Saturn Ion Complaints (2006)

1,235 consumer complaints on file.

#10377399January 13, 2011
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOMETIMES AS I AM DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 SATURN ION STOPS WORKING AND I CAN'T TURN THE VEHICLE. IF I HAVE TO MAKE A TURN, I HAVE TO TRY TO MOVE THE WHEEL. I HAVE CAUSED MAJOR DELAYS AND ALMOST BEEN IN A FEW WRECKS DUE TO TROUBLES TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART IT AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE OTHER PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IN THE MORNING WHICH I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH ON AND FOUND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR SATURN. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE AND ONCE I TURN THE KEY I HAVE TO GIVE IT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL TURN ON. THEN I CAN'T TURN IT OFF UNTIL I GET TO WHERE I NEED TO GO OR I HAVE TO WAIT AGAIN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. THIS PRESENTS A BIG PROBLEM IF I HAVE TO STOP FOR GAS, BECAUSE I CAN'T TURN MY CAR OFF AT THE PUMP OR I AM STUCK AT THE GAS PUMP FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AND SOMETIMES LONGER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375064January 7, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON BUT THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375109January 7, 2011
STEERING
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER OF STEERING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE HAS TO APPLY MORE FORCE IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 54,935. PM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374925January 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF THE TROUBLES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2006 SATURN ION. MY SATURN DOESN'T ALWAYS START ON THE FIRST TRY (RADIO AND LIGHTS COME ON, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER). ON MOST MORNINGS, WHENEVER I TRY TO START THE CAR, IT DOESN'T START AND AN ICON SHOWING A CAR WITH LOCK SHOWS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HOWEVER, AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START SOMETIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, I EVEN CALLED AAA THINKING IT WAS MY BATTERY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PASS-LOCK SYSTEM (THE CAR THINKS I AM TRYING TO STEAL IT). ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28TH, I TOOK THE CAR TO NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN IN ST. JAMES, NY AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON THE AFTERNOON OF WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29TH AND DROVE HOME. HOWEVER, ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AT LEAST 5 TO 7 DIFFERENT TIMES FROM 8 ' 10:30AM BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T CRANK. FINALLY, AT AROUND 10:45 AM THE CAR STARTED, I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND DROVE IT BACK TO THE NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN IN ST. JAMES. THE NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN INFORMED ME THAT EACH TIME THEY ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD START; THEREFORE, THEY COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD AND HAD NO PROBLEMS GETTING TO AND FROM WORK ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH. HOWEVER, ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH, THE CAR WOULDN'T START, ONCE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373847January 3, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 75, 000 MILES CURRENTLY ON IT AND THE INCIDENT I HAVE ON MY CAR IS WITH THE POWER STEERING LOCKING UP ON ME. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN I DRIVE DISTANCES OVER 15 MILES AND THERE IS AN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OVER 60 DEGREES. IT STARTED AROUND LATE SEPTEMBER WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 70-80 RANGE. FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS IT CEASED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 60 DEGREES. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RELATION BETWEEN THE TEMPERATURE AND THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS JUST MY OBSERVATION. IT OCCURRED ON ME AGAIN ON DECEMBER 31. THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE DISAPPEARS AND THE STEERING WHEEL STOPS LOCKING WHEN I STOP AND RESTART MY VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP ON ME ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS NUMEROUS TIMES AS A CONSEQUENCE, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD TO AVOID ACCIDENTS WITH DRIVING SKILLS AND PRAYER. FROM MY OWN PERSONAL RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE HOPING THAT A RECALL WILL BE INITIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373996January 3, 2011
STEERING
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. 1. WAS WORKING NORMALLY, THEN JUST STOPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. PWR STR INDICATOR COMES ON TO INDICATE THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. 2. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS THEN STOPS WORKING. FAILURE OCCURS ONCE PER DAY TO ONCE PER WEEK. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER HOW LONG THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAS HAPPENED AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING OR AS LONG AS 1 HOUR OF DRIVING. 3. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS TO 30 SECONDS SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY CURE THE PROBLEM. TURN THE CAR OFF. WAIT. TURN IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS NORMALLY FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 200 MILES, THEN THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373434December 30, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN SIX WEEKS AGO. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER DUE TO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,893. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373441December 30, 2010
STEERING
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372643December 28, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ACCORDING TO WHAT I CAN RECALL, INITIALLY, I WAS CONTACTED BY SATURN/GM THAT I MIGHT HAVE DEFECT IN MY IGNITION BUT THAT THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT MAKE A RECALL ON IT LATER BUT I SHOULD HAVE IT REPAIRED IF I HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. I DID HAVE PROBLEMS SO I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, I STILL HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR DUE TO LOCKING FEATURES. THIS MEANT THAT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY IT WOULD NOT TURNOVER. FORTUNATELY, I LEARNED TO CONTINUE TRYING TO DO THIS, AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD START. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FEATURE ESPECIALLY TO ME BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN WHO TRAVELS IN BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND WORKS AND LIVES IN THEM AS WELL. THE CRIME RATE IN MY CITY OF NEW ORLEANS LEADS THE NATIONS IN MURDERS. NO ONE ELSE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS WILLING TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T RESTART IT. LATELY, THE CAR HAS A NEW AND EVEN MORE DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IF I PARK IT IN A CERTAIN WAY, MAYBE ON A SLIGHT GRADE, IT WILL TURNOVER BUT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO CONNECTION AND IT WON'T START UNTIL I PHYSICALLY PUSH THE VEHICLE. AT 60 YEARS OF AGE, THIS IS NOT AS EASY AS I WOULD PREFER BUT IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO START. SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS ALONE AT NIGHT MAKING A NIGHT DEPOSIT AT A BANK, I AM TERRORIZED BY WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME SHOULD I PARK SOMEWHERE I AM TOO CLOSE TO OTHER CARS THAT I CAN'T PUSH IT AT ALL, OR WHAT IF IT WILL NEVER START? TOO BAD, BECAUSE THE SATURN HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT CAR AND IT'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO LOSE MY ENTIRE VEHICLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE THESE FEATURES REPAIRED SO THAT THEY WORK PROPERLY IN THE FUTURE. THE APPROXIMATE DATE BELOW ALLUDES TO WHEN I MAY HAVE FIRST NOTICED THE FIRST PROBLEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO MAKE A COMPLAINT, AND HAD I NOT READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NYTIMES ABOUT SATURN, I WOULD NOT HAVE FIGURED OUT WHO TO CONTACT AT ALL. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372704December 28, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 SATURN ION II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD RESENT MOMENTARILY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372592December 27, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILURE. EVERY STARTUP WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF STARTING AUTOMOBILE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST FAILS AND CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE OF EXPENSE OF DEALERSHIP REPLACEMENT OF OVER 900 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371920December 21, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 SATURN ION. DAUGHTER HIGHWAY DRIVING RETURNING FROM COLLEGE, INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH CAME, POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE PULLED OVER TURNED VEHICLE OFF, TURNED BACK ON AND IT DROVE FINE. NEXT DAY DRIVING AT A SLOWER SPEED THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. CONTACTED AUTHORIZED SATURN SERVICE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT AFTER TAKING OUR VIN# INDICATED GM HAS NOT MADE A RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE. TO REPAIR THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP WE ARE LOOKING AT $300+. I JUST SPENT OVER $200 SIX MONTHS AGO ON A PROBLEM I FEEL GM SHOULD ALSO OWN UP TO...THE IGNITION PROBLEM WITH THE KEY STICKING IN THE IGNITION AND NOT ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I KNOW THIS ELECTRIC STEERING PROBLEM IS ALSO SHOWING UP IN OTHER GM VEHICLES AND FOR WHAT EVER REASON THEY ARE ONLY FIXING A SELECT FEW IN A SELECT FEW STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I HAVE READ WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN 14 ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN DEATHS TRACING BACK TO THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IS AT RISK. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AN AMERICAN COMPANY WOULD ALLOW THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE TO BE COMPROMISED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372780December 21, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
OVER THE NINE MONTHS THAT I DROVE THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE, A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE CONTINUALLY ENTERED THE CABIN WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING OPERATED AND COULD BE SMELLED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THE CAR ALSO GRADUALLY BECAME HARDER TO START, TURNING LONGER THAN NORMAL. THE ODOR CONTINUED TO GET STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL I DISCOVERED VIA AN ONLINE SEARCH THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL INVOLVING THE FUEL PUMP CRACKING FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR IN ARIZONA AND NEVADA. I CALLED SATURN TO VERIFY THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT RECALL SINCE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE FIXED WHERE AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WHERE A LEAK WAS FOUND COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FINAL COST FOR AN AFTERMARKET PUMP, INITIAL INSPECTION, AND LABOR CAME TO $657 DOLLARS. I HAD A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE PURCHASING. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL STAIN ON THE TANK, BUT HE BELIEVED IT TO BE INACTIVE AND LEFTOVER FROM POSSIBLE PRIOR WORK DONE ON VEHICLE. SO PUMP FAILURE MAY HAVE BEGAN EARLIER THAN THE STATED MILEAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372753December 20, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 ION THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER I STOPPED SOMEWHERE, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THE SAME THING CONTINUED TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, HOWEVER, AND NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR ALMOST AS SOON AS I START DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS DANGEROUS FAILURE OF VEHICLE EQUIPMENT ON CARS THAT ARE NOT VERY OLD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372754December 20, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION WITH THE CAR RUNNING. I HAD TO DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC AND HAVE HIM DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TO STOP. HE REBUILT THE IGNITION, BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY GETTING STUCK AFTER SHUT OFF. THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER CONTINUING IGNITION PROBLEM IN MY 2006 ION FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BEFORE AND AFTER THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE KEY CONTINUALLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT COME OUT UNTIL I PLAY WITH IT (RESTARTING THE CAR, MOVING IT A BIT, PLAYING WITH THE DOOR LOCKS, ETC.) FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371050December 17, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH A FUEL ODOR. THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370833December 15, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND THEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTACT AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A CRASHED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370621December 14, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY Y FAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET INDEPENDENTLY. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369933December 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WAS TO DISCONNECT THE CABLES TO THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369645December 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2006 SATURN ION DOES NOT RELEASE THE IGNITION KEY WHEN SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT OCCURRINGGG ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. TO GET THE IGNITION KEY TO RELEASE CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 30 SECONDS TO SEVERAL MINUTES BY TRYING TO ENGAGE AND RE-ENGAGE THE SHIFTING MECHANISM TO PARK AND SOMETIMES BY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE CAR DOORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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