Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Saturn Ion owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. In October of 2016, while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was suddenly depressed. However, the contact crashed into the rear of a vehicle and, in turn, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The local dealer was not contacted to diagnose and repair the air bag failure. The failure mileage was unknown. In December of 2017, while driving at unknown speeds, a pick-up truck crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to the right knee, which required medical attention. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent auto body mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. …
In January 2016 while driving on highway to work I had bear to the right at an intersection from 1-90 to 1-76, wheels/steering locked or something and I ended up spinning off roadway. Hit division embankment crashing front end and my air bags never deployed. Traction in the car I later found out was not engaging when it should have been. Now car's traction does not work if it ever really did. I have been in touch with GM complaints department and now I have been assigned a case number but this is about recalls on y vehicle that I do not know they really are because Saturn wants me to pay to get this information. I asked why but did not get an answer. Only was told that recalls are VIN specific and I needed to go to https://www.vincheckpro.com/VIN-register. Now my vehicle has a control board that is going haywire literally. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Saturn Ion. While driving 35 MPH and attempting to avoid a vehicle that was stopped in the roadway, the ignition key became jarred and moved to the off position, which caused the vehicle to stall without warning. The contact attempted to switch lanes; however, the steering wheel seized and the brakes failed to function when the pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into the rear of the parked vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no police report filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, shoulder, and lower back that required medical attention. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14e021000 (electrical system); however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
Loss of power steering again. This will be my third recall replacement part. Power steering has failed and repaired by 2 GM dealerships. GM suggested for safety reasons towing car would be advised but guess who has to pay for the towing me not GM who manufacturer unsafe vehicles. NHTSA you've lost interest in helping and moved on to the next manufacturer air bag problem. I now understand what risk means. My car falls in that risk percentage.
I slightly was going off the curve to the right I turned the wheel to get straight the steering went out I lost control I mashed breaks and nothing stopped the car veered to the right crashing into a utility pole, flipped and the front driver tire, hub and axe came completely off it was not struck by the pole. I was on a county road I be]believe that the suspension went out as well I know the steering did I had no control.
I hit my brakes to avoid an accident my car went to left in front of another car. I found out that struts shifted and causing the upper control arm to snap and brake off causing my car to go to the left into another car.
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014.
NHTSA investigations
Electric Power Steering Failure
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.
Electric Power Steering Failure
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…
Steering complaints in other Ion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2007 Saturn Ion?
NHTSA has 408 complaints about the steering of the 2007 Saturn Ion, 47% of the model year's 876 complaints. The component named most often is electric power assist system (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Saturn Ion steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-153 (electric power assist system, Mar 31, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Saturn Ion steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 13 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.