Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10340407June 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH THE CONTACT TO DETERMINE IF ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,085.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339563June 22, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE. SPORADIC LURCHING LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339358June 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 AND IT WILL PERIODICALLY LOCK OUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT 8-10 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. WE HAVE REPLACED, THE IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, BATTERY, AND A FEW OTHER PARTS TO NO AVAIL. IT WAS ONCE IN JAN. OF 2010 AND THEN AGAIN IN MARCH, BUT NOW IN JUNE IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. I READ ON A FORUM THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES DURING WINTER, BUT HAWAII IS A MODERATE CLIMATE YEAR ROUND, NO EXCUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339044June 18, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THIS PART BREAKING AND GM NEEDS TO FIND A FIX AND RECALL THIS CAR AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FOUND 44 PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SAME CAR ON THIS WEBSITE: (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML) I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION SEDAN. MY IGNITION IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SHUT MY CAR OFF IS TO PULL THE FUSE TO THE ECM. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AND WILL PULL OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH THE CAR RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS IGNITION PART CHANGED 4 TIMES ALREADY. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE KEY WOULD PULL OUT WITH CAR RUNNING, THE SECOND TWO TIMES I HAD TO PAY FOR. THE LAST TWO TIMES IT WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT WON'T LET ME TURN IT OFF. I KNOW THIS IS AN OLDER CAR, BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334789June 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE WAS A SAFETY ALERT LETTER ISSUED NOVEMBER OF 2009 FOR 2003 SATURN ION OWNERS WITH STIPULATIONS CLAIMING THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE IN SERVICE FOR 5 YEARS OR LESS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PART REPAIRED AT NO COST. NO ONE FALLS UNDER THIS CRITERIA CONSIDERING THAT THIS ALERT WAS SENT OUT IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, REFER TO SAFETY ALERT #09280. MY CAR HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT AND A TRANSMISSION IS NOT AN EXPENSE THAT A SATURN CUSTOMER SHOULD HAVE TO BE PAYING IN MY OPINION. THEY DO OFFER A 50% OFF DEAL WHERE THEY TAKE CARE OF HALF THE COST. IT'S A $5000 JOB AND HALF IS $2500, STILL A VERY HIGH COST FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A RECALL. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON A CAR THAT I HAVE A CAR PAYMENT ON. PLEASE ASSIST THE SATURN OWNERS IN FINDING OUT HOW THIS DID NOT BECOME A RECALL. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS UNFAIR TO HAVE TO PAY MORE MONEY FOR A DEFECT IN THE SATURN ION AND VUE'S TRANSMISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331970May 24, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329234May 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL DISCONNECTED FROM ITS SOCKET JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327610April 26, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO RESET AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES THAT WOULD COVER THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR A FEE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325845April 15, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION. SEPTEMBER 09. DROVE CAR. PARKED. COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WAITED 10 MINUTES. KEY CAME OUT. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AT SATURN DEALER. NEXT WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN.(AT MY EXPENSE). KEY CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY STICK IN THE IGNITION. I CAN NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR UNTIL I GET THE KEY OUT. LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK_P5.HTML NO WONDER GM CLOSED OUT THE SATURN LINE. JUST AS BAD AS TOYOTA. THE MECHANICS AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY OFFERED NO PERMANENT FIX. THIS IS WHY I DON'T TRUST AMERICAN MADE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325711April 14, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE DURING AND SOMETIMES AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RESET ITSELF TO NORMAL. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,225. UPDATED 05/19/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324150April 7, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 2003 SATURN ION FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. I STARTED HERE A POPPING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL A FEW WEEKS BACK AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD IT IS MOST LIKELY THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THIS PART, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323508April 2, 2010
STEERING
THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE COMPUTER FOR MY POWER STEERING FOR MY 2003 SATURN ION. I HAVE CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY THEM THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR.I WAS TO IT WILL COST AROUND $700.00 TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MY POWER STEERING WILL GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL BE ON ALL THE TIME IF IM TURNING ALOT BUT IF IM DRIVING STRAIGHT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL TURN OFF MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AROUND CORNERS IN SPEEDS EXCESS OF 65MPH. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS AND INCIDENTS WITH THIS MALFUNCTION BUT THE MAIN OF THAT I CAN THINK OF IS WHEN IM TAKING A CURVE ON A HIGHWAY DOING 65MPH AND THE POWER STEERING IS OFF, AND THEN WILL TURN ON HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN SENDING ME INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE IM PUTTING FOR INTO THE TURN WHEN I SHOULD NEED TO. WHEN IT TURNS BACK ON IT WILL MAKE A CRACKING SOUND WHILE I TURN THE WHEEL AND THEN TURN ON. RIGHT AWAY THIS HAD CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND ALMOST GOT ME IN A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. IAM USE TO IT NOW AND EXPECT IT WHEN IM TAKING CURVES. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES ON MY CAR WHICH ISNT A SMALL AMOUNT AND ISNT A LARGE AMOUNT. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 119,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND IS GETTING MORE DANGEROUS. IT STARTED WITH A SIMPLE CRACKING NOISE EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS TEMPORARY PROBLEM BUT NOW FROM WHAT IVE READ AND EXPERIENCED, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT CAN REALLY BE IGNORED ANYMORE. THIS IS THE UNIT THAT KEEPS ME ON THE ROAD AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IT TURNS ON AND OFF. THAT IS NOT RIGHT OR SAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322252March 26, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION3. THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING IN WARMER WEATHER. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS ABOVE FREEZING MY POWER STEERING STARTS ACTING UP. IT WILL GO OUT 3-4 TIMES A WEEK, WHICH IS ALL THE DRIVING I DO IN A WEEK. THE CAR HAS 88,000 KM ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321754March 24, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS) CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321848March 24, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH VEHICLE NOT STARTING. INSERT KEY INTO IGNITION, TURN AND NOTHING. VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS COME ON, BUT NOTHING TURNS OVER. WELL-KNOWN ISSUE AS NOTICED ON SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS. PER SATURN AND OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR THE WIRING HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED - WHICH COST A LOT OF MONEY. THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO "RESET" ITSELF AFTER 10 MINUTES - HOWEVER UP TO 24 HOURS PASSES WITHOUT THE SYSTEM RESETTING ITSELF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319935March 15, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION . WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MILEAGE WAS HIGH AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM NHTSA TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 15-20 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318755March 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 SATURN ION COUPE WILL NOT START IN COLD HUMID WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317656March 8, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING TO A BASKETBALL GAME AT A SCHOOL AND AS I TURNED INTO THE SCHOOL, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT WAS UNEXPECTED. I DROVE UP ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE SCHOOL TO STOPPED THE CAR. I WASN'T GOING FAST BUT I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IF THERE HAD BEEN KIDS OUT THERE SOMEONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317709March 8, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION2. THE CONTACT STATED HIS POWER STEERING AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES DID NOT OPERATE. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE BEFORE POWER STEERING FAILED. HE WOULD PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE MOTOR ON AND OFF AND IT WOULD RESETS ITSELF. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND STATED THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING AT A COST OF $300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317779March 8, 2010
VISIBILITY
SATURN HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2003 SATURN ION L SERIES AND I EXPERIENCED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION INVOLVING THE WIPER MOTOR. WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXPRESSWAY DOING ABOUT 60MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPLETELY FLEW OFF THE RANGE OF THE WINDOW. UPON SAFELY GETTING OFF, I PULLED INTO A MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE WIPER MOTOR JUST FAILED. I CONTACTED SATURN TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE L SERIES AND THAT THIS CAR DEMONSTRATES THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY OFFERED NOT ASSISTANCE OR EVEN CARED ABOUT THE FACT THE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING HARD AND THE MOTOR WENT OUT. SOMEONE SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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