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NHTSA — Steering Problems

2005 Saturn Ion (Page 6 of 13)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Ion still had power steering issues and a defective ignition switch leftover from previous model years, but hey – at least Saturn improved some of its safety rating to marginal, right? Baby steps.

If you had to buy a Saturn Ion – and I would question why anyone would even consider it – I suppose the 2005 could be considered the best of a bad bunch? I mean, GM did finally get rid of that awful VTi transmission, and both the power steering problems and ignition switch defect that plagued owners were recalled. The problem is they waited 10 years to recall the ignition and let over 30,000 warranty claims get filed before they bothered to fix the power steering. So you kind of have to wonder, is GM making these fixes to keep owners safe or just to keep government lawyers from taking all their money? You be the judge.

10.0

really awful

Crashes / Fires:: 9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:: 5 / 0
Average Mileage:: 69,715 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Saturn Ion steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Saturn Ion Owner Comments (Page 6 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

Nov 032011

Ion 4-cyl

miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Electric power steering problems. Pwr str message.

- Jackson, OH, USA

Oct 172011

Ion

27,484 miles

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.

- Reading, PA, USA

Oct 052011

Ion 4-cyl

103,000 miles

Power steering failed while driving. Created dangerous situation because of difficulty in maneuvering.

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

Jun 102011

Ion 4-cyl

32,223 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

Aug 012011

Ion 4-cyl

64,300 miles

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.

- Yankton, SD, USA

Aug 282011

Ion 4-cyl

103,300 miles

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.

- Barneveld, NY, USA

Aug 182011

Ion

57,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Houston, TX, USA

Aug 022005

Ion 4-cyl

73,000 miles

Saturn 2005 Ion 3 with intermittent low power light and function and loss of power steering goes out while driving.after turning car off turn back on and light for low power off and power steering light off resumes normally...happening more frequent have seen numerous complaints online, contacted Saturn and to go to dealer for diagnostic test which have had in past with no codes??/shouldn't be my expense and recall for my model should be issued.

- Hiollywood, FL, USA

May 272011

Ion

90,000 miles

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.

- Laurel, DE, USA

Jul 162011

Ion 4-cyl

71,000 miles

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.

- Harrison, OH, USA

Jun 212011

Ion 4-cyl

119,060 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 the consumer stated the power steering was replaced at no charged.updated 09/26/11

- Rockford, IL, USA

Jun 262011

Ion 4-cyl

72,000 miles

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.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Jun 232011

Ion

53,000 miles

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.

- Highland, IN, USA

May 282011

Ion

94,227 miles

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.

- Camden, NJ, USA

May 202011

Ion 4-cyl

45,811 miles

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.)

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

Apr 012011

Ion

120,100 miles

The steering wheel got hard to turn back and forth. Car got does this once in a while.

- Harrisburg , AL, USA

Apr 012011

Ion

25,000 miles

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and within a 5 to 10 minute timeframe, the power steering would fail sporadically with an illumination of the power steering warning light after the failure. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor was it repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

- Albany, NY, USA

Mar 212011

Ion 4-cyl

69,000 miles

Power steering message comes on and car is very hard to steer. If I stop and restart the car the power steering comes back. At first this happened once every few weeks. Now it is becoming a daily occurrence; even more than once per day. It appears to be a common problem for Saturn Ions. The local dealership that inherited Saturn told me they have not heard of this problem. I have not taken the car to be serviced yet.

- Plainfield, IN, USA

Feb 182011

Ion 4-cyl

88,100 miles

2005 Saturn Ion.88 K miles.sudden loss of power steering. Fuses replaced. Resets itself with restart but recurs frequently. Very hard to steer and dangerous when occurs unexpectedly. GM customer service called but they deny a general recall. Not helpful. The VIN is [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Blue Ridge, GA, USA

Dec 172010

Ion 4-cyl

91,000 miles

2005 Saturn Ion I power steering recall I had the recall notice - called Saturn of cool springs - and they point blank asked "is it doing it now" I said "no" and their response was "don't worry about it". on my way home from work, a light (a warning light) came on my dash, they next thing I know the steering jerked and I crossed over 5 lanes of traffic during rush hour and hit a concrete wall head on. I could not control the steering as it was locked. GM states the recall is for only going at low rates of speed - I think that is a cop out from GM.

- Nashville , TN, USA

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