Saturn Ion Complaints (2006)

1,235 consumer complaints on file.

#10251988December 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2006 SATURN ION GOT HARD TO START AND THEN THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE ON POSITION AND CANNOT BE MOVED, YOU CANNOT SHUT THE CAR OFF, I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE IS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251390December 10, 2008
STEERING
I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION WITH APPROXIMATELY 41K MILES. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. THIS STARTED ON DECEMBER 2, 2008 AND HAS CONTINUED. I WILL BE DRIVING AND THE DASH LIGHT COMES ON, A CHIME SOUNDS, AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. ONCE I AM ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN ONCE THE CAR IS RESTARTED. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN TO FOLLOW AS TO WHEN IT HAPPENS. ONE DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 10 MILES AND IT NEVER STOPPED WORKING. THE NEXT DAY IT STOPPED WORKING 6 TIMES DURING A 4 MILE TRIP. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND I'M CONCERNED IT IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED MY SATURN DEALER AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE POWER STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED IT IS GOING TO COST AROUND $1,100. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250787December 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MILDLY TURN THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIFT FORWARD. WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, PRODUCE ERROR CODES FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC, OR PROVIDE A REMEDY. LATER, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250482December 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION. APPROX 20% OF THE DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD THE CAR WILL NOT START. IF I WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES, IT WILL START. SEARCHING ON-LINE DISCUSSION FORUMS INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON ION PROBLEM RELATED TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM'S FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY. TODAY'S OCCURRENCE PROMOTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250500December 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER WITHOUT POWER. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES FOR THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO RESET, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY START. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED OR WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY UNTIL WAITING TEN MINUTES FOR THE SECURITY TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE, WHICH REMEDIED THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO A TSB. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250369December 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION AND IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF. CALLED ONSTAR, THE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ALL SATURN DEALERS IN MY AREA BUT ALL WERE CLOSED. WE FIGURED OUT WHICH FUSE WAS REPLACED. TOOK CAR INTO SATURN DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW IGNITION HOUSING AND KEY CODE. TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $500. THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY RANGE. I AGREED TO THE FIX AND CALLED SATURN CORPORATE TO ASK ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE WAS RUDE AND OFFERED NO HELP OR SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250082November 28, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 2. SPORADICALLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE FAILURE PREVENTS THE CONTACT FROM CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $900. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249904November 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I HAVE FILED ON MY 2006 SATURN ION. I HAVE BEEN TRACKING A PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH IT NOT STARTING IN THE MORNING. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FUEL TO PASS TO THE ENGINE, A SO CALLED ANTI THEFT DETERRENT. THIS MORNING I SAT IN MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 30 MINUTES WAITING FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET ITSELF. LOOKING AT VARIOUS WEBSITES, GM HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED SATURN CORPORATION, RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, TAKEN MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (70 MILES AWAY) AND THE DEALERSHIP "CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND SAYS THEY HAVE "NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE". I TOOK OVER 20 PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION WITH ME SHOWING THOUSANDS OF GM CUSTOMERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, GM KNOWS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY BUT CONTINUES TO TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE THEY ARE IDIOTS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE STRANDED IN A CAR THAT WILL NOT START WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND RIDICULOUS TO HAVE A CAR DICTATE WHEN IT WILL START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249840November 25, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2ND OCCURRENCE - UNABLE TO MOVE KEY OF RUNNING VEHICLE FROM "RUN" TO OFF. HAD TO REMOVE FUSE AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO STOP CAR. STILL UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY - DEALER HAS TO REPLACE LOCK CYLINDER PARTS. WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP ENGINE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249843November 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1ST OCCURRENCE - UNABLE TO MOVE IGNITION KEY FROM RUN TO OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP MOTOR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HAD TO REMOVE FUSE AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO STOP ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED LOCK HOUSING. PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED IN LESS THAN A MONTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249601November 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SATURN ION WILL NOT COLD START ON COLD MORNINGS. THE KEY TURNS TO THE ON POSITION BUT WILL NOT START THE VEHICLE. IT DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THE IGNITION MODE. NO CRANK-NOTHING. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED. FIST OCCURRED AT 40K. STILL HAPPENS AT 49K. WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE RISES THE CAR WILL START NORMALLY. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THIS ( OUR NINTH SATURN ) IS NOW CLOSED. WE WERE REFERRED TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. CAN'T HELP WONDERING HOW THIS COULD HELP. IT IS OBVIOUS, THAT DESPITE OUR BRAND LOYALTY, WE ARE NOW GETTING THE COLD SHOULDER IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248891November 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2006 SATURN ION WHICH INTERMITTENTLY (ABOUT ONCE A WEEK) DOES NOT START. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN IONS AS EVIDENCED BY A BASIC INTERNET SEARCH (SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML). I'M HAVING TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT DURING WINTER MONTHS WHEN THE CAR MIGHT RANDOMLY NOT START IN AN ISOLATED AREA. THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IS NOT WILLING TO MAKE THE REPAIR AT HIS EXPENSE DESPITE IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FAILING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248799November 14, 2008
STEERING
WE OWN 7 SATURN IONS. 3 OF THEM HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THEY ARE USED FOR OUR BUSINESS. THE CARS ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE REPAIRS ARE NEARLY $1000 AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248264November 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2006 SATURN ION 3 FOUR-DOOR SEDAN IN APRIL 2007. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I HAVE HAD THREE OR FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE HAS BEEN FROST OVERNIGHT. *TR WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT WHEN YOU FIRST PUT IN THE KEY AND TURN IT TO THE START POSITION, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. THERE IS NO CRANK OR ENGINE NOISE OTHER THAN A SLIGHT BUZZING SOUND SOMETIMES, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. IF YOU HOLD THE KEY IN THE START POSITION, THE SECURITY LOCK ICON APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION PANEL. IF YOU KEEP TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON, IT WILL NOT WORK, BUT IF YOU WAIT EXACTLY TEN MINUTES FROM THE INITIAL ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, IT WILL THEN TURN ON. I HAVE TRACKED THIS PROBLEM DOWN TO THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM ON THE CAR. MANY DRIVERS OF 2003-2006 SATURN ION VEHICLES ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS VERY CLEARLY A FAULTY SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT BE FIXED BY A SIMPLE PART REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247923November 7, 2008
STEERING
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY FAILING. NO APPARENT REASON. NO CAR JUMPED OFF. NO CORRECTION AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247846November 6, 2008
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT MANUALLY TURN OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE IGNITION MODULE LOCKED ON ITS OWN. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $400. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE CYLINDER REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH MEANT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSORS AT THE COST OF $800. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PARTIALLY REIMBURSE HER IN THE AMOUNT OF $398.80. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246473October 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2006 SATURN ION IN OCT.2007. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER WE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. THEY KEY WILL TURN, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE AM WHEN MY SON IS TRYING TO LEAVE FOR SCHOOL. IT WILL START A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER HOWEVER. MY SON WILL LEAVE FOR COLLEGE NEXT YEAR AND I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT HIM BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND SO FAR, SATURN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WHEN THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SATURN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS IS AN ONGOING MATTER. IT HAPPENS 4-5 DAYS A WEEK - USUALLY IN THE MORNING, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246423October 22, 2008
STEERING
MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I HAVE A FLEET OF 9 SATURN VEHICLES. 6 OF WHICH ARE SATURN ION'S. THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ON ONE 2005 AND ONE 2006 ION'S WHILE THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT GOES OUT. THESE WERE FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. 37,000 AND 53,000 MILES ON THE CARS. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ION'S. I ALSO AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN MY EMPLOYEES ARE DRIVING THESE CARS. THE REPAIR FOR EACH IS ALMOST $1,000. I FEEL LIKE SATURN SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND REPLACE THE PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246127October 20, 2008
STEERING, SUSPENSION
D
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245247October 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SATURN ION 2006 69K MILES - IGNITION KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION. CANNOT TURN CAR OFF. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS FLAW IN THE IGNITION LOCK. DEALERSHIP WANTS 500 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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