Sudden loss of power steering assist and trouble light came on. Worked fine after turned off and on again. Could still steer but very hard when power steering failed.

- San Dieog, CA, USA

Power steering assist ceases to function. A chime occurs, and a message "pwr str" appears on the odometer.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

I was driving down the street and all of the sudden the car was acting funny and not driving normally. Then the pwr str light came on. I pressed my onstar button and asked them to run a diagnostic check. It came back with nothing. I proceeded to the store I was going to. When I went back to the car and turned it on the steering wheel / column was loose and drove normally for about a minute. After that there was a beep and the pwr str light came on again and it was very difficult to steer.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Today while taking a left on to my road my breaks felt as if they had gone soft and spongy and it was hard to stop. After realizing this problem my vehicle's dash started beeping and the words pwr str flashed on my dash and while turning into the road my steering wheel would not turn normal. It was very hard to turn into my road almost resulting in a crash. Luckily a crash did not happen. I had one other person in the car with me. This result could have resulted in a wreck risking the lives of everyone in the car. As I had difficulty pulling into my driveway I shut the vehicle off and turned it back on resulting in the wheel turning normally. I took my car around the block to see if it were to happen again and it had. I did make it safely home after that due to the fact I took a back road. I feel that the investigation to recall the power steering in the Ions should be in affect due to the abundance of complaints about this specific problem. I do not see the reason it has not already been accomplished. For those looking to buy a Saturn Ion, these vehicles have problems and I would not recommend anyone with or without children to own a vehicle as dangerous as this one. Thank you.

- Wellston, OH, USA

I was on my honeymoon in orlando, fl. On Nov. 17th, 2011 when it went out the first time. I discovered that when I turned the vehicle off and started it again, that the power steering would return to proper operation. Since that day, it has been intermittent. No typical timing or environmental situation, just randomly stop working. It did that for several months until 3 weeks ago when it would shut off 5 minutes after starting the vehicle every time. Now, it does nothing, it never comes on. I checked both fuses and being in the vehicle industry myself, I know that a fuse, relay, or circuit breaker just dies. I feel that if it were the fuse, it would not only work sometimes but it would not work at all. I am expecting the manufacturer to replace this. As this is my 3rd Saturn and I had well over 200K on the other 2 with no problems at all.

- Savannah, GA, USA

While merging into freeway traffic on the 210W in irwindale, ca, we experienced moderate loss of steering control. The yellow engine light was on, but there was no warning beep and the pwr str light did not activate. With difficulty we were able to maintain control of the vehicle, though there was a definite increase in risk of collision. We intend to run diagnostics on the engine control computer and the steering motor.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact was driving 10 mph when the power steering warning light illuminated as the vehicle lost power abnormally. The contact had to shut off and restart the vehicle in order to correct the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that there were no recalls for the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 65,000.

- Albuquerque , NM, USA

While traveling at various speeds the power steering indicator on dash comes on and loss of power steering. As I pull over and turn off engine, then crank it returns to normal function. It is happening more frequent with out a notice and is very dangerous especially if going through a curve with only one or two hands on steering wheel.

- League City, TX, USA

First off the car started sputtering, when stopped to fill with gas wont restart for several minutes, has just died in the middle of traffic for no reason. Main concern now is the constant loss of power steering, first happened to my wife on the interstate with our 2 young grandchildren at 65 to 70 miles an hour, it just quit working scared the crap out of her she has 3 heart attacks already and am very surprised it didn't happen then!!! it has been getting more and more constant as of late, every 10 to 15 minutes if your lucky sometimes a lot quicker, you have to turn the car off then it woks however many minutes then makes a clicking noise then the alarm chimes and boom no steering again. The Chevy cobalt (same steering unit and Pontiac G6) have had recalls for this exact problem so why hasn't GM stepped up to the plate and fixed these crappy Ion 3's.

- Mt. Clare, WV, USA

On 9 March 2012, at approximately 0900 hours while traveling on the interstate, my 2007 Saturn Ion displayed the warning message/error code "pwr str" and immediately lost power steering assist. I was forced to reduce speed and, using all my upper body strength to wrench the steering wheel to the right, pulled the car to the breakdown lane on the right side of the road. This was extremely difficult without power steering. I turned the car off, read through my owner's manual, and restarted the vehicle. It ran without issue for approximately 10 miles before the code again appeared and I again lost power steering. This situation has rapidly progressed to a nightmare; the car runs for 15 to 30 minutes and then loses power steering. Turning the car off and restarting it is no longer sufficient; once it first loses the power steering, it will not run for more than 5 minutes without losing power steering again. GM informed me that there is no official recall, and therefore I would have to fund the repairs myself; the rough estimate was $1,000 in parts and labor. Research online shows that GM allegedly sent out a notice regarding this issue, however I can honestly attest that I never received any such notification, and had the steering not failed on my vehicle, I would never have been aware of it. Currently, I cannot use the car at all because it poses a serious danger to myself and others. As an active duty member of the armed forces, this is just absolutely unacceptable and jeopardizes my career.

- Hinesville, GA, USA

Within the last month, this vehicle has begun to experience power steering failures at random intervals. As you are driving, the pwr str light will come on and the power steering itself will fail. This happens at random times, occurring several times on some days, and other times going several days with no occurrence. Upon failure, if you turn off the engine, and restart the car, the steering will work again. There is no set speed for this occurrence either. I've had it happen on the freeway at full speed, (60mph) and at other times in parking lots where I'm doing 5 to 10mph. I am filing this report because my research has led me to believe this is not an uncommon problem, not only with Saturn, but with other GM products as well.

- Burlington, WA, USA

Yesterday afternoon I was driving on our main city road, going 35-40mph. What sounded like the seat belt alarm went off a few times, then all of a sudden the power steering went out. The same thing happened again on the same day as I was backing out of a driveway. It seems to be a sporadic issue because it didn't happen again last night. Not wanting to take any chances, I dropped the car off at my local mechanics last night....just got the call from him that the car needs a new steering motor. This could be an extremely dangerous event and the car should be recalled. I'm a 47 yr old woman with ms and it's nearly impossible for me to take a turn when the power steering is out.

- Mentor, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the powering steering warning light illuminated as the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the failure. The failure mileage was 78,500 and the current mileage was 80,388. Updated 03/27/12 updated 03/30/12

- Stevens Point , WI, USA

Power steering loss while moving. Two occurrences: At 35-40mph and at 25-30mph. Total loss of power steering. Engine must be shut off and restarted to regain function. While there is a current recall on 2005-10 Chevrolet cobalts and 2007-10 Pontiac G5S, N.H.T.S.a. you fail to follow though with Saturn. GM has issued a letter stating that Ions, too, were affected.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

The power steering just went out.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

Electric assist power steering failure.

- Glen Mills, PA, USA

The power steering light came on when I was backing out of a parking spot. I lost all power steering. Then I check it later tonight and it magically works again. So I guess tomorrow it'll go out again. Just hope its not when I am taking a corner.

- Azle, TX, USA

Power steering went out when turning a corner, prompting loss of control. Vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and hit a curb. Thankfully, it was not hit by any oncoming vehicles and there does not appear to be any damage to the vehicle. A "pwr steer" warning came on just as loss of power steering occurred. Once vehicle power was switched off and back on, power steering was restored, only to go out again 5 miles later.

- Antioch, TN, USA

The power steering went out. The power steering came back on the next day but has been intermittently going in and out ever since the first incident date.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

Operating the 2007 Saturn Ion with 80,000 miles on a major highway when "pwr steering" appeared on my dash display. The vehicle became difficult to control; however, I'm a 28 year old marine and I can handle the vehicle. If this was to occur to an adult over 65 years of age or to a teenage driver, then this could most certainly cause a wreck. I have been driving my vehicle without pwr steering as I can not afford the $1500 replacement/fix of the power steering problem. I'm waiting for a recall. The subject vehicle was bought new in October 2006 and I have been the only owner.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA