Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10255530January 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION, WITHIN THE PAST 2 WEEKS THE CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT START IN THE MORNINGS. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY FROM THE SATURN DEALER AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND THE CHECK CAME BACK WITH EVERY THING BEING OK BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. WHEN I CALLED SATURN THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED THERE IS NO RECALL BUT TRIED TO SELL ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255578January 19, 2009
STEERING
ON AT LEAST TEN OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS FAILED. IT DOES SO WITHOUT WARNING (THERE IS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN WEATHER, TIME OF DAY, OR OTHER SUCH CONDITIONS) AND IT MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. ONE HAS TO SLOW DOWN TO THE POINT OF A CRAWL IN ORDER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON ANY FREEWAY EXITS WITH A LOOP. LAST THURSDAY IT WENT OUT A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF ONE AFTERNOON. IT SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF ONLY AFTER TURNING THE CAR OF AND RESTARTING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SO ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER DOING AN ONLINE SEARCH IT APPEARS THAT MINE IS NOT THE ONLY CASE AND THAT THE SOLUTION CAN RANGE FROM A SMALL INEXPENSIVE REPAIR TO A RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255502January 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL SPORADICALLY NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. STARTS FINE IN WARM SEASON. WAITING 10 MINUTES AFTER INITIAL TRY WILL USUALLY REMEDY THIS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS 5 TIMES A WEEK AND NORMALLY IN THE MORNING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STARTER AND BATTER HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASS-LOCK SYSTEM BEING TEMPERAMENTAL. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND CONDENSATION. THE COLD START TRIGGERS AN APPROXIMATE 10 MINUTE WAIT TIME BEFORE THE SYSTEM IS RESET AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER UNTIL AFTER THAT PERIOD. I HAVE READ WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DISABLED THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM TO REMEDY THIS WITH GOOD RESULTS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH PAYING A MECHANIC TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM OR DOING THIS MYSELF AND FEEL THAT SATURN SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A SPORADIC AND TEMPERAMENTAL PROBLEM IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE.... HENCE THE DOZENS OF ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE REPLACING STARTERS AND BATTERIES WITH NO LASTING RESULTS. I HAVE, WITH MIXED RESULTS, THAT HEATING THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE THE INITIAL START WILL CAUSE A BETTER CONNECTION. I AM GOING TO TRY THIS METHOD. OVERALL THIS IS JUST A RIDICULOUS ISSUE AND I'M TIRED OF BEING LATE FOR WORK AND STARTING MY CAR 10 TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING MY CAR UNATTENDED WHILE GETTING READY. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP FIX THE PROBLEM FOR ME AND THE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SUCH STRONG DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR SATURN VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255396January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. THIS FIRST HAPPENED LAST YEAR, AND I THOUGHT THAT THE GAS LINES WERE FREEZING. I HAVE PUT SEVERAL BOTTLES OF DRY GAS IN MY TANK THINKING THAT THIS RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS A PASSLOCK SECURITY ISSUE AND MY EFFORTS OF DRY GAS DID NOTHING. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED COUNTLESS TIMES DUE TO THE ERROR. THIS PROBLEMS RENDERS THE CAR USELESS. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY, BUT THIS HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255401January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY, NO CRANK/NO START BECAUSE OF FAULTY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SATURN "REBOOTED THE COMPUTER" (SATURNS WORDS). THIS WAS IN MAY OF 06. STRANGELY, THE CAR HAS "DIED" IN AT LEAST 3 DRIVEWAYS AS THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A GARAGE AND HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT WAS FINE. RECENTLY, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE CAR WILL NO CRANK/NO START AND THROW THE PASSLOCK CODE. ON THE DASH, SOMETIMES IT SAYS SERVICE ENGINE IT MAY OR MAY NOT RESET AFTER 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE AS I AM NEVER SURE IF I AM GOING TO GET TO WORK ON TIME OR NOT. I CALLED SATURN LAST WEEK. APPARENTLY SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THEY ARE GOING TO INCONVENIENCE ME TO DRIVE 200 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN CHARGE ME $100 TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR LAND THEN ANOTHER $1000 ON TOP OF THAT TO "FIX" THE CAR' THEY KNOW THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OFF THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME MY CAR CONTINUES TO NOT START IF IT IS ZERO DEGREES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255414January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WONT START DUE TO PASSLOCK/IGNITION PROBLEMS IN COLD WEATHER. HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS YET AS FUNDS ARE LIMITED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255440January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THE CAR USES THE GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM. OFTEN AFTER SEVERAL INSTANCES OF WAITING 10 MINUTES, AND TRYING AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255445January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 SATURN ION PASSLOCK FAILURE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ABOUT 25 DEGREES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. LIGHTS COME ON, RADIO WORKS SO THERE IS POWER, EVEN WITH ANOTHER CAR TRYING TO JUMP START THE SATURN IT WILL NOT START. YOU HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO START. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME, HOME, GAS STATION, ETC. HERE IS A LIST OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_97661_4.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255458January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. IT WON'T START WHEN IT GETS COLD AND THE CHAT ROOM SAYS ITS A COMMON THING .IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT IT BUT KEEP RIGHT ON CHARGING US TO REPLACE SOMETHING THEY SHOULD BE DOING .AS ITS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2003 ION AND STILL IS ON THE 2007 ION.. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL SATURN IONS GM KNOWS BUT DON'T CARE. AND THEY WANT US TO BUY GM THAT'S A JOKE . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255279January 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WHICH THIS MORNING WOULD NOT START AFTER I LEFT A CONVENIENCE STORE. IT WAS A LITTLE HESITANT IN STARTING ABOUT A WEEK AGO. BOTH TIMES WERE EXTREMELY COLD COMPARED TO NORMAL THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS MORNING I FIGURED IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM. WELL AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH IT WOULD SEEM THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD AND EVERYONE ELSE'S DESCRIPTION ONLINE DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENED ME TO ME PERFECTLY. WOULDN'T START, WALKED THE MILE HOME, CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, GOT BACK, STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NOT PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255292January 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. IT DOES NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER (AROUND 36 DEGREES F AND BELOW). I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND TWO MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. MY MECHANIC ASSURED ME THE BATTERY IS TOP OF THE LINE AND GUARANTEED TO START IN COLD WEATHER. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT START YESTERDAY IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER. ALL LIGHTS TURN ON BUT CAR DOES NOT CRANK. DOES NOT EVEN MAKE NOISE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS THROUGH VARIOUS DISCUSSION BOARDS AND MOST OF THEM AGREE THAT THERE IS A FAULTY SWITCH IN THE IGNITION THAT LEAKS LUBRICANT. WHEN THE LUBRICANT FREEZES, THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT ALARM DOES NOT GET IT'S ELECTRICAL SIGNAL SO IT ACTIVATES AND PROHIBITS FUEL FROM BEING USED SO THE CAR DOES NOT START. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, BUT I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG IN THIS SITUATION. IF THIS IS THE CASE OF A FAULTY SWITCH, SATURN / GM SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND FORCED TO DO A RECALL WITH AN UPDATED SWITCH DESIGN. FOR THE AMOUNT THAT CARS COST TODAY MANUFACTURERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PUT OUT JUNK PARTS AND EXPECT CONSUMERS TO SIT BACK AND TAKE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255317January 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DURING THE COLDER DAYS MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM DENY MY CAR TO START. I OR MY WIFE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO TRY IT AGAIN. IF IT DOESN'T START ATE THE 10 MINUTE MARK WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. WE HAVE WAITED A 1/2 AN HOUR FOR IT TO START BEFORE. I HAVE NO TRUST IT WILL START AT ANY POINT. WE NEED TO WAIT THE 10 MINUTES NEARLY EVERYTIME FROM END OF NOV TO FEB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255339January 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER OWNING MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR 8 MONTHS, IT DEVELOPED A RANDOM STARTING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START NORMALLY AND OTHERS NOT AT ALL. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, STARTER, AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE IGNITION SWITCH SAID IT IS COMMON TO NEED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. AFTER ALL OF THOSE NEW PARTS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FORUM WHERE DOZENS OF OTHER ION OWNERS WHERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REMEDY THAT SEEMED TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM WAS TO DISABLE THE VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM BY CUTTING THE PROPER WIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS ALLOWS THE CAR TO START EVERY TIME, BUT ALSO GIVES AN ERROR MESSAGE ABOUT THE DISABLED SYSTEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURS FOR ION OWNERS IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255136January 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SATURN ION WILL NOT START. SPORADICALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH PASSLOCK SYSTEM. AFTER WAITING A PERIOD OF TIME (10 MINUTES?) SYSTEM WILL START VEHICLE. HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255163January 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SATURN ION 2004, BOUGHT SEPT. 2007 FROM CARMAX, FREQUENTLY DOES NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS ABOUT 33 DEGREES THIS MORNING AND EVEN WHEN I JUMPED IT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM LAST WINTER- MY FIRST WINTER HAVING THIS CAR. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT I AM GOING TO GET THE STARTER CHECKED TODAY. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS. APPARENTLY THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. AS AN EDUCATOR, I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AS I HAVE READ PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE ALREADY DONE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS A TEACHER, I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LATE TO SCHOOL WHENEVER IT IS COLD. I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT MY EFFORTS IN MAKING THIS COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IN A RECALL FOR THE CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. READING THE ONLINE FORUMS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE IGNITION/STARTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255256January 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SATURN 2004 ION HAS BEEN BREAKING DOWN SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2005. THEY HAVE PUT IN 2-3 TRANSMISSIONS AND EVERYTIME IT IS COLD IT WON'T START. A COUPLE TIMES THE WOULD START BUT NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR! THE TECH'S COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG SO MY DAD (WHO DOES NOT WORK ON CARS ) FIGURED OUT IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE! THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS AT LEAST 3 TIMES! THE CARS HEAT AND RADIO WOULD JUST SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON THEY ALSO FIXED THAT A COUPLE TIMES. MY CAR WILL BE PAID OFF SHORTLY BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO NOT HAVE A CAR PAYMENT BECAUSE AT ANY MOMENTS NOTICE MY 2004 SATURN ION MIGHT FALL APART!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255092January 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR HAS NOT STARTED 8 TIMES. SATURN ION 2004. 40,000 MILES. BOUGHT IT USED 5 MONTHS AGO. RUNS FINE IN WARM WEATHER. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY, STILL WOULDN'T START. BOUGHT NEW ALTERNATOR. STILL WOULDN'T START. JUMP START IT, IT WILL START SOMETIMES. CALLED SATURN RECALL; 2ND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY WIRE BUT NO ONE HAS RECALLED THE WIRE. THE PROBLEM: WHITE WIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN IT GETS TOO COLD OUTSIDE, NOT ENOUGH VOLTS GO THROUGH WHITE WIRE AND CAR THINKS SOMEONE IS BREAKING IN AND WILL NOT START. FOUND THIS OUT ON CARSPACE.COM. OTHER PEOPLE WITH MY SAME CAR HAVE SAME PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO CLIP THE WHITE WIRE THEN YOUR CAR WILL RUN WITH NO PROBLEM. NEWER MODEL SATURNS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NEXT I WAS GOING TO GET A NEW STARTER, BUT OTHER HAVE GOTTEN THAT AND STARTER GOES OUT WITHIN A YEAR. IT STRESSFUL TO GET INTO A FAIRLY NEW CAR AND IT NOT START. ALL LIGHTS COME ON BUT ENGINE WILL NOT. NOW I KNOW TO WAIT 15 MINUTES AND THEN TRY STARTING CAR AGAIN. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? SO HERE I AM AGAIN LEAVING WORK TONIGHT IN THE COLD AND SEEING IF IT WILL START AND IF IT DOESN'T SITTING AROUND FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN TRYING IT AGAIN. IT IS SOOOO AGGRAVATING!! SO AGAIN WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255017January 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY WON'T START. THIS BEGAN ABOUT A WEEK AGO. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE ARE 2 SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CAR THAT PERTAIN TO THIS PROBLEM: ONE IS FOR REPROGRAMMING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND THE OTHER IS FOR AN IGNITION SYSTEM REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. I PLAN TO DO SO TONIGHT. I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT THAT SATURN WON'T MAKE THIS A RECALL BECAUSE THEN SATURN WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. PLEASE HAVE GM/SATURN CHANGE THE 2 SERVICE BULLETINS (LISTED ABOVE) TO RECALLS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255048January 14, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN GOING OUT AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. IN ORDER TO RESET IT I NEED TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE FIXED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT SAID TO FIX IT PERMANENTLY I NEED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. I RESEARCH OVER 20 CASES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR ON THIS SITE AND CARSTATS.COM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAN'T TURN THE WHILE QUICKLY YOU CAN'T AVOID ACCIDENTS. IT CAUSES STRAIN IN THE MUSCLES OF MY SHOULDER AND BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254648January 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 SATURN ION - WON'T START WHEN COLD. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE, PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_73169.HTML OR SEARCH IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS IS SUCH A PREVALENT PROBLEM AND YET SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. CERTAINLY THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY PROBLEM IF SOMEONE'S CAR WOULD FAIL TO START. I WAS STUCK IN MY CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR IN NEGATIVE TEMPS AND BECAME ILL AFTERWARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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