Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10244037September 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
3-16-2005 CAR LEAKING RED FLUID: DIAGNOSIS-AXLE NOT SEATED, NEW PARTS ORDERED, CAR REPAIRED 4-7-2005 CAR MAKING THUD SOUND WHEN SHIFTING: DIAGNOSIS-NOT DUPLICATED (NEVER CHECKED TRANSMISSION-JUST DROVE CAR) 9-29-2005 CAR NOT GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEARS SMOOTHLY, CAR NOT STARTING WHEN KEY IN IGNITION, INTERNAL CAR GAUGES NOT WORKING: DIAGNOSIS-INTERNAL COMPUTER PARTS FIXED-COULD NOT DUPLICATE GEAR ISSUES (AGAIN-DID REMOVE TRANSMISSION AND INVESTIGATE) 3-24-2008 PREVIOUS GEAR PROBLEMS PERSISTED, CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR; TOOK CAR TO DEALER, DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE ALTHOUGH PROBLEM WAS REPORTED PRIOR UNLESS I PAID 9-1-2008 CAR WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR 2ND; DIAGNOSIS (PAID FOR AT MY EXPENSE)-TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED (AT MY EXPENSE) 9-11-2008 CAR REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEARS: RETURNED TO DEALER AND FOUND RED FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE: DIAGNOSIS-ADDITIONAL PART IN TRANSMISSION LOOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244064September 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN MY CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THE BATTERY TAKEN OUT TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. EACH TIME THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243777September 28, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I SHUT OFF MY 2005 SATURN ION, THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE KEY WILL COME OUT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING. THE PWR STR COMES ON ALL THE TIME. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF, IT RESETS, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I TOOK MY CAR TO SATURN OF FAYETTEVILLE (NC) WHEN THE POWER STEERING FIRST STARTED ACTING UP, AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE STEERING CONSOLE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST OF FIXING IT? OVER $900. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243477September 25, 2008
STEERING
I HAVE 2005 SATURN ION AND WHEN I GO TO TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SO FAR. SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243356September 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE POWER STEERING, BATTERY, AND COOLANT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243250September 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY
FAILURE OF A WIRING HARNESS IN A FRONT DOOR THAT CONTROLS WINDOWS, MIRRORS AND DOOR LOCK. A 2004 SATURN ION WITH 25, 106 MILES HAD 5 BROKEN WIRES IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HAS NO POWER AT THE WINDOW SWITCH. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW THAT FORCES TINY WIRES TO BEND 2 TIMES AT 90 DEGREES AND BE SLAMMED BY A DOOR!! THINK OF THE SAFETY OF UNLOCKING A DOOR IN A PANIC SITUATION OR DRIVING WITH A WINDOW DOWN IN RAIN, SLEET, COLD, ETC., AND A FUSE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243251September 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
CV DRIVESHAFTS FAIL ON THE HIGH PERFORMANCE REDLINE MODEL MADE BY SATURN AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER GM WARRENTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243269September 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WE PURCHASED A 2007 SATURN ION ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WHEN MY 16 YEAR OLD (NEW DRIVER) DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND SHE COULD NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS AT A FRIENDS HOUSE AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP HER SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT COST $434.83 TO HAVE A GM DEALER REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE THE OLD PART IN MY POSSESSION. I AM AFRAID TO LET ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DRIVE THE CAR NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242503September 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2004 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND NOW JUST PAID $630 TO HAVE THE BODY MODULE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS THE WHOLE CAR DOWN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START IT. INITIALLY IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A COLD WEATHER PROBLEM BACK WHEN I FIRST HAD THE CAR IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THIS RECENT INCIDENT IS STILL NOT YET RESOLVED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE BODY MODULE IS STILL NOT REGISTERING THAT THE KEY IS IN OFF POSITION BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STILL FAULTY. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO NEXT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THESE KIND OF REPAIRS ESPECIALLY ONCE EVERY WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242282September 15, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND MAKES STEERING DIFFICULT. THE FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242019September 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOCKS UP AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. THE CAR HAS TO SHUT OF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND IT USUALLY WILL UNLOCK THE SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR, UNABLE TO GET TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CANNOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, AND SATURN REFUSES TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241840September 11, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE AS WELL. THERE IS ALSO A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT THE LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE FUEL TANK. HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. EVER SINCE THE LEAK OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE NOW HAS TO BE CRANKED FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO ANY DEALER; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000. PHONE INTERVIEW (AUGUST 4, 09): MR. HORNBACK REPAIRED THE FULE PUMP HIMSELF. HE SAID THAT ONE OF THE NIPPLES ON THE FUEL MODULE HAD CRACKED. MR. HORNBACK INSERTED A BRASS PIPE INTO THE BROKEN NIPPLE AND EPOXY IT IN PLACE. HE AGREED TO EMAIL ME PICTURES OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE BELIEVES THAT THE CRACKED NIPPLE WAS FOR THE FUEL 'RETURN' SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241874September 11, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEG AND NECK. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT. THEY OFFERED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. MINNESOTA STATE POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER E08405161. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10241308September 8, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKED TO THE POINT THAT A TIRE GAUGE CAN BE PLACED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INSPECTION STATION AND THE CONTACT WAS ORDERED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. SHE WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE HER TIRES AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT PAID FOR NEW TIRES, BUT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,240. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241235September 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN 2005 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2004 SATURN ION FRONT HEADLAMPS. I HAD THE RECALLED PARTS REPLACED. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY LEFT BLINKER HAS GONE OUT ABOUT FIVE TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS, HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE SOCKETS, AND AM NOW ABOUT TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME OCCURRENCES ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN OTHER SATURN IONS AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME BLINKER OUT. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVE IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE 2005 RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240870September 4, 2008
STEERING
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE A THUMPING SOUND HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND HARD WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WAS VERY EASY. WHEN TAKEN TO A DEALER THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND THE REFERENCE NUMBER IS 716555540051. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,780. KG UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240807September 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED HER VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. SHE DROVE TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE BY PULLING WIRES AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. ALSO, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,600. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240507September 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I ARRIVED AT WORK IN MY 2007 SATURN ION ON AUG 29TH, 2008 AND TRIED TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T TURN TO THE OFF POSITION OR COME OUT OF THE LOCK. I CONTACTED GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOWED MY CAR BUT SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE TO PAY THE $500.00 REPAIR COSTS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION AND HOUSING. I JUST SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND 20 PAGES OF SIMILAR(ALMOST EXACTLY) ACCOUNTS OCCURRING WITH THE SATURN ION AND OTHER SATURN VEHICLES AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. PLEASE RESEARCH THESE EVENTS. THE MORE I RESEARCH, THE MORE I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN VEHICLES AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240300August 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKS UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240313August 30, 2008
EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES INSTALLED ON MY 2003 SATURN ION BY FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER FAILED A WEEK AFTER INSTALLATION RESULTING IN A AUTO ACCIDENT. I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO 4 FIRESTONE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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