Power steering failure

- New Orleans, LA, USA

The electric power steering in my 2007 Saturn Ion will fail randomly. To date it has failed twice, once at 70 mph driving straight and once at 55 mph going around a curve. This problem fits recall 10V073000 as the parts and system are the same on each car.

- St Joseph , MO, USA

I was driving my 2007 Saturn Ion when the electric power steering went out. There was no warning - the indicator light came on and the power steering was gone. I was lucky enough to be able to maneuver the car off the highway, where I put in park, turned it off and waited a few minutes before turning it back on. Remarkably, as quickly as the problem appeared, it went away and I was able to get back on the highway with not further problems but when I started researching the problem online I found many other complains of the same exact nature. Saturn of course will replace the steering column for about $900. There are several other complaints related to this same problem. This is unsafe and scary as hell. You can't be driving a car when the steering goes out without warning! check the internet, there are tons of complaints about this issue and something should be done. Here's a good place to start....?Q=&page=6

- Manchester, NH, USA

Power steering goes out while driving then comes back on when I restart car if I dont use car for a couple of days then the power steering will work for a week then it starts going out randomly again

- Moorpark, CA, USA

2007 Saturn Ion. Power steering intermittantly cut out with a chime and message of pwr str on the dash board. Turning off the power and restarting the vehicle would allow the power steering to reset. Dealership replaced power steering power assist motor to fix issue

- Vail, AZ, USA

2007 Saturn Ion. Approx 54000 miles. Driving on the express way and the power steering went out without warning. Heard several dings from the instrument panel. I could steer the vehicle with much effort. Happened again at a slower speed, vehicle was much harder to steer! good thing it wasn't a mile or two earlier when it went out, as I was in a highway construction area with no emergency lanes! I could not pull over safely if I needed to. I had to wait until I could pull over and turned the car off, looked to see if I could see a problem, but this car has electric steering. Started the car back up and the problem went away until the next day.this vehicle was intended for my 18 yr. Old daughter to drive, but I doubt she would have to strength to muscle the steering wheel if it happens while she is driving. This to me would be a serious safety concern, as it happens without warning.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

Saturn Ion 2007. Loses power steering and you have to turn the motor off and restart to regain power. This was rare at the beginning but happens frequently now.

- Manteca , CA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. While traveling at speeds of 45 mph, the power steering light illuminated, on the warning panel immediately followed by loss of steering control. The dealer replaced the power steering motor. The failure has not recurred. The failure mileage was 64,000 and the current was 64,000.

- Kissemee, FL, USA

My 2007 Saturn Ion occasionally loses power steering. When it does, the car chimes 3 times and displays pwr str on the odometer display. This happened once last month, once yesterday, and 3 times today. It seems to be truly random, as I drove 80 miles before the first incident today, only a couple of minutes the other three times, and 90 miles without incident after the final occurrence today. Power steering remains out until I cycle the ignition switch. I found that I could switch to off and back on quickly enough to keep the engine running, and even this brief interruption in power was enough to reset the fault. This is a serious problem, as the car is very hard to steer without power steering. I fear that my wife may not be strong enough to "muscle" the car in this condition. A quick internet scan indicates that this has been a common problem for several model years, and other GM cars with identical components have been recalled, but not Saturn. Please instigate a prompt investigation and get the recall going for these Saturn defects. This is obviously a control module problem since it is so easy to reset, and is not related to the motor itself or overheating, since no cooldown period is required to restore operation. The GM solution seems to be replacing the entire steering column for $1200! this is unacceptable.

- Taylorsville, UT, USA

Power steering goes out intermittently when restarting the car it appears to work again for a while. There does not appear to be any pattern as to what causes the power steering to stop working.

- Fargo, ND, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact was driving approximately between 10-15 mph, without warning there was a loss of power steering. The contact pulled over to the side of the road with caution. The engine was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was able to continue in operation. The failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was in the process of being taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Pa Furnance, PA, USA

For the past three weeks, the power steering on my 2007 Saturn Ion turns off while I'm driving. I have to turn off the car and re-start it. It has happened while I'm going over 55 mph on the highway. It happens at least 6 times per day.

- Laurel, MD, USA

While driving my 2007 Saturn Ion's power steering stops working and the pwr str message is given on the console. This is a huge safety issue as the car is very hard to steer when the power steering goes out.

- Hooper, UT, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering would work as designed; however once the engine was warm, the power steering would sporadically fail. The failure occurred at various speeds. Once the vehicle had cooled, the power steering would reset itself. The failure mileage was 48,000 and the current mileage was 54,000.

- Phelidelphia, PA, USA

Power steering goes out after only a few moments running. Difficulty steering at low speeds. Exact same complaints as those in the GM recall, though the 2007 Saturn Ion was not included in that recall. The power steering goes out every time the vehicle is used. Dealer said to fix it would normally require a power steering motor to be replaced, but since Saturn is discontinued, GM will only provide entire steering column assemblies as a fix. Incident date is approximate, though it recurs every day the car is used.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

On March 10, 2010, the power steering on my 2007 Saturn Ion turned off. I had to turn off the car and restart it.

- Laurel, MD, USA

Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) we have owned a 2007 Saturn Ion 4 door for about 2 1/2 years. We bought it new. The car has about 54,000 miles on it now. In the mid 40,000 mile range, whenever we would make many turns (we live in the mountains--few straightaways), the electric power steering started going out. The car can still be steered, but with difficulty. This problem is only gradually getting worse. Upon turning the ignition off and restarting, the power steering works again, although a few turns more, the steering will go out yet again until the motor (or whatever??) cools off. Recently, there was a massive recall re this problem with Chevy cobalts and other near Saturn. I understand the Saturn Ion is basically the same and used the same steering mechanism that has failed with the cobalts and clones. With the above, it would seem reasonable to include the Ions in the recall. This is not an uncommon problem with the Ions as internet traffic confirms. Please include the Ions with this recall. The parts involved are the same and the chances of accidents, or worse, no different. Thank-you, [xxx] ps Saturn customer service states that they are not aware of this problem and that they are not included in the recall. It seems Saturn have been overlooked.

- Big Bear City, CA, USA

2007 Saturn Ion has a power steering problem which cause the steering to lock and hard to steer it can not be repaired by putting in power steering fluid, it doesn't work the electrical light appears on the dash. This occurs after only 33,000 miles, and the only way to correct it is to put a new motor module and switch with a repair cost of $997. After surfing the internet, we are one of many who are experiences this problem. I ask if a death has to occur in order for this to become a recall vehicle. Incidentally, my 17 year old daughter was under the wheel when this happen to our car. Please do not let a death happen to have a recall. I will continue writing my congressman, senator and who ever will listen. During my first complaint to the GM company, I had spoken to someone in Canada a sales specialist who inform me that its nothing we can do about it and he had no knowledge of even aware of the vehicle make or model. If anyone get hurt because of this defect, we will take every legal matter necessary. Also, after having the repairs taken care of we had to take it back to have it replaced again after driving it for a week. Another ne power steering module and motor had to be put back on again. Look at your complaints concerning this problem.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. While the vehicle was traveling at a speed of 45 mph the contact noticed that the power steering suddenly stopped functioning. After restarting the vehicle the failure corrected itself and the power steering was performing normally. The failure has not been diagnosed. The current and failure mileages were 69800.

- Senoia, GA, USA

On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, the power steering on my 2007 Saturn turned itself off four times while I was driving home from work. I had to stop and restart my car each time.

- Laurel, MD, USA