Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10258916February 17, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER, IT FAILS TO START. ON OCCASION, HE MUST ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO REST FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. OTHER TIMES, HE MUST JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO START. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR A REPAIR SHOP. HE FOUND A RECALL ONLINE PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258936February 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
THE IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AFTER HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED LAST YEAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO SATURN AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON THE NEW PART (OF COURSE) AND THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT TRYING TO GET IT TO FAIL. THEY GREASED THE KEY AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED, DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING BUT BLAMED IT ON THE KEY WEARING DOWN... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258861February 16, 2009
TIRES
I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION WITH THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES P195/60R15 TIRES, THAT HAVE 20,300 MILES. ON 2/16/08 I WENT TO A TIRE SHOP AS BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD LOST MOST OF THE AIR. THE MANAGER INSPECTED ALL FOUR TIRES AND SHOWED ME THAT THE SPLIT ON THE INSIDE AND HOW IT WAS WORKING IT'S WAY OUT. FOR SAFETY REASONS I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES. BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT AND FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258769February 16, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY 2006 SATURN ION, JUST ONE TIRE PEELED AWAY ON THE SIDEWALL FOR NO REASON. I STILL HAVE THE OTHER 3 TIRES ON THE CAR & THEIR FINE ALTHOUGH I CHECK THEM ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258478February 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON 3 OCCASIONS THIS WINTER, MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS FAILED TO START. AFTER THE FIRST 2, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. I NOW DOUBT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND THE ENGINE WOULD ROLL OVER, BUT NOT START. THIS MORNING (ABOUT 35 DEGREES), I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT START. I ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE IT AND ENDED UP WALKING MY DAUGHTER 5 BLOCKS TO DAYCARE AND CALLING A RIDE TO WORK. WHEN I RETURNED HOME 3 HOURS LATER, IT STILL DID NOT WANT TO START AND THEN RAN SLUGGISH. ONLINE SEARCHES INDICATE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. THAT WILL BE MY NEXT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS 98000 MILES. WE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1995 SATURN SC2 FOR 10 YEARS WITH 150000 MILES AND NO TROUBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258402February 11, 2009
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DUCT PORT, WHERE AIR TRAVELS THROUGH THE VEHICLE, FAILS TO TRANSPORT CORRECTLY AND BECOMES STUCK. THE INSULATION BETWEEN THE VENT LOOSENS AND STOPS SWITCHING BETWEEN HEAT AND DEFROST. THE FAILURE BEGAN AT 36,000 MILES. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS COULD FOG UP AND REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258418February 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE DID NOT START FOR 4 NON-SEQUENTIAL MORNINGS. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT CONTINUED HAPPENING. SATURN ION STARTED AND RAN WELL FOR REMAINDER OF DAYS IT REQUIRED A JUMP START. UPON 4TH DAY OF NOT STARTING, MECHANIC SUGGESTED TO CHANGE IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE DONE, CAR HAS NO PROBLEM STARTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258024February 9, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IT REQUIRED GREAT FORCE FOR THE CONTACT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258026February 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR FAILS TO START INTERMITTENTLY. WAIT 10 MIN, CAR TURNS OVER THEN DIES. WAIT 5 MIN CAR WILL START (HIGH RPM'S AT FIRST) W/O PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257983February 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION AND ANYTIME IT IS COLD OUT IT WILL NOT START DO TO THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE IS A DEFECT IN IT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. EVERYTIME IT IS COLD MY CAR WILL NOT START AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257774February 7, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 1 IN APRIL OF 2006. BEGINNING THIS WINTER (APPROXIMATELY EARLY DECEMBER 2008), MY CAR DID NOT START. INITIALLY, IT WOULD SIMPLY CLICK, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING PROPERLY, AND THERE WAS NO DRAIN OF POWER UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR. A FEW HOURS LATER, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO START IT, AND IT TURNED OVER AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM PRESENT. SINCE THEN, IT HAS VERY RANDOMLY DONE THE SAME THING - FIRST TRY, NOTHING BUT ELECTRICAL COMES ON, BUT AFTER WAITING ANYWHERE FROM 5 - 30 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START ONLY TO DIE IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN FINALLY, THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER, AND THE CAR WILL RUN PERFECTLY. THIS WINTER HAS BEEN BRUTALLY COLD, AND I HAVE A YOUNG SON. LUCKILY, HE HAS NEVER BEEN WITH ME WHEN I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME - SITTING IN A NON-RUNNING VEHICLE FOR UP TO HALF AN HOUR IN BELOW-ZERO TEMPERATURES IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO ME, BUT *EXTREMELY* DANGEROUS FOR HIM. I HAVE EVEN HAD OCCURRENCES OF THIS WHEN STOPPING AT THE STORE FOR A MERE 10 MINUTES (AFTER MY CAR STARTED PERFECTLY TO GET THERE), ONLY TO COME OUT AND FIND MY CAR COMPLETELY USELESS. THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT THE TEMPERATURE WAS LITERALLY 10-BELOW-ZERO), AND IT TOOK ME A SOLID HALF HOUR TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE DISCOVERED COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS REGARDING DUPLICATE SITUATIONS ONLINE FROM MANY, MANY ION OWNERS, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS OF SATURNS. THE FACT THAT SATURN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR WHAT IS APPARENTLY REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY AND HOUSING APPALL ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADDRESS IT AS "NOT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE." WHEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT I, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER ION OWNERS, COULD BE LEFT STRANDED FAR FROM ANY HELP OR MEANS TO ATTAIN ASSISTANCE, AT ANY RANDOM TIME OF DAY OR LOCATION, IN EVEN THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF WEATHER CONDITIONS MAKES ME DISAGREE COMPLETELY WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE SAFETY OF SATURN OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT DESERVES A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257803February 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. HAPPENED ONE TIME LAST WINTER, BUT HAS PROGRESSED THIS WINTER. IF YOU ALLOW THE CAR TO SIT FOR 10-12 MINUTES IT STARTS RIGHT UP. I CALLED SATURN AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THEM WHILE I VISITED FAMILY IN FLORIDA. I SINCE WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS (MAYBE THOUSANDS) OF SATURN OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED SATURN SERVICE AND TOLD THEM WHAT I HAD DISCOVERED. THEY MADE NO COMMENT BUT SAID THEY HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. I CALLED A TOLL FREE NUMBER THAT A SATURN OWNER HAD LEFT ON AN ONLINE FORUM AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH SATURN OF AMERICA. SHE WAS VERY POLITE AND ASSURED ME SHE WOULD CALL SATURN AND "SEE WHAT SHE COULD DO FOR ME." THE NEXT DAY SHE SAID THEY COULD ONLY GIVE ME 10% OFF THE COST OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH AMOUNTS TO $12. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO TELL HIM THAT I EXPECTED MORE BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN A RECALL. I COULD NEVER REACH HIM. HE WAS NEVER AVAILABLE (AS THEY SAID--GONE FOR THE DAY). I THEN EMAILED SATURN OF CHARLESTON/HUNTINGTON WV AND EXPLAINED. A SALE PERSON ACKNOWLEDGED MY EMAIL AND ASSURED ME SHE WOULD GIVE THE EMAIL COMPLAINT TO SERVICE AND SOMEONE IS SERVICES WOULD CONTACT ME. TWO DAYS LATER AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME. I TOLD THE SALES PERSON THAT IT SADDEN ME THAT $240 WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY FUTURE BUSINESS. WHY SHOULD SATURN OWNER PAY FOR A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN EXIST? AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ A NEW IGNITION IS NOT THE SOLUTION. OFTEN IT WORKS FOR A YEAR AND THEN SAME PROBLEM COMES BACK. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED THAT IT COULD BE A PASSLOCK SYSTEM PROBLEM OR GEL INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT AGES AND LOSES CONDUCTIVITY OVER TIME. WHO KNOWS? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257910February 6, 2009
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRE TREADS SEPARATED ON 2007 SATURN ION. *NJ WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HANDLE IMPROPERLY. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE CONSUMER FELT SOMETHING QUICKLY WHIP AROUND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT FLAT AND THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE THAT COULD BE SEEN. WHEN THE CONSUMER REACHED HIS DESTINATION, HE DISCOVERED AN 18 INCH LONG AND 2 INCH LONG WIDE PORTION OF TIRE TREAD WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257696February 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE SUCCESSFULLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257745February 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD BY ION FOR 4.5 YEARS. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE ABOUT 65000 MILES. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP PAYING TO HAVE FIXED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, JUST ONE MORNING IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD THEN START SPORADICALLY UNTIL I FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257551February 5, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START ON COLD MORNINGS. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. AN INDICATOR FLASHES, WHICH SIGNIFIES THAT THE PAST LOCK SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEING STOLEN; HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE VEHICLE USUALLY STARTS AFTER TEN MINUTES. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT ONLY OCCURS APPROXIMATELY TWELVE TIMES A YEAR OR IN COLD WEATHER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257571February 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN THAT WILL NOT START WHEN IT GETS COLD, THIS HAS HAPPEN SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING AND COSTLY WHEN I MISS HOURS FROM WORK OR TRYING TO GET MY CHILD TO SCHOOL. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IS THERE ANYONE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO SUFFER FOR TRUSTING A PRODUCT WITH YOUR NAME ON IT FOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*TR KAREN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257586February 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR DOES NOT START IN THE COLD. (AT OR BELOW FREEZING.) I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES SO FAR!! AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE "RESEARCH" I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR ON DIFFERENT FORUMS AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT WEBSITES. WHAT IS GM DOING TO REMEDY THIS, AND WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH OR WHATEVER PART IS AT FAULT? I WAS STUCK OUTSIDE IN THE COLD TODAY WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN WHILE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME...!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257627February 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. AT TEMPERATURES OF 30 DEGREES AND BELOW, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED YET AGAIN AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VIN THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257386February 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN COLD OUT. IT WOULDN'T EVEN START AT 20 DEGREES F. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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