Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10267979May 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION. THE CAR RUNS PERFECTLY FINE HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION INVOLVING THE IGNITION SWITCH. MOST OF THE TIME INVOLVES ME BEING LATE FOR WORK BUT TWICE I WAS LEFT IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. ONCE TRYING TO LEAVE A SPORTING EVENT LATE NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND THE CAR WOULDN'T START, TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES FINALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES OF THAT THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. ANOTHER TIME WITH MY 85 YEAR OLD MOM (WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S) AFTER BUYING GAS THE SAME THING AND IT TERRIFIED MY MOM. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND THAT PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE ARE VERY COMMON AND VERY FRUSTRATING TO SATURN OWNERS WHO ARE FORCED TO PAY NEARLY $300.00 FOR A NEW IGNITION SWITCH ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REOCCUR A FEW MOTHS LATER. SATURN ADMITS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. IF PEOPLE ARE STRANDED IN FRIGID WEATHER UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND HAVE HEAT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ELDERLY PERSON OR CHILD IN THE CAR, SERIOUS INJURIES COULD DEFINITELY OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267664May 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR JUST SEEMED TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF AND THEN QUIT; AMAZINGLY ENOUGH THE SPEEDOMETER GOT SCREWED UP AND WAS SHOWING 10MPH OVER WHAT IT WAS REALLY GOING; ONLY WAY I COULD TELL WAS BY WHAT THE RPMS NORMALLY RUN WAS WAY TOO SLOW COMPARED TO THE SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266838April 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265996April 19, 2009
STEERING
MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN LIKE NORMAL. IT IS SOMETIMES SLOW AND DOES NOT WANT TO TURN, OR WILL KEEP TURNING AND NOT WANT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THIS IS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY STEERING SYSTEM WHICH HAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER IONS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT, NOT JUST THE '03. I AM NOT EVEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AT HOME BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO SCAN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. MY SATURN WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE READ THAT IT COULD COST $1200 TO FIX. PLUS THE PARTS ARE NOT EVEN SOLD AT ANY PARTS STORE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET BUT THE CAR IS NO LONGER A SAFE VEHICLE AND I AM DISCONTINUING USE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265445April 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STARTS. THIS HAS BEEN A SPORADIC EVENT SINCE DECEMBER 2007. IT HAPPENS PERHAPS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH IN THE COLDER WEATHER. CAR WILL START FINE AT ONE STOP, THEN TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENS. COME BACK 10-20 MINUTES LATER AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE OLD BATTERY, BUT THAT HAS BEEN REPLACE AND THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265270April 14, 2009
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
THE OTHER DAY WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPER WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND ATTEMPT TO FIX ON HIGHWAY. THE WIPER SINCE THEN WILL NOT WORK. THE WIPER ARM NO SITS LOOSELY ON CAR. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S SATURN ION ALSO WE HAD TO REPAIR IT. THAT TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT MECHANIC THEY NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265291April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. DURING "COLD DAYS" MY CAR DOES NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ION 2003-2007 HAVE, SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265197April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION WITH 58,000 MILES HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. AFTER A BRIEF STOP FOR SHOPPING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT WOULD TURN OVER ONCE AND THEN NOTHING. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED. IT WAS A COOL DAY, BUT THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE ON EVEN COLDER DAYS. ONE DEALER CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ANOTHER LOCATION IDENTIFIED THE BATTERY AS LOW. IT WAS REPLACED. BUT THE REAL CAUSE OF THIS EVENT IS STILL A MYSTERY. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS, I SEE THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EVENT IN A 2003 ION. I AM VERY CONCERNED, NOW, THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND STILL THERE WILL BE NO REMEDY. ARE THERE NO RECALLS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR HOW TO REMEDY IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265117April 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN ION2 WITH 4 CYL AND VTI TRANSMISSION WITH 71,000 MILES TO WORK AND IT FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SLOWED TO A STOP. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND WAS STRANDED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT TURNS OUT MY VTI TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST GM FOR IT, AND IT IS FOLLOWING THE SETTLEMENT BEFORE IT HAS BEEN RULED UPON BY THE JUDGE. THEY ARE COVERING 75% OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED 100%. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED CAR. I WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION NOISES AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IN REQUESTING THE SERVICE RECORDS, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WORK WAS DONE FOR THEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THEY ALSO DID A REPAIR ON MY TRANSMISSION (THIS WAS PRIOR TO IT HAVING 36,000 MILES AND WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY). I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR SATURN VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL FIND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. THE 75% REPAIR STILL LEAVES ME PAYING $1,150 AND MY CAR IS WORTH VERY LITTLE BECAUSE ALL THE CAR COMPANIES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS DEVALUED THE CAR. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE VERY SAME DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND AGAIN THE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS THEY GO BAD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. CAN THE NHTSA PLEASE HELP ME AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM? THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265030April 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE THERE HAVE, BEEN NO ADVERSE DEATHS OR INJURIES THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATHS. I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION 2 TIMES. THE IGNITION LOCKS UP AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE RUNNING EVEN IF I REMOVE THE KEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264240April 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR 2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START AT TIMES. TYPICALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS A COLD MORNING. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE CITED THE VERY SAME PROBLEM ON CAR DISCUSSION SITES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263004March 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS THIS IS A FREQUENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM PROBLEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE THE CAR WON'T START. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND CATCHES, ONLY TO STALL. UPON REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR THERE WILL BE NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH; TWICE CAUSING ME TO BE LATE FOR PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS. UPON REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEIR STAFF HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. THIS HAS BEEN THEIR GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEVERAL ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY CAN'T FIND A THING WRONG WITH IT. SATURN SEEMS TO BE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF A POOR DESIGN SOMEWHERE ON THEIR PART. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 80 000 KM, AND NOW NEED TO REPLACE STRUTS. I AM HESITANT TO DO THIS THOUGH, AS THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG SATURN ION OWNERS IS THAT BUSHINGS AND STRUTS ARE IN PERPETUAL NEED OF REPLACEMENT ON THESE CARS. AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS MOST PEOPLE FIND THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME REPAIRS AGAIN WITHIN 2 YEARS. FURTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR ARE: TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEY, REPLACED WIRES ON BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS AND ONE HEADLIGHT, KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION, ERRATIC TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR (I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT I JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT), SEAT BELT GUIDES BROKEN (FRONT, BOTH SIDES), REAR SEAT BELT "FEMALE" COMPONENT FALLS INTO CREVICE IN SEAT, PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT BUMPER WITHOUT BEING CHIPPED PRIOR, AND A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS HAS TURNED UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE ION OWNERS COMMUNITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262437March 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RE: 2003 SATURN ION: BUY DATE 5/03. NOV,2003, SATURN SENT BULLETIN # 03-06-123-001, ENTITLED LOSS OF COOLANT/NO EXTERNAL EVIDENT. SENT SOLELY TO ALL PARTS MANAGERS AND TECH'S. CONDITION: SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKS VISIBLE. CAUSE"THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM OF CYLINDER HEAD CASTING. CAR HAS 34000 MI. WARRANTY IS 100,000 MI, OR 5 YEARS. THE LATTER EXPIRED MAY, 2008. I AM POSITIVE NO RECALL TO CUST'S WAS SENT. ASK THAT YOU VERIFY FROM NOV. 2003 TO PRESENT THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 500 MILES AGO. AFTER REPEATED INCIDENTS, MY LOCAL MECH. WENT ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND THE ABOVE MENTIONED BULLETIN. I AM 86 YRS OLD, HAVE EMPHYSEMA, ON OXYGEN 24/7.NEAREST FAMILY MEMBER IS 400 MI. AWAY. CAR IS ONLY MODE OF TRAVEL DUE TO DISABILITY. BEEN WARNED BY LOCAL MECH. NOT TO TAKE ANY TRIPS DUE TO FIRE DANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261144March 9, 2009
EQUIPMENT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
ON MY 2003 SATURN ION 3 THE LEFT SIDE WIPER WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY AND LOCKED IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TRY TO REPAIR WHILE ON ROAD. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S SATURN ION 2 AND WE PAID TO REPAIR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261014March 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND THE PROBLEM STARTED YESTERDAY. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR ON JANUARY 31, 2009. I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. IT JUST SAID SERVICE VEHICLE ON THE MESSAGE CENTER SCREEN. I DRIVE 120 MILES PER DAY SOMETIMES AND I HAVE DONE ONLINE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. IT NOT ONLY HAPPENS WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE BUT WITH OTHER MAKES TOO! THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS. THE WEATHER WHERE I LIVE GETS DOWN TO 30 BELOW ZERO SOMETIMES AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT BE ABLE TO START MY CAR. I AM A FULL-TIME STUDENT WITH 3 CHILDREN AND A HUSBAND THAT WORKS OUT OF TOWN. I CANNOT AFFORD THE NUMEROUS CAR REPAIRS THAT PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE DONE ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. WHY HASN'T THEIR BEEN A RECALL?!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260680March 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS 30 OR BELOW MY 2003 SATURN ION IS UNABLE TO START. I MUST WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THEN TRY AGAIN. THERE SEEM TO BE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260438March 2, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR WON'T START WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT.(UNDER 50) IGNITION TURNS AND THEN ENGINE STALLS OUT. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND WAITING A HALF HOUR OR SO, IT STARTS. (USUALLY WITH A FUEL SMELL AND A BACKFIRE)APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND I AM CONCERNED AS THIS MODEL HAS ALREADY HAD FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY RECALL..MECHANICS SAY ITS THE STARTER BUT WHEN REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUES.. I HAVE NOT HAD MINE REPLACED YET BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO GO TO THAT EXPENSE WHEN IT DOESN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. THE FACT THAT I SMELL GAS WHEN IT DOES START UP CONCERNS ME AND I AM FRANKLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260363March 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO FAULTY PARTS USED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259877February 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON JULY 5, 2008 I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION FROM CARMAX FOR THE COST OF $10,998. IT APPARENTLY PASSED THE RIGOROUS CARMAX CERTIFIED QUALITY INSPECTION. IN NOVEMBER 2008 (4 MONTHS LATER) THE SATURN WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. I TOOK THIS INTO CARMAX AND THEY REPLACED MY BATTERY AT MY COST. AGAIN IN JANUARY 2009 (1 MONTH LATER) IT STILL WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THIS MORNING NOW FEBRUARY 2009 IT DID NOT START AGAIN IN THE MORNING RESULTING IN A PROBLEM GETTING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SATURN. AFTER READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR NOT STARTING UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS I AM PERPLEXED AS TO WHY SATURN IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A SATURN AND MOST LIKELY MY LAST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259536February 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY SATURN HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DO A RECALL WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION ON IONS NOT WORKING AT CERTAIN TIMES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN ISSUE. I AM OFTEN STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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