Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10216986February 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217055February 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY AUTOMATIC SATURN ION WITH 61K MILES AND NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM, ON ITS OWN DOWNSHIFTED FROM ABOUT 65MILES TO 30 MILES. ONCE I MOVED IT OVER ONE LANE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY GEAR. THE ANALYSIS WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY GONE. I BELIEVE IT IS A BAD DESIGN FOR A CAR TO GIVE NO WARNINGS AND THEN DOWNSHIFT ON IT OWN. WITH THE CAR STOPPING SO ABRUPTLY, IF MY FAMILY AND I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED SATURN DIRECTLY CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216806February 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WON'T START ON MORNINGS WHEN TEMP IS BELOW 50 DEGREES. ONCE TEMP WARMS UP, CAR STARTS FINE. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON TO GO TO WORK! I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED WHILE WORKING (I DO HOME NURSING). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216667February 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON COLD MORNINGS (35 AND BELOW) MY 03 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. I TURN THE KEY AND THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND IT TELLS ME TO "SERVICE VEHICLE". IF I WAIT ABOUT 10-20 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START. (WHICH CAUSES ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK) I'VE REPLACE THE BATTERY BUT CANNOT AFFORD 200+ TO CHANGE OUT THE STARTER AND/OR OTHER PARTS. I'VE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF OTHER ION OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216561January 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMP. IS VERY COLD. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO MISS WORK AND TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED THAT WERE IN WORKING CONDITION. RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. AFTER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS THE CAR STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216574January 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, EQUIPMENT
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD TO PUSH THIS SATURN INTO THE STREET TO GET OUR OTHER DRIVERS OFF TO WORK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID MY FLOORMATS WERE TOO THICK AND NOT GENUINE SATURN PARTS AND CAUSED IT NOT TO START(NO KIDDING, THEY SAID THIS). A FEW WEEKS LATER IT ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO TURN OVER. ANOTHER TOW TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY RE-CODED THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH. SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IT HAS FAILED TO START. IF I WAIT 20 MINUTES, THE ANTI THEFT MODULE RE-SETS AND IT WILL START. THIS MORNING I SLIPPED ON ICE WHILE PUSHING IT INTO THE STREET AND FELL. MY BACK IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW AND I'M VERY ANGRY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. NO SELF RESPECTING THIEF WOULD STEAL A SATURN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I SEE NO NEED FOR AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE ON THIS AWFUL CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10216407January 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN 1ON 2004 BAD IGNITION SWITCH... *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216175January 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY 2004 ION WON'T START. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN NOVEMBER WITH COLD WEATHER, BUT HAS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS NOT COLD OUT AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL I CAN'T START IT AT ALL AND ITS BECAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. I HAVE READ PROBABLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SATURN OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S SAFETY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF A CAR PAYMENT WHEN YOU CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR OR LEAVE IN AN EMERGENCY? I USED TO BE ABLE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR THE PASSLOCK TO DEACTIVATE, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF DOING THIS BEFORE I EVER GOT ANYWHERE, BUT NOW NOTHING. THE CAR IS OK OTHERWISE. MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215959January 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. (BELOW 32F) THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THE LAST 2 YEARS ON A 2003 SATURN ION 3. AFTER READING ALL THE COMMENTS HERE... HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML IT WOULD SEEM THERE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GREASE FREEZING AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215900January 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS.) I ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON.' FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. 'THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON' SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. NOW, IF I ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215931January 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION THAT WON'T START IN COLD WEATHER HERE IN EASTERN OREGON, HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED, AND EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKED AT, BUT EVERYONE SAYS THAT MY CAR IS OKAY. SO I DO SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM CONSIDERING SATURN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM? ALSO, THERE IS NOT EASY SUGGESTIONS BY SATURN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215753January 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, AND I GO TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING, IT STARTS TO TURN OVER BUT THEN STALLS AND DIES. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLINKS "SERVICE VEHICLE". I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO START MY VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE SECURITY FEATURE OF THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215817January 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN IT IS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE, MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS ISSUES STARTING UP. I HAVE READ MANY POSTS (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727_1.HTML IS ON SUCH SPOT) WHERE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH VARIOUS RESULTS FROM THEIR DEALERS. IT IS APPARENTLY A KNOW ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE CUSTOMERS, POTENTIALLY LEAVING THEM OUT IN THE COLD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215658January 22, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN BELOW FREEZING..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215689January 22, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR DOES NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS STUCK OUT IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH WARMED UP ENOUGH TO START. I WILL HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED, BUT I AM WAITING TO SEE IF IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215569January 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START. IT HAS COMPLETE POWER. THE BATTERY IS WELL WITHIN THE NORMAL LIMITS. THE INSTANCES WHEN THIS OCCUR ALL SEEM TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS IN TEMPERATURES IN THE 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT RANGE OR COLDER. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ON, AND ALL THE ACCESSORIES WORK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START, BUT THE STARTER DOES NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" MESSAGE FLASHES. I PULLED ALL THE ELECTRICAL RELAYS IN THE FUSE BOX AND THE ENGINE WILL NOW START WITH NO PROBLEM. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE SAME FIX WORKS EACH TIME. THERE IS MOST LIKELY A FAULT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215596January 21, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA AND JUST GOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY CALLED 81 NORTH. I PUT MY CRUISE CONTROL ON AND SET IT AT AROUND 60. I DID THIS RIGHT BEFORE AN UPHILL CLIMB THEN I HELD ONTO THE ACCELERATE BUTTON TO SET IT AROUND 65 WHICH WAS THE SPEED LIMIT ON THAT HIGHWAY. IT ACCELERATED SLOWLY AND WHEN IT GOT TO THE SPEED I WANTED I LET GO. I GOT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND IT KEEPS ACCELERATING. SO IM NOW GOING DOWNHILL AND ITS ACCELERATING PLUS THE HILL WAS STEEP AND I HIT MY BRAKE AND IT DOESN'T TURN OFF. I HIT THE CLUTCH SIMULTANEOUS TO WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE AND NEITHER SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AND ITS STILL GOING. I THEN HIT THE CLUTCH AND YANK THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL (ITS A MANUAL) AND THE RPM'S ARE GOING CRAZY. I TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON BACK ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN AND IT FINALLY STOPPED TRYING TO ACCELERATE (THE RPM'S STOPPED FREAKING OUT). NOT TO MENTION I GET PULLED BY A STATE TROOPER FOR SPEEDING. AFTER HE COMES BACK WITH MY TICKET (STILL SHOCKED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T LET UP) , I TELL HIM, "WELL WHAT HAPPENED WAS..." AND HE SAYS "I DON'T NEED TO KNOW, I JUST NEED YOU TO SIGN THIS PAPER RIGHT HERE." THIS JUST HAPPENED TODAY IN ROANOKE, VA AND I LIVE IN NORFOLK, VA SO I HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO ROANOKE ON MARCH 13 TO CONTEST THIS TICKET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215466January 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HE SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AGAIN WHEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS RESET. PROBLEM IS IN THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF 2004 SATURN ION. CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS COLD OUT AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNS. VERY DANGEROUS -- CAN STRAND DRIVER IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE FOR 4+ YEARS BUT CONTINUES TO RISK THE LIVES OF DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10215222January 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 04 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLDER WEATHER. AFTER INVESTIGATING MANY WEB SITES, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I READ THAT SOMETIME IN 04 THEY STARTED USING A DIFFERENT SWITCH AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215228January 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NO WARNING ABOUT ISSUE TO COME BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THE FIRST COLD MORNING THIS WINTER MY WIFE'S 2004 SATURN ION-2 FAILED TO START. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR INTERMITTENTLY TRYING TO START IT, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY MORNING WHERE IT FELL BELOW 40DEG THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR NUMEROUS TIME TO MECHANICS TO DIAGNOSE. ORIGINAL ANSWER WAS I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH STRONGER BATTERY (HIGHER CCA RATING) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR HAS NEW BATTERY, FULL TANK OF GAS, AND SITS OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY. CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES DONE AND HAS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS WINTER. MY RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAD PRODUCED NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND NO AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS (I.E. REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH) GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WITH BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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