My wife was driving our 2006 Saturn Ion on a state highway in vt when the power steering abruptly cut out on the car. She was barely able to steer it to the side of the road where she shut the vehicle off and then restarted it. The power steering continued to work for another couple of minutes and then cut out again. We rely on this car and are still making payments on it. This incident did not cause an accident, however if she had been in a more residential area or if it had been raining me, my wife, our 4 year old daughter, a pedestrian, or another driver could easily have been hurt or killed. GM customer service has been absolutely not helpful when I have contacted them multiple times about this issue. I have confirmed with a local dealer that this is part of an active recall on the power steering motor, but GM could not even give me an estimation about when I would be able to get this fixed. I am at a loss for what to do because they are failing to address this recall. I never even received a notice about this recall or the ignition switch recall in March. I had no idea that I was driving an incredibly dangerous vehicle for two months!!! this issue has impacted our ability to perform day to day functions such as getting our daughter to daycare and getting us to work. We live in a rural area and cannot afford to just buy or rent another vehicle. I don't know what to do or how long I am going to have to make payments on a car that I cannot even drive because the manufacturer failed to build it properly and to notify me as an owner of any issues. I am angry and disheartened by this and I just want someone to do something to get this fixed. I am now going to have to use money that I don't have to pay for a replacement part for a car that is recalled because I simply cannot wait an indeterminate amount of time for GM to address this recall.

- Chester, VT, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the power steering suddenly malfunction causing the steering wheel very difficult to turn. Additionally the contact also indicated that while driving, the vehicle would stall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the power steering and the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Norlina, NC, USA

My power steering went out while driving down the road at a high rate of speed. This is the 3rd time this has happened within 3 weeks. It is extremely dangerous and has almost caused me a wreck. I do not have the $1000 that it is estimated to take to fix this.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

While at a gas station, I could not get the key out of the ignition. When I finally got the key out of the ignition, I could not get the key to turn and start the vehicle again.

- Pike Road, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 35 mph, the power steering assist failed intermittently. The contact had difficulty maneuvering the steering wheel from left to right. The vehicle was turned off and the contact was able to restart the vehicle but the vehicle stalled again without warning. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V153000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,802.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

My car is actively losing the power steering no less than 5 times every day. I have to find an appropriate place to pull over to turn my car off to reset for the power steering to be operational again. Every day it is getting worse.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

While driving home from work, the message center gave a message of "pwr str, " and the power steering went out on my 2006 Saturn Ion. I pulled over, turned off the ignition, started the car and the problem temporarily fixed itself enough to make it back home. I later drove the car again a short distance (about 5 miles) and the same message popped up and the power steering went out. I checked the power steering fluid level, and it appears to be full. After some research on the internet, I found that many other owners of this make/model have complained about the same issue, and have paid up to $1,000 to have it fixed.

- Dunlap, TN, USA

After receiving my vehicle back from having the ignition recall fixed my power steering went out the next day. I have filed a power steering complaint previously before it went out. I had pulled into a car was and a truck was coming out the entrance. It backed up to let me in. At that point my power steering went out causing me to head straight for the truck. I stopped and the truck backed ip. I turn to the left to go in the direction I needed to go and the steering wheel locked at a speed of 10 miles and hour when it was turned completely to the left and the car would only go straight. The wheel then started to make a screeching sound and grinding sound and was shaking. I turned the wheel to the right and it would only go straight. I went in reverse and the forward again and it finally turned. Having to other option I drove the 2 miles to my home. Whenever I would turn the car would turn but wouldnot straighten out to the forward position correctly. It was very delayed. I am now not able to drive my vehicle and am for the fear that I could get in an accident or lose control.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated then the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,750 and the current mileage was 65,799.

- Nashville, NC, USA

Power steering seems to be failing. When turning at any speed the steering is hard and seems to not be working correctly. It feels like it is going to stop working at any moment. This issue is a sudden problem not something gradually getting worse.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

Within an hour of bringing the vehicle home from getting the fuel pump replaced on April 25, 2014, I received a frantic call from my daughter, panicked she had just been involved in an accident. She states she was driving home in a residential area and the car started veering back and forth uncontrollably. The car careened into the curb damaging the front passenger side and tire. It hit with such force, the vehicle ricochet back into the middle of the road. My daughter then shifted it into park, turned it off and attempted to exit. The doors would not open and could not be unlocked, manually or with the key fob. 2 men driving by stopped and attempted to help her out of the vehicle, with no luck. As a last resort, she had to break out the driver side front window to escape. I then called dayl graves dealership, and was instructed to have the vehicle towed back to their dealership so they could evaluate the vehicle. It is currently still at their dealership. After kevin, the mechanic, looked at the vehicle, he determined it was an issue with the power steering motor & column. Updated 08/20/14

- Walla Walla, WA, USA

There has been at least 4 times that while my car was idling at either a red light, stop sign, or what have you, my car would just shut off after making a rough idling noise. This scared the crap out of me the first time it happened. If I were to shut my car off & turn it back on, it would then go away. It made me weary of driving because you never knew when or where that could happen. The second incident would be my power stewing. My car would "ding" and the power steering light would come on making my wheel stiffen up immediately. Again, if I would turn the car off and then back on again, the problem would stop... for a little bit. Started off at once or twice a week, then once a day maybe, now I can't even go a block from my house without it coming on. Frustrating and dangerous to say the least.

- Turtle Creek, PA, USA

L was driving my 2006 Saturn Ion which L bought brand new in 2006 going to pick up my granddaughter in howell mi I was on interstate with my cruise control on as L went on exit interstate, L turned off cruise control when L did that it shut my car down completely, L was merging on another interstate with no engine running no power steering and unable to restart engine. There was no where to pull over off road safely, L was almost killed car had to come to a complete stop to restart. I have had this happen to me 3 different times, L have taken car to Chevy dealership many time complaining about this matter, they said they could not find any problems, L have stopped using my cruise control. L really have a lemon sunroof does not work sun roof leaks, the car starts when it wants to, lam retired 65 years old and take very good care of the Saturn Ion, L would be afraid to sell this 2006 Saturn Ion to the public, L don't want to kill anyone, the car sits, not using it, won't sell it, what can be done? and there is no retail value for this car.now there is a recall on ignition switch I feel so very sorry for the people that lost their lives, L was lucky that L was not one that was killed, as L said earlier, this car went to dealership 3 different times on this matter, last time L took the car in was last summer 2013, mechanic drove Saturn Ion and told me there is nothing wrong. The car sits.

- Brooklyn , MI, USA

As I was driving to the store I made it about two minutes from my house when I made my first left turn. As I started to turn I noticed my steering was getting difficult, then the three beeps and a display of pwr str went off on my car. Lucky I wasn't on a busy road or thruway on my way to work or school because as I turned into the nearest parking lot the steering was almost impossible. I had it towed to my repair asap and was told my power steering motor had to be replace. This repair like any other cost a few hundred dollars that I was surely very unhappy to dish out. I am the second owner of this car and after already receiving the recall notice of the ignition system I went online and checked if there was any recall in the past on the steering. I was surprised to see my websites with people who had the same problem as me however there was no official recall just GM would repair the steering if brought to their dealership, had I known this I would of taken it there. So the next day I called GM's customer service line to hopefully get reimbursed my repair bill since if they are aware of the problem they should be responsible to repay for it instead of just offering to make a scheduled appointment with their dealership to perform the maintenance whenever they're available. I was told since there are four reasons for the steering to fail there hasn't been a final recall made and therefore they are unable to reimburse me. The only advice I got was to wait around for the official recall and then once I receive it then go through the reimbursement cycle. I am not happy about this at all, if GM knows there is a problem they should take responsibility for it. My steering went off completely without notice and I easily could of been in an accident!

- Cheektowaga, NY, USA

At random my car beeped and the power steering indicated on the dash and my car became hard to maneuver. Within a two week period my car has had power steering failure 4 times. First occurrence: I was making a turn from one road to another. Second occurrence: While coming to a stop at a stop sign coming to an end on an off ramp from the interstate. The third occurrence: Driving on a 45mph road, approaching a curve. Forth occurrence: On the interstate traveling at 70mph with cruise control set with heavy traffic around me. Each time I had to either stop on the road, pull off the road to the shoulder or make due till I found an area to stop, to turn the car off and restart again, after restarting the car the steering became very loose and just as hard to maneuver.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

My 17-year old son was driving home from a friend's house. Making a left turn at an intersection on a local street, he reported that he heard a chime sound and then the steering wheel "locked up" (his words). He said he was unable to steer the car. He stated that the info display showed "pwr str" and he had to stop the car, turn the ignition switch off, then restart the car. Luckily, this occurred on a local street where there was no other traffic at the time. After restart, the steering operated properly. He, as well as my daughter, are concerned about this happening again.

- Scarsdale, NY, USA

2006 Saturn Ion. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle ignition problems. The consumer stated a year ago, she could not turn the ignition key, and a message stated the key did not match the ignition and was locked. After an hour, the vehicle finally started. The repair shop was unable to find a problem. It happened 3 more times. The consumer received a recall letter, regarding the power steering. However, the parts were not available. Updated 09/08/14

- Fleetwood, PA, USA

I was driving in the freeway and then suddenly the power steering light came up and my wheel was very hard to drive, last week I could even drive my car 2 miles because the wheel turned impossible to drive I don't know what to do.

- Bridgeport , CT, USA

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 NHTSA. 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...........

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

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 NHTSA. 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.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA