Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10125247June 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE DIES. SOMETIMES WILL PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. WHEN FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE DID THIS, READJUSTED THE COMPUTER. AND NOW WAS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN . TOOK VEHICLE TO SATURN, THEY KEPT SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125827June 10, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
2004 SATURN ION EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS.*MR THE TURN SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE TURN SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHTS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PARTS BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124492June 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT: CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY CANT HELP CALLER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124728June 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2004 SATURN ION EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121298May 18, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL AND SHUT DOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121317May 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DURING BRAKING, WHEN GEARS SHOULD BE DOWNSHIFTING, MY AUTOMATIC SATURN ION 3 RPMS WOULD SEEM TO BE RACING UPWARDS BY SEVERAL 1000'S. I COMPLAINED ON 2 PRIOR OCCASSIONS TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". ON 05/13/05 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, CAR SEEMED TO LURCH BACKWARDS. WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT THE RPMS RACED ABOVE 3000. IT LURCHED ME OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE ROAD. PUT IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AND PARK. TURNED IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED. IN PARK CAR WAS IDLING AT 3500 RPMS. RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES WITH SAME RESULT. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE B/C CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOW GUY HAD TO BRAKE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS LOADING CAR ONTO STEEP INCLINE OF TRUCK BED B/C HE SAID CAR WAS QUICKLY MOVING FORWARD AND UP ON IT'S OWN. WAITED W/ SERVICE PEOPLE AT SATURN TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THEY DID. REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. COMPLAINED HARSHLY B/C THIS WAS 3RD TIME IN. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN MARCH B/C IT WOULDN'T START IN THE A.M. TOW GUY COULDN'T START EITHER. OF COURSE SATURN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THAT PROBLEM EITHER AND STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE COLD WEATHER. DON'T LIVE IN ALASKA... MARCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT WARRANT A 1 YR OLD, GARAGE KEPT CAR NOT STARTING. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING OR OF RPMS AND THEY DID NOTHING. SATURN MADE EFFORTS, AFTER THE MAY INCIDENT, TO COMPENSATE. WILL UPDATE WHEN ALL DETAILS ARE WORKED OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120650May 11, 2005
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING FAILURE DURING STATIC AND VERY SLOW TURNING EXERCISES. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WE TEACH NEW DRIVERS AND RE-TRAIN ELDERLY DRIVERS AND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR A TRAINING VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. HE PERFORMED THE POWER STEERING DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS. "SINCE MOST OCCURRENCES OF THE DTC ARE CAUSED BY FREQUENT STATIC STEERING, SUCH AS PARKING MANEUVERS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, REVIEW THE EPS SYSTEM WITH THE CUSTOMER TOI DETERMINE THE CONDITIONSL UNDER WHICH THE DTC SET". THE SYSTEM RESET WHICH DOES NOT HELP. INCREASING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOES THAT. THE DEALER HAS NO CURE. I THINK A MANUFACTURER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE THAT CAN SAFELY BE OPERATED UPON A ROAD WAY REGARDLESS OF STATIC STEERING OR SLOW STEERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118602April 27, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
BY 3500 MILES (AFTER 1500MI WHEN WE COULD HAVE RETURNED IT), THE FRONT PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL BURNT OUT. THE CAR WAS ALSO SPUTTERING WHEN WE STARTED THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACKED HEAD, THAT WE WERE TOLD WAS PROBABLY PRESENT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR; HAD WE KNOWN WE WOULD'VE RETURNED THE CAR. WE WERE GIVEN A RENTAL CAR, BUT HAD TO DRIVE 45 MIN ONE WAY TO GET TO SATURN OF GREEN BAY. WITHIN A MONTH, THE FRONT DRIVER TURN SIGNAL HAD BURNT OUT. THE WIRING WAS REPLACED WHILE WE WAITED 2 HRS WITH OUR 3 YEAR OLD. WE HAD TO DRIVE 1 HR 1WAY TO SATURN OF APPLETON FOR REPAIRS. IN AUG 2004, THE CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE WHEN WE TURNED ONTO A STEEP GRADE. IN MI FOR VACATION, WE HAD TO DRIVE OVER 1 HR 1WAY TO SATURN OF TROY; THE SWAYBAR AND MOUNTING BRACKETS HAD TO BE FIXED. WE WAITED FOR OVER 2 HRS WITH OUR SON WHILE IT WAS FIXED. IN SEPT 2004, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL HAD TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR. WE DROVE 1 HR 1 WAY FOR THE REPAIR, AND HAD TO WAIT 2 HRS WITH OUR SON. WE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE CRUISE MAKING A FUNNY NOISE, BUT IT WAS CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS FINE. IN APRIL 2005, THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO BE FIXED. IT TOOK OVER A WEEK FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND ALMOST 2 WEEKS FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED AT SATURN OF GREEN BAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER 30 MINUTES EARLY, BE DRIVEN OVER TO MY SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH, WALK TO MY SECOND SCHOOL I TEACH AT, AND WAIT FOR A DRIVER TO PICK ME UP (20-40 MIN PAST WHEN I WAS DONE FOR THE DAY). DESPITE EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH A NEW CAR THAT SHOULD NEED MINIMAL CARE AT THIS POINT, WE'VE BEEN BASICALLY TOLD THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THE $2600 HIT TO BUY A NEW CAR WHILE THE DEALER BREAKS EVEN. THIS IS POOR SALESMANSHIP, AND WE WILL NOT BE PURCHASING SATURN PRODUCTS ANY LONGER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119049April 22, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CHILD IN THE REAR LEFT SEAT COMPLAINED THAT THE SEAT BELT HARNESSING THE CHILD WAS TOO TIGHT AROUND HIS/HER NECK. THE DRIVER HAD TO CALL 911 TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT CUT AWAY FROM THE CHILD'S NECK AND THROAT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119014April 15, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
2004 SATURN ION RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT RESULTING IN THE DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT KIT WAS REPLACED. ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE USED FOR THE REPAIR CAME FROM SATURN. THE VEHICLE STRUT BRACKET THAT WAS WELDED TO THE STRUT WHICH HELD THE SWAY BAR LINK HAD BROKEN OFF AND CUT INTO THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098369April 12, 2005
AIR BAGS, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON JULY 21, 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND ON AUGUST 3, 2004, I EXPERIENCED TREAD AND BELT SEPARATION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DISCOVERED I HAD NO BRAKES EITHER, (THE TIRE HAD RIPPED THE BRAKE LINES). I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER HITTING A ROAD SIGN. THE TIRE IN QUESTION, CAME STANDARD ON THE VEHICLE (WHICH HAD 816 MILES ON IT) AND WAS A FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 03, (P205/55R16). I SUFFERED A FRACTURE TO MY RIGHT FOREARM, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS, APPROXIMATELY $6000 WORTH OF VEHICLE DAMAGE, (NOT INCLUDING THE IMMEDIATE DEPRECIATION OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE), AND ULTIMATELY LOSS OF MY EMPLOYMENT RELATED TO NO TRANSPORTATION. I CALLED THE SATURN CUSTOMER SVC. CENTER AND THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, WHEN THEY HAD A SATURN REPRESENTATIVE FLY DOWN FROM TN TO TELL ME THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH NOT ONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE, HOWEVER IN THE MEANTIME I MUST IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THEIR PREMISES!! I FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT AND SHIPPED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE, PER THEIR REQUEST, ONLY TO BE TOLD 28 DAYS LATER THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF A "360 DEGREE SPIN CUT THROUGH THE TREAD". MY INSURANCE TOLD ME THAT IF I FILED THE CLAIM THROUGH THEM THAT I WOULD BE "HEAVILY PENALIZED" SINCE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT. SO, I LOST MY JOB, SPENT ALL OF MY SAVINGS, GOT BEHIND ON ALL OF MY BILLS AND ALL I HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT IS A NEW CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVABLE! *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10117340April 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114750March 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, THE CAR CONTINUED SPEEDING, TRIED TO BRAKE BUT BRAKES WORN OUT, WAS INEFFECTICE, CRASHED 5 CARS BECAUSE THE CAR WONT STOP.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10115028March 11, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SUSAN'S MOTHER BRENDA O'BRIEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115152March 10, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
'RECALL CAMPAIGN' 2004 SATURN ION DAYTIME LAMP/TURN SIGNAL BULB REPLACEMENT. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP HIS VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS STILL INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED, THE WORK WAS DONE, BUT CONDENSATION WAS INSIDE THE UNIT THAT CONTAINED THE BULB IN QUESTION AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112773March 9, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION IN APRIL, 2004. IN JUNE, 2004 MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING MY RUNNING LIGHT ON THAT SIDE NOT TO WORK EITHER.*AK IN JULY, 2004 WHEN OPENING UP THE HOOD TO REFILL WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, THE HOOD LATCH INSIDE THE CAR CAME OFF IN MY HAND. ON DEC 22, 2004, THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED TO WORK CAUSE ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WHICH RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR. BOTH CARS WERE ONLY MOVING ABOUT 15 - 20 MPH, BUT ON IMPACT THE WHOLE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) SIDE BUMPER BROKE UP AND WAS ON THE GROUND. LEAVING A BIG GAPPING HOLE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DEFECTIVE BRAKES, AS OF THIS DATE. IN FEBRUARY, 2005, WHEN COMING OUT TO START CAR AFTER WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE KEY LOCKED IN THE IGNITION, THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK LOCKED AND COULDN'T GET THEM OPEN TO GET A JUMP FROM THE TOW TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SAME DAY I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WENT INTO A STORE WHEN I CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THIS TIME THE KEY DIDN'T LOCK IN IGNITION SO I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 4 DIFFERENT OCCASION, WITH THE DEALERSHIP NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112536March 4, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I OWN AN 2004 SATURN ION 3 THAT CAME WITH FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK GTA TIRES AND THE SIZE IS P205/55R16 89H M+S. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AT 6,000 MILES. ON 3/3/2005 I HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS WAS AT NINE AT NIGHT AND I HAD FORGOTTEN MY CELLPHONE AND WAS MADE LATE FOR WORK. WITH SEMI'S DRIVING BY AT 70 MPH ON I-75 I WAS IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE. ON 3/4/2005 I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD THE TIRE AND HOW MUCH ETC. THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO SERVICE AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN. I WAS HAPPILY SURPRISED SINCE THIS WAS FRIDAY AT NOON. THEY INSPECTED THE TIRE FOR PUNCTURES (FOUND NONE) AND I THINK THEY WERE SURPRISED AT THE SIDEWALL SEPARATION. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY (NO CHARGE). THE TIRE HAD 9,000 MILES AT THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT 30 MPH I HEARD A CLUNK AND THOUGHT SNOW WAS HITTING THE TIRE. THIS THEN QUIETED DOWN. I GOT ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND WENT TWO MILES BEFORE I HEARD A NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A HELECOPTER OVERHEAD. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN MY NEW VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112342March 1, 2005
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, AND I REAR ENDED HER. IT WAS A MINOR ACCIDENT - ONLY GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH - SO MINOR THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. BOTH OF MY REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, CAME UNLATCHED AND FLEW FORWARD, PUSHING MY DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT INTO THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, EVEN WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING LOOPED THROUGH THE SHOULDER HARNESS OF THE CAR SEAT. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. I CALLED SATURN TO REPORT IT. THEY SPOKE WITH THE COLLISION CENTER WHERE MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BROKEN THAT COULD BE FIXED. THE COLLISION CENTER ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THEY TRIED TO GET THE SEATS UNLATCHED BY PULLING ON THEM FROM THE FRONT AND BY TRYING TO KICK THEM FROM INSIDE THE TRUNK, NEITHER OF WHICH SIMULATES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACTUAL CAR ACCIDENT, WITH THAT KIND OF INERTIA. THE PERSON WHO INSPECTED MY CAR TOLD ME THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK UNLATCHED THE LOCKS DURING THE ACCIDENT. SATURN TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I EVEN SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY COULD SOMEHOW INSTALL A BETTER LOCK TO MAKE SURE THE SEATS WOULDN'T UNLATCH. THEY TOLD ME OVER AND OVER THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE NOTHING IS BROKEN. BUT SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG FOR THE SEATS TO HAVE COME UNLATCHED. AT THIS TIME, I STILL FEEL THAT MY REAR SEATS ARE UNSAFE AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN MY CAR BACK FROM THE COLLISION CENTER. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109179January 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL. CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE WILL JUST SLOW DOWN TO 10 MPH. WHILE DRIVING UP THE HILL VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UP TO 25 MPH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109004January 27, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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