Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10353009August 31, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLE MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO COMPENSATE THE CONTACT FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353076August 31, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AND THE STEERING FAILED. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS ALLOWING THE STEERING TO RESET FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED ASSISTANCE TOWARD A NEW VEHICLE; YET, THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WASN'T REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352710August 30, 2010
EQUIPMENT
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND WHEN I GOT THERE REALIZED I COULD NOT TURN MY VEHICLE OFF OR TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST GM DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE IMMEDIATELY KNEW THE PROBLEM WHEN I TOLD HIM THE SYMPTOMS. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM HE SAW "AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK". THEY ORDERED THE PARTS AND TOLD ME IT COULD COST $300-$600 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND THE HOUSING COMPONENT, IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HEARING HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST I STARTED RESEARCHING AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE AND HE REDIRECTED ME TO GM'S CORPORATE OFFICE. I SAW ON THE PHONE FOR AN HOUR, MOSTLY ON HOLD, WHILE THE EMPLOYEES NEGOTIATED AND THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE IT WAS A SATURN VEHICLE, NOT GM; THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED; THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH MY VEHICLE; AND GM DID NOT WANT TO PAY OUT OF THEIR POCKET FOR THE PART AND LABOR. THEY ARE STILL GOING TO REPLACE THE PARTS BECAUSE I NEED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE IN ORDER TO COMMUTE TO SCHOOL AND WORK. I'M GOING TO PAY THE $300-$600 FOR THE REPAIRS AS WELL AS THE $50/DAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR. GM IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING, OTHER THAN FIX THE PROBLEM AND CHARGE SATURN OWNERS THE FULL AMOUNT, UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352850August 30, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE HEARD A CHIMING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. HE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND STATED THAT HE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH DIFFICULTY TO HIS DESTINATION. FOUR HOURS LATER HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. HE HAD TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON THE WAY HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WITH OTHER 2004 IONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352857August 30, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE STARTER AND THE CONTACT AGREED WITH THE REPAIR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE AN ISSUE STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352500August 28, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING UNIT ON MY 2005 SATURN ION 3 (WITH ONLY 37,345 MILES ON IT) WENT OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352396August 27, 2010
STEERING
SATURN NOTIFIED ME IN AUGUST OF 2010 THAT THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TO 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PART WENT OUT A FEW YEARS AGO AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO. MY CAR IS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES. HAD I BEEN INFORMED BEFORE THE INTITIAL WARRANTY RAN OUT, I WOULD'VE HAD IT FIXED. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351943August 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. CAR STUCK RUNNING. WHAT AN UNSAFE SITUATION, IN HIGH 90 DEGREE WEATHER. THANK GOODNESS MY ELDERLY GRANDMOTHER WAS NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME! ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD TO COME AND TURN IT OFF BY TAKING OFF A FUSE IN THE HOOD, BEFORE TOWING IT TO THE DEALER. I BURNED MY HAND TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE FUSE, BEFORE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE GOT THERE, BECAUSE I WAS FEELING SICK STANDING OUTSIDE IN THE 99 DEGREE WEATHER WAITING. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND HOUSING, AND I HAD TO GET A NEW KEY MADE AT THE SATURN DEALER. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM, AND FOUND OVER 48 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS. I SURE HOPE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, AS THIS PRESENTS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY SATURN DRIVERS WILL NOT GET STRANDED IN EXTREME HOT, COLD, OR DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, WITH THEIR KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED WITH MY TWIN SISTER 1 WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED TO ME. BOTH OF US BOUGHT OUR 2007 SATURN IONS NEW, ON THE SAME DATE. THIS IS MORE THAN "A COINCIDENCE." WE FEEL AS THOUGH THIS PART OF THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. IT IS NOT A "TYPICAL, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE" TYPE THING THAT SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. IT PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHEN IT OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10352145August 26, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING LIGHT AND SOUND POPS UP ON DASH. POWER STEERING GOES OUT. VERY SCARY. AT HIGHWAY SPEED NOT TOO BAD UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO EVADE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. AT LOW SPEED VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER TURNS OR AROUND OBJECTS IN THE ROAD INCLUDING CHILDREN AND PETS. TURN CAR OFF, TURN BACK ON AND STEERING RETURNS FOR A WHILE AND THEN HAPPEN AGAIN, AND AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352156August 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IN THE STREET OR A CAR WASH, THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON, IT WON'T START. YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO START IT UNTIL THERE IS NO NOISE AT ALL EXCEPT FROM THE DASH BOARD. LET IT SIT FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES AND THEN IT WILL START AGAIN, AT LEAST UNTIL ANOTHER RAIN STORM OR CAR WASH. HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS, AT HOME BEFORE WORK, AND MANY OTHER TIMES. I JUST HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS IN AN EMERGENCY. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THREE OF THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS NOT OPENING OR CLOSING, INCLUDING THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE DRIVER WINDOW BEING STUCK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AT THE BANK, DRIVE THRUS, AND COULDN'T ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO COOL THE CAR OFF. ALL THREE WINDOWS WERE NOT WORKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WINDOW'S START WORKING AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING WHICH IS POWERED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD HEAR A ?DING,? THE DASH BOARD WOULD READ ?POWER STEERING? AND THEN IT WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. COOLANT LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL, THE TEMP IS RIGHT, AND FLOAT IS WORKING. THE DEALER WANTED $350 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK. I SAID FORGET IT AND PUT UP THE CONSTANT ?DING? FROM THE DASH BOARD EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. IF SOMETHING SHOULD EVER REALLY GO WRONG WITH IT, I WOULDN'T KNOW. THERE APPEARS TO BE A HUGE NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SATURN IONS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. DID THEY SET THE COMPUTERS OR ELECTRONIC PATS TO MALFUNCTION ON PURPOSE RIGHT AFTER WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352170August 26, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE SOUNDING OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE USING EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO MANEUVER THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT'S KEYS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY BECOME LODGED WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351938August 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2007 SATURN ION WAS STUCK RUNNING WITH THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I COULD NOT TURN OFF MY CAR AND THE KEY WAS STUCK. THE SATURN DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND HOUSING AND CUT NEW KEYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351786August 25, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. THE KEY "JAMMED" IN THE "ON" POSITION LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING. TO SHUT IT OFF YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE HOOD, PULL A FUSE, THEN GO TO THE TRUNK AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ME BECAUSE THE CAR IS DRIVEN BY A COLLEGE, FEMALE. GAS STATIONS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND SMALL CHILDREN LEFT IN CAR, ETC... ARE A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CAR IS RUNNING. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHIFTER, AND NOW THE IGNITION ($463) PLUS TAX FOR A LOCK CYLINDER ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351772August 25, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION. THE KEY CONTINUES TO GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. 3 DIFFERENT TIMES NOW. I HAVE A BOAT LOAD OF PAPER WORK FROM DIFFERENT SHOPS, FROM THEM FIXING (?) MY CAR, STARTING WITH SATURN, THAN I HAD TO GO TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP, DUE TO SATURN BEING CLOSED. ALSO, THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. IT'S AN AUTOMATIC. I WENT ON LINE TO ASK A SATURN MECHANIC WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS FIXED, AND BASICALLY NOTHING. HE SAID THERE WOULD NOT BE A RECALL DUE TO SATURN BEING CLOSED NOW, AND IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF I'M UNABLE TO GET IT TO A GMC DEALERSHIP, UNLESS THERE IS ONE OPEN 24/7 IN THE DENVER AREA. I'M AT MY WHITS END. I'M REPORTING THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, THE 1ST WAS IN 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351417August 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I CAME HOME LAST NIGHT AROUND 10:40PM, WENT TO SHUT MY CAR OFF AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION - IT WAS STUCK "ON". I TOOK MY CAR TO MY PARENTS HOUSE (MY DAD HAS TOOLS) AND AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE KEY OUT, I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY DISPATCHED A LOCAL TOW TRUCK COMPANY TO COME. THE GUY WAS VERY RUDE AND BASICALLY MADE ME FEEL STUPID FOR HAVING THIS HAPPEN AND ACTED LIKE HE COULDN'T HELP ME WITH THAT, SO I CANCELED THE TOW. WE PULLED SOME FUSES AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND FIGURED SINCE AT THAT TIME IT WAS 12:30AM THAT I WOULD CALL SATURN IN THE MORNING. I WENT ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE AND FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH MY SAME CAR! AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT GETTING A RECALL, AND THEY ARE CHARGING PEOPLE UP TO $500 OR MORE TO FIX IT. I THINK GM SHOULD RECALL THIS IGNITION LOCK AND ALL OF THESE CHARGES FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE COVERED BY THEM. IT'S NOT THE CAR OWNER'S FAULT THAT THE PART IS BAD. I ONLY HAVE APPROX. $50K MILES ON MY 2007 ION. I TOLD THE SATURN SERVICE DEPARTMENT I WOULD CALL THEM BACK AS I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO PAY THAT RIGHT NOW, SO I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351477August 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION PASS LOCK SECURITY FEATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351551August 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
THE CAR WONT START AND I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR TESTED AND STARTER BOTH PASSED I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS THEN STALLS, SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN READS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" AFTER ABOUT 20MINUTES THE CAR STARTS, HEAR RATTLING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME FOR THE PAST YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351553August 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
THE IGNITION ON THE 2005 SATURN ION WILL LOCK WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE "ON" POSITION. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION COMPONENTS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351289August 23, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 10 MPH, CAUSING LIMITED ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD RESET ITSELF AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351077August 21, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START ON COLD DAYS. I LIVE IN VERMONT SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF COLD DAYS. IT USUALLY TAKES ME ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO1/2 HOUR TO GET IT STARTED, IF IT STARTS. WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS I HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUNNING SO THE ENGINE WILL WARM UP BECAUSE IF I DON'T I HAVE TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE! EVERYONE I'VE BROUGHT IT TO DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT COULD DEFINITELY DO WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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