15 problems related to lose power steering have been reported for the 2005 Saturn ION. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Gm sent a recall notice for the power steering motor failing so I took the car in for service. ( 2005 Saturn Ion 2 ) up until replacing the motor we hadn't had any problems. Within three days of replacing the motor the power steering went out while driving through a parking lot. Now the gm dealer wants $900 to replace the module in the steering column. This is a dangerous problem. If the power steering goes out while changing lanes or turning around a corner and you unexpectedly lose the power steering you could very easily wreck. I've looked through the NHTSA complaints and this isn't an isolated issue. Other power steering motor replacements have power steering module failures soon after the motor replacement. It's time for NHTSA to demand gm issue a recall for this obvious dangerous condition.
I was turning a corner and lost all power steering. Almost went off the curb.
Driving at 55 mph on a straight section of highway 703, the power steering warning came on and I lost the power steering. I pulled over with no power steering, turned off the vehicle then restarted the error cleared and I had power steering again. I can't trust that this won't happen again at a much more dangerous place and at a slower speed which would make the vehicle much harder to control.
Driving down freeway and warning light came on and lost power steering. Very very difficult to steer. Luckily husband was driving because wife could not have muscled.
My 2005 Ion lost power steering at 45mph. Pulled over and shut it off then it came back. Been hearing reports that his happens to a lot of these cars. Really don't have the money to fix it as it seem to be expensive. If I had known, I wouldn't have bought the car. Hope a recall is on it, cause this could be dangerous.
Lost of power steering started some time in 2009,I have no record of the date,but in one of the incidents 06/10/2011 I took a picture of the dashboard showing the date and message on the speedometer. I restarted the engine every time this happen to get it back to power steering . Then I had a situation when I lost speed as I was traveling on a city avenue. The car lost speed when I was traveling around 35 mph,it made a alarm or warning sound and drop down to 10mph and I could not get back to 35mph,I stop the car and I restarted the engine,that was the only way it would recover the power on the engine. It happens two or three times in one month.
Traveling approx. 65 mph instrument panel *dinged* the pwr str* came upon the panel. At that time I lost power steering while traveling full speed and had a hard time pulling off the exit. Once off the exit car was turned off and restarted and began to operate properly. This happened 3 times within 2 hours.
I have a 2005 Saturn Ion, 2. 2 l. The power steering light has gone on july16 - July 18 and lost power steering 5 different times. I have difficult making any kind of turn then. I have to pull over somewhere safe, stop the car, wait a minute or two and start the car up again. The power steering is then fine again. I watch for the warning now because I am not sure if the power steering will go out again. The weather on the days the power steering went out has been very,very hot- 90's to 100's. I have not gone to dealership to look at it, still debating what to do.
I own a 2005 Saturn Ion. I have 3 more payments left on it. I was driving on the highway on 7/16/10 and my pwr str light came on the display. I immediately lost power steering. I have researched this on the web and it appears that thousands of people are having this issue. Apparently there was a recall on 3 or 4 other gm models of cars that have the same "power steering motor" however, the Saturn does not appear to be one of them.
Power steering light comes on and lose all power steering until car is shut off and turned back on.
Power steering has been going out on my 2005 Saturn Ion. After searching on the internet for causes, I realized many people are having the same problem. It was said that the system used has been recalled in other gm models, but not the Saturn Ion line. It was suggested by the other owners that we submit this problem in an effort for a recall. It is a safety issue when you lose your power steering without notice. Luckily at his point I have not had a situation causing any damage or injury. Just inconvenience and worry about when it will go out again. Thank you.
My car key gets stuck in my Saturn Ion 2005 after I have shut it off, also when I try to turn the key it will not turn, I have to turn the wheel and jiggle the key to get it to start. Looks like this is a very common problem in the Saturn Ions. Also the power steering goes out in my car, but once I shut the car off and on the power steering problem goes away but after about 10-15 minutes give or take the light comes back on and I lose power steering. Sometimes this problem will go away for a couple of days, but it comes back. This is very dangerous as it is hard for me to make sharp turns. Took the car in to the shop today, luckily still on warranty, but shame on Saturn because after doing research online, these are very very common problems with Saturn. I will never buy another Saturn! OH and my transmission light will come on and I can't drive fast. That happened for a week and then went away for a couple of months now it is back. I was on the interstate when this happened and could only go 35 mph. Thank god it wasn't rush hour. That is being fixed also. . .
Was driving to pick up my son from work. Heard a little beep-beep go off, and when I looked at the dash-board it said "pwr str" I had lost the power steering in my 2005 Saturn Ion. I had to get the car to drift to the side of the road, then I turned it off for a minute because I got really nervous as to what would happen next. I turned the car back on and the light had gone out and the steering seemed to be back to normal. I called the Saturn dealership the following Monday (Aug. 31) to bring in the car to see what the problem was. Mind you I have 31,000 miles on my car and my car is well taken care of and is always maintained. Saturn told me after a "diagnostic test" it was the power steering module motor and it had to be replaced for $1200. 00 dollars!! this particular problem with this make and model car is all over the internet!! gm refuses to accept responsibility for the defect and has the nerve to charge customers for what is their fault to begin with. Needless to say I am getting rid of my car and I will never ever buy another Saturn or gm car again!!.
On my 2005 Saturn Ion 3, the power steering went out while driving. I turned the car off after pulling over and restarted and it came back. I read that others have had the same problem. Why is there no recall on this. This is a dangerous situation to lose power steering at high speed. Power steering is electrical. On most web sites discussing this, it seems to be a regular problem with Saturn owners.
2005 Saturn Ion 2 - two problems 1. Most recent - key stuck in ignition and the car will not shut off! turned key many times, tried pliers and the key still stuck. Battery now disconnected and relay disconnected. Have seen other complaints of this problem with Ions. 2. Steering column - fault code "pwr str" comes up and car loses power steering. Will reset if car is turned off, but will do it again within a couple of minutes.