Lose Power Steering problems of the 2006 Saturn ION

I was driving on interstate 10 in san antonio texas in 5 p. M. Traffic when my car lost power steering control lights blink in the dash and I had to pull over to the side of the road I was on the left side shoulder for 2 hours waiting for a tow truck same problem happened in 2014 when the car was recalled for the power steering issue and fixed for free in 2014.

On July 21,2018, I started my Saturn Ion 2006 in the morning , I saw there is a message "pwr str", and then I found the car lost the power steering, it is very difficult to turn the car on the road, when I finnally drive it into a Chevrolet dealer, they said the car had already been fixed in a 2004 recall and they decline to replace the power steering for free.

Lost of power steering. Message appearing power steering von dash board. While driving lost of power steering and not being able to drive vehicle.

As I was driving the power steering light came on and I lost power steering. If the car is turned off it will return. It has become more frequent and intermittant.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact managed the vehicle to the shoulder and realized that the power steering had also failed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 48,000. Updated 7/31/12 the consumer stated the vehicle suddenly lost power steering at a high speed of 65 mph. It was difficult to turn off the road, but he managed to do so. It occurred again at slower speeds, too. The consumer stated he read online that stopping the vehicle, and turning it off would re-activate the power steering for awhile. The dealer replaced the power steering motor free of charge. Updated 08/01/12.

I was backing out of my driveway in the morning before heading to work and as I shifted the car into drive and started to accelerate the pwr str alert was displayed and I found it very difficult to move the steering wheel. I then shut off the car and turned it back on and the power steering was restored. I made it fine to work and had no problems after that. However, that Friday, February 4th, I was on the highway on my way for a weekend trip to mi and once again the pwr str alert came on again. I pulled over to the shoulder as soon as I could so that I could attempt to restart my car to hopefully regain power steering. I restarted my car and I was able to gain power steering again. However, after about 15 mins on the road, I lost power steering again. It was very hard to maneuver the car and I was very afraid of what would happen if I had to swerve to avoid an accident. I found it especially harder to turn at slower speeds so making a right hand turn onto a side street was very hard. Then on Sunday, February 5th, I was driving again and at first the power steering was working fine, but I found that within 20 mins of my trip the pwr str alert came on again and I had no power steering again. I find this to be a major issue and is very unsafe for any driver especially young ladies such as myself who have to use both arms pulling down on one side of the steering wheel just to make a slight turn around a bend. When I was getting off the highway and going down the off ramp I found that my front wheels were skipping on the pavement as I was making the turn and I was pulling really hard on the steering wheel just to be able to turn. I fear what would happen if it went out and there's snow. I hope that something is done about this issue to insure the safety of not only those driving the cars that are loosing their power steering, but also for the other drivers on the road.

12/29/2011 - driving on freeway at around 55 mph and my message screen showed "pwr str" and I lost my power steering. It became very difficult to steer. 01/01/2012 - driving on roadway at around 45 mph and my message screen showed "pwr str" and I lost my power steering. It became very difficult to steer. With both times when I shut the car off and re-started the problem went away.

I was driving on the highway when my car lost power steering. A message on the center console said pwr str. I pulled over at the next rest area and turned off the car and restarted it, and the power steering was functioning correctly. About another 30 miles later the same thing has happened, and it has been intermittent since. Restarting the car seems to temporarily resolve the issue.

This happened on my daughters 2006 Saturn Ion with less than 25,000 miles. She had been making a right hand turn in a duoble turn lane off an angulared intersection (about 60 degrees). She was in the outside lane with a semi-truck making the turn along side, left of her. She was going approx. 25 mph. When she lost the power steering and almost veered under the trailor. Thank god she didn't go under under it or she probably would have been killed. The eps has failed 4 times since. I see that gm has acknowledged this problem with their other models and posted recalls for them, but not for Saturn. 846 Saturn complaints to odi and 3,489 reports to gm and no recalls!!! how many people have to report a crash or sadly enough, have to die, before something is done. I've been out of work for sometime and can not afford the reported $1,000 repair at a dealer that admits there is a problem. Nhtsa and or gm, stand up for what is right and do something. Since when is the loss of steering not a major issue!!!.

We lost our power steering,going around a curve @ 45 mph,almost lost control. We shut the car off and it reset on starting. It kept going off and on for 100 miles,requiring us to pull over and stop and start the car every time, until we got home now.

Driving on highway in my 2006 Saturn Ion. Her a "beep" notification from the dash and simultaneously, I lost all power steering. Warning on dash stated "pwr strng".

While my wife was driving our 2006 Saturn Ion, the "pwr str" light came on and she lost power steering control. Shutting off the engine resumed the power steering to the vehicle but repeated the failure numerous times before being able to drive the vehicle home. This is now occurring numerous times without any warning. This I believe is a safety related item which should require a recall of this vehicle. The vehicle is barely drivable because it is so difficult to make turns. The vehicle only has 40,000 miles.

I recently have experienced a loss of power steering in my 2006 Saturn Ion. This has randomly occurred four times over the past two weeks. Suddenly, the warning message "pwr str" will appear in place of my digital odometer reading and the car will immediately lose power steering and becomes extremely difficult to steer and dangerous to drive. I have found that am able to "reset" the steering by pulling over and turning the car off and back on again. I have never experienced this problem prior to two weeks ago. The car has approx 185k miles on it. After experiencing this issue today (the fourth time it has happened), I did a search on the internet and learned that NHTSA is currently investigating Saturn Ions for this issue (NHTSA action number : rq10004), to determine whether the vehicle should have been included in a recall for the same issue with other gm cars. Please consider this complaint in your investigation.

While driving at 70mph the power steering light came on and I lost power steering. I exited the interstate and pulled off the road. I turned the engine off then counted to 10 and started it up,the light went out and the power steering was back. The next time I was in city traffic when the power steering light can on and the power steering died. Again I pulled over and restarted the engine and it was ok. The problem is intermitent and unpredictable. I went online with Saturn and they recommend a Saturn service center. I also read blogs that the repair will be over $1000 and not covered by a recall or warrenty. I have parked my Saturn Ion in the driveway and may have to tow it to a dealer.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While traveling 15 mph the contact noticed that the power steering light appeared on the dashboard, seconds later the vehicle lost all power steering. The vehicle was not diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 81000.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while driving 60 mph the power steering system suddenly malfunctioned which made it difficult to control the steering wheel. The contact had to drive onto the emergency lane and shut the vehicle off. When the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle the power steering system began to function properly. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the power steering system they stated there were no related recalls. The contact was concerned that the lost of power steering could result in a crash. The failure mileage was 117,000.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact received a letter from the manufacturer stating that the vehicle could potentially lose power steering capabilities and that the dealer would repair the issue only after the failure occurred. The contact was concerned because he did not know if and when the failure would occur. He called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileages were approximately 33,000. Updated 12/23/lj updated 01/03/11.

Was driving along one day heard a chime in my car,looked at the dash. . . It said "pwr strng" and at that very moment I had lost my power steering. From then on until the present it goes out and comes back on after I have shut the car off but only for a short time,then it goes right back out again.

While driving, as with all the complaints I've been reading, the car "beeped" and the pwr strn indicator came on and we lost the power steering while driving at 60 mph. I have had the car looked at and have been told it's the power steering motor/power steering module and will cost approximately $1000. -$1200. To fix. I see this as a major safety issue and if gm will not fix this defect then I am forced to conclude that they are a less-than-reputable company as well as a manufacturer of an inferior product. Up until this point, we have had no complaints with this car but, with what appears to be a common safety problem, I do not feel comfortable with my wife and child traveling in such a vehicle. I am sorry to say that I will, most likely, not consider general motors in the future.

Driving automobile, alarm chimed, power steering warning came on, lost power steering. When car is restarted power strg works approx. A couple minutes then loose power steering. Gm aware of this problem, has not included Saturns in this recall.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While the contact was driving at approximately 50 mph, the power steering light illuminated accompanied by a chime sound. The vehicle lost power steering soon after. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle; the power steering then functioned normally. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who could not duplicate the failure. The contact called the manufacturer who referred him to an authorized dealership. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The current mileage was approximately 90,000. Updated 11/05/10.

While driving my 2006 Saturn Ion, my power steering light came on and I lost my power steering. This happened four times on 3/1/2010. I took my car to the Saturn dealer in turnersville, NJ on 3/2/2010 and they had to replace my power steering motor for a cost of $520. 00. This sounds like the exact thing that warranted a recall of gm vehicles last week.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving at any speed in any weather condition, the vehicle would suddenly lose power steering without any warning. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 51000.

A few weeks ago, my 2006 Saturn Ion lost power steering capability while I was on a major highway (doing 65mph)! needless to say, I narrowly avoided a major accident and was dismayed to subsequently find out that I have a defective steering column motor (according to the local Saturn dealership) which will need to be replaced and is not currently under warranty. I bought this car in 2007 somewhat reluctantly since it already had 40,000 miles on it but it was the only one available after a major accident with my first Saturn for immediate delivery. I was at a new job and needed a car desperately. I chose Saturn again because of the brand's reliability, excellent customer service and my own personal satisfaction as a previous Saturn owner. When I called customer service last week to check whether this power steering failure was a recall item, I was told that it wasn't and that I would have to register a complaint to see what options were available for reimbursement for repair. Today I was informed by gm/Saturn customer service that they will not cover the $525. 00 repair of this major defect since the warranty expired and the car had according to them, "excess mileage" (at 50,000 miles, a 3-yr. Old car should not lose a major component such as the power steering to my thinking). I was seriously concerned enough about this defect to contact you to see if you can bring some resolution to this issue. I've done extensive research online and found that thousands of Saturn Ion owners have experienced the same loss of power steering while in precarious driving situations. Is gm waiting for a fatality before they issue a recall, or is it because the company is bankrupt that they decided to play russian roulette with our safety? needless to say, my trust and faith in gm is compromised and I am not willing to pay for a repair that should be covered.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. Intermittently the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then there was a lost of power steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and a technician stated that he would have to pay $900. 00 to repair the steering column and gear box. No repairs were made. The manufacturer was notified, and he was referred to the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 32,000. Updated 12/07/09. Updated 12/08/09.

The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. He stated that intermittently the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then he lost power steering. As a consequence he experienced difficulty while steering. Occasionally he can restart the vehicle and resume normal operation. The dealer was notified; however, no repairs have been made. The vehicle identification number was unavailable. The failure mileage was 61,000. The current mileage was 62,453.

I own a 2006 Saturn Ion with approximately 41k miles. The car is less than 5 months out of warranty and the power steering intermittently stops working. This started on December 2, 2008 and has continued. I will be driving and the dash light comes on, a chime sounds, and I lose power steering. Once I am able to get off the road and turn off the engine it will start working again once the car is restarted. There is no set pattern to follow as to when it happens. One day I was able to drive 10 miles and it never stopped working. The next day it stopped working 6 times during a 4 mile trip. When the power steering goes out the vehicle is almost impossible to turn and I'm concerned it is going to cause an accident. I contacted my Saturn dealer and talked to the service department. I was told that if the power steering column has to be replaced it is going to cost around $1,100.

When driving the power steering fails and a chime will sound to let you know you have lost power steering, the only temporary fix is to turn off the vehicle and turn it back on. If you are on a strait road and have a manual transmission you can put the car in neutral and turn the vehicle off then back on. If you happen to be in a turn while the steering goes out, or about to turn. . . Brake and pray. . . The dealership did replace the steering column at 20000 miles and it was under warranty, and I have had time to not worry about loosing steering ability for 3 years. Now my car has 90,000 miles and just out of warranty period, I have lost power steering 6 times in 20 miles. This is a real concern and I'm not the only one who has this problem. There needs to be a recall on these power steering motors on Saturn Ions and chevy cobalts before they cause any more serious accidents.

I was driving home at lunch from work which is approx. 10 mins. When turning on to a main road which is considered a state highway my powersteering light went on and I lost power steering and I almost lost control of my car. I researched this and found this is a known problem for my car. There has been reports of the electrical power steering and failing and there is no recall. However,this is the same problem with the chevy cobalt which does have recalls on.