Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10730415June 25, 2015
AIR BAGS
MY HORN STOPPED WORKING. IT NEVER WORKED WELL, EXCEPT FROM THE BUTTON ON THE KEY HOLDER. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE WHEN SATURN WAS STILL IN BUSINESS. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT MY HANDS WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE THE HORN WORK. ONE SERVICE PERSON EVEN TOLD ME TO TRY IT BY WRAPPING BOTH HANDS AROUND WHERE THE HORN IS LOCATED AND PRESSING AS HARD AS I COULD. I WENT TO A GM DEALER YESTERDAY TO FIND OUT WHY THE HORN QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER AND ALSO BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION TWICE - ONCE AT MY EXPENSE AND ONCE AFTER THE RECALL. GM WILL PROVIDE THE COST OF REPLACING THE GEAR SHIFT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THAT IS WHY THE KEY WON'T RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THEY WANT $1,000 TO FIX THE HORN BECAUSE THEY SAID IT IS PART OF THE AIRBAG SO THE AIRBAG HAS TO BE REPLACED TOO. I HAVE DONE SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THERE ARE OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE THE HORN PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT TO ME. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS MORE GOING ON WITH THE DEFECTS THAN JUST A FAULTY IGNITION. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. I CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THE $1,000 BUT AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT NOT HAVING A WORKING HORN AND AM MORE CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726380June 20, 2015
STEERING
ON 2/12/2015, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM: "THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT SOME 2003 MODEL YEAR SATURN ION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER STEERING ASSIST MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. ... IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS ON YOUR 2003 SATURN ION, THE CONDITION WILL BE REPAIRED FOR YOU AT NO CHARGE." HOWEVER FOR SATURN IONS MODEL YEARS 2004-2007, GM ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS POWER STEERING DEFECT. WHY IS THIS DEFECT WORTHY OF A RECALL FOR ALL MODEL YEARS EXCEPT 2003? THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS NO LESS ALARMING AND NO LESS HAZARDOUS FOR SATURN ION 2003 CARS. SIMILARLY IN MAY 2015, FORD ANNOUNCED A RECALI OF NEARLY 423,000 CARS AND SUVS IN NORTH AMERICA FOR THE SAME DEFECT: THE POWER-ASSISTED STEERING CAN FAIL WHILE THEY'RE BEING DRIVEN. THE NHTSA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAFETY HAZARD THAT A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD PRESENT. I AM DISABLED. IF I WAS TO EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, I AM SURE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THE PHYSICAL ABILITY TO STEER MY CAR. I URGE YOU TO CALL FOR A RECALL OF THE 2003 SATURN IONS FOR THE SAME POWER STEERING DEFECT THAT HAS PRECIPITATED GM TO RECALL SATURN ION 2004-2007 MODELS AND FORD CARS AND SUVS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725226June 15, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE DEALER, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724776June 11, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723039June 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL (LOCK CYLINDER/IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT/ IGNITION KEY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PROVIDED HER WITH THE WRONG KEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DEALER ON MAY 27, 2015 WHICH STATED THAT, AS PART OF THE REPAIR, THE DEALER PROVIDED HER WITH THE WRONG KEY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE KEY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722735June 1, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND AS I WAS DRIVING THE CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED UP ALMOST TO THE DASH. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET MY LEG UP HIGH ENOUGH TO PUSH IT BACK DOWN TO SHIFT. IT WOULD STAY DOWN FOR AWHILE THEN DO IT AGAIN SOMETIMES AS HIGH SOMETIMES ABOUT HALF WAY UP. THE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT. HE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING PARTS FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF STOCK AND ON BACK ORDER AT MOST PLACES. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I COMPLETELY MISSED THE CLUTCH AND JUST PULLED IT OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT SHIFTING. THE PEDAL WAS UP BY THE DASH AND MY FOOT WENT UNDER IT. I AM GLAD I WASNT ON A HIGHWAY. SINCE THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER MY MECHANIC THINKS IT MIGHT NEED A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716538May 14, 2015
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. CAN TURN ENGINE OFF AND RESTART. POWER STEERING IS THEN OPERATIONAL FOR A FEW MILES, HOWEVER POWER STEERING WILL FAIL AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715442May 9, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RAN OUT OF GAS. INSPECTION INDICATES THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM RUSTED FUEL LINE IN FRONT OF LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) REAR TIRE. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWS HEAVY/EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FUEL LINES ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. PROBLEM APPEARS IDENTICAL TO ANOTHER INCIDENT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AS #10668929.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714069May 1, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TURNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN UPDATED 10/12/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10694843March 17, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE KEY WAS STILL GETTING LODGED INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693663March 11, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER MORE THAN TWICE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE DEALER AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT APPROVE REPLACING THE COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/28/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691866March 3, 2015
STEERING
I HAD THE CAR IN ON 2/18/15 FOR THE POWER STEERING RECALL BUT A WEEK LATER IT DID THE SAME THING. I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN ON 3/2/15 THINKING THAT MAYBE THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS DEFECTED. TOLD IT WAS FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691524March 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND, AFTER EVALUATING PICTURES SENT BY THE OWNER, STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689732February 21, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN TONIGHT AND NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AND RPMS WOULD STAY ELEVATED. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40MPH. I WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION AND IT SIMPLY DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT, LIKE IT WAS PULLING FORWARD. THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNS RED AND I START TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE RESISTING AND IT WAS TAKING A LOT MORE PRESSURE THAN USUAL TO SLOW DOWN. MY CAR WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I WAS GOING ~5MPH RIGHT UP TO THE CROSSWALK. THE CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY LURCHING FORWARD AND STILL, WASN'T COMING TO A STOP. THE RPMS WERE REVVING AND I WAS ABLE TO REACT IN TIME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, KEEP BRAKING, AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF RIGHT BEFORE THINGS WOULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. I KEPT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT ON, AND IT WOULD SHOOT UP IMMEDIATELY TO 4000 RPM. I DIDN'T TRUST THE CAR AT ALL AT THIS POINT AND SAT IN -18 DEGREE WEATHER PROCESSING WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND WHAT TO DO NEXT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I HEARD WHAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL RELEASING OR POPPING BACK UP IN PLACE. THERE WAS NOTHING IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON TO CAUSE IT TO STICK. TERRIFYING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681725February 6, 2015
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681001February 3, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING WAS DISPLAYED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,870.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680132January 31, 2015
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE. MY DAUGHTER WAS PULLING INTO PIZZA PUTT AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED.THIS IS A 2004 SATURN ION, SAME PARTS AS THE 2004 THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED. GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672576January 14, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
COMING TO A STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALARMS AND LIGHTS WENT OFF, THE CAR LOST POWERING AND WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR FINALLY WHEN THE GEAR ENGAGED IT WOULD ONLY STAY IN FIRST GEAR. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY AND GET SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670267January 5, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WHILE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75, MY WIPER MOTOR LINKAGE BLEW APART BECAUSE OF THE PLASTIC. I COULDN'T SEE BECAUSE OF THE SNOW, AND HAD TO REACH OUT AND GRAB THE WIPERS, THEY CUT MY HAND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10670041January 5, 2015
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SYSTEM - FUEL LINE RUSTED OUT UNDER CARRIAGE - JUST IN FRONT OF LEFT REAR TIRE. CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK OUT THRU HOLE IN FUEL LINE WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENTIRE FUEL LINE MUST BE REPLACED , CANNOT JUST REPLACE SECTION RUSTED CAUSING HOLE FOR FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $600 ( PARTS & LABOR). THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS, WITH NO SOLUTION ISSUED BY GM; NOR REIMBURSEMENT TO OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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