AND PONTIACS. THE PROBLEM STARTED A YEAR AGO. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AUGUST 2009. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AN WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IN AN EMAIL TO ITS SERVICE AGENTS SAID SATURN IONS WERE NOT INCLUDED. WHY? THIS COULD HAVE AND MAY HAVE ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MOMENTS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD OPERABLE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN LOOSING ITS POWER STEERING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN DURING THE TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT OR WHEN I TRY TO DO A 3 POINT TURN. I HAVE BROUGHT IT 2 TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT AND WHY ITS HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR ISSUES. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT RANDOM SPEEDS NOT USUALLY THE SAME TIME AT ANY TIME. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

CAR DOES NOT START WHEN BELOW 35 DEGREES. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES THEN IT WILL USUALLY START. POWER STEERING WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES AND GRADUALLY WORSENS OVER TIME. MY POWER STEERING IS NOW COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME SEVERAL MINOR TO MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING EITHER BY MYSELF OR WITH MY CHILDREN. I REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FUSES FIRST TO SEE IF THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO REALIZE ITS THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME $1100. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH THE CONSTANT FAILING OF THE POWER STEERING. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2004 SATURN ION REDLINE OFF & ON FOR THE LAST YEAR & 6 MONTHS. IT HAPPENS W/O WARNING ON THE FREEWAY, AROUND CORNERS, & SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT BACK TO BACK MANY, MANY TIMES IN A ROW. THIS IS THE SAME RECALL AS GM IS HAVING ON THEIR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTORS, IN FACT THE SAME PART #. THE CHEVY COBALT IS THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR, IN FACT THE SAME DRIVETRAIN. BUT FOR SOME REASON THE SATURN IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. WE HAVE THE SAME ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WITH THE SAME PART # & THE SAME DANGER AS THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. MY CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER STEERING RANDOMLY. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD STOP. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK. THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 MONTHS. THEN, ON A LONG CAR TRIP, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN GOING OUT EVERY MILE OR SO. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP GAVE OUT. IT STARTED IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS WORKING ON AND OFF AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FINALLY GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

1. POWER-STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 2. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES 2-3 TIMES A DAY AND OTHER DAYS, ONLY ONCE. 3. IF YOU TURN IGNITION OFF AN RESTART POWER-STEERING WORKS UNTIL THE POWER-STEERING FAILS AGAIN. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP BEING FIXED AT THIS MOMENT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILS IN MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING. ODDLY, IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN DURING WARMER WEATHER. THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 AND THAT IT WOULD BE A USED COLUMN. *TR

MY GM 2004 SATURN ION THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ! IF I TURN MY CAR OFF , IT RESETS AND WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND GOES BACK OUT. *TR

POWER STEERING DISABLES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 SATURN ION. CYCLING IGNITION ENABLES POWER STEERING AGAIN, BUT THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WITH A BAD POWER STEERING MODULE. I READ TODAY THAT GM IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVROLET COBALT VEHICLES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE SATURN ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MODULE AS THOSE VEHICLES SO I HOPE IT IS ALSO RECALLED. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE IS AS FOLLOWS: START THE CAR, DRIVE AROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS, AND THE DASH DISPLAYS POWER STEERING AND THERE IS A "CHIME" SOUND INDICATING THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THEN STARTED AGAIN, AT WHICH TIME THERE IS ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS BEFORE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT $800 TO REPLACE THE MODULE. SO FAR WE'VE JUST LIVED WITH IT AND STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AND DECIDED TO NEVER BUY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED OFF AND ON AND IT RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HE HAD TO PAY $2000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND TOLD AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR AND COST WERE THE SAME THAT THE DEALER STATED. HE THEN FILED CLAIM# 71-808240519 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROADS (ANYWHERE FROM 15-65 MPH, NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO FREEWAYS) THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT. WE WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO REGAIN POWER STEERING. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY (AND THEN PROGRESSED TO EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED AT ALL). CAR WAS TAKEN TO SATURN DEALER FOR STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE DEALER SAYS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM", BUT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. TEN MINUTES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76112.

AFTER ONLY 9 MONTHS OF OWNING MY ION I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE AND CAN HAPPEN 8 TIMES IN A WEEK THEN NOT AT ALL FOR MONTHS. HOWEVER WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE AS I AM USUALLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WILL BE "LOCKED" INTO 4TH FOR EXAMPLE AND WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT TO 5TH I CAN NOT GET IT OUT OF 4TH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF 20 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I THEN TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECH TOOK THE CAR HOME FOR 1 WEEK, EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF, AND TOLD ME ALL HE COULD DO WAS REPLACE A WIRE AND HOPE IT HELPED...

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION CONTINUOUSLY FAILS. IT USED TO RESET AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, BUT NOW IT JUST FAILS AFTER A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THAT THERE A ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED THAT THIS TYPE OF REPAIR WOULD BE AROUND $500. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE STARTED. *TR

SATURN ION 2004- SPONTANEOUS POWER STEERING OUTAGES. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL MOTOR IS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1100.00. AFTER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT EXISTS AMONG THESE MODELS AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HARM OR DEATH DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. A LOCAL NEWS STATION ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING THAT THE FEDS ARE INVESTIGATING THE CHEVROLET COBALT FOR THE SAME ISSUE- POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE SAME THING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED RELATED TO THE SATURN ION BEFORE PEOPLE START DYING. *TR

MY WIFE OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION, ONLY 50,000 MILES. FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMING ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING- ONCE YOU TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN MOMENTARILY- THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE REPLACED THE FUSES AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT AT LEAST A FEW TIMES A WEEK IF NOT A FEW TIMES A DRIVING TRIP AND IT IS GETTING TO BE VERY UNSAFE. IF THE POWER STEERING WERE TO CUT OUT ON THE FREE WAY DURING A SHARP TURN, I'M VERY CONCERNED MY 105 LB. WIFE COULD LOSE CONTROL AND SERIOUSLY HURT HERSELF OR OTHERS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF AND IS UNWILLING TO DO A RECALL- THEY...

POWER STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY ON 2004 SATURN ION. CHECKED FUSES, NO PROBLEMS WITH FUSES. SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE $100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CAN TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART - THIS RESETS THE POWER STEERING BUT ONLY FOR A LITTLE BIT. SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT CONSTANTLY, SOMETIMES NOT FOR A FEW HOURS OR DAYS. *TR

I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT AND THE CAR WAS FINE, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD AAA COME OUT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD AS ALL THE LIGHTS WORK FOR THE CAR BUT THE KEY IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR SIMPLY STARTED. NOW MY CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE, TO BE FIXED. I LOOKED ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER 2004 SATURN ION OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TURNING THEIR CAR ON IN THE COLD. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT AND IN THE WINTER SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO START. THE STEERING STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HAPPEN ONCE THEN NOT FOR MONTHS. NOW IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. I LIVE 13 MILES FROM MY JOB. I GOES OUT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON THE WAY. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE IF I HAD MORE STOP SIGNS TO RESTART THE CAR AT. I AM A PUNY GIRL AND IS SOMETIMES HARD FOR ME TO STRONG ARM THE STEERING WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING. OF COURSE MY WARRANTY IS PAST. NOW MY PROBLEM IS WINTER IS COMING, I HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD SON THAT I HAVE TO TAKE TO THE COUNTRY AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING TO THE SITTERS. I AM WORRIED TO DEATH ABOUT HIM BEING IN THE CAR WITH ME IF I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND THIS CAR DECIDES TO START SLIDING. I...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77042. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF THE STEERING CONTROLLER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1000 TO REPLACE THE MAIN COMPUTER. UPDATED 02/19/10

EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING IN MY '04 SATURN ION. STEERING CAN LOCK UP AT ANY GIVEN TIME AFTER START UP AND HAS DONE SO ON AN EVERY TRIP BASIS FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP'S DIAGNOSTIC DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN FOR ALMOST $800; WHICH AS I HAVE READ DOESN'T GUARANTEE FIXING THE PROBLEM. LOSING YOUR POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THAT IF THIS ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN THE ION SERIES, SATURN/GM SHOULD ADDRESS IT ACCORDINGLY. *TR

2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE. 2.2L MAN. POWER STEERING FAILS SEEMS TO BE RANDOM AS TO WHEN IT FAILS. REPEATED FAILS, USUALLY MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY. MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT AND IF NOT EXPECTING IT CAN MAKE FOR A CLOSE CALL. FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECT AS OF THIS TIME. OLD PART CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE ONCE REPAIR IS COMPLETED. *TR

MY POWER-STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MESSAGE CENTER BEEPS AND THEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND STEERING WORKS. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES, HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WOULD BE FINE. I DID BRING IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. HE FOUND NO ERROR CODES AND NO DUPLICATE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS AT RANDOM TIMES. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IT STARTED TO TURN OFF A COUPLE TIMES A DAY. I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN WHEN IT TURNED OFF ON ME ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST CRASHED WHEN A BIG RIG SWERVED. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN & MODULAR. THAT PART WAS $560.53 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS PART ON MY CAR WITH THE HELP OF MY MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE...

THE POWER STEERING MOTOR KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. IT GOES OUT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR- SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR ABOUT $1000 BUT AFTER READING MANY MANY PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION KEEPS GOING OUT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AFTER IT HAS RAINED, AND IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. IT APPEARS THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON,STEERING BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE,. TROUBLE BEGAN AROUND 2 MONTHS AGO, NOW HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES DAILY, VERY SCARY, AS I TRAVEL A GREAT DEAL ON THE HIGHWAY. VIA INTERNET SEARCHES, NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP QUOTES 800.00 TO 1065.00 TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE BEEN ADVISED, DEALERSHIP CHARGES THIS AMOUNT,TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, REMOVES THE BAD COMPONENT, THEN RESELLS REMAINDER OF COLUMN FOR PROFIT. THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, AND THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. BROUGHT MY ION BRAND NEW IN 2005(YEAR END SALE),SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT 4 YEARS LATER,,ROUTINE MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED AND 39,000 MILES, THIS IS HAPPENING. WE(CONSUMERS THAT TRUSTED SATURN) NEED HELP IN REMEDYING THIS SITUATION AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO!!! *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. AFTER CAR IS STOPPED AND KEY TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES ONCE A DAY OR TEN TIMES A DAY. CANNOT PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. WHEN IT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL CAR. HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE SIMILAR TO MINE AND WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT RECALL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION THAT OCCASIONALLY LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHICH HAD KNOWN ISSUES WHILE STARTING IN THE COLD. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PWR STR LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES APPEAR AND THAT IS WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS OUT THERE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR