NHTSA — Steering Problems

2005 Saturn Ion (Page 10 of 13)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Ion still had power steering issues and a defective ignition switch leftover from previous model years, but hey – at least Saturn improved some of its safety rating to marginal, right? Baby steps.

If you had to buy a Saturn Ion – and I would question why anyone would even consider it – I suppose the 2005 could be considered the best of a bad bunch? I mean, GM did finally get rid of that awful VTi transmission, and both the power steering problems and ignition switch defect that plagued owners were recalled. The problem is they waited 10 years to recall the ignition and let over 30,000 warranty claims get filed before they bothered to fix the power steering. So you kind of have to wonder, is GM making these fixes to keep owners safe or just to keep government lawyers from taking all their money? You be the judge.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,715 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Saturn Ion steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Saturn Ion Owner Comments (Page 10 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #74

May 032010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 92,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. While driving at 65 mph, the power steering light illuminated and the power steering malfunctioned. The contact shut off the vehicle and upon restart, the vehicle functioned properly. However, the failure occurred moments later. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who stated that the power steering motor failed. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 92,000. Updated 11/05/10 updated 11/05/10

- Nacogboches, TX, USA

problem #73

May 122010

Ion

  • 57,500 miles
2005 Saturn Ion. Driving down the road, not extreme circumstances, just normal driving. Without warning the power steering failed. It has happened twice in the past week. The car is still drivable, albeit with a significantly greater amount of effort. Turning off the car and then turning it back on corrects the problem.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #72

Apr 152010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
Power steering failure on Saturn Ion 2 sedan (4 door). Car purchased 12/06/04. Current mileage is 116,000. Two failures have occurred during the last month when car was idling at an intersection after being driven a short time. Power steering warning light illuminates and power steering fails. Car must be stopped and ignition switched off and restarted after which power steering works. Occurrence is unpredictable and we are really worried! our mechanic replaced the power steering motor fuse the first time but the problem has recurred again.

- Wapwallopen, PA, USA

problem #71

May 042010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 54,698 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2005 Saturn Ion 3 quad. VIN# [xxx], mileage 54,698 very unexpected power steering failure. This was the first time it has happened and I bought the car 1 month before Saturn shutdown. Thus I haven't owned the car even a year. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #70

Apr 072010

Ion

  • 467,000 miles
1st time my power steering went out I was backing out of a parking space at maybe 5mph and when I put the car in drive the car started dinging, the pwr steering light came on and the wheel locked up. Turned the car off, let it sit for a bit, turned it back on and it was back to normal. Has done it 3 other times while on the road at no more than 45 mph. I have been told that the entire steering column may have to be replaced but the dealership is telling me that there is no recall at this time. Haven't had it repaired yet. This is extremely dangerous and was very scary as I had 2 small children in the car each time it's happened. Current mileage is 46,700.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #69

Apr 162010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
While driving the car, the power steering light came on and immediately there was no power steering. Luckily we were driving straight. Had we been turning a corner it could've caused an accident. I took it to the garage and was told it was the motor in the power steering column. The search was on for a motor. If none could be found, the entire steering column would have had to be replaced. The motor was found and ordered. I hope to have the car back in a week or so.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

problem #68

Apr 222010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 45,935 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Saturn Ion is having the same issue as Chevy cobalt where I loose power steering for no apparent reason. Once it cuts out I have to pull to the side of road turn off car, then restart it and all is fine until it does it again. This has been happening for a couple months. I had the car checked today and it is the power steering motor, which will be replaced as soon as part comes in. I feel GM should recall these cars too. This could be a real danger if on a curving mountain road when power steering goes.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #67

Apr 242010

Ion

  • 69,514 miles
The electric power steering went out on 4/24/10. After turning the car off, it reset and the power steering worked again. On 4/25/10, the power steering went out again, after cutting off it works again. Again on 4/24/10, it went out again. The car is very hard to turn with the electric power steering not working. The Chevy cobalt was recalled for the same problem, and the power steering unit is the same in a 2005 Saturn Ion. Cannot afford to have it fixed at this time, worry about my daughter driving it.

- Westminster, SC, USA

problem #66

Apr 192010

Ion

  • 72,300 miles
Power steering on my 2005 Saturn Ion unexpectedly fails numerous times a day; serious safety concerns and numerous other complaints but no recalls ??

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #65

Apr 122010

Ion

  • 57,999 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. While pulling out of a parking spot at 3 mph, the power steering suddenly stopped functioning which made it difficult to turn the steering wheel. The power steering warning light illuminated and the contact heard a chime sound when the failure occurred. The vehicle was turned off and then restarted; the problem seemed to correct itself after the restart. The failure occurred twice. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was 58,197. The failure mileage was 57,999.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #64

Feb 122010

Ion

  • 76,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. While driving at speeds of 60 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated on the dashboard followed by a loss of power steering assist. The contact was able to move the vehicle from the roadway and shut off the engine. When restarting, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The dealer advised the power steering motor had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure persisted. The failure mileage was 76,500 and the current mileage was 77,000.

- Urbana, IL, USA

problem #63

Jan 032010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
When driving, the power steering will occasionally go out. Also, sometimes the car wont start, it wont even turn over (but all of the lights, fan, etc work). Other times the key will not come out of the ignition when you turn the motor off.

- Peotone, IL, USA

problem #62

Apr 042010

Ion

  • 41,256 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact was driving approximately 20 mph, the power steering failed without warning. The contact stated the failure occurred after the engine was warm. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated the steering column would need to be replaced at the owner expense. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 41,256. The current mileage was 41,400.

- Port Washington, NY, USA

problem #61

Apr 102010

Ion

  • 65,000 miles
2005 Saturn Ion-3, which shares the steering system with the recalled Chevy cobalt and Pontiac G5, had exactly steering failure. It happened Apr.10/2010 in a parking lot when driving at 5mph. It chimed but I observed no light on the cluster coming up. Then the steering became very heavy so I turned the car off. After restarting it is fine again. Same thing happened twice in 09 summer, both at the speeding up stage (<10mph) after a controlled stop.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #60

Apr 102010

Ion

  • 75,000 miles
Power steering light comes on and lose all power steering until car is shut off and turned back on.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #59

Mar 072010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 38,342 miles
When driving my 2005 Saturn Ion the power steering light comes on and the power steering stops working making it hard to steer. This happens multiple times a day. Turning the car off and starting again will fix power steering for a short time. GM has recall on other makes and models with the same problem, why not the Saturn. If it would go out as your making a turn, could cause accident.

- Valparaiso, IN, USA

problem #58

Mar 152010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
Driving my 2005 Ion at about 40 mph a ding went off and the power steering light when on. It was very hard to steer over to the side of the road. After stopping for a few minutes, I started the car and it worked fine, until the next day. Finally it would only work for a minute or two and the light and hard steering started. Had to take it to the dealer and he put in a assist motor and column kit. The cost $1041.43. The only way we got the part was that he got it from the shipment made to him for the Chevy cobalts on his lot. The part was received about a week and a half after he tried to order the part several times. There was no other way to get the part, as no one would ship it to him because of the recall on the Chevy.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #57

Apr 072010

Ion

  • 55,000 miles
The power steering went out on my 2005 Saturn Ion (55K miles). This is a widespread issue and should have been included in a recall on the cobalt, G6 and others.

- Troy, OH, USA

problem #56

Mar 102010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
Power steering randomly going out. Will be driving and then hear a chime and pwrsteer warning comes up in odometer. Steering then becomes hard and unresponsive.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #55

Apr 042010

Ion

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. While driving at approximately 75 mph, the power steering light illuminated followed by a power steering failure. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn but she was able to control the vehicle. She turned it off and restarted. Upon restarting, the power steering functioned normally again. However, a short time later, the power steering failed again but the contact was able to get the vehicle home safely. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for a diagnostic test. The current and failure mileages were approximately 33,000.

- Nitro, WV, USA

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