This car has been cursed with electronic steering problems. The car has been serviced repeatedly. I have had very little response and zero satisfaction from gm. The key often does not release from the ignition. The car was involved in a violent front end collision that was caused by these issues. I bought the car (based on a false saturn promise) and I had two daughters in the front of the car during the preventable collision. I couldn't figure out why the bags did not deploy. Now I get it! The car cuts off when making a right hand turn. I do not believe a single thing that gm says to me. I am going in for a rental car tomorrow. I. Do not even believe that this will go according to plan. I take the car for service, they tell me that they, "cannot repeat the problem." gm sucks and so does the federal safety agency. Earn your money. I earned mine. I want to add, in addition to steering, brakes, ignition -- the electronic system in this car is a complete mess. ..........
2006 Saturn Ion steering complaints
Page 5 of 19: complaints 101 to 130 of 544, newest first, as owners wrote them.
This car has been cursed with electronic steering problems. The car has been serviced repeatedly. I have had very little response and zero satisfaction from gm. The key often does not release from the ignition. The car was involved in a violent front end collision that was caused by these issues. I bought the car (based on a false saturn promise) and I had two daughters in the front of the car during the preventable collision. I couldn't figure out why the bags did not deploy. Now I get it! The car cuts off when making a right hand turn. I do not believe a single thing that gm says to me. I am going in for a rental car tomorrow. I. Do not even believe that this will go according to plan. I take the car for service, they tell me that they, "cannot repeat the problem." gm sucks and so does the federal safety agency. Earn your money. I earned mine. I want to add, in addition to steering, brakes, ignition -- the electronic system in this car is a complete mess.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated as the power steering assist malfunctioned. The failure made it very difficult for the contact to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 49,753.
The power steering failed while driving down the freeway. The dash board indicated the failure. When I stopped and shutoff the car and restarted the power steering returned.
Steering got very hard. (electric steering assist motor was replaced 7 years ago. Seems this one has same issues as everyone else that's complained.) so why are they using the same motor that you are investigating? Plan to talk to dealership about free replacement since it messed up again.
After I started the vehicle and trying to reverse the vehicle from parking lot the chime sound came and it displayed pwr steering in the display. I was not able to turn the steering. I turned the vehicle off and turned it back on and it was fine. The similar incident happened twice after that. I took the vehicle to gm service and they wont take care of the issue as my car got a rebuilt title. They acknowledge that it is a known problem and gm wont honor the extended warranty as the car got a rebuild title. They said that if it was a recall they will take care of it and the charge for the repair is approximately $1000. Gm is trying to rip me off for their fault only because my car have a rebuild title.
I was driving straight down the highway when my power streering notification light came on. I felt that I had no power steering as soon as I went to change lanes. I managed to manhandle the steering wheel to get to my destination since it was 9:30 at night. The next morning I called the closest gm dealership service department and they got me in. The tech said he had seen the same situation from another client a few weeks prior. They had to replace the power steering motor. My receipt from them says a short in the power steering motor..
Unexpected power steering failure three times in one day. Once while exiting the highway and twice while driving on highway. Was traveling in a straight line when failures occurred. Vehicle displayed "pwr str" in the dashboard. Turning the car off then on again temporarily fixed problem. Dealer stated it was the power steering column.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated that the power steering sensor light illuminated as the power steering assist malfunctioned. The failure made it very difficult for the contact to maneuver the vehicle. The contact also stated that the ignition key would become stuck in the ignition switch recurringly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that both defects were caused by a faulty ignition switch. The ignition switch was replaced but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted in reference to the defects. The failure mileage was 107,000.
I was in the center lane of I-5 northbound, in portland, oregon. The car in front of me stopped suddenly. I was in a long line of traffic. When I hit my brakes, my car jerked to the right. While trying to correct, I hit the wheels of a semi on my right. I bounced off, the car spun 90 degrees to the left, crossed the inside lane (fortunately I didn't get hit broadside), & went straight into the concrete freeway divider. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the hospital by ambulance, & have had neck & shoulder pain ever since. My car was totaled.
My daughter was going to work - she backed out of our driveway - put the car in drive - started forward and the car engine cut off - she could not steer the car and ran into two other cars on our street - hit one in the side and the other vehicle in the front on its driver side - we called saturn and notified them of the issue - they sent a tow truck and took it 70 miles to the nearest dealership - they said that they had to call in a special representative to check it out - he called us back and said that he could not find anything in the computer that would have caused the issue and told us to come back and get the car (about a 140 mile trip to pick up a car we were afraid of which we paid over $15000.00 for) this caused over $2000.00 of damage to her car it caused our insurance company to pay out a unknown amount for the damage to the other 2 vehicles the issue also went on her driving record as her fault (which it was not) and caused my insurance to go up - we are afraid to drive this car - always wait until there is no one coming before we use it to go anywhere because it hesitates - later the car started smelling like gas - and a message (pwr str) would come up on the dash - the key would not come out of the ignition and you could not get it to turn off - also on cold mornings it would not even start - any help or information on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks .
Every few weeks while the vehicle is moving my power steering fails and it's very difficult to steer the car until stopped. This happens without notice and at different speeds, sometimes while the vehicle is sitting and other times when driving. When my girlfriend owned the vehicle gm did replace the steering column three times. I've owned the car for almost two years and this problem is still ongoing and it's very unsafe. Now along with the ignition recall I feel that this vehicle is not fit for use on public roads. If there is a solution to get this vehicle off the road I would like to know about it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH there was a loss of power steering with the warning lights illuminated. The steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to independent mechanic who indicated that the power steering fuse would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure . The approximate failure was mileage 170,000.
I was driving to work on march 1st, 2014 when I noticed that the steering wheel seemed to "lock up" for a second, when it loosened it was extremely hard to turn. First thought was ps fluid, did some research to find out it is all electrical and that the same issue was happening in around the same year chevy cobalts and pontiac g5's (all same car pretty much). When I drove home that evening the power steering was back on, until I got 2-3 miles down the road when I heard the beeping followed by "pwr str" showing up on the odometer and the power steering going out. I had a feeling it was going to happen so my speed was no where near what it was going to work. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated as the steering wheel tightened. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 137,647.
I purchased a 2006 saturn ion in may of 2009 from rockenbach chevrolet in grayslake illinois. The vehicle was inspected three times for this power steering problem prior to the accident by rockenback mechanics. The mechanics said that they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle, and the sales manager said I was not to bring the vehicle in for any more checks because I had purchased the vehicle without a warranty. The vehicle was totaled after a start up from an intersection when the power steering cut out on july 14, 2009. Since that time I have spoken with three saturn ion owners who have experienced the same problem. This problem should be checked out before anyone else is hurt.
I was rear ended on the freeway on 11/17/13. I went to get it fixed about a week later. They had my car for about 3 days. When I went to pick up my car, there was no power steering. When the gentleman tried to put power steering fluid in it, he noticed it was electric. He said it must have gone out. Now I have to pay to fix my power steering and I didn't have my car when it went out!
Making a right hand turn onto another street and the wheel locked up. Wheel barely moved enough for me to pull into a parking lot.
Loss of power steering. Almost crashed.
Pwr steering fail while driving. Car dings and displays the pwr steering code in dash. Known issue by gm. Took it to dealer today, they said they'll fix it free of charge based on 10187a special policy. It only covers the motor/module and not the steering column. I am afraid that they are going to rip me off by simply saying the whole column is the problem so I'm out a lot of money. Based on research and complaints gm recalled other cars with the same problem. If they used the same part and they were recalled in other models then the saturn one should also be recalled. It was very scary losing power steering. Gm needs to make saturn owners "whole" because there have been various issues already. I replaced the ignition switch twice, the key would get stuck and sometimes would not start.
I was driving my 2006 saturn ion on a local street, picking up my child from school, when the ignition went off. The car had no power & I had only a few seconds to steer the car off to the side before the power steering stopped working. I put the car in neutral & coasted to a stop. I turned the car off, waited a minute, & then turned the key again. At that time, the car started up again & I took it directly home. In the days following this incident, several different times the ignition would go of by itself. It felt as if the key was not staying in the on position. Not being aware of a warranty from saturn, I took it to a local repair shop. When the mechanic tried to take the key out of the ignition, it would not turn off or come out of the steering column. He was forced to disconnect the battery in order to turn the ignition off & needed to replace the part in the steering column where the key goes in. Because the mechanic had to disconnect the battery, I was also forced to take the car to the dealership a few days later to have my remote lock reprogrammed. I had to pay out of pocket for both of these repairs, because I was unaware that gm had a special warranty covering such issues. I never received a letter about this problem, but it is a recall issue in other states.
My ion has had continuous steering and suspension problems since 2009. I have experienced the problems with the steering motor (warning light comes on - loss of power steering) and had the steering motor replaced. I have replaced the sway bar, control arms, link, and much more. And, I still have difficulties steering - have a constant cluncking noise from the front end and now have been told I need the rack & pinion replaced - estimated cost $550. The vehicle currently has 82,000 miles. The steering & suspension problems began immediately after the vehicle hit 50,000 miles.
2006 saturn ion was traveling through a flat curve at 45 MPH when the steering froze and the brake pedal would not depress. Vehicle began to spin and left the road striking trees and brush causing some physical damage to the right front and right side of the vehicle. No warning signals were seen or heard at or before the event. The driver was not injured. The vehicle did not stall when it came to rest and was driven back on to the road. Vehicle was driven home without further incident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated as the steering wheel tightened. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the power steering motor control needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a loss of power steering with the illumination of the warning indicator. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of road where the engine was turned off. After restarting, the vehicle resumed normally. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Steering wheel became nearly impossible to turn. Then power steering light came on. Problem is consistent and dangerous. Took to a mechanic and was estimated $600-$800 to replace necessary parts. I nearly hit another car and almost hit a pedestrian from being unable to steer my own car.
Power steering stopped working. When I got home turned car off and back on and it worked but then stopped working again after driving a few minutes.
With regards to the 2006 saturn ion, my ion has suffered three of the major problems described in the complain section of the federal safety agency web site. {1} fuel leaking from fuel pump area. {2} ignition key gets stuck in the on position car can not be shut off. {3} power steering stops working while car is running making it difficult to steer. With regards to the last problem I brought my car to a g.m. Dealer and was advised that the problem was the power steering motor. They replaced the motor at no charge.telling me it was under warranty. They also advised me that there was a recall regarding the fuel pump modulator. I am now fighting with gm to try and get my money back. With regards to the sticking key in the ignition I believe that if we get enough complainants maybe the federal safety agency can do something. If you have suffered any of these problems and have not repaired your auto please head straight to your local gm dealer . If you have paid for repairs out of your pocket your gm dealer has proper paperwork for you to submit.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the power steering failed as the steering wheel locked with the illumination of the power steering light. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. While driving 25 MPH, the contact stated the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The driver merged off the road and had the vehicle towed to his residence. The vehicle was not repaired nor was the failure diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
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