Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10212680December 25, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL OF A 2005 SATURN ION 3, STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY WITH 27,000 MILES, LOCKED UP ON DEC 22, 2007 CAUSING A SINGLE CAR COLLISION. AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOKED THE CAR OVER AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE AND SAW THAT THE SPINDLE WAS BROKEN, BUT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD CAUSE ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK THE SPINDLE. HIS OPINION IS THAT THE SPINDLE (CAST ALUMINUM) WAS OVER-TIGHTENED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD A DEFECT/HAIRLINE CRACK THAT FINALLY FAILED. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLAM INTO THE GUARDRAIL, THEN SPIN INTO A DITCH. WHEN THE SPINDLE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOTHING. INSURANCE HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE DAMAGE, AND DECLARED THE DAMAGE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212621December 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN ION 2003. IT WON'T START WHEN IT'S COLD AND IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BY THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS THAT I SEE FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT GETS VERY COLD HERE IN COLORADO AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED AGAIN. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL OCCURRING. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I WILL NOT BE BUYING A SATURN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212423December 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR HAS FAILED TO START SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE TYPE OF LUBRICANT USED IN IT AND IT'S REACTION IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER DOING A TON OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212465December 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, SEATS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, STRUCTURE
WHEN IT RAINS OR SNOWS, MY DRIVER SEAT AND FLOOR GETS WET. THERE ARE NO WATER STAINS AROUND THE SUN ROOF NOR IS THERE ANY WATER DAMAGE ON THE DRIVERS' DOOR. IN NEW ENGLAND, THE CAR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL IN THE WINTER AND SPRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT. 2) I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT TURN SIGNALS 3 TIMES IN 1.5 YEARS. I AM ALMOST CONVINCED IT IS A SOCKET PROBLEM AND NOT A LIGHTBULB PROBLEM. 3) I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. IN THAT TIME. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 17,000 MILES. ONCE IS UNDERSTANDABLE. TWICE IS EXPENSIVE AND RIDICULOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212464December 20, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE TRAVELED THROUGH WATER PUDDLE ON A RAIN SOAKED ROADWAY. PUDDLE WAS NO DEEPER THAN MID- TIRE HEIGHT LEVEL. ENGINE STALLED OUT CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND SOME BRAKING ABILITY. ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND VEHICLE DROVE LESS THAN TWO MILES HOME. NEXT DAY, ENGINE STARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. ENGINE SKIPPING AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT WATER HAD BEEN DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE, WHICH IS LOCATED AT FRONT BUMPER LEVEL ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE, AND INTO TRAVELED THROUGH THE SYSTEM INTO THE ENGINE. WATER PRESENT IN AT LEAST TWO CYLINDERS, INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND OIL PAN. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER, NOR MANUFACTURER, WOULD HONOR WARRANTY. AUTO INSURANCE CLAIM FILED AND PAID. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE THIS MODEL IN RAINEY WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212248December 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PRIOR TO PURCHASING MY '04 SATURN ION I READ ALL THE REVIEWS AND CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I CAME ACROSS WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. I ASSUMED THAT SINCE I LIVED IN FLORIDA AND IT SEEMED MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WHERE FROM OTHER STATES WHERE THEY GET FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HOW WRONG I WAS, I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40 DEGREES. I CONTACTED SATURN AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THERE WASN'T A RECALL I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WHERE NOT EVEN THEM ATTEMPTING TO FIX IT HAS RESOLVED IT, I GUESS I'LL JUST LIVE WITH THE HEADACHE OF TRYING TO GET IT STARTED ON THE MORNINGS WHERE IT IS TOO COLD, THANKFULLY I DO LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THAT'S NOT VERY OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212048December 17, 2007
STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
MY TRUNK HAS STARTED TO GET WATER IN IT. THIS CAUSED MY BATTERY TO FAIL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOW THAT IT IS WINTER I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY BECAUSE IT FROZE . THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY TRUNK IS DAMAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212062December 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFTER OUT OF FIFTH GEAR. APPROXIMATELY 5-6 SECONDS LATER, THE GEAR SHIFTER DISENGAGED. AS OF DECEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212109December 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF IGNITION TROUBLE WITH MY SATURN ION. IT SEEMS IN COLD WEATHER (FROM 60 DEGREES F AND BELOW) THAT IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START RIGHT AWAY, THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM SWITCHES ON AND WILL NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO BE STARTED FOR 8-10 MINUTES. THIS HAS CAUSED ME SEVERAL TIMES TO BE STUCK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ALONE, IN <30 DEG WEATHER WITH A CAR THAT WILL NOT START. THIS PLACES ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211896December 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT'S BLOOD TEST INDICATED THAT HIS CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL WAS HIGH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CARBON MONOXIDE READING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS HIGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED AT A FIRE HOUSE, BUT CARBON MONOXIDE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETECTED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BAD HEADACHES AND FAINTED WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 01/08/08 *BF UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10211909December 14, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SATURN ION 2003 PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE CAR AROUND/BELOW 32`F, THIS IS SECOND COLD SEASON I AM HAVING OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WITH START THE ENGINE PROCESS, AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I AM FINDING "THE BIG FAMILY" OF SATURN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH/PASSLOCK SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211905December 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED THE 2007 IN MAY OF 2007. AS OF TODAY, THE CAR HAS 18,000 ON IT. DIRECTLY AFTER I GOT THE CAR, I BEGAN TO HAVE SEVERE HEADACHES. THE CAR MOSTLY RAN WITHOUT ANY ISSUES, JUST THAT I HAS VERY BAD HEADACHES, AND THEN BEGAN TO BLACK OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEDICAL BILLS, INCLUDING A 5 DAY STAY IN JUNE AFTER AN ACCIDENT. ALL OF THE TESTS COMPLETED SHOWED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY TUMORS, HOWEVER I DID HAVE A RISE IN THE CO LEVELS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER,AND A DEVISE WAS PLACED ON THE CAR. THE DEALER THEN DROVE THE CAR HOME, AND SAID THAT HE FELT LIGHT HEADED, AND WAS UNSURE IF IT WAS THE CAR. HE THEN DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AND PLACED THE DEVICE ON IT AGAIN. ON 2 OCCASIONS HE REPORTED TO ME THAT HE HAD RECORDED DIFFERENT READINGS, BOTH VERY HIGH. HE THEN CALLED SATURN DIRECTLY, AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO WAIT AND HE WOULD SEND ANOTHER DEVICE TO RECORD THE CO LEVELS. THAT SAME EVENING, I WAS CALLED BY DAVID QUIRK THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS, AND HE SAID THAT HE PERSONALLY DROVE THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE CAR TO A FIRE HOUSE, AND HAD A FIREMAN THAT HE KNEW AND HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT DETECT ANYTHING IN THE CAR. CLEARLY, THIS WAS JUST A TACTIC TO SEE IF I WAS GOING TO SUE HIM. I ONLY WANT FOR THE CAR TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10211534December 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN ION 2003 FAILS TO START WHEN COLD OUT. REFERENCE NHTSA #10007431. SATURN DOES NOT ADMIT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. BUT WILL CHARGE YOU AND ARM AND A LEG TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO ALLDATA WEB SITE AND THE SHOW NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 SATURN ION BUT GM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211611December 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ONCE A SATURN VEHICLE (MOSTLY IONS) ARE EXPOSED TO COLD TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGRESS F FOR SEVERAL HOURS (WORK / SLEEP) WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT IS A FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. SATURN ADMITTED THIS IN 2005 WHEN I HAD MY 2004 MODEL IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. BUT NOW MY 2006 MODEL IS DOING THE SAME THING AND THE KEY WILL ALSO GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM YOU CAN SEE COMMENTS AT HTTP://WWW.64.4.38.249/ATT/GETATTACHMENT.ASPX?FILE=... (CARSURVEY.COM). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211745December 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, I STOPPED AT A BLOCKBUSTER TO DROP OFF SOME MOVIES. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND CALLED A FRIEND TO COME AND GIVE ME A JUMP. I TRIED TO JUMP IT, AND THAT DID NOT WORK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT IS NEARBY WHERE I LIVE. I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I COULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I SAID THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START, WHEN I TRIED TO JUMP IT THAT DIDN'T WORK, AND THAT MY KEY IS NOW STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS, "I BET IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THOSE NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS COLD. DID YOU SAY YOU JUMPED IT? YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. THAT CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO HAVE A SHORTAGE". TODAY, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND A DEAD BATTERY. I HAD THEM REPLACE BOTH, AND I ALSO KEPT BOTH OF MY OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211430December 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE TRUNK THAT HOUSED THE BATTERY WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211467December 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE A 2006 ION, WITH AROUND 38,000 MILES O IT. LAST WEEK WHEN I LEFT WORK LATER IN THE EVENING AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME ON, BUT THE CAR DID NOT START. I THOUGHT I NEEDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE BUT WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN WHEN I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THEM THE CAR THEN STARTED, WHICH WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I TOOK IT TO MY SATURN DEALER TODAY (SATURN OF MONROEVILLE) AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE INTERNAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE IONS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND REPROGRAM THE INTERNAL SECURITY CODE. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, WHY ISN'T A RECALL ISSUE? WHAT CONSISTITUTES AN ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL? IF IT'S SAFETY RELATED AND ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE THAT IF MY CAR DOESN'T START IT OR EVEN SHUTS DOWN (NOT SURE OF THE EXTENT OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED) THAT IS DEFINITELY A SECURITY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211388December 10, 2007
STEERING
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSES IMMEDIATELY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211112December 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TIMING BELT BROKE ON MY 2003 SATURN ION ON 11-28-07. THE CAR ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE BELT BREAKING IT MESSED UP THE VALVES, HEAD GASKET AND FUEL PUMP. WHICH IS COSTING ME ALMOST $3000. THE BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN WITH THAT FEW OF MILES ON IT. NOW I AM DOWN TO ONE CAR AND IT HAS BECOME A HUGE HASSLE. I AM NEVER GOING TO BUY A SATURN AGAIN. IN MY OPINION THE WARRANTY IS AWFUL AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON-EXISTENT. THE WARRANTY IS ONLY ON THE FIRST 30,000 MILES AND OR 3 YEARS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT HELP ME IN THE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211134December 7, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 WILL NOT START AT TIMES ON COLD MORNINGS, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND STILL NO START..IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON AN ONLINE FORUM I SEE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD AND YET SATURN DOES NOTHING TO HELP, IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BCM, AND OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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