Power/electric steering on 2003 saturn ion is malfunctioning making the wheel extremely difficult to turn and driving very dangerous. The incident resulted in temporary loss of control of the vehicle and could easily have lead to a serious accident.
2003 Saturn Ion steering complaints
Page 6 of 6: complaints 131 to 139 of 139, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I own a 2003 saturn ion2. I have had nothing but problems with it from the first day I drove it off the lot. Recently (I.e in the last 2 years) when it is particularly cold, the car will not start. I keep trying it then wait 10 minutes and it starts right up. I have spent $1200 to fix the problem only to find out that it is a problem with the passlock system and the steering wheel lubricant leaking on the system. In cold weather this seems to make the security passlock system think someone is trying to steal the car and makes it unable to start. The passlock times out after about 10 minutes and then will start. This is a known problem on all ion 2's and I have seen hundreds of letters on forums pertaining to this same problem.
The 2003 saturn ion-3 power steering goes out while driving. It will work again, for a while, after the car has been restarted. This car has the electric power steering unit enclosed in the steering column. Saturn has advised me this is a $1000.00 repair on a four year old car with 55,000 miles. I see that there is an investigation on pontiac g6 autos for this same problem. I would recommend expanding that investigation to include all gm cars with the electric power steering.
Saturn ion 3 electric power steering. 2003. Power steering-electric: it appears that the electric power steering is programmed to give more assist in a panic situation. Sensors detect when the steering wheel is being moved rapidly, and immediately give more assist, making the wheel very easy to turn. Since most people over-correct in a panic situation, this increase in assist is exactly the wrong thing to do. This is especially noticeable on interstate highways where the speed really accentuates the effect. I do 90% of my driving on the interstate, so this is of particular concern to me. I now have 20,000 miles on this vehicle and have known about this odd steering behavior since about 2000 miles when I swerved to avoid an animal and almost drove off the road. If the car was still within the 30 day, 1500 mile buy back period, it would have gone back. Even knowing that the problem exists, and occasionally giving the wheel a sharp movement so that I know how the car reacts, I almost hit the guard-rail when I was surprised by another car drifting into my lane on the date below. I tell every saturn ion owner that I meet about the problem. A friend's son drove their ion off the road about a month ago under similar circumstances. Owners who don't often venture on to the interstates are reluctant to believe there is any such problem with their new car. The same is true of the saturn dealership that I have taken my car to. They send me on my way, drive a couple of miles, tell me they drove 50 miles and that the car is perfectly fine. I don't know of anyone who has been killed by this problem, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.
I bought a 2003 saturn ion 3 march 17, 2003. Within 2 weeks the car had a cracked cylinder with coolant leaking into the engine. Saturn corp. Recalled the car. The purchase of [xxx] was canceled 4/17/03 and I purchased a 2nd 2003 saturn ion 3, [xxx], on 4/17/03. The 2nd car from the beginning had transmission problems shifting between gears, jerking up and down from 30 MPH to 70 MPH, kicks when started, rattles loudly in reverse, and steering problems coming out of turns. The car has been in service 4 times (bumper to bumper warranty. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
When tires spin transmission disconnects. Then. Vehicle has to be towed. This normally happens when it is snowing. Also, steering wheel turns from left to right on its own.
While driving , the steering knuckle sheared off. Dealer notified. Please provide additional information.*ak dealer repaired at no cost. Replaced right front knuckled and associated suspension parts. Front right wheel,tire, spoiler and under skirting. Saturn's engineer's of detroit sent the entire right front damaged parts for investigation. Consumer had not heard anything from them. *ph
March 22, 2003 I purchased an saturn ion 3. Within the 1st the week there was problems starting the car. The car was in for service 2 times in 2 weeks. Finally the engine light started flashing (3rd time). Supposedly the car was fixed. 3 days later the dealer's service department called me at saturn corp.'s request to immediately return the car as the engine could blow up. The engine had a cracked cylinder which caused coolant to leak into the engine with about 650 miles. Also, another saturn ion with 2500 miles was sitting in the dealer's lot with a cracked cylinder in the engine. I was released from the sale on april 17, 2003. I took a 2nd saturn ion 3 on april 17, 2003. This car has jerky steering problems coming out of turns and sever transmission problems. The car kicks when turning on the ignition, engine gets racketing when put into reverse, when changing gears - kicks, slides, and will surge, and bounce through gears between 30 MPH to above 70 MPH. The service manager said, "all the ions drive this way. There's nothing wrong with the car". This car has been in for service 4 times. Each time the car is returned worse than the time before.
While driving and making left or right steering wheel is not turning smoothly, it is hard to handle the wheel. Dealer has inspected, and could not duplicate or correct the problem.
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