The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving at 45 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact moved the vehicle off the roadway and after several minutes, the power steering reset itself. The contact had experienced the failure approximately thirty times. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was able to secure an appointment with the dealer for repairs. The failure mileage was 35,876 and the current mileage as 35,102.

- Safety Harbor, FL, USA

Power steering failure.

- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA

2006 Saturn Ion, VIN [xxx], electronic power steering (eps) failed while driving. Steering requires excessive force. Safety issue. Eps failure is intermittent. Dealership service department has indicated that recently 1.3 million 2005 cobalts were recalled for the very same problem. The dealership service advisor informed us that they anticipate a similar recall on 2006 models that have similar eps configurations. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Antonio, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While the contact was driving approximately 55 mph, a chime sounded inside of the vehicle followed by the power steering warning light illumination. Suddenly, there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road with difficulty turning the steering wheel. The engine was turned off. The vehicle restarted and resumed with the functioning of the power steering for a short period of time before failure. The failure occurred intermittently at various speeds traveled. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 10/27/10 the consumer stated GM issued a recall to fix the problem. Updated 11/01/10

- Somerville, AL, USA

Was driving along one day heard a chime in my car, looked at the dash...it said "pwr strng" and at that very moment I had lost my power steering. From then on until the present it goes out and comes back on after I have shut the car off but only for a short time, then it goes right back out again.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

The power steering in my 2006 Saturn Ion would fail intermittently beginning in August of 2009. There would be a clicking noise in my steering column, the power steering alert indicator would flash and then the power steering would fail. The problem persisted with the failures occurring more frequently and longer in length of failure time. They occurred at random speeds and during different times of a drive, (I.e. in the middle of a turn, on a straight path, when I start the car, longer into the drive, etc..) as of April of 2010, the power steering is more or less gone. I don't have power steering more than I do have power steering. I took it into the dealer to find out what the problem was and they said it was a faulty control module. It is an $800 repair. I am wondering why the exact same part was recalled in the Chevy cobalt and not the Saturn Ion. This car, and others like it with this part in installed, are not safe to drive with the power steering constantly failing.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

While making a turn, the power steering on my 2006 Saturn Ion suddenly went out. As a result, I had to steer the car without power steering to a parking lot and turned off the ignition to check under the hood. Turning the car off temporarily resolved the issue.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

While driving down the street going approximately 50 mph, a message came on in the dashboard saying pwr steer, and then it felt like my steering wheel locked up and I couldn't turn it left or right. I had to stop at a gas station and ask for help. When I turned my car back on, the power steering was working again. This has happened 3 times since then.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

While driving on the highway there was a clicking noise, a chime and the pwr str light illuminated on the dash. I had to bring the car off the highway, without power steering. When I turned the car off and on again, it was fine. About a week later, same event. Now can happen within 30 seconds of starting a drive or go a day without happening. It has been an issue on and off for over two weeks now.

- Quincy, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving at 40 mph on May 10, 2010, the power steering module suddenly failed. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the module was burned. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000. The current mileage was approximately 54,000. Updated 10/27/10.

- Navasota, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving at 20 mph, the contact noticed that the power steering suddenly stopped functioning warning. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 57,000.

- Harlan, KY, USA

While driving a 2006 Saturn Ion, the power steering suddenly fails after the sound of a small click. The dashboard chimes with the message warning pwr str. It becomes extremely difficult to maneuver the vehicle, but not impossible to drive it. More force from the driver is required to make turns. Turning and parking the vehicle are extremely difficult without the power steering. After shutting off the car and turning it back on the power steering is restored. At first the problem only occurred a few times in a week. After three weeks, the power steering fails constantly after 30 or 40 seconds of starting the vehicle. A fuse was replaced, but no change has occurred. The power steering continues to fail.

- Springfield, IL, USA

We have a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving it looses power steering. Same problem GM is having with cobalt. Why are they not recalling the Saturn Ion's. numerous concerns and very dangerous?

- Janesville, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving at approximately 40 mph, the power steering warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. There was an immediate loss of power steering control and the contact was able to move the vehicle off the roadway without incident. When restarted, the power steering had returned and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The failure recurred within minutes. The vehicle was taken to a local repairs facility where unknown repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure continued to recur intermittently at any speed traveled. The failure and current mileages were 69,046.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

My Saturn Ion 2006 power steering stops working. My problem began around the 40,000 mile mark. The cost is extremely high to repair over $1,200.

- Emporia, KS, USA

I own a 2006 Saturn Ion. The power steering fails intermittently. Speed does not matter. The power steering light comes on and the steering goes out. If the car is turned of it comes back on. This happens on the highway at 55 mph or more so I feel it is dangerous. GM has recalled some cars with the same steering units but not Ions. The dealer has advised it will be $500 or more to fix. Many problems are documented online about this problem in the Ion. Please investigate and get a recall started for this. Why should we have to pay for a known GM part problem.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

The incident date listed was when the first occurrence happened. I was driving home when my power steering suddenly quit working. I pulled into an auto parts store and bought some power steering fluid. The power steering turns out is all electric and needs no fluid. I then turned the car back on to continue driving home and I made it there with no problems. I was driving back from church two days later and the power steering went out again. I pulled over, turned off the car and started it back up. Power steering was working fine. It went out on me again 5 minutes later and I pulled over and turned off the car and stated it back up. Power steering worked fine again for about 10 more minutes before it went out again. Needless to say the power steering quit on me three times in one trip home from church. I took it to my local GM dealer and paid $70 bucks to have a diagnostic run. Turns out their is an intermittent short in the power steering assist motor- code "CO429". the power steering motor must be replaced to fix the problem which is quite costly, $429.39 on top of the $70 dollars I have already paid.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving at any speed, the power steering system failed. The contact spoke with the dealer and was advised to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was 41,888. The failure mileage was 41,868.

- Harbor Springs, MI, USA

Power steering has went out on my 2006 Ion 2. light comes on and a sound alarm goes off. This happens while driving down the road. It is a safety hazard.

- Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

Power steering intermittently fails. Turning the vehicle off, then on will reset the power steering unit and the car will function normally for a period of time. The failure occurs every 10-30 minutes of drive time without regard to driving conditions or weather. Upon failure the vehicle immediately becomes difficult to steer and maneuver.

- Clarksville, TN, USA