Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10478257October 2, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR WAS PARKED WHEN STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WAS NOTICED. MOVED CAR TO HARD SURFACE AND DISCOVERED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING RATHER LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL FROM AREA BEHIND DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED FUEL PUMP HOUSING. NOTICED 2007 MODEL HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR FUEL PUMP ISSUE. FURTHER STUDY SHOULD PROBABLY BE DONE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THE ENTIRE ION LINE. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL RELEASED AFTER PART FAILURE IS A SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475703September 17, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,987.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474076September 6, 2012
STEERING
ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN "POWER STEERING" CAME UP ON DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT SYSTEM AND CAR BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. STOPPED VEHICLE AND CHECKED OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MEANING OF MESSAGE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, STEERING RESUMED WORKING. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 MORE TIMES OVER NEXT WEEK OR SO UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS ELECTRICAL STEERING MOTOR CIRCUIT FAILURE. MOTOR REPLACED AT COST OF APPROXIMATELY $300 SATURN HELP LINE ADVISED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THIS REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473144August 31, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO HER RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,922.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469625August 8, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CREAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,567.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469102August 3, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE DEFECTIVE AND WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH PROVED A DEFECTIVE BODY CONTROL MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464718July 9, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463420June 28, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459376May 23, 2012
STEERING, VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED AND THE FRONT WINDOWS DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY SHOULD OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453428March 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM, CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STARTING THEN DOESNT, I WAIT TEN MINUTES THEN IT WILL START. IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452258March 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE NOISE WOULD CEASE ONCE THE ENGINE WAS WARM BUT COULD STILL BE HEARD AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME RESISTANT TO STARTING ATTEMPTS IN COLDER WEATHER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH OF THE FAILURES WERE COMMON, BUT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449481February 27, 2012
VISIBILITY
. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-15 BETWEEN CEDAR CITY AND ST. GEORGE UTAH.AROUND 4:00 PM WHEN I DROVE INTO A VERY HEAVY RAIN STORM, I TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. AT WHICH POINT THE WIPERS WENT UP AND THEN QUITE. THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND STOPPED. THE PASSENGER SIDE WORKED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN QUITE I HAD TO PULL OVER STOP AND WATER FOR THE RAIN STORM TO PASS OVER. UPON LATER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE WIPER MOUNTS TO THE MAIN ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM BOTH SIDES CAUSING THE WIPERS TO QUIT WORKING. SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WENT DOWN TO STEPHEN WADE CHEVROLET AND PURCHASED A NEW WIPER MOTOR MODULE ASSEMBLY. WHICH COST ME $196,00. WHILE I WAS REPLACING THIS WIPER MODULE ASSEMBLY I NOTICED THAT THE NEW WIPER MOTOR MODULE ASSEMBLY HAS NO PLASTIC PARTS.THE UNIT WAS SOLID METAL. WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO AVOID THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I DID WRITE SATURN A LETTER AND SENT PICTURES AS WELL SHOWING THEM THE PROBLEM THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AS HOT AND COLD WEATHER CAUSES THE PLASTIC TO GET BRITTLE AND THEN BRAKE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLICS SAFETY AND ADVISED SATURN THAT I FELT THEY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ISSUING A RECALL AND REPLACE ANY OF THESE VEHICLES WHICH MAY HAVE THESE PLASTIC PART INSTALLED ON THEM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MANY YEARS. AS EXPERIENCED DRIVER I KNEW WHAT TO DO. BUT FOR A YOUNGER OR ELDER DRIVER I REALLY THINK THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY BAD. LET'S GET SOMETHING DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR EVEN WORSE KILLED. I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT SATURN WILL DO ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SO I HOPE YOU WILL. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS LETTER AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, COOPORATION AND CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447274February 9, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446725February 5, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ON THE SATURN ION. SINCE IT APPEARS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL?? CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. GM WHAT IS THE DEAL??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444351January 18, 2012
STEERING
OWN A 2003 SATURN ION. APPROX 2 WEEKS AGO THE STEERING COLUMN INSODE THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING CAME LOOSE AND CATCHING ON SOMETHING INSIDE THE COLUMN. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER BUT DOES NOT GO AWAY IN WARMER WEATHER EITHER. SINCE THERE IS NO MORE "SATURN" WHO FIXES RECALLS OR FACTORY ISSUES?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444464January 18, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN ACCELERATING TO 35 MPH, MY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FASTER. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY JUST ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO BARELY MAKE IT SAFELY INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR IMMEDIATELY. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY IT STARTED REVVING AND SPEEDING FORWARD. I THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR FOR GOOD AND CALLED AAA. WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE, APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING OFF MY CAR, I COULD HEAR THE ACCELERATOR RELEASE. THERE WAS NO MAT IN THE WAY BUT IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNAL IN THE CAR MAKING THE ACCELERATE STICK. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THAT TURN INTO THAT PARKING LOT WHEN I DID AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS COMING THE OTHER WAY BEFORE I MADE THAT TURN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442663January 6, 2012
STEERING
- THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE BACKING THE CAR UP - THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR SHOWED A "PWR STR" MESSAGE - AFTER SEVERAL RE-STARTS THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO BE INOPERABLE (PWR STR MESSAGE) - THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES WITH NO POWER ASSISTED STEERING - AFTER ANOTHER START UP 45 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441762December 30, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING AND WOULD NEED NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE SUCCESSFULLY STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE PARK AND NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440132December 16, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RPMS RACED EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLAM THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439822December 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN VERY COLD WEATHER THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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