2005 SATURN ION Complaints

THE IGNITION ON THE 2005 SATURN ION WILL LOCK WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE "ON" POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION COMPONENTS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN I WOULD TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF I COULD ONLY TURN THE KEY HALF AND WOULD TAKE A WHILE BEFORE I COULD GET THE CAR TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND THE KEY OUT. ON APRIL 17TH I WENT TO MY NIGHT JOB IT TOOK 3 TO 4 HRS FOR THE KEY TO FINALLY COME LOOSE AFTER TRYING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT EVENING AROUND 10:30 PM IT TOOK TILL 4:30AM TO FINALLY GET MY KEY OUT. ON COMSUMERAFFAIRS.COM THERE IS 47 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE MINE STARTING BACK FROM 4-8-2006 AND THE LAST ONE WAS REPORTED ON 8-11-2010. WHY HASN'T GM STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALLED AND REPLACED THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO SPEND $442.65 FOR A NEW SHIFTER AND CABLE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT TWICE TODAY ON MY 2005 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS WILL BE TAKING IT INTO THE SHOP IN THE MORNING. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE PROBLEM AND IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL NOTICE THAT GM FOR THE PONTIAC G5 AND THE CHEVY COBALT. WHAT GIVES? THE SATURN IONS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL IMMEDIATELY!!!!! *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILS AFTER VEHICLE IS ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON RESETS IT. FUSE IS INTACT (POWER STEERING IN THIS CAR IS ELECTRICAL, NOT HYDRAULIC). *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TURNED ON. SUDDENLY I WAS STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE THE CAR TURN TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS REALLY HARD UP UNTIL I TURNED IT OFF. I TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND IT WORKED. LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE GOING TO WORK, THEN COMING BACK TO WORK. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY OTHER DAY NOW FOR THE PAST WEEK. THERE IS APPARENTLY NO PARTS THAT I CAN CHANGE FOR IT. AND BECAUSE SATURN IONS USE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ADD STEERING FLUID SINCE THERE IS NO RESERVOIR. IT SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS ELECTRONIC DEFECT A LOT OF SATURN ION OWNERS ARE HAVING. *TR

I WAS JUST DRIVING AND I HEARD A CLICK AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 3 OR 4 MINUTES AFTER I START DRIVING EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. HEARD IT COSTS ANY WHERE FROM $500- $1000 TO FIX. HAVE ALSO FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING ONE DAY JUST CUT OFF WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. IT WAS FINE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. I TRIED CHANGING FUSES BUT NOTHING WORKED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT HAS THE SAME CAR, AND I HEARD ITS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF ION'S. NOW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL AND THIS IS A HAZARD TO MY DRIVING ABILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING THEN FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BECOME ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESTART IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RESET ITSELF AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,520 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/7/10 *CN

I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN DRIVING. IT WAS ONCE A MONTH OR SO BUT NOW IT IS EVERY TIME. HAVE TAKEN IT TO AUTO SHOPS AND THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE PICKS UP OUR TWO CHILDREN. WE DRIVE IN TOWN AND ON THE INTERSTATE AS WELL. VERY UNSAFE! THE SATURN DEALERSHIP CLOSED DOWN LAST YEAR AND THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 1 HOUR AWAY VIA INTERSTATE. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF TO RESET THE STEERING. IT WORKS WELL FOR ONLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. THIS IS NOW A DAILY OCCURRENCE. *TR

A WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE STATING "POWER STEERING OUT" IN CENTER OF DASHBOARD GOES ON, A LOAD BEEP SOUNDS AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A DAY IN MY 16 MILES ROUND TRIP COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE AS OF TODAY. I TURN ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND POWER STEERING RE-ENGAGES. *TR