NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Saturn Ion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I COMPLETELY LOST MY POWER ASSIST STEERING. IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY BACK ON THE STEERING ASSIST WORKED AGAIN. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP IN GETTING THIS FIXED. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *TR
WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON DASH AND POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. ONCE PARKING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THE STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING AS WE DROVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN YET AGAIN LESS THAN .5 MILE LATER TRAVELING BETWEEN 10-15MPH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AGAIN DISPLAYED ALONG THE DASH AND WAS NONEXISTENT ONCE AGAIN. *KB
EPS WENT OUT WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. I DROVE THE 5 MILES HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE EPS RESUMED WORKING. *JS
JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR 3/18/2011, USED AND WHEN DRIVING CAR, I HEARD 3 RINGS AND THEN WHERE THE ODOMETER IS IT LITE UP PWR STR. PULLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (TURNPIKE), SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK. ONLY TO DRIVE 10 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE CAR IS MANUAL AND I AM WOMAN WHO IS 5'0 AND WEIGHS 135LBS, TO STEER AND SHIFT THIS CAR WHEN THE PWR STR GOES OUT SO SUDDENLY. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSERTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT BECAME LODGED IN THE ON POSITION AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WHERE THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO SHUT THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, WAS BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. UPDATED 04/27/12
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER STEERING. VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. LUCKILY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING BECAUSE WIFE COULD NOT HAVE MUSCLED.
SATURN ION 2005 IS LOOSING POWER STEERING. IT COMES BACK ON IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, BUT CONTINUES TO LOOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *JS
LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING HIGHWAY SPEED. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED CAR, POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON THEN STOPPED AGAIN. EVER SINCE THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED THE POWER STEERING WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IT OCCURS DURING MAKING TURNS OR DRIVING SHARP CURVY ROADS AS IT TAKES A LOT OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL AT LOWER SPEEDS. *TT
AT STOP LIGHT, POWER STEERING FLASHED ON DASH. DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE, WENT BACK ON, ANOTHER MILE AND POWER STEERING WENT OFF FOR GOOD. *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE AND EXPERIENCED THE NOTED IGNITION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TECHNICIAN AND NO DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000 MILES. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURE. I REFERRED THEM TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THAT COMPLAINT.SR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWERING STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,558.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL PERTAINING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE A POWER STEERING FAILURE NOTICE APPEARED ON THE DASH AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION RETURNED. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED 8 ADDITIONAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH SINCE 1/14/12. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE. I AM A LARGE ATHLETIC BUILT 230 MAN, AND I HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING UPON FAILURE. I FEAR AN ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR IF THE STEERING FAILED AND MY 120 LB WIFE HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN CHANGE IN DIRECTION. *TR
POWER STEERING SYSTEM GOES ON AND OFF. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND IN TURNS. MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS HAVE NEARLY OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE HAS BEEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT IF YOU'RE CAR IS PAST IT GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF A BAD DESIGN! NOT RIGHT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO BE SAFE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED 55 MPH WE GET A DING DING DING WITH A PWR STEER LIGHT TO COME ON AND THEN WE HAVE NO POWER STEERING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. AFTER CALLING THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IT APPEARS TO BE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE. THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO YOU NOT GETTING MUCH OF A WARNING. *TR
POWER STEERING KEEPS FAILING ON AND OFF DURING TURNS AT ALL SPEEDS. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT HAS UNATTACHED FROM THE FLOOR.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS ABLE TO MISS THAT ONE BUT ANOTHER ONE CAME OUT AND I HIT IT. IT HIT SO HARD AND MY STEERING WAS HARD LIKE A CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE LIKE THAT TOO. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SAFETY BELTS CATCH ME AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER. IT DID $3500.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND MY HEAD SLAMMED UP AGAINST THE DRIVER WINDOW, MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN HER CARSEAT BUT I HAD IT IN THE FRONT SEAT SO IT RELEASED THE CARSEAT. SHE HAD BRUISES AND A BLACK EYE, AND NOW 3 YEARS LATER, THAT SAME EYE IS CAUSING HER PROBLEMS SEEING. EVERYDAY I FEEL SO BAD BECAUSE SHE WAS IN MY SATURN THAT NIGHT. PEOPLE ASKED ME OVER AND OVER WHAT ABOUT YOUR AIRBAGS, ETC. I NEVER KNEW WHAT TO SAY UNTIL I STARTED GETTING THE RECALLS AND REALIZED WHAT GM HAD KNOWN ALL ALONG ABOUT MY IGNITION. THIS YEAR MY CAR GOT STUCK IN THE RUN POSITION AND I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE GONE FOR THE DAY. I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT TURN OFF. FINALLY AFTER TOTAL DISGUST, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ANTIFREEZE OVERFLOW TANK LID POPPED OFF AND SHOT ANTIFREEZE EVERYWHERE, IT JUST BARELY MISSED MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND MYSELF. THE DEALERSHIP COYLE CHEVROLET OF CLARSKVILLE IN CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR, AND IN THE PROCESS RIPPED THE WIND SHIELD FOR THE SUNROOF OFF, AND CALLED ME TO TELL ME MY CAR NOW HAD A NOISE IN THE LOWER END OF THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD BE $600.00 AND UP. THEY TEST DROVE IT, AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO ANTIFREEZE IN IT. I HAD ALREADY TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. GM AND COYLE BOTH SAY SORRY THE IGNITION IS THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR THE ENGINE THAT IS NOW LOCKED UP AFTER I WAS TOLD I HAD TO COME GET IT OR I WOULD BE CHARGED A STORAGE FEE LOCKED UP ON ME ON THE EXPRESSWAY HOME. THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER AND I STILL HAVE NOTHING AND THEY WON'T HELP. *TR
THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OFF WAS WHEN WE WERE ENTERING A HIGHWAY. THE ELECTRIC ALARM WENT OFF AND THEN I FOUND THE STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. IT WAS DANGEROUS AND VERY HARD TO PULL OVER WHEN CARS BEHIND ARE ACCELERATING TO GET INTO THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AFTER A RESTART, EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY. THEN ON OUR WAY BACK HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED FOR 4 OR 5 TIMES. WE HAD TO DRIVE IN THE RIGHT LANE AT A LOW SPEED TO GIVE OURSELVES ENOUGH SPACE FOR SAFTY. *TR
I HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROX. 2 HOURS OF A 11 HOUR TRIP WHEN I SAW A MESSAGE REPLACE THE ODOMETER ABOUT THE POWER STEERING. I LEFT I95 USING EXIT 98 AND PULLED OVER IN A GAS STATION. THE MANUAL STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS ELECTRIC, SO NO STEERING FLUID TO CHECK. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MAGICALLY THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND MY TRIP ODOMETER WAS MAGICALLY SET TO ZERO. I DROVE AROUND THE FRONTAGE ROAD AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. 22 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE NEXT EXIT, SHUT THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED IT AND MAGICALLY AGAIN IT WAS FIXED WITH NO RESET OF THE TRIP ODOMETER. AGAIN I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN 23 MILES LATER, AT WHICH POINT I REPEATED THE STOPPING/RESTARTING PROCEDURE AND TURNED AROUND HEADED FOR HOME. WHILE DRIVING HOME IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES, THEN ONCE MORE IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I WAS BACKING UP. SO A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES WITHIN A 5 HOUR PERIOD AND NO PRIOR HISTORY (SINCE I'VE OWNED IT) OF THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER MAY 28 2011 WITH APPROX. 46500 MILES. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM I'VE HAD IS THE KEY NOT WANTING TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER I'VE TURNED THE CAR OFF; AFTER I PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE THEN BACK INTO PARK, THE KEY WILL COME OUT; SOMETIMES I CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXES ITSELF AND THEN THE KEY WILL COME OUT, ALSO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN ION AT 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM SOUNDED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED POWER STEERING FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND RAISED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE FUSES. THE FUSES WERE GOOD, SO I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING DISPLAY WAS CLEAR. I DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON SATURN ION AND OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR MANY DRIVERS WHEN THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING! IT IS HARDER TO STEER THE SLOWER YOU DRIVE. *TR
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. PWR STR MESSAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED DURING COLDER WEATHER DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO SIT AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES AFTER STARTING IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND AT A STAND STILL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED A MECHANIC WHO REFERRED HER TO NHTSA BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE OF WHAT THE FAILURE WAS. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,484.
DRIVER SIDE DIRECTIONAL STOPPED WORKING. CHANGED BULB STILL DID NOT WORK. TOOK TO SATURN DEALER SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER A PART FOR $185 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FIND THAT THE 2003 & 2004 IONS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE 2005. BELIEVE THE 2005 WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2004 SO SHOULD HAVE THE SAME PARTS AS THE 2004. WHY WAS THE 2005 NOT RECALLED ALSO IF IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A DINGING SOUND AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING. *TR
MY 2005 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN IT'S COLD, I REPLACED THE STARTER, I REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, I WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED. I CUT THE WHITE WIRE AFTER ROLL STARTING AS MY CAR IS A MANUAL AND TAPED OFF WIRES, CAR NOW STARTS ANYTIME I NEED IT TO, GM / SATURN NEED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE AND QUIT BEING CHEAP AND FIX THERE MISTAKES. *TR
MY 2005 ION LOST POWER STEERING AT 45MPH. PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF THEN IT CAME BACK. BEEN HEARING REPORTS THAT HIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF THESE CARS. REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AS IT SEEM TO BE EXPENSIVE. IF I HAD KNOWN, I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. HOPE A RECALL IS ON IT, CAUSE THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN A CORNER THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING DID NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CORNER. THIS RESULTED IN STRIKING THE MEDIAN AND A TREE LEAVING ME FACING ON COMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC.
I HAVE A SATURN ION 05 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING ONCE ALREADY AND NOW HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. ALSO THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE ONLY WORKS WHEN MY HAZARDS OR HEAD LAMPS ARE ON HAVE TESTED ALL FUSES AND REPLACED BULB TWICE THIS IS A COMMOM COMPLAINT WHY ISNT IT BEING FIXED? *KB
MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOOSE POWERSTEERING. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND I HAVE STEERING AGAIN. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN LIKE ONCE A WEEK, NOW IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY. *TR
ALERT SOUNDS ALONG WITH "PWR STR" MESSAGE. POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS OCCURRED DURING BOTH CITY AND INTERSTATE DRIVING. SEEMS MORE FREQUENT IN WARMER WEATHER. POWER STEERING RESETS AND WORKS FINE WHEN CAR IS SWITCHED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. MECHANIC CHECKED ON THE ISSUE AND FOUND THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM TO BE FAULTY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN. *KB
KEY CAN GET STUCK IN IGNITION OF SATURN ION CARS. ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN BUT KEY WILL NOT EJECT FROM IGNITION. TO RELEASE KEY IT IS REQUIRED TO POP OPEN IGNITION COLUMN AND PRESS COMPRESSION SWITCH TO RELEASE KEY. THIS ALSO CAUSES INTERIOR LIGHTS TO TURN ON, EVEN IF CAR IS OFF. TRIGGERING THE ANTI-LEFT SYSTEM. THE THEFT SYSTEM USING THE LIGHTING TO DETERMINE IF THE DOORS HAVE OPENED. SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ON IONS FROM 2003-2007. BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE 2008. *TR
I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWERSTEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE IS BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY. CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER STATED THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. HAVE APPT WITH DEALER ON THURSDAY FOR REPAIR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE TWICE AN ON REGULAR ROADWAYS TWICE IN LAST MONTH. HAVE APPROX. 70,000 ON CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE CONTACT HAS TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER STATED THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,060 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. .UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGED.UPDATED 09/26/11
ON 6/13/11, WHEN I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK I STARTED MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY MY PWRSTR MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND COULD NOT HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP CAUSE I RECEIVED A BULLETIN LETTER. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 6/14/11, THEY SAID THEY PUT IN A NEW PS MOTOR. ON 11/6/11 THE PWR STR CAME UP AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THEM ON 11/7/11, THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND COST WAS $897.WHICH THEY SAID THEY REPLACED. ON 11/15/11, THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED AND COULD NOT STEER THE WHEEL. THIS IS AFTER SUPPOSEDLY THEY REPLACED THE PS MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN. GOING BACK TODAY 11/16/11, TO SEE WHAT CRAP THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME.WHY DOES THIS KEEP ON HAPPENING?? GM NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOT PUT A BAND AID ON IT, BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS, AND EVIDENTLY THEY ARE NOT. BY THE WAY HOW DO I KNOW THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE REPAIRS, IF THE PROBLEM KEEPS COMING BACK AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR IS SO MEAN. PLEASE HELP!! THERE IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND WE & ARE FAMILIES ARE BEING PUT AT RISK EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THEM. *TR
JUNE 12-MY CAR RECEIVED COMPLIMENTARY MAINTENANCE. AT WHICH POINT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE BODY CONTROL WAS REPLACED. AFTER MOVING OVER 1800 MILES, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. JUNE 16-HAD IT SERVICED AGAIN AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE CAR HAD BEEN DAMAGED DURING SERVICING AT DEALERSHIP ( DROPPED OFF FOOT JACK AND DAMAGED RADIATOR AND AC CONDENSER). JUNE 17-AFTER COMMUTING 80 MILES AND THE PASSING OF 9 HOURS, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THEN AFTER 3 HOURS, IT STARTED ( AS I WAS IN AN UNFAMILIAR LOCATION). JUNE 21-ITS 8 AM AND I AM ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT STARTED 3 HOURS LATER, RIDING IN ANTI-THEFT MODE. LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND HAD TO GET A RENTAL. JUNE 24- PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ISSUE AND ASSUMED THAT IT HAD BEEN ABSOLVED. JUNE 30- 7 AM. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR 4 HOURS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ISSUE. MY CAR HAS YET TO BE FIXED AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN A NUMBER OF UNFAMILIAR PLACES. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE POWER OF THE CAR COMES ON, BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT COMMUNICATE TO COME ON. *TR
LOST OF POWER STEERING STARTED SOME TIME IN 2009,I HAVE NO RECORD OF THE DATE,BUT IN ONE OF THE INCIDENTS 06/10/2011 I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE DASHBOARD SHOWING THE DATE AND MESSAGE ON THE SPEEDOMETER. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPEN TO GET IT BACK TO POWER STEERING .THEN I HAD A SITUATION WHEN I LOST SPEED AS I WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY AVENUE. THE CAR LOST SPEED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 35 MPH,IT MADE A ALARM OR WARNING SOUND AND DROP DOWN TO 10MPH AND I COULD NOT GET BACK TO 35MPH,I STOP THE CAR AND I RESTARTED THE ENGINE,THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD RECOVER THE POWER ON THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENS TWO OR THREE TIMES IN ONE MONTH. *TR
ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME I STOP MY CAR AND TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY, IT STAYS LOCKED IN THE ACC POSITION. SOMETIMES I CAN NOT EVEN TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN FF THE ENGINE AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE SWITCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,227.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DEACTIVATE AT ANY TIME. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO GO BACK TO THE 'LOCK' POSITION WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IT WOULD EVENTUALLY COME OUT - UNTIL THIS PAST SUNDAY WHEN THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN AT ALL AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TO REMOVE THE IGNITION FUSE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $390 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME HOW IT WOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY IGNITIONS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A WEB-SITE (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML) WITH 88 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. GENERAL MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR OVER 5 YEARS (AT LEAST) AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL NOTICE. HOW MANY CONSUMERS DOES IT TAKE TO GET THEM TO BE A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY? I CONTACTED GM AND VOICED MY CONCERN. THE TWO INDIVIDUALS I SPOKE TO WERE RATHER SNIPPY. THEY WERE ALSO LESS THAN CORDIAL WHEN THEY SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP - WANTING TO KNOW WHY I WAS GIVEN THEIR PHONE NUMBER. I TOLD GM THAT I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THIS HAS BEEN AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN LINE AND THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT SO MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS WHY HAVEN'T YOU ISSUED A RE-CALL. THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'WE CAN'T ACCEPT THIRD PARTY DOCUMENTATION AS PROOF OF ANY PROBLEM'. IT ENDED UP THAT I ONLY HAD TO PAY $100, WHICH I AM VERY GRATEFUL ABOUT BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE THE CORPORATION OF GENERAL MOTORS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD RESULT IN A VERY DEADLY OUTCOME IF SOMEONE WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THEIR CAR OFF IN AN EMERGENCY.
POWER STEERING STOPS DURING DRIVING. WARNING CHIMES COME ON AND PWR STRNG MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN ODOMETER WINDOW. IT FIRST OCCURRED 5/20/11 AND HAS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. OFTEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE DAYS IT HAPPENS (5 X YESTERDAY 5/29/11ALONE) BUT SO FAR NOT EVERY DAY . IT HAPPENS UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS (NEVER THE SAME) (CITY, HWY, HOT, WARM, COLD ETC.) *TR