10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 18 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 12 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 66,767 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Our 2007 Saturn Ion with 12,000 miles lost steering control due to short circuit in steering assist motor. The loss of the power assist while in the mountains resulted 90% steering loss and almost lost control of vehicle. Last year in a similar auto owned by our family the 2006 Chevy cobalt lost power steering assist but shorted out while the car was on but parked. I am surprised no safety recalls have been issued.
- Riverside, CA, USA
2007 Saturn Ion steering locks up while driving, causing unsafe conditions.
- Hillsboro, NH, USA
Saturn Ion (07) suddenly loses steering while driving and "pwr str" is displayed on the odometer. The vehicle chimes 3-4 times in rapid succession and by the end of that chiming, the steering wheel is completely locked.
- Hillsboro, NH, USA
Gas accelerating on it's on in a Saturn Ion 2007 causing wreck 2 times, fuse blew in power steering causing wreck 1 time.
- Gilbert, WV, USA
My wheel began to be hard to turn. The power steering went out in the car. This is a 2007 car so why has it gone out so fast and this is so expensive to fix due to this is an electric problem now and this is making my arm and shoulders hurt.
- Dallas, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. While driving 35 mph the steering column locked. She then put the vehicle into neutral to resume normal vehicle operation. However after several minutes of driving the vehicle failed again.. the vehicle was taken to the dealer multiple times for inspection. Since the technicians could not duplicate the failure they could not provide a remedy. An independent mechanic concluded power steering module needed to be repaired at her expense. The failure mileage was 35000 and current mileage was 54000.
- Buena Park , CA, USA
Power steering suddenly became inoperable while vehicle was in motion. The steering then becomes functional again after the car is shut off and re-started. The danger is that it malfunctions randomly while driving, and is very dangerous. Research indicates that the problem is widespread with this vehicle.
- Bethlehem, GA, USA
"pwr str" was displayed on the odometer and the power steering immediately went out. After turning the vehicle off and back on, the power steering worked fine but every time after driving for more than a few minutes, the same thing happens and I lose power steering again.
- Riverside, NJ, USA
I have had my 2007 Saturn for almost 3 years my power steering went out on the car. I have a 100,000 mile or 5 year warranty and Saturn is saying it's not covered under my warranty because the power steering is electric. Now I've that's a common problem with Saturn. And I'm sorry but it's very dangerous driving without power steering. So does this mean every 3 years I'm going to have to pay 700 hundred dollars to have it fixed. The power steering cuts in and out and sometimes while I'm turning. I could get slammed by another car because all the sudden my car loses it's power steering.
- Mcdonough, GA, USA
We have a 2007 Saturn Ion with 45,000 miles. Yesterday the power steering motor went out. Motor is part of the steering column so we have to have it all replaced. Quote by a Saturn dealer is $1000. We talked to a local, reputable, mechanic and he informed us that driving the car in such a condition could result in the car catching on fire from the heat generated from turning without the power assist. This is an ongoing issue going back several year models of Ion's. we do not feel we should have to pay to have a safety issue fixed on the car. There should be a recall.
- Tecumseh, OK, USA
TL - the contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. Since purchasing the vehicle a thumping sound has been coming from the steering column. The steering became very tight and hard when making a right turn. When making a left turn the steering was very easy. When taken to a dealer the diagnosis was that the complete steering column needs to be replaced. The contact filed a complaint with General Motors and the reference number is 716555540051. The current mileage was 45,780. Kg updated 10/03/08 updated 10/15/08.
- Locust Grove, GA, USA
Upon purchase of vehicle, over driveway slopes, or other road bumps vehicle has loud popping and clunking noise. Vehicle also has popping noise and feeling under feet of driver and passenger while steering at stand still or while driving...vehicle when experiencing road hazards that cause braking action while steering locks up and jolts forward causing loss of control of vehicle for random time amounts. All of these problems have been reported to dealer, taken in for repairs, (3X) each time I have been told problem is fixed, problem can not be duplicated. I drive vehicle home and the problem is either partially better for a couple weeks or not better at all. During the time that vehicle was partially better for a couple of weeks a strut mount was replaced on a vehicle with only 9,000 miles (after the 2nd attempt to discover issue) 3rd attempt only had a steering issue addressed, (I shaft dry and binding) however this has only partially solved the problem. Vehicle still pops, clunks and has issue with loss of control over unexpected road hazards while braking.
- White Lake, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that when he removed his hands from the steering wheel, the vehicle pulled to the left. The failure occurs while driving between 2-60 mph. The dealer aligned the steering wheel but, after the repair was made, the vehicle began pulling to the right. The failure mileage was 17 and current mileage was 2,058.
- Fontana , CA, USA
- Temecula, CA, USA