2004 Saturn Ion: sudden loss of power

Filed May 21, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 172,639 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle loss power steering without warning. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated as intended. Additionally, the windows rolled up and down independently. The contact also stated there was an abnormal fuel outside the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted however, the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to the local dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 172,639.

Filed Sep 15, 2017 · Steering · 99,034 miles · IA

In parking lot on leaving a store there was no power steering making it very hard to drive. Next I went to a gas station and filled my tank. When I left the steering was okay....the dash symbol for power steering was not longer showing. I lost power steering once before and the dealer fixed it. (invoice included) the first incident was repaired at mileage 83,868. The current on happened at mileage 99,199. There was no accident involved either time. I hope this will not happen on a curvy road which is near our home. Had the steering gone out on that at 35 to 40 MPH I'm not sure I could have successfully coped with the situation. Surely once the dash light power steering comes on once it means that the vehicle should be serviced.

Filed Jan 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 131,000 miles · MI

I bought this car as a first car for my daughter that is a new driver. I has been off the road more than on the road for recalls. The first ignition recall could have injured or killed my daughter..as we were awaiting parts, we were following directions of no weight on key ring and only key in ignition. The incident still happened causing loss of power steering and loss of speed. As a new driver this incident scarred her and she did not feel comfortable driving the car. I put the car up for sale. Then another recall, the eps which also causes the car to lose power steering and causes speed loss. So, back to garber and we just drove the car back home on january 2, 2015. Seemed to start out fine, then loss of speed and the car only drove at 35 MPH with a lot of effort. I paid $3500 for this car for my daughter..still paying on the loan and now I cannot get it to run correctly or sell it..I am stuck with a non-running vehicle that I have to insure as well. This total is costing me over $300 a month while the car sits. I don't know if my dealer did the recall correctly. I have had issues with my impala as well with recalls being done correctly. One including my airbag recall and a seat belt issue that I paid out of pocket 100.00 after several issues. I feel gm should reimburse me for this vehicle as I cannot sell it or drive it. It is not fair that I purchased this from a dealer only pay for a non working vehicle.

Filed Aug 12, 2014 · Brakes, Steering · 80,940 miles · VA

I have a 2004 ion while driving my car I lost power steering. Thankfully I was able to pull over and restart and only a few miles from home. I always have my daughter with me and suppose I am not as fortunate next time. Something needs to be done to compensate for this and lessen the deaths gm has caused by allowing problems they knew of to remain unfixed. My ion has a recall for power steering loss which says it can happen at any time or speed. This is very scatter. So here I am with a car I am afraid to put myself.in let alone my child. I had an ignition switch recall which was fixed. I am requesting a loaner car until the part is ready to fix mine.

Filed Jul 2, 2014 · Steering · 108,480 miles · MS

Lost power steering after power steering warning light came on. This was 3rd incident in 10 days. Turned off car, restarted and power steering returned. This has happened without warning 3 times. Loss of power steering makes turning difficult. Very scary.

Filed Jun 20, 2014 · Steering · 75,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, a chime sounded and followed by a complete loss of power steering. The warning indicator also illuminated during the steering malfunction; however, the contact continued to drive the vehicle. After the vehicle was turned off and restarted the vehicle operated normally. There was a related recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number 14v153000 (steering) however, the part was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. Updated 8/19/14*cn the consumer was informed, the parts were not available. Updated 09/15/14

Filed May 14, 2014 · Steering · 86,000 miles · NY

This has happened intermittently before, but this time I lost the power steering rounding a bend. Took it to my mechanic and I needed the entire thing replaced for 800.00, quoted 1200.00 at a dealer. I called gm and despite the gm website stating recall of "saturn ion all model years 2004-2007" for loss of power steering posted on 3/31/14, I was told mine wasn't included because I have a 2004 saturn ion 2. What does that mean? Doesn't "all model years" pertain to the ion 1, 2, and 3?????

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 87,000 miles · TX · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that while entering a parking lot at 3 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and the contact crashed into a cement pillar. There were no injuries. The vehicle was to be repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system) but was informed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000. Updated 06/10/14 ma the consumer stated he lost power steering, and the vehicle surged forward into a concrete pillar. The ar bags did not deploy. The consumer stated the bumper absorbed the hit, and there was no real damage. Updated 07/24/14

Filed Apr 17, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · MN · crash · 1 injury

2004 saturn ion. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice issues, air bag malfunction and several other vehicle problems. *smd the consumer stated her daughter was involved in 3 accidents. Her daughter lost power and the vehicle stalled. When her daughter hit the other vehicle, the air bags did not deploy. Her daughter was injured. Also, the consumer had difficulty steering the vehicle.

Filed Mar 20, 2014 · Steering · 49,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an unexpected loss of power steering with the illumination of the warning indicator. The contact continued to drive with force being applied to the steering wheel. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.

Filed Mar 16, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 104,000 miles · NH

We were driving on the highway at 70mph when the car stalled out and we lost power steering ability. We started the car again while it was in motion and it caught but it happened again a few more miles down the road. Since our saturn dealership was no longer in business, we had a trusted mechanic take care of it not knowing there were issues. I researched three recall notifications from saturn. One involved the left turn signal which we had to have fixed twice with a harness and bulb replacement in on 2/5/05 and again on 10/24/05. Another was a faulty ignition switch replacement also on 10/24/05. And then the third was the faulty electric power steering which as you know we had repaired on 10/4/12. I contacted gm about a reimbursement and they said no because we were past 10 years or 100,000 miles, and that the reimbursement form must be received by 8/31/11. My question to gm is, how can you put a limit on something that was faulty from the beginning? The new ignition and injectors in march 2010 ($758.94) and the new starter in august 2011 ($324) after having related problems/repairs due to the recall in oct 2005 show that something just wasn't right in the manufacturing of this model. And the power steering motor replacement ($177) in oct 2012 should also be reimbursed because gm already admitted it was a problem with the model year so regardless of whether we had 10,000 miles or 160,000 miles, it was faulty. Now we learn that they knew these were problems all along and did not take ownership of them. What really bothers me is that I inquired about all of this with them in december 2012 - this is supposed to be "a new gm" different from the company back in 2001? If they were different why did they refuse to reimburse me the $2,177 we spent in repairs, or admit that there was a recall? Is it because we did not die in an accident?

Filed Mar 15, 2014 · Steering · 89,000 miles · PA

While driving this 04 saturn ion I lost power steering while going around a curve. I almost hit the guard rail. If the car is shut off then restarted the problem goes away until it happens again. When this happens the "power steering" warning light appears on the dash. Some times this can happen several times a day and there are times when it does not happen for weeks. It can happen in any weather or temp. It kind of takes you by surprise, one second its working fine then all of a sudden the power steering is gone.