Our 2008 Saturn lost power steering on our way back from a road trip. We were exiting the highway when the power steering would not engage and I had to wrestle to keep from veering off the roadway as we exited. This was extremely dangerous, as my family was in the car and had my wife been driving, I'm certain she would not have had the strength to turn the wheel and we would have gone off the roadway and crashed. I was able to make it to the gas station where I checked the power steering fluid and turned the wheel back forth. Fluid level was good and color was fine. After working the wheel back and forth the power steering started to work again, There was no moaning or whining sound to indicate the pump was going out.

We continued our journey home. The power steering worked intermittently the rest of the way home, really only noticed at speeds under 40mph. Again no symptoms, moaning or whining to indicate when this will happen, Just works intermittently. Contacted the dealership and local mechanics and advised that this is a common problem with the Saturn Outlooks. My local mechanic diagnosed as a leaking rack and pinion, but that this also may have contaminated the power steering. Due to the complexity and numerous complaints with the same issue, he recommends I take it to the dealer. Dealer has quoted $1100 for power steering and $1400 for rack and pinion. GM should look into the numerous online complaints and fix the issue before someone does get into a tragic accident.