Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10295347December 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION 1 THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH. SUDDENLY ON THE FIRST COLD DAY OF THE WINTER IT HAD TROUBLE STARTING. AFTER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTING GLOWING. I HAVE SPENT OVER $350 REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES AND THE AIR FILTER. I HAVE FOUND A RECALL FOR THE SATURN L SERIES FOR AN IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. I'M STILL NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM BUT IF IT IS IT WILL COST $650 TO FIX IT. I MAY NOT HAVE AN L SERIES CAR BUT THEY WERE MADE WITH THE SAME ENGINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN BE DESTROYED SO QUICKLY (UNDER 100,000 MILES) WITHOUT SOMETHING BEING WRONG. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295221December 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW FREEZING MY 2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. I SAT IN THE CAR AND TRIED TO START THE ENGINE FOR OVER 20 MINUTES THIS MORNING BEFORE GIVING UP AND CALLING OFF THE INTERVIEW I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO. IT IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE, AS THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY CHARGED. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ROUGHLY 15 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, OFTEN LEAVING ME STRANDED WITHOUT A WAY TO GET HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294843December 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A SATURN ION 2003 AND IT AT TIMES DOESN'T START. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER. AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTS UP. I CANNOT HAVE A CAR THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAVE ME STRANDED MILES FROM MY HOUSE IN THE COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293735November 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON OUR 2003 SATURN ION. VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292651November 18, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN ION 2003 IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION CYLINDER BAD 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SWITCH, AT ABOUT $300., EACH TIME. NO ONE BUT A GM DEALER CAN REPLACE THIS SWITCH, WHICH FAILS ONCE THE TEMP. DROPS, BECAUSE OF GM NOT RELEASING THE COMPUTER CODES. THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS BAD, BUT AT A COST OF $100. JUST FOR THE CYLINDER AND ANOTHER COST OF $100 FOR THE LABOR, I HAVE TO LEAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES IN THE RUN POSITION, SO I CAN START MY CAR. SATURN HAS ADMITTED TO THESE BEING FAULTY PARTS, BUT REFUSES TO RECALL THE CARS, SO THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE SAME REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292752November 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SATURN ION 2003 DOES NOT START WHEN COLD, COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292847November 18, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS DRIVING 3 MILES FROM WORK TO BABYSITTERS. THE FAILURE IS THE CAR REFUSES TO TURN OVER AFTER TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENS COMMONLY IN COLDER WEATHER. BATTERY WAS REPLACED, STARTER WAS REPLACED, AND THEN AFTER RESEARCH LEARNED THIS IS AN IGNITION ISSUE SATURN IS AWARE OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291254November 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION SERVICE BULLETIN # 040845005. NHTSA ITEM #: 10007431. NO CRANK NO START WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES WHEN COLD. HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 YEARS WITH MINOR ISSUES BEGINNING AS DESCRIBED ABOVE LAST WINTER SEASON IN 2008. NOW THE ISSUE IS FREQUENT, MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY IF WEATHER IS COLD. I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST IT GETS COLD HERE OFTEN. I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 14 MONTHS AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE $270 SATURN IS CLAIMING TO REPAIR THIS SITUATION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE OWNING THE SATURN ION, SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS AND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. WHY CAN'T THIS BE RECALLED? IT LEAVES ME STRANDED IN AWKWARD AND UNPLEASANT WEATHER CONDITIONS. I CURRENTLY HAVE TO HEAT UP MY CAR KEY WITH A LIGHTER TO MAKE IT WARM ENOUGH TO HEAT UP THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE GREASE INSIDE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO? THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291098November 5, 2009
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 1. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN OR WHEN STRIKING A BUMP THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, TO RESET THE ERROR CODE. HER MECHANIC GAVE HER TSB 06-02-32-00. HE THEN ADVISED HER TO BE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AT AN EXPENSE OF $400.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 12/8/09 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR. UPDATED 12/09/09.*JB UPDATED 05/28/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291104November 5, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION 1, IT HAS CONTINUALLY GOTTEN WORSE WITH THE "POWER STEERING" FAILURE. WITH THE CODE THAT CAME UP ON THE DASH, IT SHOWS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER $835.00 DOLLARS SPENT, IT HAS GOTTEN EVEN WORSE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS THE MOTOR IS THE ISSUE, AT ANOTHER $400.00 PLUS DOLLARS, BUT NO GUARANTEE. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT IS, WITH THE LOSS OF POWER WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, HOWEVER, IT IS MOST OF THE TIME, NOW. IF I NEED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY TURN, AND THE POWER GOES OUT, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED LONG AGO, BUT NOW I AM STUCK WITH THE EXPENSE OF IT..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289710October 25, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IF WEATHER IS UNDER 50 DEGREES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2/2004. THE SATURN DEALER STATES THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT IS NOT A RECALL. CAR DOES EVENTUALLY START HOWEVER IT SOMETIMES TAKES UP TO 20 MINUTES AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED AT WORK, UNABLE TO ARRIVE AT WORK ON TIME AND HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN DANGEROUS AREAS OF TOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286634October 7, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
SATURN ION 3 HAS INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS; IT'S BEEN CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH IGNITION SWITCH WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE A SHORT OF SOME KIND. CAR STARTS, THEN SHUTS OFF, THEN WHEN TRYING TO RESTART, APPEARS DEAD, WAIT 5-10 MINUTES AND IT STARTS AGAIN. NO AUTOMOTIVE TECH COULD DETECT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284698September 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN THE COLDER WEATHER, MY CAR (WHICH IS A 2003 SATURN ION) WILL NOT START. IT OFTEN WILL START AND RUN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN WILL STALL OUT, AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY (MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE WEEK) BEGINNING AROUND THE DATE LISTED BELOW. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR IN GOOD REPAIR AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICING ON A REGULAR BASIS; I AM CONCERNED, NOW THAT I WILL BE OUT SOMEWHERE IN A CITY (OR OTHER DANGEROUS PLACE) AT NIGHT AND MY CAR WON'T START. AS A SINGLE YOUNG WOMAN, THIS PROBLEM IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. I RELY ON MY CAR VERY HEAVILY TO GET ME PLACES, AND KNOWING THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURNS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE IS A SCARY THOUGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283647September 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SATURN ION 2003 CAR WOULD NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277695July 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 16 JUNE, 2009, I TOOK MY 2003 SATURN ION IN TO HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP DID A 29 POINT CHECKUP WHICH I DID NOT AUTHORIZE. THE TOTAL OF THE BILL WAS 2424.00. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT I REPLACE MY TIMING CHAIN. I QUESTIONED HOW THEY KNEW MY CHAIN WAS BAD, SINCE THEY COULDN'T EXAMINE IT. THE REPAIR ASSOCIATE STATED BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE AND THAT HE COULD HEAR IT "RATTLE". I ASKED THE ASSOCIATE HOW LONG BEFORE MY CHAIN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THOUGH LATER HE RECANTED HIS STATEMENT, TO SAY THAT I HAVE MAYBE UP TO SIX MONTHS BUT IT CAN GO AT ANYTIME. I HAD MY SWITCH REPLACED. I DIDN'T DRIVE A TOTAL OF NINE MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPS! I REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO REPAIR MY CAR. THE HEAD HAD FOUR BENT VALVES. SATURN WANTED ME TO BUY A NEW HEAD FOR 885.00 AS PART OF THEIR NEW ESTIMATE TO FIX MY DAMAGED ENGINE,WHICH TOTALED 2442.00. THIS FACILITY, SATURN OF YORK, SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. MY SATURN HAD 115796 MILES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I USE MOBILE ONE. MY FATHER HAD CHANGED THE OIL WITHIN A MONTH OF THIS INCIDENT. MY OIL LEVEL WAS GOOD, CONTRARY TO THEIR 29 POINT INSPECTION SAYING IT WAS LOW AND DIRTY. SUGGESTING I ALSO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277936July 22, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE HER VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V547000. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277478July 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS A SENSOR IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LOCK UP BECAUSE IT IS GETTING A FALSE SIGNAL THAT THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE CAR'S "PASSLOCK" SYSTEM AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN (1) THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 0 DEGREES C OVER NIGHT OR AN EXTENDED TIME PERIOD. (2) THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS TO KEEP REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN IT GOES BAD. ATTACHED BELOW IS TAKEN FROM ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SATURN ION. "THE PROBLEM WITH THE ION NOT STARTING IN MANY CASES IS DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM LOOKS FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE KEY IN THE LOCK WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED. THE SYSTEM LOOKS FOR A LOW RESISTANCE, BUT NOT ZERO OHMS, AND CAN BE TRAINED TO LOOK FOR A SPECIFIC VALUE. IF IT DOES NOT FIND WHAT IT IS LOOKING FOR, THE CAR WILL NOT START. ONE SOLUTION IS TO CHANGE THE SWITCH. ANYONE THAT CAN USE A WRENCH AND SCREW DRIVER CAN DO THIS. THE SWITCH COSTS ABOUT $30. THE PROBLEM, IS THAT THEY DON'T LAST TOO LONG, SOMETIMES LESS THAN A YEAR. A SIMPLE SOLUTION I FOUND ELSEWHERE, IS TO CUT THE WHITE WIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. LEAVE ENOUGH LENGTH AFTER THE SWITCH SO IT CAN BE SPLICED BACK TOGETHER. I DID THIS TODAY, IT WAS EASY, AND SEEMS TO WORK. IT DOES GIVE YOU A SERVICE WARNING. ANOTHER OPTION, IS TO INSTALL A BYPASS DEVICE THAT IS DESIGNED FOR REMOTE STARTERS. ANOTHER OPTION, WHICH IS SIMPLER, AND DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE (I HAVEN'T TESTED THIS) IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME. USE A SECOND KEY TO LOCK THE DOORS" A SHORT SEARCH OF SATURN IONS NOT STARTING IN COLD WEATHER WILL SHOW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH IS A MYSTERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272375May 29, 2009
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM ACTIVATED. IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BEGAN TO MOVE ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER IS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269104May 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SATURN ION KEEPS HAVING IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES. I WAS FIRST TOLD BY SATURN THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY BATTERY. DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. THE IGNITION WON'T TURN OVER BUT WILL AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. BEING A WOMAN, THIS MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE JUST YESTERDAY WHEN I STALLED MY CAR WHILE ON ROUTE I HAD TO HAVE MY HUSBAND PUSH ME OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I COULD START IT AGAIN. I COULD HAVE BEEN ALL BY MYSELF AND HAD TO RELY ON TOTAL STRANGERS FOR HELP. :-( *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268254May 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT WON'T START. IT IS INTERMITTENT. TODAY THE CAR STARTED, I STARTED DRIVING ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT THE CAR STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE CAR. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, TO NO AVAIL. WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED THE CAR, TURNED AROUND, WENT BACK TO BEG. DESTINATION. TURNED OFF CAR. TRIED TO RESTART - NO RESTART. WAITED 30 MIN. TRIED AGAIN, NO START. WAITED 1 HOUR, STARTED BUT NONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE DASH WOULD WORK. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL THIS JUST STOPPED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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