Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10212048December 17, 2007
STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
MY TRUNK HAS STARTED TO GET WATER IN IT. THIS CAUSED MY BATTERY TO FAIL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOW THAT IT IS WINTER I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY BECAUSE IT FROZE . THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY TRUNK IS DAMAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211388December 10, 2007
STEERING
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSES IMMEDIATELY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211134December 7, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 WILL NOT START AT TIMES ON COLD MORNINGS, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND STILL NO START..IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON AN ONLINE FORUM I SEE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD AND YET SATURN DOES NOTHING TO HELP, IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BCM, AND OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210720December 3, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I PURCHASE A 2004 SATURN ION (6/11/04), BRAND NEW. THE FIRST SIGN OF COLD THAT YEAR, LATE NOVEMBER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. AFTER AWHILE(10-15 MIN.) IT WOULD START UP LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I BROUGHT IT IN 12/28/04, WHICH THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE; SAYING "THAT WAS THE PROBLEM". I STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR THROUGH THE WINTER, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WAS WHAT WRONG. EVERYTIME I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY WOULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SEND ME ON MY WAY SINCE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. THE NEXT WINTER THAN SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS STUCK IN THE COLD A FEW MORNINGS BEFORE WORK TRYING TO GET THE CAR STARTED. SATURN CLAIMED IT WAS TOO COLD OUTSIDE FOR MY CAR TO START, AND TOLD ME TO WAIT A BIT BEFORE BRINGING IT IN. (IT MAYBE WENT BELOW 0 DEGREES THAT WEEK TWICE) FED UP I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN ON 1/17/05, WHICH THEY REPLACED MY BLOCK ASSEMBLY, WIRE HARNESS, STARTER, BATTERY, AND WIRE CONNECTERS. THEY REALLY WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS WRONG THEY ADMITTED, BUT IT SEEMS TO WORK NOW. THE CAR WOULD WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN THE SAME ISSUE ARISES AGAIN. ON 4/15/05 SATURN HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIO RECEIVER FOR FAULTY ISSUES. THAT SAME WINTER, MY CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE COLD AGAIN. IT WAS BROUGHT IN ON 12/20/05, WHICH THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SAYING THE USUAL "THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM". NOW, JUST UNDER TWO YEARS LATER, I AM BACK TO HAVING THE SAME ISSUES OF MY CAR NOT STARTING IN THE COLD. SATURN IS NOW THROWING THEIR HANDS UP SAYING I MUST PURCHASE ANOTHER IGNITION SWITCH, AND PAY THEM TO PUT IT IN FOR A TOTAL OF $220. UNACCEPTABLE. I MAY HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS SOONER, BUT I WASN'T AWARE THERE WERE MANY MORE SATURN ION DRIVERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES I HAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209820November 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START BELOW 35 DEGREES AND WILL ALSO STALL AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO IMOBILIZER ACTIVATING. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AGAIN WHEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS RESET. PROBLEM IS IN THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF MY CAR. IT IS A 2004 SATURN ION. CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS COLD OUT AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNS. VERY DANGEROUS DURING DRIVING IF IT OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209864November 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX MANY POSTS ON LINE OF THIS ISSUE. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS I NEED TO MOVE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE FOR WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208953November 14, 2007
STEERING
INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASH AND POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ONE DAY AND TWICE THE SECOND DAY WHEN I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER. THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1200. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THIS JUST "SOMETIMES HAPPENS" BY THE DEALERSHIP, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SERIOUS DEFECT AND RECALLED. I DECIDED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT HAPPENS TO SATURN IONS AS WELL AS OTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. IN MY OPINION, A 4 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT JUST SUDDENLY LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TRAGEDY. SUPPOSE A DRIVER HAS TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS AT THAT MOMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH I BELIEVE GM IS AWARE OF AND IS CHOOSING NOT TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT. I INTEND TO MAKE MY VOICE HEARD IN AS MANY FORUMS AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I SINCERELY HOPE IT CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE EVEN ONE PERSON LOSES THEIR LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208225November 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN THE WEATHER REACHES FREEZING AND CAR HAS BEEN LEFT OFF FOR ABOUT 6 TO 8 HOURS IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. I HAD THE PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO AND SATURN REPLACED THE STARTER ON THE CAR AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN THIS WINTER. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL SITES AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS. REPLACING THE STARTER EVERY OTHER WINTER IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207401October 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL IS MADE SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH POTENTIAL TO DO HARM (THINK: BEING STRANDED IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES.) . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206034October 17, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND THERE WAS RECALL (04V547000) IN THIS VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNALS. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I CONTACTED SATURN AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I RESEARCHED THIS FURTHER AND CALLED SATURN AGAIN AND NOW WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE ALSO READ ARTICLES AND PEOPLE WERE STATING THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE THE WORK DONE A FEW TIMES BECAUSE WHAT WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. SATURN IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WORK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204827October 4, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BULB AND FUSES SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. A RECALL WAS DISCOVERED FOR THIS COMPONENT, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203565September 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT HAS CHANGED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULBS 10 TIMES, WHICH PREVENTED THE TURN SIGNALS FROM WORKING ALSO. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) WAS REFERENCED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE MANUFACTURING PLANT, THEREFORE IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY. AFTER THE CONTACT THREATENED LITIGATION, GENERAL MOTORS REPAIRED THE DRL JUMPER KIT AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING PROPERLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203217September 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
'04 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER. SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING. MUST WARM KEY/IGNITION, AND AFTER 15 MINUTES CAR MAY START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200913August 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN 2-5 MPH. ALL THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200121August 20, 2007
STRUCTURE, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-95 GOING ABOUT 65 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND I SEE OUT OF MY LEFT SIDEVIEW MIRROR, THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUMPER FLIP UP INTO THE AIR. I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SWERVING LEFT AND RIGHT. MY CAR CROSSED OVER THE RIGHT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND INTO A GRASSY AREA JUST NORTH OF THE GLADES ROAD EXIT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO CHECK THE DAMAGE, RIGHT AWAY I SEE LARGE PIECES OF MY TIRE TREAD LAYING IN THE ROAD ABOUT 20 FEET BACK. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUMPER IS SCRATCHED AND TORN FROM THE CAR. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BALD AND THE TREAD WAS PEALED OFF, LAYING IN THE STREET. THE PANEL BETWEEN MY BUMPER AND LEFT REAR DOOR IS SNAPPED OFF AND HANGING BY A SMALL PIECE. I OPENED THE LEFT REAR DOOR AND THE WHOLE INSIDE FRAME IS CRACKED AND IN PIECES. IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF, IT BEAT INTO THE DOOR, SIDE PANEL AND BUMPER AND BUSTED THEM RIGHT OFF. THE TIRE WAS NOT PUNCTURED NOR DID I RUN OVER ANY DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CHANGED MY TIRE AND PUT THE SPARE ON AND DROVE TO A NEARBY SHOP TO HAVE A NEW TIRE PUT ON. I TAPED UP MY BUMPER BECAUSE IT WOULD FLAP AROUND AS I DRIVE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE TIRE AND IT IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME ON MY 2004 BRAND NEW SATURN ION. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION AND MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I KEEP MY CAR IN TOP CONDITION, I GET OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES, FILL MY TIRES WITH AIR EVERY MONTH AND I ROTATE THEM EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE AS WELL. OF COURSE, FIRESTONE DENIED MY CLAIM ADVISING THE TIRE HAD OVER DEFLECTION AND THAT IS WHY THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. I CALLED FIRESTONE AND SPOKE WITH THE PARALEGAL WHO SENT THE DENIAL LETTER. I ADVISED HER THAT FIRESTONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE OR PAYING MY $250 DEDUCTIBLE TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FIX THE DAMAGE. FIRESTONE DENIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199026August 9, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2004 SATURN ION WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A WINDING STREET. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BUT A PERSON OF LESSER STRENGTH WOULD LIKELY HAVE CRASHED AS THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THE WHOLE STEERING ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1,079 PLUS #111 FOR A 2 DAY CAR RENTAL. THE AUTO WAS JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER KEPT OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195423July 5, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON JUNE 25, 2007 THE 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE CAME TO A DEAD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR I WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT SATURN HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON CERTAIN TRANSMISSIONS MINE INCLUDED . WHEN I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL WAS TOLD NO. ALSO, I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE THE CAR BACK BY FRIDAY 6/29/07. LATER THAT DAY I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE VTI TRNSMISSION AND PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. I SHOULD HAVE MY CAR BACK ON FRIDAY, 6/29/07. ON FRIDAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISION WAS GOING TO NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AND THE PART HAD BEEN ORDERED. I WOULD GET THE CAR BACK ON 7/2/07, WEEK SINCE IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT ARRIVED ,AND THAT I WOULD HAVE THE CAR BACK ON THURSDAY SINCE WEDNESDAY. TODAY THURSDAY 7/5/07 I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT READY, AND THAT IT MAY NOT BE READY TOMORROW. WHY NOT RECALL CARS AFFECTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195223July 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED ON 2004 STAURN ION AT 62K MILES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BEND VALVES. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING UNABLE TO START. AT THIS POINT THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS IS ~ $2,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193872June 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I LIVE IN MINNESOTA. I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SATURN ION COUPE, WITH ONLY 84 MILES AND DROVE OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR. I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP ONCE IT STARTED , AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THE SATURN HAS CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING OVER THE LAST COUPLE WINTERS. THIS PAST WINTER IT WAS EXTREMELY BAD. 2 OUT OF 7 DAYS THE CAR WOULDN'T START RIGHT AWAY ,BUT THEN I WOULD TRY AGAIN IN 20 MINUTES AND IT WOULD START. I TOOK THE SATURN REMOTE CONTROLS OFF THE KEY CHAIN THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM. BUT IT WASN'T . ALSO, I HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT WAS FINE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP. IT SEEMED MANY WERE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THIS ALMOST COST ME A PAY RAISE. TOO MANY ABSENCES AT MY JOB WILL ELIMINATE ME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193278June 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AT THE BEGINING OF MAY I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE I COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL ON. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLNDER. I THOUGHT ALL WAS WELL. *AK ON MAY,29 2007, I WAS TAKING MY WIFE OUT TO DINNER FOR HER BIRTHDAY. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND FOUND OUT THAT I COULD NOT PULL THE KEY OUT NOR COULD I TURN THE CAR OFF. I CALLED SATURN AND WAS TOLD TO TRY TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THIS DID NOT WORK. I INSTEAD HAD TO REMOVE THE CARS FUSE FOR THE FUEL RELAY PUMP. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP THE NEXT MORNING. AFTER SITTING AT THE DEALER FOR OVER 4 HOURS I WAS TOLD THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE AND IGNITION COLUMN COULDNT BE REPROGRAMED BECAUSE THE COMPUTER HAD GONE OUT. I ENDED UP BUYING A NEW CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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