2007 Saturn Ion

On March 31, 2014, General Motors Company (GM) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 1,340,447 model year (MY) 2004 through 2010 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS), including 334,728 MY 2004 through 2007 Saturn ION vehicles that are the subject of EA11-014.GM has assigned the recall number N140115.The NHTSA recall number is 14V-153.According to the DIR, if power steering assist is lost, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center and a chime sounds to inform the driver.GM indicated that steering control can be maintained in manual (unassisted) steering mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash.Sudden loss of power steering assist can occur in the subject vehicles if the system loses electrical power or whenever the system detects a fault that requires it to enter fail-safe operation mode, removing power from the EPS motor.GM?s DIR identifies three basic conditions that may result in loss of power steering assist in the recalled vehicles:power steering motor faults, torque sensor assembly faults, and power steering motor controller unit faults.GM will issue four service bulletins providing different repair procedures for recalled vehicles.Bulletin 14115 will provide repair instructions for replacing the power steering motor in MY 2004-2007 Saturn ION, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and vehicles repaired in recall 10V-073 that received repairs prior to May 31, 2010.Bulletin 14116 will provide repair instructions for replacing the torque sensor assembly in MY 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura vehicles built from March 1, 2008 through June 27, 2008.Bulletin 14117 will provide repair instructions for replacing the torque sensor assembly and power steering motor controller unit in MY 2008 Malibu, G6 and Aura vehicles built from February 1, 2008 through February 28, 2008.Bulletin 14118 will provide repair instructions for replacing the power steering motor controller unit in MY 2008 Malibu, G6 and Aura vehicles built from October 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008.Analysis of information from all sources identified a total of 4,787 complaints and 30,560 warranty claims related to loss of power steering assist while driving in the MY 2004 through 2007 Saturn ION vehicles, resulting in a complaint rate of 14.3 incidents per thousand vehicles and a warranty claim rate of 9.1 percent.ODI?s analysis of alleged steering related crashes identified 12 with evidence indicating the incident was related to a loss of power steering assist. Two of the crash allegations involved low-speed curb impacts and are excluded from the resume crash count.Three incidents occurred in parking lots, six occurred while turning at street intersections, and one occurred on a highway exit ramp.The crashes in parking lots or intersections all occurred at speeds less than 30 mph.The crash on the highway exit ramp involved impact into a guard rail at approximately 35 mph.Two of the crashes resulted in injuries to the drivers.This investigation is closed.All ODI complaints associated with this closing resume are listed in the attachment pages.

ODI has received 846 complaints and GM identified 3,489 reports alleging sudden loss of steering power assist in model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Saturn Ion vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors Corporation (GM).Sixteen of these complaints alleged that the EPS warning lamp had illuminated before or during the loss of steering assist and the increased steering effort contributed to a crash. Two of the GM crash claims indicated that the driver was injured in the crash. In a previous Preliminary Evaluation PE10-005, ODI investigated the sudden loss of power steering assist in MY 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles. In May 2011, in response to an ODI information request letter for RQ10-004, GM provided ODI with complaint, warranty and EPS system information related to EPS loss of assist for the Saturn ION and Peer vehicles Pontiac G6 and Chevrolet Malibu. In that response, GM indicated that the EPS system used in the subject vehicles was the same as that used in the MY2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5. In March 2010, GM recalled approximately 1.05 million Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles (NHTSA recall no. 10V-073) to correct a defect with the EPS assist motor. The defect identified was described as a buildup of brush debris mixed with oily material on the EPS electric motor armature which causes the motor to stop functioning; the same problem identified in the current subject vehicles.ODI has duplicated this failure in both a Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion previously tested at the Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC). In the defect notification letter for the previously recalled Cobalt and G5 vehicles, GM stated that the vehicles may experience a sudden loss of assist that could occur at any time while driving and that if power steering was lost the vehicle would revert to manual steering mode and would require increased steering effort from the driver.ODI believes that, depending on driving circumstances this increase in steering effort could result in some loss of control and a crash.This investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (EA11-014) to further assess the frequency, scope and safety consequences of a sudden loss of steering assist in the subject vehicles.

The power steering (the Eps, worst system ever) has been randomly cutting in and out driving down the road and traffic making turns shutting down and making it almost impossible to drive or Park stay between lines adjust as needed and it cuts in and out it has been fixed per recall once but it still continues to do it it hasn't even been 14,000 miles since the recall was fixed and it is still cutting in and out of the dash says power steering and you can't turn the wheel.

NHTSA ID

11731858

Incident

Nov 1, 2025

Power steering went out. I was driving and I was on the freeway and the steering wouldn't move like it should. It became very hard to steer so I exited off the highway and pulled in to a store barely missing the sign. I call a friend and had the car towed home and looked at. I was told the eps went out. The next time I started the car it said power steering on the odometer. The dealership said the recall was closed out already. But I still have no ability to steer the car. It sits unrepaired and I undrivable.

NHTSA ID

11668690

Incident

Jun 20, 2025

It won’t start! Been having starter problems. Battery not dead, and I also was told maybe crankshaft and starter

NHTSA ID

11620005

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

While driving the car has issues with power steering when turning the wheel either direction the steering will lose power steering and jerk the opposite direction turning. I have almost been in numerous accidents now the worst going 75 on highway passing semi around a corner and it jerked and almost sent me right not the semi. This has happened numerous times as I was passing vehicles. Its not a steady no power steering it will do it out of the blue and anymore it's more times than not and again only when turning the wheel. It's scary. Our vin # isn't specified with the recall but has serious power steering issue. No warning lamps or anything like that. We have not had this vehicle inspected yet by a dealership. As far as the incident date it's not one specific date. It does this every day the car is driven.

NHTSA ID

11618832

Incident

Oct 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the accelerator pedal was released and became stuck causing the vehicle to unintendedly accelerate to 90 MPH. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to slow down. The contact manually lifted the accelerator pedal and was able to merge to the side of the road. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer but not diagnosed or repaired due to the warranty being expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11576699

Incident

Feb 20, 2024

Mileage

113,000 mi

This problem has been ongoing for a while. The key gets stuck in the ignition for a while. Have to wait until it finally clicks twice. I have taken vehicle 3 different times to have this repaired. Last for a month or two and same thing starts happening again.

NHTSA ID

11569795

Incident

Oct 11, 2023

My 2007 Saturn Ion recently started leaking drops of gasoline near the driver side rear tire. It is either an issue with the fuel line or the tank. It has not been inspected by the dealership yet. I get a gas cap warning message, but I'm not sure if it is related.

NHTSA ID

11563439

Incident

Jan 3, 2024

The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering column became inoperable, and the steering wheel locked up. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated restarted the vehicle and was able to safely drive to her destination. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice within six months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11552988

Incident

May 22, 2023

Mileage

160,000 mi

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.