2005 Saturn Ion Steering Problems

This vehicle has an electrical issue from time to time seemingly out of nowhere. There is no power steering it just shuts off sometimes it’ll stay off for an hour sometimes it’ll stay off for weeks and I can’t figure out how to fix it. It randomly fixes itself same can be said for the air conditioning And the driver side, headlight all of these electrical functions, seemingly turn themselves up or down for no apparent reason.

NHTSA ID

11699599

Incident

Apr 15, 2025

Power steering intermittently fails at random and steering wheel suddenly becomes immovable nearly causing serious accidents and endangerment to myself, my family, and others drivers on the roads.

NHTSA ID

11498929

Incident

Dec 5, 2022

It says I have 0 I repaired recalls. I have had the powers steering fail 2x. More importantly, the ignition cylinder locks up and I can’t get my keys out. I have to wait most times after turning the car off - for 3-5 minutes through a series of clicking noises in the ignition before the key will release. It is concerning because sometimes I have to get out immediately and the keys don’t release. The car automatically locks itself and if I don’t roll the window down- I become locked out. It yesterday had a issue with ignition all together and I wonder if it’s related. I was made aware again there were many recalls on this issue and hoped to get it repaired. However it now states there are none unrepaired. I’m wondering if it is a ongoing problem with the vehicle, it’s repair parts etc and if it’s just not been addressed because it’s so old that so few are left on the road. Thank you. This is a increasing problem and a daily or every time I drive it issue now. I worry too the power steering will just go out in the interstate.

NHTSA ID

11434203

Incident

Sep 24, 2021

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. During the failure, the power steering message was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (Steering) but the failure occurred. The failure mileage was 167,000.

NHTSA ID

11425536

Incident

Jul 12, 2021

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEERING ASSIST AND GAUGES WERE IN OPERABLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL OF THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS RETURNED HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS INOPERABLE. OCEAN CREST CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (855 ALTERNATE HWY 101, WARRENTON, OR 97146, (866)607-2902) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN IN TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11416273

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GLENN H. WRIGHT, BS 1517 W GARVEY AVE N, WEST COVINA, CA 91706 (626) 962-6061) BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR 6 DAYS. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS TAKEN THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11298156

Incident

Oct 28, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

12-13-2018. TOOK MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. SHUT THE CAR OFF WENT INTO THE SCHOOL AND CAME OUT AND STARTED THE CAR FROM PARKED POSITION TURNED THE CAR AROUND WAS ON A SIDE STREET TO CROSS HIGHWAY 13 WAS READY TO TURN ONTO HIGHWAY 13 AND NO POWER STEERING, THIS WAS PART OF A RECALL THAT GM ISSUED AND THIS NEW PART DIDN'T EVEN LAST 38,000 MILES. T

NHTSA ID

11165815

Incident

Dec 18, 2018

Mileage

129,469 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR STALLED FOR A QUICK SECOND THEN CAME ON GULLY. AS I REVERSED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO MAKE A SLIGHT LEFT I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW TURN THE WHEEL AS I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED. THIS IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11152133

Incident

Nov 17, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAD THE RECALL FIXED IN 2015. THE SAME ISSUES THAT I HAD BEFORE HAVE RETURNED. WHEN DRIVING AND THE TANK IS FULL, I WILL GET A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TANK GAUGE WILL READ EMPTY. IT WAS FINE WHEN I BEGAN DRIVING . UPON RESTARTING THE CAR THE ERROR GOES AWAY. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION I HAVE TO PUT HE SHIFTIER IN PARK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CAN REMOVE MY KEY. TODAY CAR RAN GREAT WHEN TRYING TO MOVE MY CAR AFTER STARTING MY CAR MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE. AGAIN UPON TURNING OFF MY CAR AND RESTARTING IT , THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I CALLED THE GM RECALL NUMBER AND A CASE WAS CREATED BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY CURRENT RECALLS ON MY CAR. THE SERVICE NUMBER IS 8-4833918801. BUT WAS TOLD THAT ALL REPAIRS ARE MY RESPONSEABILITY.

NHTSA ID

11151579

Incident

Nov 14, 2018

Mileage

175,000 mi

I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL GOING VERY HARD WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A POWER STEERING FLUID COMPARTMENT TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID.

NHTSA ID

11112436

Incident

Jul 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MARITIME CHEVROLET, 985 POST ROAD, FAIRFIELD, CT 06824) AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,000.

NHTSA ID

11097232

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

207,000 mi

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SUDDENLY I HAD EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER USING VIN SEARCH I FIND NO RECALL INFORMATION. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I BELIEVE IT'S A MANUFACTURER ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

11075789

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

139,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND SWITCHING THE SHIFTER TO REVERSE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

NHTSA ID

10984215

Incident

May 5, 2017

Mileage

195,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED BECAME HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMAL STEERING FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10918525

Incident

Oct 23, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10862588

Incident

Apr 20, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,200.

NHTSA ID

10854940

Incident

Apr 10, 2016

Mileage

97,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10822650

Incident

Jan 14, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE WITH ORANGE BUICK GMC ORLANDO. I HAD THEM DO TWO RECALLS ON MY '05 SATURN: THE IGNITION SWITCH (WHICH WAS GIVING ME PROBLEMS DUE TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM), AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST (WHICH I'D HAD _ZERO_ PROBLEMS WITH PRIOR, IT WAS DONE AS A PRECAUTION). AFTER THE STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED, I STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING CODES ON STARTUP WITH NO ASSIST (TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN ON CLEARS IT). THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR AGAIN. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NOW THEY'RE SAYING THE STEERING COLUMN IS SUSPECT, IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOW FUNNY THAT THE COLUMN WOULD HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THEIR TECHS FOR BOTH THE MOTOR AND IGNITION REPLACEMENTS.

NHTSA ID

10810935

Incident

Dec 17, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO CHEVROLET AND REPAIRS WERE DONE BUT CAR WOULD NOT START , WE WERE TOLD IT HAD A BAD COMPUTOR AND WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO PURCHASE A 1600 DOLLAR UNIT FROM CHEVROLET , WE DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS. WE GOT A COMPUTOR AFTER THE TOLD US THIS WAS NOT A RELATED ISSUE. THEN TOWED IT BACK FOR A THIRD TO TO BE TO ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WE DONT HAVE MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY AND CHEVROLET AND SATURN REFUSES TO CORRECT THERE SREW UP. WE DROVE THE VEHICAL IN AND THEY WANT US TO TO PULL IT OUT WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ID

10794917

Incident

Nov 5, 2015

Mileage

177,482 mi

THE CAR WAS FUELED UP, WHEN IT WAS BEING STARTED IT HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY. ONCE IT WAS RUNNING, IT WAS DRIVEN AND A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, THEN ALL GAUGES DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE "PWR STR" MASSAGE REMAINED ON. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION THE THREE INDICATORS REMAINED ON AND THE CAR REFUSED FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OFF.

NHTSA ID

10785866

Incident

Oct 25, 2015

Mileage

116,000 mi

CASE # 8-1587665159 - 2005 SATURN ION ... I CANNOT GET ANY HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE CHANNELS. THE CAR DEALERSHIP STATED THE IGNITION AND POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED,YET, I HAVE RECEIVED NO PAPERWORK STATING THIS WAS DONE. IGNITION WAS REPLACED. IF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED, IT WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, HAD A GARAGE REPLACE IT ALONG WITH THE MODULE BUT IT ALSO WENT OUT. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AS PAPERWORK FROM GM STATED I SHOULD DO BUT THEY WOULDN'T HONOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A USED PART. PREVIOUSLY, THE GAS LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED AS ONE COULD SMELL GAS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GM REP THAT THE CAR IS OLDER WITH A LOT OF MILEAGE AND PROBLEMS WILL HAPPEN BUT GM OFFICIALS KNEW ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES WHEN THE CAR FIRST CAME OUT ... THEY DID NOTHING FOR 10 YEARS. THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOES OUT, SOMETIMES WITHOUT A WARNING OR SOMETIMES WITH CHIMES. I AM A 68-YEAR-OLD HEART PATIENT THAT HAS TO DRIVE A VEHICLE KNOWING AT ANY MOMENT THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND I COULD CRASH, YET, GM STATES PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I AM NOT ABLE TO STEER THIS VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH GM STATES, STEERING CONTROL CAN BE MAINTAINED, AS THE VEHICLE WILL REVERT TO A MANUAL STEERING MODE, BUT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH. " I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND HAD NO CLUE ABOUT THE RECALLS. OR PERHAPS GM HAD NOT ADMITTED TO THEM YET. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS IS AS IT IS THE ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE.

NHTSA ID

10778564

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE CAR WAS MOVING. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

10778245

Incident

Sep 28, 2015

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED UPON TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESET THE COMPUTER BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED STRONG FUMES EMITTING FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IT IDLED ROUGHLY. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING) MONTHS AGO AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10730423

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 14V153000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10683908

Incident

Feb 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER SPECIAL POLICY 10187 AT THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 4/13/15*CN UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10683273

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

118,000 mi