Saturn Ion Complaints
4,344 consumer complaints on file.
- #10781106October 9, 2015AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO CHEST BRUISES AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10780730October 8, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE WIGGLED SEVERAL TIMES TO BE ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10780861October 8, 2015SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLATCH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10779726October 5, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SWITCH INTO THE REVERSE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS RUSTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10779616October 4, 2015AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 65,000 MILES ON IT AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT WITH PASSENGERS. MY GAS CAP LIGHT IS ON AND OFF AS WELL, AND NOW, WATER IS POOLING ON THE FLOOR FOR NO REASON AFTER A DEALER LOOKED AT MY CAR. I HAVE REPORTED MY AIRBAG CASE TO GM, AS WELL AS TO THE NHTSA HOTLINE. I FEEL LIKE AIRBAG ISSUES SHOULD BE COVERED IN ALL VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A CRASH. I DO NOT HAVE AN AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH, SO I HAVE NO WAY TO TURN IT ON/OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT MAY DEPLOY FOR NO REASON, POSSIBLY INJURING MY PASSENGERS. ALL OF MY ISSUES ARE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. (REPORTED BY FRIEND OF VEHICLE OWNER) NO DOCUMENTATION OTHER THAN CASE NUMBER INFO GIVEN TO GM. SPECIFIC DATE JUST SEPT 2015.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10779325October 2, 2015AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10778381September 29, 2015STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11/20/15*LJ, UPDATED 03/22/18*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10778564September 29, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
CASE # 8-1587665159 - 2005 SATURN ION ... I CANNOT GET ANY HELP WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE CHANNELS. THE CAR DEALERSHIP STATED THE IGNITION AND POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED,YET, I HAVE RECEIVED NO PAPERWORK STATING THIS WAS DONE. IGNITION WAS REPLACED. IF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED, IT WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, HAD A GARAGE REPLACE IT ALONG WITH THE MODULE BUT IT ALSO WENT OUT. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AS PAPERWORK FROM GM STATED I SHOULD DO BUT THEY WOULDN'T HONOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A USED PART. PREVIOUSLY, THE GAS LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED AS ONE COULD SMELL GAS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GM REP THAT THE CAR IS OLDER WITH A LOT OF MILEAGE AND PROBLEMS WILL HAPPEN BUT GM OFFICIALS KNEW ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES WHEN THE CAR FIRST CAME OUT ... THEY DID NOTHING FOR 10 YEARS. THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOES OUT, SOMETIMES WITHOUT A WARNING OR SOMETIMES WITH CHIMES. I AM A 68-YEAR-OLD HEART PATIENT THAT HAS TO DRIVE A VEHICLE KNOWING AT ANY MOMENT THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND I COULD CRASH, YET, GM STATES PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I AM NOT ABLE TO STEER THIS VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH GM STATES, STEERING CONTROL CAN BE MAINTAINED, AS THE VEHICLE WILL REVERT TO A MANUAL STEERING MODE, BUT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH. " I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND HAD NO CLUE ABOUT THE RECALLS. OR PERHAPS GM HAD NOT ADMITTED TO THEM YET. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS IS AS IT IS THE ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10778245September 28, 2015STEERING
POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE CAR WAS MOVING. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10778028September 28, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, HOWEVER THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10778240September 28, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THERE WAS A FUEL PUDDLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A RUSTED FUEL LINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,813.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10777975September 28, 2015ENGINE
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN ONE YEAR THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAS SLIPPED ON MY 2003 SATURN ION. I HAVE READ THAT THE OIL PORT IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE OILING THE CHAIN. I HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OF POCKET NEARLY 2000 DOLLARS AND IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP. IT HAS MESSED UP OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE EVERY TIME IT HAS DONE THIS. SO I HAVE TO HAVE OTHER PARTS REPLACED ALSO THAT ARE RESULT OF THIS. IT RUNS FINE THEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING I CAN GO TO START THE CAR AND IT STARTS HAVING A SPASM AND THEN SHUTTERS AND WILL NOT START. I AM SO AFRAID TO KEEP HAVING THE TIMING CHAIN FIXED ON THIS SINCE I HAVE READ THAT IT IS REALLY A FAULT IN THE ENGINEERING OF THE ENGINE TO START WITH. PLEASE HELP. I NEED A NUMBER TO CALL TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL OR WILL GM FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT IS SURELY THEIR FAULT AND NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER OF THE CAR. IT IS A GOOD RUNNING CAR AND I DID ENJOY DRIVING IT BUT I CAN'T KEEP GETTING THE TIMING CHAIN FIXED IF FIXING THE TIMING CHAIN IS NOT THE PROBLEM REALLY BUT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10777917September 27, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR BEGAN WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH STICKING AND I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL SO I TOOK IT TO BE CORRECTED....AFTER SUPPOSABLY BEING FIXED I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO I STARTED SMELLING A FAINT SMELL OF GAS...NOW ITS SO SEVERE I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR. IT'S ACTUALLY DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND. IT TAKES 3 OR MORE TIMES TO GET IT TO CRANK. THE GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN FROM 30 TO NOTHING. FROM THE VIN SEARCH MY CAR ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM ISN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE. PLEASE HELP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10766624September 21, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL, BUT THE DETAILS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10764579September 17, 2015VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS LEAVING A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, STARTED MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT TO THE MAIN ROAD, ROUTE 611, A FAIRLY BUSY THOROUGHFARE. AS I TURNED RIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT'. DESPITE PRESSING ON THE THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE SAFELY INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC (AROUND 40 MPH), MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MILES PER HOUR. I AM SO VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTION IN THE SATURN ION MANUAL WHICH SAYS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THE ERROR SHOULD CLEAR ITSELF AFTER 10 MINUTES. I DID THIS AND THE 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT' WENT OUT BUT NOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO RAN A INCONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY CLEARED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL YESTERDAY, 4 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST INSTANCE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME FROM THE DENTIST, IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, AT CLOSE TO 40 MPH, THE DASH BOARD CHIMED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT' LIT UP AND IMMEDIATELY MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. LUCKILY, WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO HOME, AND WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. AGAIN, I LET THE CAR REST, AND 12 HOURS LATER STARTED THE CAR, BOTH LIGHTS CLEARED THEMSELVES. WITHIN IN 5 MILES OF DRIVING TO THE GYM FROM MY HOME, WHILE DRIVING IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, THIS ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS REDUCED POWER ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ONE SIMPLE ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF GM/SATURN CARS WITH THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. AMONG SO MANY OTHER MANUFACTURER SAFETY ISSUES! THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 OTHER RECALLS, ONE OF WHICH MY LOCAL GM DEALER HAS FAILED OVER 3 TIMES TO FIX. I HAVE TO MANUALLY PUT MY FINGER INTO THE STEERING COLUMN TO RELEASE THE IGNITION KEY. HOLD GM ACCOUNTABLE AND PLEASE MAKE THIS ISSUE A RECALL
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10764498September 17, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10764676September 17, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM GM FOR MY 2003 SATURN ION DECEMBER 2014: GM RECALL # 14632 WHICH STATES "THAT MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SHIFTER MAY NOT PROPERLY TRANSMIT AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL THAT ALLOWS THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED COUNTER CLOCKWISE PAST THE ACCESSORY MODE TO THE LOCK POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHIFTED INTO PARK." THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR THE REPAIR ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND IT FAILS THE VERY NEXT DAY. I HAVE A REFERENCE # THAT I FILED WITH GM AND THE SR ADVISOR RECOMMENDED THAT I TRY A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL BACK THE SR ADVISOR BUT I CONTINUE TO GET VOICEMAIL AND SHE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALL. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO IF GM ISSUES A RECALL AND THEY CANNOT REPAIR THE DEFAULT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10764910September 17, 2015AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF HAVING THE FIRST RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WILL ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM TIMES. SOME TIMES IT WILL STAY ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING OFF AT SOME POINT INTO THE DRIVE, OR IT WILL ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING, STAY ILLUMINATED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN SHUT OFF. HAD THE SECOND RECALL THAT STILL IMPACTED THE KEY BEING ABLE TO BE REMOVED WHICH REQUIRED THE GEAR SHIFT TO BE REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. SINCE THE SECOND REPAIR THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES MORE FREQUENTLY. SEE MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE SINCE HAVE THE REPAIRS COMPLETED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO RECALLS BEING REPAIRS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10764199September 16, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 269,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10763886September 15, 2015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE FUEL TANK. ONCE SHE ARRIVED HOME, SHE OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS DOWN TO A QUARTER AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0