When turning the steering wheel of my 2003 Saturn Vue, it makes a gutteral noise from the steering column. It is like a bullfrog croaking as long as the wheel is being turned and returned.

power steering pump low fluid or bad

Look for something down the column wiring that may be vibrating up against the shaft

There is a TSB for your complaint from Saturn: Here's the jist of it.

Condition: Some customers may comment on a squeak or squeal noise coming from the base of the steering column while turning vehicle.
Cause: The squeak or squeal noise may be caused by insufficient lubrication of the intermediate steering shaft-to rubberboot- contact area.
you may be able to get it warrantied through saturn. this is the TSB #
#03-02-34-002

you have bearings and a turn signal switch.. these go bad. you can replace you whole steering column wih a used on vs replacing the partst to save money. this will save you $300-450

i am a saturn tech and ive never heard of this concern,the columns do go bad but they just set a ses light and cut out power,the column could be bad,it could also be the intermediate shaft u joint binding,,,i rec take to dealer, could be serious

It was very likely that the problem turning the key was due to the steering column lock mechanism. Sometimes when you lock the steering wheel, if you the mechanism will bind up, making it difficult to unlock the ignition with the key. Often when this happens, you will be parked on a hill with your wheels agains a curb or some such item. Once you turn the wheel hard to the right (or left), the pressure is released on the locking mechanism, and the key will turn easily. This is a similar situation to what can happen in an automatic if you park on a hill without the parking brake.
try doing this:
pop the off the circle piece around the ignition and the holster cover under the steering wheel.
that ought to work.

we have a 2003 saturn vue which we installed new tires on and we noticed a noise about 6 months afterwards. it sounded to my wife and i to be loud road noise from the tires. the car was driven for 6 months and we decided the noise was annoing. had the tires checked only to find it was the left front wheel bearing which was replaced and stopped the noise.

Needs new electric collumn.

i have seen a lot of cars make noise when you turn the wheel all the way one way or the other and usually it is either the upper or lower ball joint. it will be louder when its really cold. i would jack the car up and see if there is any play in the ball joints.