I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A RECALL ON THE STEERING AND THE SAID THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR. IT STILL HAD NO STEERING . THE GM DEALER SAID IT WAS 58.00 TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG, THE DEALER CAME BACK AND SAID THAT IT WAS THE STEERING MODULE WAS BAD. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THE MODULE IS COVERED BUT THE GM DEALER WONT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THE MODULE IS PART OF THE STEERING COL…
2005 Saturn Ion steering problems
severe 264 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
264
Recalls
0
Crashes
9
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED 55 MPH WE GET A DING DING DING WITH A PWR STEER LIGHT TO COME ON AND THEN WE HAVE NO POWER STEERING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. AFTER CALLING THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IT APPEARS TO BE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE. THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO YOU NOT GETTING MUCH OF A WARNING. *TR
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 …
POWER STEERING KEEPS FAILING ON AND OFF DURING TURNS AT ALL SPEEDS. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Saturn Ion?
It's a meaningful issue. 264 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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