Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10294843December 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A SATURN ION 2003 AND IT AT TIMES DOESN'T START. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER. AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTS UP. I CANNOT HAVE A CAR THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAVE ME STRANDED MILES FROM MY HOUSE IN THE COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294615December 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY OTHERS WITH THE ANTI-THEFT/ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR THEIR SHODDY WORK. I AM ABOUT TO GET A LAWYER AND SEE IF HE CAN GET MY CAR ISSUE RESOLVED WITH GM. WHEN IT IS COLD/WET THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL CRANK 1 TIME AND THEN NOTHING FOR 10 MINUTES. AFTER WAITING INSIDE THE CAR ON A VERY COLD MORNING I CAN ATTEMPT TO TRY MY CAR YET AGAIN. IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK AND THE CYCLE MAY NEED TO BE REPEATED. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED AND HAVE OFFERED TO GM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND WAS MET WITH UTTER INDIFFERENCE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THEIR BAD WORK AND I WILL NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294654December 6, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 ION SATURN QUITS WORKING. I'VE RESEARCHED THE WEB AND IT IS HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE. I PULL OVER SHUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WORKS AGAIN. IT WAS HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE A MONTH NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. NOW I CAN'T EVEN PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294575December 5, 2009
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2006 SATURN ION-3 AUTOMATIC 2.4L 1. POWER STEERING: POWER STEERING GOES OUT NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SATURN DEALERSHIP CHANGED A SENSOR I THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING IN THE CITY WITHOUT POWER STEERING. 2. IGNITION: CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 15-20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN BELOW FREEZING WEATHER FOR ALMOST AN HOUR BECAUSE OF THIS COMMON SATURN FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294461December 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT AND THE CAR WAS FINE, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD AAA COME OUT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD AS ALL THE LIGHTS WORK FOR THE CAR BUT THE KEY IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR SIMPLY STARTED. NOW MY CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE, TO BE FIXED. I LOOKED ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER 2004 SATURN ION OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TURNING THEIR CAR ON IN THE COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294484December 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BUT THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59000. UPDATED 01/12/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EVERY WINTER THE DOESN'T START. UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294359December 3, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN LATE OCTOBER 2009, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED MY CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT I MUST HAVE GONE OVER A SPEED BUMP TOO FAST BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN PUSHED INTO HE BOTTOM OF MY CAR CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO CRACK AND LEAK. I HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THAT KIND OF IMPACT AND THERE WAS NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL OF THE SERVICE MANAGER'S EXPLANATION, SO I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS ACTUALLY DEFECTIVE. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH SATURN ON A RESOLUTION, HOWEVER TO SAY THAT THE LOCAL AND DISTRICT OFFICE HAVE BEEN UNHELPFUL, WOULD BE PUTTING IT MILDLY.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294362December 3, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING
GAS ACCELERATING ON IT'S ON IN A SATURN ION 2007 CAUSING WRECK 2 TIMES, FUSE BLEW IN POWER STEERING CAUSING WRECK 1 TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10294403December 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS START, IT GETS A PICTURE OF THE CAR WITH A PADLOCK ON THE DASH BUT WILL NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. IT DOES AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK AND TODAY IT DID IT FOUR TIMES ALONE. IT WILL START IN EXACTLY 10 MINUTES FROM THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO START IT. SO IN THE MEAN TIME MY CHILDREN AND I SIT THERE IN THE COLD AND WAIT. OR MY ASTHMATIC CHILDREN HOPEFULLY DO NOT STOP BREATHING. I HAVE CALLED SATURN NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL THEY TELL ME IS ITS THE IGNITION HOUSING WE CAN FIX IT FOR OVER 300 DOLLARS BUT IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN IN THREE MONTHS, WHICH THEY SAY WILL BE THE PATTERN FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294261December 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A SATURN ION 2004 CAR. AFTER 2 MONTHS, ONE DAY IT JUST DIDN'T TURN ON WHEN I STARTED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. I, HOWEVER, REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE, SINCE IT WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM OF "NOT STARTING" HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES....I WENT ON THE SATURN WEBSITE AND TO MY AMAZEMENT, THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME CAR, SATURN ION 2004, 2005, 2003. THIS IS A REAL INCONVENIENCE NOT KNOWING IF WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF IT WILL START OR NOT. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME THING. SATURN TELLS US WHEN WE CALL TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE STATION. WE THEN GET A BILL FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE ARE WASTING MONEY. I BELIEVE SATURN SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST IGNORING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294242December 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A USED 2004 SATURN ION 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING COLD. NOW, MOST MORNINGS I HAVE THE COMMON IGNITION PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS. I TURN THE KEY, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE CRANKS ONCE, THEN NOTHING. I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY ALL THE WAY OFF, WAIT 10 SECONDS, AND TRY AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, AFTER 10-30 MINUTES OF DOING THIS REPEATEDLY, THE CAR STARTS. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THE CAR DOES START AFTER ONLY A FEW TRIES. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS, AND I AM ANGERED AND DISMAYED THAT GM WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. GOOD THING MY EMPLOYER IS UNDERSTANDING, AND HAS NOT FIRED ME YET FOR BEING LATE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294136December 1, 2009
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY 2006 SATURN ION LOST POWER STEERING CAPABILITY WHILE I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY (DOING 65MPH)! NEEDLESS TO SAY, I NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WAS DISMAYED TO SUBSEQUENTLY FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR (ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP) WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2007 SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY SINCE IT ALREADY HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT BUT IT WAS THE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE AFTER A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH MY FIRST SATURN FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. I WAS AT A NEW JOB AND NEEDED A CAR DESPERATELY. I CHOSE SATURN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE BRAND'S RELIABILITY, EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MY OWN PERSONAL SATISFACTION AS A PREVIOUS SATURN OWNER. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE LAST WEEK TO CHECK WHETHER THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A RECALL ITEM, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR. TODAY I WAS INFORMED BY GM/SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE $525.00 REPAIR OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE CAR HAD ACCORDING TO THEM, "EXCESS MILEAGE" (AT 50,000 MILES, A 3-YR. OLD CAR SHOULD NOT LOSE A MAJOR COMPONENT SUCH AS THE POWER STEERING TO MY THINKING). I WAS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THIS DEFECT TO CONTACT YOU TO SEE IF YOU CAN BRING SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. I'VE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF SATURN ION OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN PRECARIOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS. IS GM WAITING FOR A FATALITY BEFORE THEY ISSUE A RECALL, OR IS IT BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS BANKRUPT THAT THEY DECIDED TO PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR SAFETY? NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY TRUST AND FAITH IN GM IS COMPROMISED AND I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293780November 28, 2009
STEERING
MY WHEEL BEGAN TO BE HARD TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN THE CAR. THIS IS A 2007 CAR SO WHY HAS IT GONE OUT SO FAST AND THIS IS SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX DUE TO THIS IS AN ELECTRIC PROBLEM NOW AND THIS IS MAKING MY ARM AND SHOULDERS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293735November 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON OUR 2003 SATURN ION. VERY DANGEROUS AND COSTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293529November 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN THE PASS LOCK OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. HE USUALLY HAS TO WAIT FOR 12 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER REPLACED THE CD PLAYER AND ADJUSTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293586November 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN THE PASS LOCK/ ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL , HE CANNOT START THE VEHICLE. USUALLY HE HAS TO WAIT 12 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CD PLAYER AND ADJUSTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293224November 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 SATURN ION DOES NOT START ALTHOUGH ALL LIGHTS COME UP ON DASHBOARD. BATTERY IS FINE(HAD IT CHECKED) BUT THE STARTER DOES NOT ROLL OVER. AFTER 45 MINUTES (AND BATTERY REATTACHED) CAR STARTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE ON APRIL 1ST 2009 AND AGAIN NOV 21ST 2009. PROBABLY WEATHER RELATED AS BOTH DAYS WERE FAIRLY COOL AND PRECEDED BY RAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293280November 23, 2009
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. AFTER 30 SECONDS OF VEHICLE OPERATION, THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50000. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 01/14/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293311November 23, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES DURING A SINGLE TRIP. I NEED TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN BACK ON IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING ERROR MSG THAT APPEARS ON DASH... NOT LONG AFTER THAT IT FAILS AGAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 SATURN ION 2. DEALER SAYS ITS A COMPUTER CHIP IN STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE YET TO GET REPAIRED DUE TO OUTRAGEOUS REPAIR COSTS. SATURN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL, AND NEED TO STOP STEALING PEOPLES MONEY WHILE PUTTING THEY'RE LIVES IN JEOPARDY WITH A FAULTY STEERING SYSTEM THAT FAILS AT HIGH OR LOW SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293089November 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WON'T START IN COLD WEATHER. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FINE. HAD REMOTE STARTER REMOVED, AS SUGGESTED BY SERVICE CENTER ; NOW HAVE NO RUNNING LIGHTS OR KEYLESS ENTRY. HAVE HAD THE SATURN ION 2004 SINCE OCT. 5TH, 2009. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR JUMP STARTED 5 TIMES SINCE. SINCE THIS IS UNDER WARRANTY IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERS FOR GOOD. I HOPE NO ONE ELSE DECIDES TO BUY IT UNTIL SATURN OWNS UP AND FIXES THIS DEFECT. UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER. 11-21-09. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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