2005 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ILLUMINATED POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME; UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY AND THE SERVICE LIGHT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,500.

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN ION. AND WHEN I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP IT STARTED LIKE A DREAM. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO 34 DEGREES F OR SO. AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE TO WORK BECAUSE THIS SO CALLED "RELIABLE" CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE IT THOUGHT I WAS BREAKING INTO IT. IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I WOULD'VE PURCHASED THE CHEVY, THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM AS I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET. WE'RE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOME PIECE OF CRAP CAR THAT DOESN'T START WHEN IT'S TOO COLD/DAMP OUT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SOON!!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLES POWER STEERING HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING, HOWEVER AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING CORRECTED ITSELF AND BEGAN WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 75649 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 77000.

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOING OUT. WILL BE DRIVING AND THEN HEAR A CHIME AND PWRSTEER WARNING COMES UP IN ODOMETER. STEERING THEN BECOMES HARD AND UNRESPONSIVE. *TR

I WAS TURNING INTO SAM'S CLUB AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND, BECAUSE I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THIS HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY, I ALMOST HIT THE CAR THAT WAS WAITING TO EXIT THE SAM'S CLUB LOT. I THEN PARKED THE CAR AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. I WENT SHOPPING, CAME BACK AND, WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED, I HAD MY POWER STEERING. I HAD ANOTHER FAILURE WITHIN TWO DAYS, AND NOW THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVEN JUST GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE (ABOUT 2 MILES). I CALLED THE LOCAL GM DEALER WHO SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. WHAT I READ ONLINE IS THIS IS A $1000+ REPAIR USUALLY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I EVEN WENT TO AN AUTO SALVAGE AND WAS QUOTED $450 FOR THE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND INSTALLATION. MY CAR ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR WHICH GM CURRENTLY HAS A RECALL FOR COBALT AND PONTIAC G6 CARS. *TR

DEAR SIR/MADAM, THIS COMPLAINT IS ACTUALLY NOT ABOUT A REPAIR PER SE, BUT ABOUT THE WAY SATURN HANDLED MY CASE. - THE FAULT: POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR BROKE IN MID-DRIVE, LEAVING THE CAR ALMOST MANEUVERABLE - I CALLED SATURN'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ENQUIRE WHAT TO DO - SATURN TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND ACTUALLY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR FOR SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS. - SATURN EXPLICITLY SAID OVER THE PHONE 'WE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT', AND THAT THEY WOULD PICK UP MOST OR ALL OF THE CHARGE - SATURN TOLD ME TO GET THE ISSUE REPAIRED AT STEWART AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IN COLMA, CA, WHICH I DID - THE REPAIR WAS $750 FOR A CAR THAT IS WORTH LESS THAN $5000! - A WEEK LATER SATURN CALLED AGAIN AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST ANYMORE. - THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE PROMISE MADE BY SATURN THE WEEK BEFORE - I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND TRIED TO GET THEM TO PICK UP SOME OF THE CHARGE BECAUSE THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. - I AM NOW STUCK WITH THE CHARGE. THE CAR WORKS NOW, BUT I AM STILL HOPING FOR A RECALL. - I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO POINT OUT THAT STEWART AUTOMOTIVE SEEMED VERY ANNOYED ABOUT THE CHANGE OF MIND BY SATURN, BUT SAID THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THEY ARE ONLY AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE/DEALER. SO THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT SATURN, NOT STEWART AUTOMOTIVE. PLEASE GET SATURN TO DO A RECALL ON THE SATURN ION-1 (MINE IS A 2005 MODEL). [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT ON MY 2005 SATURN ION. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR CAUSES, I REALIZED MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WAS SAID THAT THE SYSTEM USED HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER GM MODELS, BUT NOT THE SATURN ION LINE. IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE OTHER OWNERS THAT WE SUBMIT THIS PROBLEM IN AN EFFORT FOR A RECALL. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR POWER STEERING WITHOUT NOTICE. LUCKILY AT HIS POINT I HAVE NOT HAD A SITUATION CAUSING ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY. JUST INCONVENIENCE AND WORRY ABOUT WHEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. THANK YOU *TR

WHEN DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN ION THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING MAKING IT HARD TO STEER. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND STARTING AGAIN WILL FIX POWER STEERING FOR A SHORT TIME. GM HAS RECALL ON OTHER MAKES AND MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY NOT THE SATURN. IF IT WOULD GO OUT AS YOUR MAKING A TURN, COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. ALSO, TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURN THE KEY TO START, AND THE ON BOARD SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK) DISABLES THE CAR. I HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES TO TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT STARTS HAPPENING AGAIN. THE IGNITION TURNS, IT'S THAT THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM SEES RANDOM KEY TURNS AS ATTEMPTS TO STEAL THE CAR AND DISABLES THE STARTER. VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT STRANDS YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING LOCKED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STEER IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARDS A CONCRETE WALL. THE CONTACT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH OUT A CRASH. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER A 30 SECOND WAITING PERIOD. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THERE WAS NOT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

2005 SATURN ION, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY I NEED TO PUSH A BUTTON UNDERNEATH AND INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, IT PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING AND DRAINS THE BATTERY, I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN ONE YEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FAILED AS HE WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. HE HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE ENGINE ON AND OFF SO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESET. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR FOR $500. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,250.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED WHICH REQUIRED GREATER PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, FOLLOWED BY A CHIME AND A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN WARM WEATHER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED MORE FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

EVERY SO OFTEN WHEN DRIVING, I HEAR THREE DINGS AND A "PWR STR" MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, BUT COMES BACK AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR YET, AS THE COST OF REPAIR IS VERY HIGH, ABOUT $1000. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. *DT

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH 3 TIMES BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. I AM STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS AGAIN WHERE I SOMETIMES CAN NOT SHUT IT OFF AND I KNOW THAT THESE WILL LEAD TO ME HAVING TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE AND I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE OTHER 2 TIMES. *TR

2005 SATURN ION - CAR EXPERIENCES DAILY INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO START AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IN MOST INSTANCES YOU EXIT THE CAR, INSERT KEY 5-10 MINUTES LATER AND THE CAR WILL GENERALLY. EVENTUALLY IT DOES. PROBLEMS POINTS TO SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF SATURNS WITH THIS IGNITION ISSUE. *TR

IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 29 DEGREES, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. PASSLOCK LIGHT WAS BLINKING FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN STOPPED. AFTER THAT, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *TR

CAR WONT ALWAYS START, HAVE TO WAIT 10-20 MINUTES FOR IT TO START AND NOT ALL OF US HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, PEOPLE HAVE PLACES TO BE, THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS AND HAS NOW HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE WEEK AND THE CAR SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AS WELL AS GETTING STUCK FOR 20 MINUTES IN THE COLD AT THE GAS STATION WAITING FOR IT TO START. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE AND THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL IS RIDICULOUS! HAVE READ SO MANY DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHAT TO REPLACE AND I DON'T WANT TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON POINTLESS PARTS!! *TR

ON JAN 16 2010 MY 18 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 SATURN ION AND HE CALLED ME ON MY CELL TO TELL ME THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I TOLD HIM TO PULL OVER, (HE ALREADY DID) TURN THE CAR OFF, AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. HE DID THAT AND CALLED ME BACK ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER TO SAY HE DID MAKE IT HOME AND THE PS FAILED AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE HE GOT HOME. HE THEN TOLD ME HE NOTICED THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON IF THE RADIO WAS ON SO HE DID NOT HAVE THAT ON FOR THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. IT DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AT THE TIME UNTIL I WAS TOLD T THE CAR HAS ELECTRIC STEERING. THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY), I DROVE THE CAR TO SEARS TO HAVE THE BATTERY TESTED THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE NEVER CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. SEARS SAID THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THEY SAID MY PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING WAS PROBABLY NOT RELATED TO THE BATTERY AND THEY RECOMMEND I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DURING THE DRIVE THAT DAY TO SEARS THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE BECAUSE I DID NOT TURN ON THE RADIO OR HEADLIGHTS (THE PS LIGHT ALSO CAME ON WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON). HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME THE PS AGAIN FAILED ANYWAY RIGHT BEFORE WE GOT HOME. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN THE REST OF THE DAY. THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY THE 18TH, I DROVE THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER (SATURN OF TUCSON) AND THE STEERING WAS FINE THE WHOLE WAY OVER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THEIR EXPLANATION WAS IT SHORTED OUT. I ASKED IF THIS WAS SOMETHING I CAUSED AND THEY SAID NO. THEY ALSO HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED GIVEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 61,000 (APPROX) MILES AND IT WAS ONLY 4.5 YEARS OLD. THE REPAIR COST WAS $296.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42000.

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 ION 2 SHE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TURNING AT A CORNER. I BLEW IT OFF UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 7 DAYS LATER. I HAD TO FIGHT THE STEERING IN A TURN, VERY DIFFICULT, I FOUND OUT. I COULD STOP & RESTART AND STEERING WOULD BE OKAY FOR A WHILE. IT HAS SINCE BEEN CONTINUOUS AND NOT WORTH THE EFFORT FOR A RESTART SINCE IT WILL ONLY LAST FOR A FEW MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS EPS UNIT SHORTING OUT. THEY DID NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PART AND ARE WELL AWARE OF CONDITION FROM OTHER OWNERS. IT'S BEEN A WEEK AND STILL NO PART. WHEN THE DASH ALARM GOES OFF (DING,DING,DING) IT MEANS GRAB WHEEL TIGHT! IT WILL ALSO SHOW (PWR STEER) IN CLUSTER. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS AS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COMPLIMENT THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED IT FOR KEEPING THEIR VEHICLES UNDER CONTROL. *TR

WHEN DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OUT. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE CAR WONT START, IT WONT EVEN TURN OVER (BUT ALL OF THE LIGHTS, FAN, ETC WORK). OTHER TIMES THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN YOU TURN THE MOTOR OFF. *TR

MY MOTHER'S 2005 SATURN ION LOOSES POWER STEERING ALL THE TIME. IF YOU STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF, AND RESTART THE CAR THEN THE POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN FOR A WHILE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED IN THE 1.3 MILLION CARS GM JUST RECALLED BUT THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THE SATURN ION. WHY? *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION THAT WE PURCHASE NEW. IT HAS BEEN LOSING IT'S POWER STEERING FOR A WHILE NOW. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, AND THIS SEENS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO LAST FOR SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME, AND WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I FOUND THIS SITE AND DECIDED THAT WE ALSO NEED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT PRICES TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED IN THE GM RECALL (AS IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PART/PROBLEM THAT OTHER GM CARS ARE EXPERIENCING). VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE WORKING FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT.

2005 SATURN. CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD UNEXPECTEDLY THE POWER STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE AND THE OTHER MODELS SHARE THE SAME PART NUMBER, WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS, BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER IN MANUAL MODE WITH NO POWER STEERING. *JB

I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING ONE DAY JUST CUT OFF WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IT WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. I TRIED CHANGING FUSES BUT NOTHING WORKED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT HAS THE SAME CAR, AND I HEARD ITS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF ION'S. NOW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL AND THIS IS A HAZARD TO MY DRIVING ABILITY. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUT! KEY WILL TURN, RADIO ETC. WILL WORK, BUT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CUTS OFF FUEL. MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM, ON SATURN ION 2, NUMEROUS YEARS! THE OIL/GREASE USED IN IGNITION FREEZES! SATURN KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IS TURNING A BLIND EYE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN STEERING CONTROL. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL STEERING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY TRAVELED SPEED AND ANY LENGTH OF TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

MY 2005 SATURN ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING PROBLEMS AS IS BEING DISCUSSED FOR THE CHEVROLET COBALT RECALL -- PLEASE INCLUDE THE SATURN ION IN THE RECALL AS THEY SHARE THE SAME "PLATFORM" AS I UNDERSTAND. IN THE LAST YEAR, MY ION WOULD HAVE NO POWER STEERING AFTER STARTING THE CAR (THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT FOUR TIMES). THERE WOULD BE A CHIME SOUND AND THE DISPLAY WOULD SAY "POWER STEERING". I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT AND THE PROBLEM WOULD BE GONE. *TR

POWERSTEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ABILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD ,IT HAPPENED AT 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY ,I PULLED OVER AND TURNED CAR OFF AND STARTED ENGINE AND IT RESET, IT DOES IT ON OCCASION 3 OR 4 TIMES A MONTH. *TR

IGNITION WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF OR RELEASE KEY WHEN CAR WAS RUNNING, OR TURN ON WHEN CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. PASSLOCK INDICATOR WAS COMING ON AT STRANGE TIMES. BATTERY CONSTANTLY BEING DRAINED. SES LIGHT WAS ON WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF IGNITION. $960 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AT THE REPAIR SHOP NOW. THE WHOLE COMPONENT NEEDS REPLACED (YOU CAN'T ORDER SEPARATE PARTS) I WILL HAVE THE REPAIR SHOP SAVE THE OLD PART. IT WILL COST CLOSE TO 900.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE SAME PRICE. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH 26,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BUT THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59000. UPDATED 01/12/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EVERY WINTER THE DOESN'T START. UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE LOCK OUT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS 35 DEGREES AND BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STARTER. THE STARTER FOR THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

AFTER 50K MILES KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND TAKES 5-10 MINUTES TO COME OUT, REPLACED IGNITION CYLINDER STILL SAME ISSUE, UNABLE TO TURN ENGINE OFF, HAZARD. *TR

I WAS ADVISED AFTER CALLING SATURN A THIRD TIME THAT I FILE A COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE TO GO TOWARD A RECALL OF MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR ON MY SATURN ION 2. 1. ONE NIGHT IN NOVEMBER 2009, WHILE MAKING A LONG DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. 2. HOWEVER, SINCE THEN, THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AS SOON AS I START DRIVING THE CAR AND I DRIVE WITHOUT IT 99% OF THE TIME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER I AM CAUSING ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR DRIVING IT LIKE THIS. THERE IS NO WARNING OF IT HAPPENING OTHER THAN THE BEEP THAT OCCURS AFTER IT GOES OUT. SOMETIMES THE BEEP WILL BE SO DELAYED THAT I WILL GO TO TURN AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD AND UNEXPECTED. THIS BACK AND FORTH OF HAVING OR NOT HAVING POWER STEERING IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I CANNOT RELY ON SKILL OR MUSCLE MEMORY ALONE TO KNOW THE FORCE I NEED TO STEER THE CAR. I HAVE NOT YET HAD A CRASH BUT I WORRY ABOUT IT MORE AND MORE. PARKING IS A HUGE PROBLEM. 3. I WAS TOLD BY SATURN THAT IF I WENT TO ONE OF THE (FEW REMAINING) SATURN DEALERS TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC DONE, IT WOULD THEN CONTRIBUTE TO A RECALL. I DID GO HAVE THIS DONE, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS "ONLY A MATTER OF TIME TILL A RECALL, SINCE WE SEE THIS PROBLEM EVERY DAY NOW". THEY EVEN STARTED CARRYING JUST THE MOTOR SINCE IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE FOR REPAIR AND I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE RECALL. IT IS VERY HARD TO SCRAPE UP $600 TO REPAIR A PART THAT THEY ALL KNOW IS DEFECTIVE. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO CRASH AND GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE BEFORE IT WILL BE RECALLED? NOW TO SEE OTHER GM CARS GET RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR, BUT NOT MINE, IS UNBELIEVABLY FRUSTRATING. THERE IS NO "SATURN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR"...THEY USE THE EXACT SAME PART. *TR

OKAY WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THIS CAR BACK IN 2005 THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH AND REPLACED IT. SINCE THEN BACK IN 2009 WHEN I LIVED IN COLORADO WHEN IT WOULD GET REALLY COLD THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRIED AND TRIED TO COMPLAIN TO GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME AT ALL LIKE I WAS CRAP OUT OF LUCK. I CANT REMEMBER IF I COMPLAINED TO YOU GUYS OR NOT. TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION MY HUSBAND AND I ENDED UP DISCONNECTING THE ALARM AND HAVEN'T HAD THAT PROBLEM SINCE. NOW FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS MY CAR HAS DECIDED IT WANTED TO KEEP THE KEY WHEN I TRY TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AND I HAVE TO FIGHT WITH IT JUST TO GET THE KEY OUT. MY CAR STALLED AT TWO STOP LIGHTS BEFORE, I WAS THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT NOW WITH THE RECALLS I AM THINKING ITS MORE THAN JUST THE BATTERY. *TR

MY CAR KEY GETS STUCK IN MY SATURN ION 2005 AFTER I HAVE SHUT IT OFF, ALSO WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE KEY IT WILL NOT TURN, I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND JIGGLE THE KEY TO GET IT TO START. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SATURN IONS. ALSO THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN MY CAR, BUT ONCE I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND ON THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM GOES AWAY BUT AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES GIVE OR TAKE THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. SOMETIMES THIS PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT IT COMES BACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS HARD FOR ME TO MAKE SHARP TURNS. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP TODAY, LUCKILY STILL ON WARRANTY, BUT SHAME ON SATURN BECAUSE AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THESE ARE VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH SATURN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN! OH AND MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT WILL COME ON AND I CAN'T DRIVE FAST. THAT HAPPENED FOR A WEEK AND THEN WENT AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW IT IS BACK. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND COULD ONLY GO 35 MPH. THANK GOD IT WASN'T RUSH HOUR. THAT IS BEING FIXED ALSO... *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY ON MY 2005 SATURN ION, I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 10/26/2009 TODAY'S DATE IS 10/29/2009 I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD OR HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS ALSO. THIS NEEDS TO BE A REALLY ON SATURNS PART FOR THESE DEFECTED ITEMS THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR GREEDINESS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILING, VERY HARD TO TURN. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING IT IN DRIVE, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE IDLES NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PRESS THE PEDAL. THIS VEHICLE HAS A ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY (NO MECHANICAL LINKAGE) SO THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL.. TODAY WAS THE THIRD TIME IN THAT PAST MONTH THIS HAS HAPPENED. FOR THE RECORD, THIS CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER NO LESS THAN 9 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES (A FEW BODY CONTROL MODULES, A COUPLE IGNITION SWITCHES, ABS MODULES, TRANS CONTROL MODULES, RADIOS, INSTRUMENT PANELS, ETC, ETC.) BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I THINK MAY CAUSE INJURY. GETTING REAR-ENDED AT A GREEN LIGHT OR HAVING A CAR RUN INTO THE DRIVER SIDE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY WHEN THE CAR 'ALL OF A SUDDEN' WON'T ACCELERATE. GM HAS REPAIRED EVERY PROBLEM THIS CAR HAS HAD TO DATE, BUT WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE STARTER AND THE CONTACT AGREED WITH THE REPAIR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE AN ISSUE STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION AND KEY WANT RELEASE FROM IGNITION AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT START. CAR WAS TAKEN TO SATURN AND IGNITION SOLENOID, GEAR SHIFT HOUSING UNIT, ANOTHER KEY WAS MADE, SECURITY SYSTEM WAS RESET AND CAR WAS RECALIBRATED. SATURN TOLD ME THIS WAS WHAT WAS NEEDED TO FIX PROBLEM AND PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN READING UP ON COMPLAINTS ABOUT ION OWNERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM UPSET AND FRUSTRATED I HAVE TWO KIDS AND HAVE ALREADY SPENT $1000 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE PARTS THAT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I NEED HELP THIS IS OUT OF CONTROL. AS FAR AS PROBLEM WITH CAR NOT STARTING, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. SATURN TESTED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AND CHECKED STARTER EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. HOPEFULLY CAR NOT STARTING IS FIXED BUT IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND I KNOW I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE COLD A FEW TIMES WITH MY CHILDREN TILL THE CAR DECIDED TOO START. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.