2006 SATURN ION Steering Problems

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING BEFORE HEADING TO WORK AND AS I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE PWR STR ALERT WAS DISPLAYED AND I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I MADE IT FINE TO WORK AND HAD NO PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. HOWEVER, THAT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY FOR A WEEKEND TRIP TO MI AND ONCE AGAIN THE PWR STR ALERT CAME ON AGAIN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS SOON AS I COULD SO THAT I COULD ATTEMPT TO RESTART MY CAR TO HOPEFULLY REGAIN POWER STEERING. I RESTARTED MY CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO GAIN POWER STEERING AGAIN. HOWEVER, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS ON THE ROAD, I LOST POWER...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,200.

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, I HEARD THE BEEP, THEN PWR STR SHOWED ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME TIME TURNING THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BECAUSE THAT NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. I SPOKE WITH MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. IT HAS SINCE THEN GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT AFTER THE CAR BEING DRIVEN FOR A FEW YARDS IT HAPPENS. I LIVE IN A CITY AND DO MOSTLY LOW SPEED DRIVING. I ALSO LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO STEER IT WITHOUT POWER STEERING, I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME TURNING THE WHEEL. I AM VERY SCARED IT IS GOING TO CAUSE ME TO WRECK THE CAR. *KB

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A WARNING CHIME, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED IT OVER, TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT ON THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN, I DROVE ABOUT 10 MORE MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT GM HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME EXACT STEERING MOTOR USED IN THE COBALT BUT HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE SATURNS. I PAID OVER $1100.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I AM LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET IN A WRECK AS THIS MANIFESTED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *KB

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET I HEAR A CLICK AND THE CARS WARNING SOUND, THEN THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THAT MY POWER STEERING IS NO LONGER WORKING. I PULLED TO THE CURB AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND UPON TURNING IT BACK ON THE LIGHT WENT AWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. THREE DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING, AGAIN I HEARD A CLICK THE WARNING SOUND, THE MESSAGE, AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAD TO GRIP THE WHEEL AND WORK TO GET IT TO FINISH THE TURN SAFELY. PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING WORKED FOR THE 10MIN DRIVE TO WORK. DURING THE DRIVE HOME THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF 4 TIMES, EACH TIME IT TOOK LESS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND A CHIME WILL SOUND TO LET YOU KNOW YOU HAVE LOST POWER STEERING, THE ONLY TEMPORARY FIX IS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON. IF YOU ARE ON A STRAIT ROAD AND HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION YOU CAN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN A TURN WHILE THE STEERING GOES OUT, OR ABOUT TO TURN... BRAKE AND PRAY... THE DEALERSHIP DID REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT 20000 MILES AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND I HAVE HAD TIME TO NOT WORRY ABOUT LOOSING STEERING ABILITY FOR 3 YEARS. NOW MY CAR HAS 90,000 MILES AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD, I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING 6 TIMES IN 20 MILES. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. THERE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

AS I SET MY CRUISE CONTROL AT 60MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE DIGITAL DISPLAY PINGED THE PWR STEERING ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER PULLING OVER, SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED, BUT FAILED AGAIN ABOUT TWO MILES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. VEHICLE MAINTAINS PATTERN OF POWER STEERING CONTROL AFTER IGNITION, WHICH FAILS UPON REACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

12/29/2011 - DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT AROUND 55 MPH AND MY MESSAGE SCREEN SHOWED "PWR STR" AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. 01/01/2012 - DRIVING ON ROADWAY AT AROUND 45 MPH AND MY MESSAGE SCREEN SHOWED "PWR STR" AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. WITH BOTH TIMES WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RE-STARTED THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. *TR

LUCKILY MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING HIS MOTHERS CAR AT THE TIME. THEY WERE COMING BACK FROM THE GROCERY STORE WHEN THE STEERING TURNED INTO A 1955 MACK TRUCK AS HE DESCRIBED IT. WHEN THEY RETURNED WE LOOKED IT UP IN THE MANUAL AS BEING ELECTRIC. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR IT WAS WORKING OK, THEN I TOOK IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WAS OK AGAIN FOR ABOUT A HALF BLOCK WHEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF MY 81 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW HAD BEEN DRIVING. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON THE SATURN ION CONTINUALLY GOES OUT. IT TYPICALLY WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR RESTARTS ONLY TO GO OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT 2 MINUTES INTO A DRIVE, OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T GO OUT AT ALL AND OTHER TIMES IT'S AFTER 30 MINUTES. IT'S QUITE ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,080.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION I HEAR A CLICK AND A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THE CONSOLE PWR STR. POWER STEERING IS LOST AND VERY HARD TO STEER. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE TURNING AT THAT TIME. WHEN YOU TURN CAR OFF THE STEERING IS OKAY, BUT AFTER A WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND POWER STEERING IS LOST AGAIN. VERY HARD TO TURN AND PARK THE CAR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS IS A SIMILAR SYSTEM USED ON THE CHEVROLET COBALT AND PONTIAC G5 THAT HAD RECALLS ON THEM.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER STEERING. A MESSAGE ON THE CENTER CONSOLE SAID PWR STR. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT REST AREA AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE POWER STEERING WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. ABOUT ANOTHER 30 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED, AND IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE. RESTARTING THE CAR SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WOULD RESET THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,258 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,358.

DRIVING THROUGH WAL MART PARKING LOT I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING CONTROL. PWR STR WAS FLASHING A WARNING. VERY SCARY MANAGED TO DRIVE IT THE ONE MILE HOME LIKE THAT, PARKED IT AND IMMEDIATELY TOLD MY HUSBAND HE WENT OUT CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED TO PEOPLE. THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS RECALLED, WHY IS THIS VEHICLE NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM? *KB

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT MAKING A LEFT TURN, I THOUGHT MY CAR CUT OFF BECAUSE IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO TURN. INFORMATION WAS FLASHING PWR STR I DROVE HOME VERY CAREFULLY. CUT THE CAR OFF AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS GONNA TAKE IT TO O'REILYS AUTO STORE. HE CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS DRIVING FINE. TODAY 11-29-2011 2 DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR. I BROUGHT MY CAR HOME LET IT SET FOR A LITTLE BIT, GOT IN THE CAR AND IT DROVE WITH NO PROBLEM. *KB

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE SAFELY, BUT VERY SCARY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER WAITING FIVE MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,878.

AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES ON APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 2, 2008, (THIS DATE IS APPROXIMATE AS I DON'T HAVE RECORDS OF THE FIRST FAILURE, GM WOULD HAVE RECORDS OF THE REPAIR WITH EXACT DATE AND MILEAGE) WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH ON A SLUSHY DAY, POWER STEERING FAILED. WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT AND HAPPENED TO BE NEAR A SATURN DEALERSHIP. WE STOPPED THERE IMMEDIATELY AND THE CAR WAS KEPT THERE WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AS WARRANTY WORK. THE CAR NOW HAS 105,000 MILES ON IT THIS PART WITH APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT FAILED AGAIN AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST ON OCTOBER 21, 2010 WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING...

I AM EXPERIENCING A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS WITH MY 2006 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING (IT REMAINS AT 0 REGARDLESS OF MY SPEED), ALSO THE ODOMETER DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK EITHER - MY MILEAGE DOES NOT INCREMENT WHEN I DRIVE. MY CAR REGISTERS A DIAGNOSTIC CODE OF P0502: VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR A CIRCUIT LOW INPUT. I SAW POSTS ONLINE IN VARIOUS FORUMS FROM 2007 SATURN ION OWNERS WHO SAY THAT THEY RECEIVED LETTERS FROM GM IN 2009 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WHY DIDN'T I GET A LETTER IN 2009? GM AND THE NHTSA HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN AWARE OF THIS AND "WATCHING" THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW - IT'S GM'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS SINCE THEY DIDN'T FOREWARN ME AND ENCOURAGE ME TO GET THIS FIXED BACK IN 2009 WHEN THEY KNEW ENOUGH TO HAVE 2007 SATURN ION...

THE POWER STEERING TO MY 2006 SATURN ION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MERGING FROM AN ON-RAMP TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR GOING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH. IT TURNS OFF AND ALERTS ME EACH TIME I TURN THE CAR ON. *TR

MY POWER STEERING BEGAN GOING OUT. AT FIRST, I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WOULD RETURN FOR A DAY BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THIS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD LAST FOR HALF THAT TIME. AFTER TWO WEEKS, POWER STEERING WAS ON FOR A MINUTE AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OVER, THEN OUT THE REST OF THE DAY. IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT EVER SINCE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESS WAY, AND MY POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ACROSS MY MILEAGE, AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER CAR. I GET TO WORK TURN MY CAR OFF. AND WHEN I LEAVE WORK, I START MY CAR AND I HAVE FULLY FUNCTIONAL POWERSTEERING AGAIN. BUT NOW WHEN I DRIVE IN THE COURSE OF 2MILES MY POWER STEERING FLASHES THE WARNING LIGHT AND I LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING. I CAN TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AND I ONCE AGAIN HAVE POWER STEERING. WHEN I DRIVE IN A COURSE OF 15 MILES MY POWER STEERING FAILS AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF ABOUT 15-20 TIMES. THIS IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY INCONVENIENT. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE ME TO HAVE A WRECK. AND SERIOUSLY INJURE MYSELF OR HER. *TR

AT START OF IGNITION, THE LETTERS: PWR STR, IMMEDIATELY FLASHES IN OIL LIFE DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF, THUS RESULTING IN REALLY SLOW TURNS. IT IS NOT SAFE WHEN TURNING ONTO STREETS WHERE VEHICLES ARE TRAVELING IN THE 45MPH RANGE DUE TO INCREASED NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS SET BY CITY. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT AND RESTARTING IT THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND THE STEERING WAS FINE FOR FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE PROCESS WAS REPEATED AND NOW THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING MPH AND ABOVE, THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SATURN ION RECENTLY WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY STEERING LOCKED UP. I QUICKLY DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE POWER STEERING FUEL WAS OKAY AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR AND THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP FIXING ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE THE MANUFACTURER'S FAULT. THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF CARS AND A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED. I AM SEVERELY UNSATISFIED WITH SATURN AND THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I HAVE PUT INTO THIS CAR TO FIX PROBLEMS THAT NEVER SEEM TO BE SOLVED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING HAD BECOME STIFF AND DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE CHIME SOUNDED AND THE "PWR STR" MESSAGE DISPLAYS IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS. AFTER MUSCLING THE VEHICLE HOME I PARKED IT AND STARTED IT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. HAD AN IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE ON THE FREEWAY A WEEK LATER. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T BELIEVE ME BECAUSE IT'S BACK TO NORMAL WHEN I TAKE IT TO THEM. *TR

AFTER BEING ON THE ROAD IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC ON A CLEAR DAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, I HEARD AN AUDIBLE ALERT THEN THE VISUAL ALERT "PWR STR" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY, AND I NO LONGER HAD POWER STEERING. I CONTINUED MY 35+ MILE DRIVE HOME, MAKING ONE STOP ON THE WAY. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER THAT STOP, THE POWER STEERING WAS ONCE AGAIN WORKING. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEN HAPPENED AGAIN. FOR THE PAST 25 DAYS OR SO, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING, SOMETIMES HAPPENING AFTER HAVING TRAVELED ONLY 100 FEET AND SOMETIMES NOT HAPPENING UNTIL WELL AFTER THAT. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. IN THE EVENT THE STEERING FAILED WHILE A CORNER WAS BEING NEGOTIATED, THE OUTCOME COULD BE TRAGIC. *TR

CAR WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. HAND BRAKE WAS ON. TURNED ON IGNITION AND ENGINE STARTED. PUT RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE AND RELEASED HAND BRAKE. PLACED CAR IN REVERSE AND BEGAN TO LIFT FOOT OFF BRAKE. CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD, BUT WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE FOOT BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR I FOUND THAT I HAD NO POWER BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO STOP THE CAR FROM CONTINUING TO ROLL BACKWARDS. BY NOW THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED RUNNING AND SEVERAL ALERT LAMPS WERE LIT ON THE CONTROL PANEL. OVER SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, I HAD NOTICED INTERMITTENT AND MOMENTARY POWER STEERING FAILURES WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND GOING AROUND A CIRCLE AND ALL OF SUDDEN IT WAS HARD TO STEER,A CHIME AND POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH,I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. I TURNED ENGINE OFF.OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK ON SERPENTINE BELT IF BROKEN, BUT THE BELT WAS GOOD. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN,AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.A WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN,AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT,I PULLED OVER TURNED ENGINE OFF,RESTART AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WORKING OK,I CALLED THE GM DEALER SERVICE DEPT.AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR T.S.B. FROM GM. *TR

FOR THE PAST 5 MONTHS, THE SATURN ION 3 POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITENTLY GO OUT. WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE, AND THEN AT ANY RANDOM TIME THE CAR MAKES A DING,DING NOISE AND THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IF THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON THE POWER STEERING IS FINE. THEN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT TURNS OFF AGAIN, ALMOST EVERY DAY. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN CORNERS. THE NEXT PROBLEM IS IF IT IS DAMP OR COLD (BELOW 60) IN THE MORNING AT 8AM THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER OR START, UNTIL THE SUN COMES OUT AND WARMS UP THE CAR, BY NOON THE CAR STARTS JUST FINE. I CAN GET IT STARTED IF I PLACE TWO WARM BLANKETS ON THE BATTERY AND MOTOR AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN THE CAR WILL START....

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 99, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING BECAME TIGHT AND HARD. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH SATURN DOES KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ONLY ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY AND NOT A RECALL. *TR

THIS HAPPENED ON MY DAUGHTERS 2006 SATURN ION WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. SHE HAD BEEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A DOUBLE TURN LANE OFF AN ANGULARED INTERSECTION (ABOUT 60 DEGREES). SHE WAS IN THE OUTSIDE LANE WITH A SEMI-TRUCK MAKING THE TURN ALONG SIDE, LEFT OF HER. SHE WAS GOING APPROX. 25 MPH. WHEN SHE LOST THE POWER STEERING AND ALMOST VEERED UNDER THE TRAILER. THANK GOD SHE DIDN'T GO UNDER UNDER IT OR SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE EPS HAS FAILED 4 TIMES SINCE. I SEE THAT GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR OTHER MODELS AND POSTED RECALLS FOR THEM, BUT NOT FOR SATURN. 846 SATURN COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND 3,489 REPORTS TO GM AND NO RECALLS!!! HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO REPORT A CRASH OR SADLY ENOUGH, HAVE TO DIE, BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I'VE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR SOMETIME AND...

I AM BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE SATURN ION IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER BASED. I PUT IN A COMPLAINT EARLIER ABOUT HOW THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING TURNS. THIS MORNING AS I WENT TO WORK I WAS MET WITH THE AUTOMATIC STEERING NOT WORKING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS STILL UP. I CHECKED MY STEERING FLUID AND IT IS FULL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND TRIED TO MOVE THE WHEEL. NO DICE. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING ALL THE WAY THERE. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET MY CAR TO A SHOP. AFTER MAKING THE ARRANGEMENTS, I WENT TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHAT SO THAT OTHERS COULD PARK BESIDE ME AND SO THE TOWING COMPANY COULD GET IT OUT....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ABOVE. WHENEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT WOULD STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. A POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE AND A WARNING BELL WOULD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2011, I WAS DRIVING ON A FAMILIAR ROAD IN TOWN WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN BLINKING. THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAGE, TEMPERATURE GAGE, AND RPM INDICATOR ALL WENT DOWN TO ZERO AND THE MESSAGE CENTER BEGAN SAYING "TRAC OFF" AND "PWR STR." AS THIS HAPPENED, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. AFTER ABOUT ONE MINUTE, I WAS ABLE TO START MY CAR AGAIN AND RESUME DRIVING AS NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE THE FIRST TIME, THREE DAYS AGO. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE AND I ALMOST WENT INTO THE DITCH. IN ADDITION, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AT 40,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE (MESSAGE CENTER OCCASIONALLY FLASHING "TRAC OFF"...

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION INDICATOR CHIMED AND PWR STR LIGHT DISPLAYED. I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND ALMOST WRECKED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD KILLED THE CAR UPON RESTARTING ENGINE EVERYTHING WAS FINE. FIVE MINUTES INTO MY TRIP PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON AT OTHER TIMES IT TURNS OFF ON IT OWN. BOTH ARE THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY FOR ME BEING A SINGLE MOTHER. *TR

PWR STR WARNING ON DASH. POWER STEERING ASSIST TURNS OFF. AFTER RESTART POWER STEERING ASSIST RETURNS. STARTED OFF AS ONCE A MONTH FOR 2 MONTHS THEN ONCE A WEEK THEN SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. NOW IT HAPPENS ABOUT 2 MINUTES AFTER EACH TIME I START IT. TOTAL OF THREE MONTH TO GET TO THIS STAGE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. ..UPDATED 09/29/11 *BF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/03/12

WHILE TRAVELING AT CITY SPEEDS (APPROX 35MPH), THE VEHICLE'S INFORMATION CENTER SOUNDED A "DING" AND DISPLAYED A MESSAGE READING "PWR STR". THIS OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE MESSAGE "PWR STR" INDICATES A POWER STEERING FAILURE, AN INDICATION CONFIRMED BY THE FACT THAT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, REQUIRING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BEYOND 1-2 DEGREES FROM ITS PRESENT LOCATION. I ESTIMATE THIS EFFORT WOULD EXCEED THE ABILITIES OF SOME DRIVERS, GIVEN THE SUDDEN ONSET AND DIFFERENCE IN EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL BEFORE AND AFTER THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, INCLUDING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55-65MPH) AND WHILE TRAVELING IN A PARKING LOT (5-15MPH). TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING IT SHORTLY THEREAFTER SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM; THE MESSAGE IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING...

WE LOST OUR POWER STEERING,GOING AROUND A CURVE @ 45 MPH,ALMOST LOST CONTROL. WE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT RESET ON STARTING. IT KEPT GOING OFF AND ON FOR 100 MILES,REQUIRING US TO PULL OVER AND STOP AND START THE CAR EVERY TIME, UNTIL WE GOT HOME NOW. *TR

DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC, THE CAR DIES AND THE STEERING GETS VERY HARD TO TURN THEN BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. CAR WILL RESTART WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. TOOK TO THE DEALER THEY FIXED THE GAS TANK LEAK AND OTHER RECALL PARTS. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS THE STEERING OR ELECTRICAL. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOUR GOING OR IF YOUR GOING STRAIGHT OR TURNING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED THE THERMOSTAT, CHECKED THE FUSE BOX CHECKED. THE DEALER CHECKED AND FIXED THE OTHER 3 THINGS FROM RECALL AS STATED. THE IGNITION SOMETIMES GETS STUCK WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT YOU CAN NOT GET THE KEY TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS NO POWER THEN YOU CAN RESTART THE CAR. ALSO THE CAR HEAT...

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN MY 2006 SATURN ION. HER A "BEEP" NOTIFICATION FROM THE DASH AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. WARNING ON DASH STATED "PWR STRNG". *TR

IN MAY 2009, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2006 SATURN ION IN THE MIDDLE OF STEERING. WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND WOULD START BACK UP THE CAR IT WOULD WORK. EVERY TIME IT WOULD TURN OFF, MY CAR WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND IF I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, ALMOST WAS HIT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO TURN FAST ENOUGH. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR, HAD TO PAY $100 TO HAVE IT FIXED. NOW 2 YEARS LATER, 40,0000 MILES HERE IS IT DOING IT AGAIN. IT COST ALMOST $800 TO GET THIS REPAIRED. WHY SHOULD THIS BE FAILING EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN TODAY, I WAS COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE EDGE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.