Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10328581May 3, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,381 AND THE CURRENT WAS 32,391.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328622May 3, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED FOLLOWED BY AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (PERTAINING TO THE 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT MODELS: STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) WAS APPLICABLE TO HIS VEHICLE SINCE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS THE SAME MODEL AS THE CHEVROLET COBALT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER CONCEDED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR THE LABOR COSTS AND THE OWNER WAS LIABLE FOR THE PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328431May 2, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FREQUENTLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 SATURN ION REDLINE. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, THE CAR BEEPS, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON THE DASH GOES ON (PWR STR), AND THE CAR BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO "RESET" THE SYSTEM IS TO STOP THE CAR, SHUT IT OFF, WAIT 30 SECONDS, AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 8-10 TIMES NOW. SIMILAR CARS FROM GM (CHEVY COBALT, PONTIAC G5, ETC) UTILIZE THE SAME PARTS AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY GM. HOWEVER, WHEN CONTACTING GM REGARDING THE SATURN ION, THEY STATE THAT FOR THE ION, "THEY HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT A RECALL." THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURIES AND DEATHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328363May 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION 3. MY PROBLEMS BEGAN IN 2006, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T REALIZE IT AT THE TIME. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, I STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION. WHEN I RETURNED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I COULDN'T PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD DONE WRONG. FAST FORWARD TO 2008,NOW THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. THE LIGHT INDICATING POWER STEERING STARTED COMING ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN WHENEVER I WOULD COME TO A STOP OR SIMPLY TURNING A CORNER. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT NO LONGER COME ON BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUE TO STOP. AS I BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AND HAS TO BE TURNED BACK ON AT LEAST 3 TO 4 TIMES BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE. WHEN I FINALLY GET IT STARTED AND WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE PARKING SPACE OR DOWN THE ROAD IT SHUTS OFF AGAIN. IT SHUT OFF WHEN EVER I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I AM TERRIFIED THAT I AM GOING TO BE STRUCK AND KILLED. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO DEALER WHO TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE THE POWER STEERING MODULE OR SOME OTHER PART DEALING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO ANOTHER AUTOCARE CENTER TO HAVE IT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE WHICH THEY QUOTED ME $100.00 JUST TO CHECK IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I'M EVEN MORE AFRAID OF THE REPAIR BILL, BUT FROM READING ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT ARE LIKE MY STORY, I AM SURE THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 87,000 MILES AND ONLY HAD 18MILES WHEN THIS PROBLEM BEGAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328202April 30, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. LUCKILY WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT. HAD WE BEEN TURNING A CORNER IT COULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THE SEARCH WAS ON FOR A MOTOR. IF NONE COULD BE FOUND, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTOR WAS FOUND AND ORDERED. I HOPE TO HAVE THE CAR BACK IN A WEEK OR SO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328245April 30, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP; THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT EXTREME FORCE TO TURN AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART; SHE TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED A MILE LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328304April 30, 2010
STEERING
MY CAR RAN FINE UNTIL ABOUT 60,000 MILES. THEN THE POWER STEERING GOING. AT FIRST IT WAS SPORADIC. IT WOULD GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON. PRETTY SOON IT GOT TO BE ALL THE TIME. I HAVE YET TO GET FIXED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1,200. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328072April 29, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STRUCTURE:BODY
METAL FATIGUE ON PASSENGER CAR DOOR OF SATURN ION QUAD COUPE REDLINE, WHERE HINGE ATTACHES: THE PROBLEM OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS DURING WHICH TIME I WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR EACH DAY A MINIMUM OF 10-12 TIMES TO STRAP MY INFANT INTO HIS CARSEAT. THE DOOR METAL CRACKED AND BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE METAL, TO THE POINT WHERE THE DOOR IS READ TO DROP OFF THE HINGE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AT WHICH TIME I REQUESTED THEM TO LOOK AT THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. HOWEVER, THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DISPROVE THE DOOR HAD NOT BEEN FORCEFULLY PUSHED BACKWARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327895April 28, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,201. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327979April 28, 2010
STEERING
MY SATURN ION IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS CHEVY COBALT WHERE I LOOSE POWER STEERING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONCE IT CUTS OUT I HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF ROAD TURN OFF CAR, THEN RESTART IT AND ALL IS FINE UNTIL IT DOES IT AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED TODAY AND IT IS THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, WHICH WILL BE REPLACED AS SOON AS PART COMES IN. I FEEL GM SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS TOO. THIS COULD BE A REAL DANGER IF ON A CURVING MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN POWER STEERING GOES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327363April 26, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 SATURN ION JUST WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH OUT ANY WARNING. AND AFTER TALKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND A MECHANIC IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327501April 26, 2010
STEERING
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON 4/24/10. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, IT RESET AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. ON 4/25/10, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN, AFTER CUTTING OFF IT WORKS AGAIN. AGAIN ON 4/24/10, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO TURN WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING NOT WORKING. THE CHEVY COBALT WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS THE SAME IN A 2005 SATURN ION. CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THIS TIME, WORRY ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327517April 26, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A U-TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME ALTHOUGH IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER, WHEN CALLED, VERIFIED THE INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,537. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,847. UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF THE CONSUMER SENT IN A TSB REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UPDATED 07/09/10/*JB UPDATED 07/15/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED GM/SATURN HAS AGREED TO ASSIST WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/19/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327606April 26, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327610April 26, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO RESET AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES THAT WOULD COVER THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY OFFERED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR A FEE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327657April 26, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING SIGNAL SHOW ON DASH DISPLAY AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. WHEN THE CAR IS TURN OFF AND AFTER FEW MINUTES IS TURN BACK ON, POWER STEERING WORK FINE AGAIN FOR SOME TIME. FUSES ARE OK. THIS HAPPEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND IS VERY HARD TO GET KEEP OF THE CAR. THIS HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327659April 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION, THAT ON RANDOM OCCASIONS DOES NOT START. WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEN IT DOES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US IN BOTH WARM AND COLD DAYS. IT'S BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND SERVICE TECH'S CAN'T SEEM TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, WITH ONLY ABOUT 10 000 KL, THE CAR DID NOTHING, NO LIGHTS, RADIO ETC., COMPLETELY DEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327299April 24, 2010
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
2007 SATURN ION POWER UNIT LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. CHECKED FUSES AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. CAR DOES NOT TAKE POWER STEERING FLUID, IT IS AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327142April 23, 2010
STEERING
DURING MY DRIVE HOME FROM WORK, I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, AND THE PWR STR ERROR LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY MY POWER STEERING GIVING OUT. I COULD HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL, BUT STRUGGLED WITH TWO HANDS TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN MY CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED IT SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS GONE. I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. I MADE IT HOME. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO RETURN TO WORK WHERE I PLANNED TO TAKE IT INTO THE MECHANIC NEAR THERE. AGAIN, AS I WAS COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN AND MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. I WAS EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP AND FORCED THE WHEEL TO TURN OFF TO THE SIDE. AGAIN, BY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE TEMPORARILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK WELL ENOUGH TO GET TO WORK. MY MECHANIC OBSERVED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING PROBLEM. TO FIX IT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,000 AND NEEDS TO BE DONE AT A CERTIFIED SATURN DEALER BECAUSE OF THE SOFTWARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIX. THIS PROBLEM IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS REPORTED IN THE GM RECALL OF COMPACT CARS TO FIX THE POWER STEERING. THE STEERING COLUMN PARTS ARE THE SAME IN THE 2004 SATURN ION 3, WHICH IS WHAT I DRIVE. YET, MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHY? I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AS I AM BARELY STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I WAS ONLY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS IN DIFFERENT PLACES OF MY COMMUTE OR THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327158April 23, 2010
STEERING
SATURN ION 2006 STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES OR SO STEERING ERROR WOULD APPEAR PERIODICALLY AND WHEN THE KEY CYCLED IT WOULD CLEAR THE CODE. AS THE TEMPERATURE CHANGED IT NOW APPEARS TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST 3 MINUTES OF START-UP. COBALT HAS A RECALL AND THIS IS THE SAME PART USED ON SATURN. HAS GM JUST WASHED THERE HANDS OF ALL THE SATURN USERS? NO CRASH AT THIS TIME BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE I CAN'T THROW THAT MUCH MONEY IN A CAR WITH ITS CURRENT RESELL VALUE FOR ONE AND GM SHOULD OWN UP TO THERE ISSUE LIKE TOYOTA FINALLY DID. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion