Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10208953November 14, 2007
STEERING
INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASH AND POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ONE DAY AND TWICE THE SECOND DAY WHEN I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER. THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1200. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THIS JUST "SOMETIMES HAPPENS" BY THE DEALERSHIP, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SERIOUS DEFECT AND RECALLED. I DECIDED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT HAPPENS TO SATURN IONS AS WELL AS OTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. IN MY OPINION, A 4 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT JUST SUDDENLY LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TRAGEDY. SUPPOSE A DRIVER HAS TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS AT THAT MOMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH I BELIEVE GM IS AWARE OF AND IS CHOOSING NOT TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT. I INTEND TO MAKE MY VOICE HEARD IN AS MANY FORUMS AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I SINCERELY HOPE IT CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE EVEN ONE PERSON LOSES THEIR LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208615November 11, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 SATURN ION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING RIGHT AT ABOUT 37000, RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I TRIED TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT IT'S A NEW TECHNOLOGY SATURN IMPLEMENTED, (STATE OF THE ART ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM), AND IT WILL COST $1100 TO FIX IT. MY CAR IS FAIRLY NEW STILL, AND SATURN CORP. REFUSES TO MEET WITH ME IN THE MIDDLE ON THE COST. WITHOUT POWER STEERING, MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND DRIVING TO WORK AND BACK IS A REAL CHALLENGE, AND A DANGEROUS CHALLENGE, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF FIXING IT. ***SATURN SERVICE ADVISOR ADMITTED TO ME THAT LOTS OF THE IONS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*** *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208523November 9, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CAR WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES. SATURN REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BACK IN 10/05. IT DID IT AGAIN IN 2006 AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2007. THE CAR THINKS THAT IT IS BEING STOLEN AND CUTS THE FUEL LINE TO THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208225November 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN THE WEATHER REACHES FREEZING AND CAR HAS BEEN LEFT OFF FOR ABOUT 6 TO 8 HOURS IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. I HAD THE PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO AND SATURN REPLACED THE STARTER ON THE CAR AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN THIS WINTER. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL SITES AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS. REPLACING THE STARTER EVERY OTHER WINTER IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208145November 7, 2007
TIRES
RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEWER CAR(O3 ION COUP) WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE NEW AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 5,793 MILES I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE HAVE CHOPP. I AS WELL NOW SEE THEIR IS A RECALL ON THE TIRE LINE NHTSA ID # 01T006000. THEY ARE FIRESTONE TIRES FIRE HAWK GTA-02 205-55R16. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO HAZARD BUT NOW IM VERY CONCERNED.THE CAR IS NOT RIDING RIGHT. THE DEALER AT THIS POINT IS ONLY WILLING TO REPLACE ONE TIRE. I AS WELL HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY WARRANTY ROAD HAZARD AT 1-800346-6469 CLAIM # 21833283 AS OF 11/07/2007. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER TO TRY AND GET THEM REPLACED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE DRIVEN 5,793 MILES ON THE TIRES. I FEEL THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE. AND AM UNSURE OF WHERE TO GO WITH THIS NOW.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207771November 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I AM WRITING TO NOTE THAT MY 2003 SATURN ION 3 DOES NOT START UP IN THE COLD, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAPPENED ONCE IN 2005, AND THEN I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR THE REST OF THAT WINTER AND THE NEXT. AT THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY A SATURN MECHANIC IN 2005 OVER THE PHONE THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES OCCUR WITH IONS IN COLD WEATHER. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THIS PAST MONDAY AND THIS MORNING. THIS AFTERNOON I WENT ONLINE TO SEEK OUT GUIDANCE IN TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING ONLINE RESOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A RECURRENT ONE THAT SATURN HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CLEAR-CUT CASE FOR A COMPONENT RECALL, BUT SATURN WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I ASK THAT THE NHTSA DIRECT ITS RESOURCES TOWARD SATURN TO SEEK A DETERMINATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.* *I HAVE FORWARDED A COPY OF THIS EXPLANATION TO MY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, REPRESENTATIVE JIM MORAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207401October 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL IS MADE SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH POTENTIAL TO DO HARM (THINK: BEING STRANDED IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES.) . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207052October 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN FIRST ATTEMPTING TO START IS IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES IT WILL FINALLY START WHEN ATTEMPTING AGAIN. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206923October 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WON'T START - NO CRANK, NO START. IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LOW USAGE AND MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205951October 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IN COLD WEATHER. MUST PLAY WITH IGNITION SWITCH MANY TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206034October 17, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND THERE WAS RECALL (04V547000) IN THIS VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNALS. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I CONTACTED SATURN AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I RESEARCHED THIS FURTHER AND CALLED SATURN AGAIN AND NOW WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE ALSO READ ARTICLES AND PEOPLE WERE STATING THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE THE WORK DONE A FEW TIMES BECAUSE WHAT WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. SATURN IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WORK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206144October 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN 2005 ION WOULD NOT TURN OFF, WOULD NOT RELEASE THE ENGINE KEY OR TURN. I DROVE CAR TO WALMART TO HAVE SERVICE TECH REMOVE THE BATTERY. THEY HAD TO DISABLE SOMETHING ELSE. THIS IS SECOND EPISODE WITH IGNITION KEY AND THIS CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204827October 4, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BULB AND FUSES SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. A RECALL WAS DISCOVERED FOR THIS COMPONENT, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205055October 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHENEVER IT IS DAMP OR COLD OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL REFUSE TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS REFUSED TO START I MUST WAIT A MINIMUM OF 10 MINS BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE. ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS THIS PROCESS REPEATS AND I MAY HAVE TO WAIT UPWARDS OF 20 MINS TO START MY VEHICLE AND DRIVE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GMS PASSLOCK VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE FAULT AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE CONSUMER INCURRING SUBSTANTIAL COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204245September 27, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE 2003 SATURN ION-3 POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL WORK AGAIN, FOR A WHILE, AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RESTARTED. THIS CAR HAS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT ENCLOSED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SATURN HAS ADVISED ME THIS IS A $1000.00 REPAIR ON A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WITH 55,000 MILES. I SEE THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON PONTIAC G6 AUTOS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD RECOMMEND EXPANDING THAT INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL GM CARS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204010September 24, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WAS HEARING A POPPING,CLICKING, AND RUBBING SOUND AND TOOK TO SATURN THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS MY HUB CAP MAKING THE NOISE. I WENT BACK ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND HAD THEM REMOVE MY HUB CAP AND NOISE WAS EVEN WORSE AND YOU COULD FEEL IT UNDER YOU FEET. THEY SAID IT WAS MY HALF SHAFT ON THE LEFT SIDE SO A WEEK LATER THEY REPLACED IT. THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY AND BY MONDAY MORNING I WAS HEARING AND FEELING THE NOISE AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT BUT THAT I HAD A BENT RIM IN THE REAR. I LEFT BUT THEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND KNEW THAT WAS NOT RIGHT SO I WENT BACK YET AGAIN AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND YOU COULD SEE WHERE MY TIRES AND RIMS ARE GRINDING INTO AND STARTING TO CUT MY TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT BUT THAT WAS "NORMAL" KNOWING IT WASN'T I PROCEEDED TO GO TO A 3RD PARTY SHOP AND PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CAR. TO NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT ISN'T "NORMAL" AND IF NOT FIXED SOON WILL CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES. THE 3RD PARTY ALSO NOTICED WHAT SATURN DID NOT AND THAT ON MY LEFT SIDE IT IS RUBBING ON NOT JUST THE TIE ROD BUT THE CONTROL ARM AS WELL. 3RD PARTY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE NOTHING THERE TO PREVENT ME FROM OVER TURNING MY WHEELS AND THAT IS WHY I AM HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. BUT ONLY AFTER CONTACTING THE BBB IN COLORADO SPRINGS DID THE GM OF SATURN OF COLORADO SPRINGS WANT TO LISTEN TO ME. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT MY SAFETY AND MY SONS SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203617September 21, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 30 MPH AND EVENTUALLY TO ZERO. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED UNTIL IT REACHED 30 MPH AND THEN IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED TWO MORE TIMES APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE SECOND TIME THEY CHANGED THE SENSOR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2007. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203520September 20, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING
UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, OVER DRIVEWAY SLOPES, OR OTHER ROAD BUMPS VEHICLE HAS LOUD POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS POPPING NOISE AND FEELING UNDER FEET OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHILE STEERING AT STAND STILL OR WHILE DRIVING...VEHICLE WHEN EXPERIENCING ROAD HAZARDS THAT CAUSE BRAKING ACTION WHILE STEERING LOCKS UP AND JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR RANDOM TIME AMOUNTS. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER, TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, (3X) EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD PROBLEM IS FIXED, PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. I DRIVE VEHICLE HOME AND THE PROBLEM IS EITHER PARTIALLY BETTER FOR A COUPLE WEEKS OR NOT BETTER AT ALL. DURING THE TIME THAT VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS A STRUT MOUNT WAS REPLACED ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 9,000 MILES (AFTER THE 2ND ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER ISSUE) 3RD ATTEMPT ONLY HAD A STEERING ISSUE ADDRESSED,(I SHAFT DRY AND BINDING) HOWEVER THIS HAS ONLY PARTIALLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE STILL POPS, CLUNKS AND HAS ISSUE WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OVER UNEXPECTED ROAD HAZARDS WHILE BRAKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203565September 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT HAS CHANGED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULBS 10 TIMES, WHICH PREVENTED THE TURN SIGNALS FROM WORKING ALSO. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) WAS REFERENCED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE MANUFACTURING PLANT, THEREFORE IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY. AFTER THE CONTACT THREATENED LITIGATION, GENERAL MOTORS REPAIRED THE DRL JUMPER KIT AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203217September 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
'04 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER. SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING. MUST WARM KEY/IGNITION, AND AFTER 15 MINUTES CAR MAY START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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