Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)
898 consumer complaints on file.
- #10533664August 5, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING CHIME WOULD SOUND AS THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WORKED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,852. PROBLEM FIXED. UPDATED 08/22/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS VERIFIED AND FIXED. UPDATED 09/24/13
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10532116July 27, 2013STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO MY JOB, THE POWER STEERING BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAPPENED. AFTER MAKING IT TO WORK WHERE THE CAR SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS, UPON CRANKING THE CAR UP THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES, THE STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WAS BACK ON THE DASH. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP ON THE WAY HOME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED AND AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND CRANKED AGAIN THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING ONCE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT INVESTIGATE OR WORK ON THAT MAKE & MODEL CAR WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM AND REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10531922July 26, 2013STEERING
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR INCIDENT; WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, DRIVING ON A FREEWAY ABOUT 55-60MPH, I NOTICE A "PWR STR" WARNING LIGHT COME ON MY DASH. SINCE I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, I NOTICE NO CHANGE. AS SOON AS I ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LANES TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, I REALIZE THAT I CAN BARELY STEER THE CAR AND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE IS NO SHOULDER ON THIS FREEWAY, SO IT IS SAFEST TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. MAKING THE RIGHT TURN OFF THE FREEWAY IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND TAKES ALL OF MY STRENGTH JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND PUT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND NOBODY WAS HURT. THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, AND ONCE OFF THE FREEWAY, I COULD QUICKLY AND SAFELY COME TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD PULL OVER AND PARK. AFTER READING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SIMILAR PROBLEM, I AM AMAZED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO DATE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE BY WAY OF AN ACCIDENT... THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10526142July 22, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10519833June 14, 2013ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10515304June 5, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ADD ADDITIONAL EFFORT IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514567May 31, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10512480May 17, 2013ENGINE
THIS CAR WILL NOT START ON COLD DAYS. WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT STARTER ENGAGES AND QUITS. THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 TO 30 MINS FOR THE CAR TO START. I FOUND OUT THAT SATURN HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES AND THEY HAVE NO RECALLS ON THIS WHY? THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY TO HAVE THESE SWITCHES RECALLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511470May 11, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE PORTION OF THE FUEL LINES NEAR THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS HIDDEN BY A FLEXIBLE COVER UNDERNEATH CAR, WAS DISCOVERED TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED NEARLY TO THE POINT OF LEAKING, REQUIRING FUEL LINE REPLACEMENT. IN CONTRAST, THE PORTION OF THE FUEL LINES EXPOSED UNDERNEATH CAR WAS STILL IN PRISTINE CONDITION. (CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED AT NIGHT SINCE DELIVERY.) SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT RECENTLY THEY HAVE BEEN FINDING MANY SATURN IONS WITH THIS CONDITION. ALTHOUGH GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR FUEL PUMP LEAKS, THE PROBLEM OFTEN IS INSTEAD THE FUEL LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS LEAKING. THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED, AND THUS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A SATURN DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. BECAUSE OF THE PREVALENCE AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPECTS GM WILL EVENTUALLY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE FUEL LINE PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE PORTION OF THE FUEL LINE SUBJECT TO SEVERE RUSTING IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE FLEXIBLE COVER UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND NOT THE EXPOSED SECTION, IT IS LIKELY TO BE NOTICED ONLY AFTER LEAKING OCCURS, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. A RECALL APPEARS DESIRABLE TO INSPECT PARTICULARLY THE HIDDEN PORTION OF THE FUEL LINES NEAR THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACE THEM IF NEEDED. ALTHOUGH A MANUFACTURER MUST PROVIDE A REMEDY TO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT A NO COST TO THE OWNER, IN THIS INSTANCE GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE FUEL LINE REPLACEMENT UNLESS THE NHTSA COMPELS THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511189May 8, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THEN FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OR TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10510219May 1, 2013STEERING
I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL HOWEVER BECAUSE I NEVER GOT A LETTER OR HAD PRIOR PROBLEMS THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT MILEAGE 159 RECALL IS RECALL I DISAGREE WAS I SUPPOSE TO WAIT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE NOTIFYING ME. I LOVE MY SATURN AND ITS ASHAMED THAT GM WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY SATURN WAS A FANTASTIC BRAND. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10512140April 28, 2013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL LINE STARTED DRIPPING. THE ENTIRE LINE IS RUSTED AND THE CAR CANNOT BE TURNED ON, IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10509587April 25, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE REPAIRS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,552. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508466April 16, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10505852April 10, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10502620March 13, 2013AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CAR STRUCK IT. THE CAR SUSTAINED SOME FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE SEAT-BELTS LOCKED UP BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE SEAT-BELTS ARE LOCKED UP. IT CONCERNS ME THAT WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE WHEN OFF. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10499388February 20, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY WAS ENGAGED REPEATEDLY AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE RELATED TO A MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10499409February 20, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ENGAGED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496404February 4, 2013STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKED AND BECAME STIFF. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I COULD NO LONGER TURN RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS WERE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THE BRAKES STARTED HAVING TROUBLE AS WELL. I ALMOST GOT IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOT WORKING. THEN WHEN I MADE IT TO A SPOT AND TURNED THE CAR ON AND OFF IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. THEN ABOUT 30 MIN LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I HAD SOME CHECK THE FLUID AND IT WAS FINE AND SO WAS THE BELT. ALSO, MY LEFT INDICATOR WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND SEVERAL MECHANICS AND IT KEEPS MELTING THE SOCKET. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10494558January 24, 2013POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A CLICK WAS HEARD WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0