Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10107925January 26, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
FRIDAY THERE WAS A SNOWFALL. SATURDAY MORNING, I DROVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DIFFICULTY HANDLING THE STEERING OF THE CAR. AS I APPROACHED 40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I COULD NOT GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO I TRIED TO COPE BY SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN. THREE TIMES, I ALMOST CRASHED - TWICE INTO OTHER CARS, ONCE INTO THE HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE FASTER I WENT, THE MORE VIOLENT THE SHAKING. I WAS TRAVELLING FROM THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE ENTRANCE TO 280 TO 94 WEST TO THE 35W SOUTH. I GOT OFF AT THE FIRST EXIT I COULD ON 35W. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AS I DROVE ON THE CITY STREETS. ON TUESDAY I CALLED SATURN TO HAVE THEM FIX MY CAR. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 100 CALLS OF THIS KIND THIS WEEKEND AND THAT THIS WAS A RESULT OF SNOW GETTING INTO WHERE THE TIRE-WHEEL IS. IT WAS SUGGESTED I GO TO A CAR WASH AND THAW OUT THE SNOW AND WAS TOLD THEY'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR ME. PART OF WHY I CHOSE THIS CAR IS BECAUSE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS COMPUTERIZED HANDLING THAT WOULD FACILITATE MY DRIVING. OBVIOUSLY, I AM DISSATISFIED. WHEN THE SNOW MELTED OFF, THE CAR DROVE WELL. HOWEVER, I LIVE IN MN, WHERE THERE IS SNOW HALF OF THE YEAR. I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT MY CAR WOULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I CANNOT HANDLE THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107770January 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
3 DAYS IN A ROW 2004 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START. AFTER WAITING 10 MIN I TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUR TEMP.HAVE BEEN AVERAGING -4 TO 13 DEGRESS.WILL BE GOING INTO THE DEALERS TUES.THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE PASS LOCK SENSOR SINCE I HAVE READ ON ANOTHER SITE ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS IS CAUSING WITH SATURN NOT STARTING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108642January 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THERE WAS A PULSING WHICH WOULD MAKE IT HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LINE. THE BRAKES WERE USELESS. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106522January 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I LIVE IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA AND HAVE HAD MY ION FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH. THAT IS UNTIL THIS WINTER. 4 TIMES I HAVE CAME OUT OF WORK AT NIGHT ON COLD NIGHTS TO START MY CAR ONLY TO HAVE IT NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 15 - 25 MINUTES OF TRYING MY CAR FINALLY STARTS UP. AFTER I HAVE SAT IN THE COLD. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY IT DECIDES NOT TO START. ANYWAY I NEVER LEFT ANYTHING ON , NO DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN,NOTHING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BATTERY BEING LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR OR NOT. EVERYTHING ELSE IS FINE AND IT RUNS FINE AFTER I DO GET IT TO START. WE ARE EXPECTING SOME COLD DAYS AHEAD WERE IN LIVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SO I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WE I LEAVE WORK EVERYONE AROUND ME HAS NO PROBLEM STARTING UP THERE CAR DIFFERENT MAKES AND YEARS NO PROBLEM. I WILL BE GIVING MY DEALERSHIP A CALL TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP BUT I AM SURE AS MOST DEALERSHIPS ARE THEY WON'T. ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105626January 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT MY 04 ION2 IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR. ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WOULD DOWNSHIFT WHILE BRAKING DOWNHILLS, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE RPMS TO ACCELERATE EXTREMELY HIGH. THE CAR WOULD THE JERK ITSELF BACK INTO THE GEAR IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE IN. THIS WENT ON FOR MONTHS AND IS STILL OCCURING. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO SATURN OF SPRINGFIELD COUNTLESS TIMES. AT ONE POINT I WAS IN THERE MUTLIPLE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. NOT ONLY DID IS ACCELERATE GOING DOWNHILL BUT IT WON'T SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR GOING UP HILL, AND TO TOP IT OFF WHEN I ENTER THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO 5 GEAR WHEN I AM ACCELERATING, I HAVE TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT. SATURN HAS TOLD ME COUNTLESS TIMES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I ONLY AVERAGE ABOUT 16 MILES TO THE GALLON NO MATTER IF IT IS THE HIGHWAY OR CITY. I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WERE SATURN CALLS ME THE NEXT DAY AFTER EVERY SERVICE CALL. OH AND I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY POSTIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T STAY ATTACHED TO THE BATTERY WHICH WOULD'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104585December 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. MY PARENTS BOUGHT A SATURN ION 2, IT IS ONLY ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLD. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO THEIR LOCATION AND TURNING IT OFF, THEY CAME BACK TO THE CAR (MAYBE 2 HOURS LATER), TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES ON THE REMOTE. AFTER ABOUT 20 PUSHES THE CAR WAS FINIALLY ABLE TO BE STARTED. THEY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED ONLY TO HAVE SOMEONE TELL THEM THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT DID NOT START. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, SPOKE WITH SOMEONE IN THE SHOP AREA AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP THEM OUT BUT IF THEY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP, IT WOULD HAVE TO LEFT OVER NIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND ANY PROBLEMS. WE TRIED TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE AS WE WERE TOLD LAST TIME TO DO THIS - IT DIDN'T WORK THIS TIME. AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR FINIALLY DID START. ALSO ON TWO OTHER SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, ON THE DASH PANEL, THE MILEAGE WOULD DISSAPPEAR AND WORDS WOULD APPEAR. I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT, BUT WHEN THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE SHOP THEY SAID NOT TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THAT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO THEM. ON BOTH OF THESE OCCASSIONS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN, THE WORDS DISAPPEAR. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105188December 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE CONSUMER SLID ON A PATCH OF ICE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE HITTING THE CURB. UPON IMPACT THE TIRE FOLDED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S HOME. THE CONSUMER JACKED THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE UP AND NOTICED THAT THE METAL PIECE THAT THE HUB WAS MOUNTED TO ALONG WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD CAME APART AND FOLDED DOWN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103735December 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER ROAD BUMPS. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS SHOWED NO APPARENT PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100559November 26, 2004
AIR BAGS, SEATS
PROBLEMS: A. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . B. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSE AND DENT REAR-ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING. UPON IMPACT SEAT FLEW BACK, HIT BACK SEAT AND DENTED. OUR STOPPED CAR WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT. OUR CAR WAS SMASHED AT FRONT AND BACK AND NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO SKID MARKS REPORTED AND NO BRAKES APPLIED BY OFFENDING CAR SO OUR 2004 SATURN ION TOOK THE FULL IMPACT AND WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN A CAMRY FROM BEHIND AND A GMC JIMMY IN FRONT. WOMAN IN JIMMY TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL SINCE SHE WAS PREGNANT. MY SON DRIVING THE SATURN HAD HIS WIFE PICK HIM UP AND PROCEEDED TO E/R WHERE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL STRAIN. DRIVER OF CAMRY HAD HER HUSBAND PICK HER UP. ALL 3 VEHICLES WERE TOWED. OUR SATURN WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALED. WE TOOK PICTURES AS DID THE POLICE IN SPOKANE, WA.. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10101643November 24, 2004
SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO MANEUVER. THE BRAKES SHOOK ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101030November 16, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE VIBRATED/SHOOK DURING BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO NOTICED RUST ON THE LEFT ROTOR, WHICH WAS TURNED, AND BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND READJUSTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093934October 11, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
RECEIVED FIRST SATURN ION 04 AND WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE CAR WAS DISPLAYING CLEAR SIGNS OF EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. WAS REPLACED WITH A SECOND ION O4. NOTICED A STRANGE CLUNKING SOUND. BROUGHT CAR IN AT 3600 MILES, AND IT WAS TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AXELS, AND BREAK ROTORS. CAR WAS RETURNED WITH A BROKEN PIECE IN THE INTERIOR, AND SMELLING OF BURNING PLASTIC. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE, AND SATURN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THAT I SHOULD BE ISSUED A REFUND, DUE TO FAULTY CONSTRUCTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094315September 24, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH WAS NOT BOLTED DOWN, CAME OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE SHOE AND IT WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE FLOORBOARD AND THE PEDAL. THERE WAS NOTHING THERE TO SECURE THE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO END CAPS TO KEEP THE PEDAL IN PLACE. CONSUMER ASKED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE EQUAL IN VALUE TO THE ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED. DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A VEHICLE OF LESSER VALUE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ONE OF THE SAME VALUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092981September 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
USUALLY I CHARGE MY CELL PHONE AT HOME OVERNIGHT. BUT ON MONDAY 9/20/04 I HAD FORGOTTEN TO CHARGE THE PHONE AND USED THE CELL PHONE CHARGER IN MY NEW 2004 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN. I NOTICED THAT MY TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR WAS FLASHING QUICKLY. I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE NORMAL DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I WENT TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER. HE SAID I NEEDED UPGRADED RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS TO HANDLE MY CELL PHONE CHARGER. THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTEE IN 2 HOURS. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAPPENS WITH SOME BUT NOT ALL CELL PHONE CHARGERS. THE SATURN FACTORY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND PUT IN THE BETTER RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS TO HANDLE CELL PHONE CHARGERS IN CARS MADE AFTER 5 MONTHS AGO. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH NON WORKING FRONT TURN SIGNALS, IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO WONDER IF PEOPLE WITH THE OLD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIGHT SUFFER DAMAGE TO THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH CELL PHONE CHARGES OVER TIME WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN MY CASE I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S CELL PHONE CHARGER DOESN'T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS BUT JUST STRAINS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091260September 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
SATURN ION 2004 I4, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WAS LOOKED AT ON 19TH SEPT 2004 BY DEALERSHIP. ON SEP 20TH I WENT TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND I COULD NOT. GAS SPILLED OUT OF THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS IT WILL NOW ALLOW ME TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR. I WAS STUCK AT HOME AFTER RETURNING FROM GAS STATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092554September 13, 2004
STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 28-32 MPH. AT ALL OTHER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IS QUIET. *NM THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW. NO ONE COULD GIVE THE CONSUMER AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091890September 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION , AND GRINDING SOUND WHEN VEHICLE WAS COLD . CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP WAS DOING NOTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING, FEARING THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082111September 13, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED WHILE RUNNING THE VEHICLE IDLING HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGN. *NM (POSSIBLE VALVE STICKING) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THEN TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN REVERSE AS WELL. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS WOULD ALMOST OCCUR. THERE WOULD BE HIGH RPM'S OF 6000 PLUS. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: WIND NOISE WHEN SUNSHADE WAS CRACKED, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT CANCEL ON TURNS AND THE CHIME WOULD GO OFF AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH SEEMED LOOSE AND OR MISALIGNED, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOW. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090199September 1, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING MOTOR FAILED. THIS MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086834August 14, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW SATURN ION-2 ON 11 AUG 04 AT 6:30 P.M. FROM THE SATURN OF FAYETTEVILLE, NC DEALERSHIP. ROVE THE VEHICLE TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ON 12 AUG O4. 12 AUG 04, MILAGE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT: 56 MILES HILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT CAME ON. IT REMAINED ON FOR 10-15 SECONDS. AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES PER HOUR, THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND REMAIND ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS. 3 AUG 04. VEHICLE MILAGE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT: 87 MILES THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FOR A SERVICE CHECK, THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND REMAINED ON FRO APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS.. VEHICLE MILAGE :102 AT TIME OF SERVICE THE SATURN SERVICE DEPATEMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NO INDICATION THAT THE LIGHT EVER CAME ON, BUT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THEN BRING IT BACK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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