Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10185330March 16, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN THE RAIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHIELD AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,990. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE REPAIRING THE LINKAGE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE THAT OF INVESTIGATION# PE 07011 ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THE DUPLICATE FAILURE. ALSO, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPAIRED, IT WAS RELATED TO INVESTIGATION #DP 05008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185224March 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I DRIVE A '03 SATURN ION AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR WHERE THE CAR WOULDN'T START, MOSTLY ON COLD MORNINGS, AND WOULD LEAVE ME STUCK IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN. MOST OF THE TIME IF I WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES IT WOULD START UP WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS PAST SUNDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF OR TURN THE KEY. SO NOW I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH MY KEY IN MY IGNITION AND MY STEERING COLUMN OFF SO IT LOOKS LIKE I STOLE MY CAR, THE ONLY WAY I CAN START AND STOP THE CAR IS BY PLUGGING AND UNPLUGGING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IT HAS ENDED UP COSTING THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I JUST PAID $200 FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER ALONG WITH THE HOUSING UNIT AND I COME TO REALIZE THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AT ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184661March 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
2004 SATURN ION - FAILURE TO START DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. CAR WOULD NOT START ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, IN EMPLOYER'S GARAGE, AND ALSO IN SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS MY STARTER WHICH WILL COST OVER $150 TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184357March 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SATURN 2004 ION 3 IF I HAVE THE WIPERS AND HEAT OR A/C ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RADIO THE RADIO LED LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AND I AM NOT ABLE TO READ THE TIME OR RADIO STATION ON THE RADIO. IF I TURN THE WIPERS OFF THE LED LIGHTS COME BACK ON. VISIBILITY PROBLEM CAUSES DRIVER TO TAKE VISION OFF ROAD LONGER-NO SPECIFIC ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WHAT APPARENTLY IS A FLAW. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE SALESMAN AND THE GENERAL MANAGE BOTH SAID THAT IS NOT RIGHT BUT THE SERVICE MANAGE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT IS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. A SATURN MANAGEMENT REVIEW TEAM PERSON FROM SATURN CORP. SAID IN A LETTER TO ME "YOUR RETAIL SERVICE TEAM LEADER HAS REVIEWED MY CONCERN AND DETERMINED THAT THE CONDITION IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING WITHIN DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS, WE ASK THAT YOU ACCEPT THE DIAGNOSIS GIVEN AT THE TIME OF THIS REVIEW." IN OTHER WORDS THEY EITHER DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL/DRL SAFETY RECALL WHEN THEY INSTALLED A DRL JUMPER KIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184279March 5, 2007
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE ROAD AND I WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE STREET WAS COVERED IN BLACK ICE. I SPUN OUT AND CRASHED STRAIGHT INTO A CAR SITTING IN THE LEFT TURN LANE. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND SOME MUSCLE SORENESS AND BRUISING. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OFF AND THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10184172March 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF. HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY LUBRICATE THE SYSTEM BUT IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT BEGAN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND STILL PERSISTS TODAY. WE CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE TIME OFF FROM WORK TO TAKE IT INTO THE SHOP TO BE TOLD THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE IGNITION SYSTEM OR THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM THAT MAY BE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS WE'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONING COOLANT HAS RUN OUT AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE LEAK, AND THE SUNROOF BROKE. FINALLY, ON ONE OCCASION THE CAR WENT OVER A BUMP AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ACTED AS THOUGH THE CAR HAD A WRECK, CUTTING THE MOTOR AND SHOWING THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED WHEN IT HAD NOT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED UP JUST FINE WITH NO ADVERSE AFFECTS. THE DEALER SAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND CAN'T THINK OF HOW/WHY IT HAPPENED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183991March 2, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 SATURN ION AT ABOUT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. SHE S HIT THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF THE HER VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BAG. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T DEPLOY FULLY. THE AIR BAG NEVER CAME IN CONTACT WITH HER. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE AIRBAG. THE CONTACT REMOVED HERSELF FROM THE VEHICLE AFRAID THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. SHE CALLED 911 AND THE POLICE REPORTED THE CRASH. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY PROPERLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25900, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26000. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10184030March 2, 2007
SUSPENSION, STEERING
2005 SATURN ION PURCHASED 3,20,2005. FRONT-END MAKES NOISE WHEN ROLLING OVER BUMPS AND/OR TURNING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183654February 27, 2007
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
REAR VIEW MIRROR IS TOO LOW - DRIVER CAN NOT SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM THE RIGHT. DRIVER MUST LOOK UNDER OR TO THE SIDE IN ORDER TO SEE-EXAMPLE - 4 WAY STOP, CANNOT SEE IF A VEHICLE IS AT THE STOP ON RIGHT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183436February 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY 2005 ION 2 WAS SERVICED CONTINUOUSLY BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP SINCE ITS NEW PURCHASE. THIS CAR HAS NEVER HAD A ENGINE INCIDENT, OVERHEATING, OR MISSED OIL CHANGE/SERVICE AND AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE SATURN TECHNICIAN AND DEDUCED TO EITHER A GAS TANK SEALING ISSUE OR OXYGEN SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS FINALLY REPLACED ON IT 48,000 SERVICE CHECKUP, YET THE LIGHT WAS STILL ACTIVE. A COMPLETE COMPUTER CODE DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED INTERNAL MISFIRE ISSUES WITH THE #1 CYLINDER. THE MECHANICS EVALUATION WAS THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER OR BLOCK IS WARPED AND CAUSING COMPRESSION BLOW BY & MISFIRING. THE RECOMMENDED SOLUTION IS TO CHANGE THE ENGINE BLOCK AT A COST OF $6, 800. OR WORK ON TEARING DOWN THE ENGINE AT AN UN-ESTIMATED AMOUNT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE A 3 YEAR WARRANTY TO APRIL 2008, I HAVE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE OF THIS PURCHASED WARRANTY BY OVER 14,000 MILES. I AM UNCERTAIN WHETHER I SHOULD GO FORWARD WITH THIS REPAIR, TRADE-IN THE CAR, OR SEEK MY DAMAGES THROUGH MY ATTORNEY IN LOS ANGELES. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS NEW ION, MY FATHER IN LAW WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT HE BOUGHT THE SAME MODEL 5 DAYS LATER AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. AN INTERESTING NOTE IS THIS IS OUR 3RD SATURN IN THE LAST 11 YEARS. WE BELIEVE IN THE BRAND, LOVE THE SERVICE & SALES DEPARTMENTS, BUT ARE NOT SURE ABOUT ITS FUTURE WITH OUR FAMILY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183338February 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FAILING TO START. I WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT SATURN ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THE REFERENCE NUMBERS IS 04-08-45-005C, DATE OF ISSUE DECEMBER 4, 2006 AFFECTING 2003-2006 SATURN IONS BUILT UP TO AND INCLUDING VIN BREAKPOINT 6Z147837. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT MY CAR HAD BOTH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LISTED IN THIS BULLETIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183340February 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2004 SATURN ION II WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF THIS OCCURRING THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD AND THEY HAD BEEN SEEING THIS ON MANY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183016February 20, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2006 SATURN ION WITH 14000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 30 MPH AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING UP HILL AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS CATAPULTED UP HILL 90 MPH. THE CONTACT STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO UNSTUCK, BUT THE SPEED DID NOT CHANGE. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH FORCE WITH NO CHANGE IN SPEED. WHILE DRIVING, AND STILL GOING UP HILL THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALL AT ONCE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP SIDEWAYS JUST BEFORE THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/16/07 FAILED. * LJ .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183031February 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION,IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T START. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE MECHANIC ON TWO OCCASIONS STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH/ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMWAS READING THAT SOMEONE WASTRYING TO BREAK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182933February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO COLD ISSUES AND IS CAUSED BY AN ISSUE IN THE STARTING MECHANISM. SOMETHING ABOUT THERE BEING A SECURITY FEATURE THAT CUTS THE CAR OFF FROM STARTING. CAR LEAVES YOU PRETTY MUCH STRANDED IN THE BITTER COLD WHEN IT WILL NOT START.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182965February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH FREEZES UP WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. HAD TO GET THE CAR JUMP STARTED WHEN IT WAS -10 DEGREES OUTSIDE. SATURN SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE DEALING NEAR ME, THERE WAS ABOUT 70 CARS THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182985February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IN COLD WEATHER (USUALLY BELOW FREEZING), THE 2004 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL GO INTO A PASSIVE LOCK SITUATION UPON INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO START IT, THEN WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO START FOR AROUND 10 MINUTES. OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT START EVEN AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER WILL CHARGE AROUND $300.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE LOCK OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182989February 19, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 2 BRAND NEW FOR SATURN OF LA CROSSE. APPROXIMENTLY 25 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL NOT START, AND I HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMENTLY 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED ANY DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT, BUT DID FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERINCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM UPSET THAT SATURN IS NOT TAKING THIS MATTER MORE SERIOUSLY AND MAKING A RECALL NOTICE. DOES IT HAVE TO START ON FIRE OR SOMEONE DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182871February 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING MY CAR ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT EACH TIME IT WOULDN'T START. I WOULD WAIT ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES TO RESTART IT, AND LUCKILY IT STARTED. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE ON EVERY OCCASION, ALL THE WHILE BRAVING THE FREEZING COLD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182743February 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 4 OCCASIONS NOW, WHEN I LEAVE WORK AT AROUND MIDNIGHT IN FRIGID WEATHER, I ATTEMPT TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION (MANUFACTURED IN LATE 2003), AND THE STARTER WILL TURN OVER APPROXIMATELY 1 OR 2 REVOLUTIONS, THEN STOP. IMMEDIATE SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO START SIMPLY RESULT IN THE "CLICK" OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF I WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES, IT WILL TURN OVER ONCE OR TWICE AGAIN, ONE TIME, THEN I MUST WAIT ANOTHER 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THE STARTER WILL TURN OVER AGAIN. ACCORDING TO A WEBSITE I WAS READING, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IS USUALLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION PASS LOCK SWITCH, AN ANTITHEFT SYSTEM DESIGNED TO CUT OFF FUEL SUPPLY, AND SOME SORT OF GREASE THAT FREEZES. SO FAR, JUMP-STARTS SEEM TO HELP...BUT ACCORDING TO THAT WEBSITE, SIMPLY ATTEMPTING START, WAITING 10 MINUTES, ATTEMPTING AGAIN, WAITING FOR 10 MINUTES, AND TRYING AGAIN, EVENTUALLY WILL START THE CAR. PERHAPS THE TIME IT TAKES TO CONNECT JUMPER CABLES IS ENOUGH TO "RESET" THIS PASS-LOCK SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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