Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10308874February 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, STEERING
AFTER ONLY 9 MONTHS OF OWNING MY ION I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE AND CAN HAPPEN 8 TIMES IN A WEEK THEN NOT AT ALL FOR MONTHS. HOWEVER WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE AS I AM USUALLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WILL BE "LOCKED" INTO 4TH FOR EXAMPLE AND WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT TO 5TH I CAN NOT GET IT OUT OF 4TH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF 20 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I THEN TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECH TOOK THE CAR HOME FOR 1 WEEK, EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF, AND TOLD ME ALL HE COULD DO WAS REPLACE A WIRE AND HOPE IT HELPED BECAUSE SATURN WOULD NOT LET HIM INVESTIGATE ANY MORE OPTIONS. IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP MY CAR. AND SINCE THE LAST TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP MY POWER STEERING NOW GOES IN AND OUT. APPARENTLY THEY BUSTED A SEAL AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT TO ME, SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT, BUT ALSO LOSING MY POWER STEERING. THEY ONLY SOLUTION I CAN COME UP WITH IS TO TRY MY BEST TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT AND TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT. THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH: REVERSE SWITCH GOING OUT, AIRCONDITIONING GOING OUT, POWER WINDOWS NO LONGER WORK, POWER STEERING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT. I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS EVERYDAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME AT MOST TIMES. THIS SHOULD HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE UNDER THE ORIG. WARRANTY, AS IT ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST 6-12 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR. LOL THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR BUYING A GM PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310051February 12, 2010
STEERING
POWERSTEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ABILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD ,IT HAPPENED AT 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY ,I PULLED OVER AND TURNED CAR OFF AND STARTED ENGINE AND IT RESET, IT DOES IT ON OCCASION 3 OR 4 TIMES A MONTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308713February 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE BEEN HAVING COLD STARTING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIX BY DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST. AT 620.00 A POP THAT'S HARD . NOW AFTER TALKING TO A TECHNICIAN THAT USED TO WORK FOR SATURN BEFORE THEY CLOSED ,THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY OIL THAT RELEASES FROM THE PART WHEN COLD AND LEAKS DOWN FROM THE IGNITION TO THE PASS LOCK SWITCH THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL BEFORE THIS BURNS SOMEONE UP AND KILLS THEM . THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX ALL THESE CARS .DO IT RIGHT AND STOP CHARGING PEOPLE FOR SOMETHING THAT REALLY CANT BE FIXED SIMPLY BY REPLACING A PART THAT WILL CONTINUE LEAKING OIL WHEN COLD. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THIS HASN'T ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. I CAN ONLY WAIT TO SEE IF THIS HAPPENS THEY NEED TO PAY ,I CANT AFFORD TO GO BUY A CAR WITH WORK SLOW SO SATURN AND GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. ALL THIS IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR AND IF A FIRE STARTS WITH YOU IN IT AT THE WHEEL YOU LOSE A CAR AND POSSIBLE A LIFE OR MORE IF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS LOCKS DOWN YOUR CAR. IT'S NOT ONLY ME ITS MY KIDS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD AT DANGER IT'S ALL WHO DRIVE A SATURN ION 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308064February 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2006 ION HAS ONLY 24,000 MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. SUDDENLY, IT WOULD NOT START.....ALL DASH LIGHTS ON, HEADLIGHTS WORKED, ETC. BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. I TRIED LATER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. NEXT DAY, SAME ROUTINE. WHEN I GOT IT RUNNING, I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SATURN DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I HAD TO PAY. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT SO MANY OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NEVER ANY BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'VE READ THAT REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING STUCK SOMEWHERE AND DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO SIT IN A COLD CAR, HOPING THE 10-MINUTE WAITING PERIOD WILL ALLOW MY CAR TO START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307510February 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR HAS FREQUENT INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS (ABOUT ONE IN 4 STARTING ATTEMPTS IS A NO-GO). INTERNET RESEARCH BRINGS UP MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH SENDING THE WRONG SIGNAL TO THE COMPUTER WHICH IN TURN ACTIVATES THE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK, IN GM SPEAK) AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. GM RECOGNIZES THE ISSUE IN TSB #3493A WHICH RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE TO GM, I BELIEVE THE SWITCH REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S COST, NOT THE CONSUMER'S COST. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE AND CONSUMERS ARE FORCED TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR'S COMPUTER (BCM) HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED AFTER THE SWITCH REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307582February 8, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER EXPERIENCING LOWER FUEL ECONOMY AND A SMELL OF GAS WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THE DETERMINATION WAS A CRACKED FUEL PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR OF THE FUEL PUMP, CAUSING A GAS LEAK. WE HAD THE MODULAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT OUR OWN EXPENSE BEFORE FINDING OUT THERE WAS A RECALL BEING STARTED. WE HAVE THE OLD PART IN OUR POSSESION. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306919February 6, 2010
VISIBILITY
POWER-OPERATED WINDOW,." THE POWER WINDOWS ARE INOPERABLE AFTER THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS OPENED *CN THE REVERSE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK!!! HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY MANY TIMES *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306640February 5, 2010
STEERING
NORMAL DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF LEFT TIE ROD. CAR HAS 65,000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO COLLATERAL DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305652February 4, 2010
STEERING
2005 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHY NO RECALL? MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE. IT INVOLVES THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING EVERYDAY AND THIS POWER STEERING FAILS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305859February 4, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN MY 2007 SATURN ION COUP. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305860February 4, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION CONTINUOUSLY FAILS. IT USED TO RESET AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, BUT NOW IT JUST FAILS AFTER A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THAT THERE A ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED THAT THIS TYPE OF REPAIR WOULD BE AROUND $500. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305801February 4, 2010
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ABOUT 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT DOES NOT START WORKING UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN. IT'S EXTREMELY SCARY DANGEROUS. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, THE SECOND TIME I DECIDED I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO GET FIXED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305972February 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION WONT START IN COLD TEMPERATURES LEAVING ME STRANDED. IF I LIVED IN GUAM THIS WOULD BE NO PROBLEM, BUT I LIVE IN CALGARY ALBERTA CANADA AND ITS GETS TO -40 CELSIUS AND ONLY TAKES MINUTES FOR FROST BITE TO SETTLE IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304243February 3, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING OF MY 2007 SATURN ION SEDAN HAS FAILED AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT GM HAS NOT YET ADDRESSED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304323February 3, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN CHANGING LANES ,THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON. THE VEHICLE THEN DROVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE PURCHASED IT, AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE STEERING MECHANISM THAT OVER HEATS AND SHUTS OFF. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME HE DRIVES THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36000. UPDATED 04/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 06/10/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304344February 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION2 WHO'S POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO GM/SATURN A YEAR AGO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SATURN SHOP IN MANSFIELD, OH. THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR DUE TO SEEING SO MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT SEEMS BE A TEMPORARY FIX FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND WILL CLICK OFF SHORTLY AFTER ACCELERATING IN SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304375February 3, 2010
STEERING
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 ION 2 SHE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WENT OUT WHILE TURNING AT A CORNER. I BLEW IT OFF UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 7 DAYS LATER. I HAD TO FIGHT THE STEERING IN A TURN, VERY DIFFICULT, I FOUND OUT. I COULD STOP & RESTART AND STEERING WOULD BE OKAY FOR A WHILE. IT HAS SINCE BEEN CONTINUOUS AND NOT WORTH THE EFFORT FOR A RESTART SINCE IT WILL ONLY LAST FOR A FEW MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS EPS UNIT SHORTING OUT. THEY DID NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PART AND ARE WELL AWARE OF CONDITION FROM OTHER OWNERS. IT'S BEEN A WEEK AND STILL NO PART. WHEN THE DASH ALARM GOES OFF (DING,DING,DING) IT MEANS GRAB WHEEL TIGHT! IT WILL ALSO SHOW (PWR STEER) IN CLUSTER. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS AS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COMPLIMENT THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED IT FOR KEEPING THEIR VEHICLES UNDER CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304082February 2, 2010
STEERING
SATURN ION 2004- SPONTANEOUS POWER STEERING OUTAGES. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL MOTOR IS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1100.00. AFTER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT EXISTS AMONG THESE MODELS AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HARM OR DEATH DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. A LOCAL NEWS STATION ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING THAT THE FEDS ARE INVESTIGATING THE CHEVROLET COBALT FOR THE SAME ISSUE- POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE SAME THING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED RELATED TO THE SATURN ION BEFORE PEOPLE START DYING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303850February 2, 2010
STEERING
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SATURN ION 2, FAILED AT AROUND 37,000 MILES. THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR A FEW SECONDS EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, BUT THEN SHUTS OFF. STEERING IS DIFFICULT WITH NO POWER STEERING. SO FAR NOW REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, SATURN SAID THEY WILL CHARGE ME AT LEAST $1,000.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS THE SAME STEERING SYSTEM AS USED THE CHEVY COBALT, "FEDERAL REGULATORS INVESTIGATE CHEVY COBALT STEERING COMPLAINTS." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303891February 2, 2010
STEERING
OUR 2007 SATURN ION WITH 12,000 MILES LOST STEERING CONTROL DUE TO SHORT CIRCUIT IN STEERING ASSIST MOTOR. THE LOSS OF THE POWER ASSIST WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS RESULTED 90% STEERING LOSS AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. LAST YEAR IN A SIMILAR AUTO OWNED BY OUR FAMILY THE 2006 CHEVY COBALT LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST BUT SHORTED OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS ON BUT PARKED. I AM SURPRISED NO SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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