General Motors is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to 384,000 units of the Saturn Ion that — according to NHTSA — should have been part of a recall.
In March, GM issued a recall due to loss of power steering in 1.3 million 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalts and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5s, leading to increasingly difficult steering in those vehicles. At the time, GM argued that the vehicle was still controllable but the driver would need to put more effort into steering the car. NHTSA disagreed with GM’s assessment and said the problem led to “increasing the risk of a crash.”
Then in April, GM informed NHTSA that the Saturn Ion was also affected by the electric power steering problems. Recently, NHTSA posted this information on its website, stating that GM “had identified 638 complaints and 1,444 warranty claims for loss of E.P.S.” on 2005-2007 Saturn Ions. The complaints also included seven crash claims that indicated electric power assist failures, “including two incidents involving a total of three injury allegations.” Neither GM nor NHTSA issued a recall notice on the Ion at the time.
GM Spokesman Alan Adler explained that the failure rate of electric power steering in the Ion was significantly less than that on the the Cobalt or G5. What’s more, the 2004-2007 Saturn Ions carry a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty — meaning that power steering repairs would still be covered, even today.
NHTSA Spokesman Eric Bolton said the agency can’t order a recall without “first demonstrating a safety-related defect.” NHTSA would “closely monitor” the number of complaints before taking action. Well, it appears that the number of complaints and accidents has reached the appropriate level for NHTSA to start an official investigation. From what we know, GM is cooperating with the investigation. Stay tuned as we learn more. In the meantime, check out all recalls issued by GM over the last few years.
Source: New York Times Wheels
Comments
My power stering is not working I have to put a lot of effort in to the car to make turn
I have a 2003 Saturn Ion and my power steering goes out every day during when I am driving. Sadly, I have gotten used to it.
“What’s more, the 2004-2007 Saturn Ions carry a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty — meaning that power steering repairs would still be covered, even today.”…. That is unless you are over the 100,000 when this problem first begins. In such case you are SOL until GM decides to do the RIGHT thing for its customers.
We have just crossed that 100k line and suddenly our power steering turns off and on. The alarm goes off at random intervals and the air conditioner works when it wants to do so. All three things happened together. I am thinking the BCM is faulty.
So I seem to be having multiple problems all at the same time ,I have the key and ignition problem also the power steering , the fuel lines all rotted out ,I’m a widowed lady I have no idea what to do all I know is I have to go to my job tomarrow and now tonight my saturn Ion won’t start I feel like crying I’m a honest and very hard working older mom who doesn’t get paid a lot Work at Olive Garden and now I have no car plus I took care of my car always had oil changes on time kept it clean felt like I took good care of it And now I’m lost any help would be greatly greatly appriciated