Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10171807October 25, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 45747 MILES AS OF THE SERVICE DATE. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN, AND ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER MAY WANT TO CLAIM THAT SNOW CAUSED THIS FAILURE, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SNOWFALL PRIOR TO THIS DATE (10-25-06). I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM WAS FOLDED OUTWARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SUPPORT BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO OBTAIN THE SIMPLE BRACKET. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE WIPER MOTOR WHICH STILL FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY ARE A UNITIZED MODULE WHERE NO SINGLE PART CAN BE PURCHASED INDIVIDUALLY. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS ASSEMBLY (GM PART NUMBER 15221904 ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE) WAS $149.12 WHILE LABOR AND FEES MADE UP AN ADDITIONAL $100. OVERALL COST TO FIX WAS $250.91 WITH STATE TAXES. I ASKED FOR THE BROKEN PART, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT (I WILL TAKE DIGITAL PICTURES IF YOU SO WISH). ADDITIONALLY, WHILE MOST OF THE MECHANISM IS CONSTRUCTED OF METAL, THE HIGH STRESS POINTS (THE BRACKETS) ARE MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC. WHILE NO HARM CAME TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHE DOES EXIST. IF THIS MECHANISM WERE TO FAIL WHILE ONE WAS DRIVING, THEIR VISION WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED AND AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN MY CASE, WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WAS RENDERED VIRTUALLY USELESS. THIS DEFECT COULD EASILY BE CORRECTED. THE BRACKETS WHICH ARE BOTH MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC COULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE RELIABLE METAL PART. TO SAVE PRECIOUS PENNIES, SATURN CHOSE TO CONSTRUCT THIS CRITICAL PART OF THE CAR WITH AN INFERIOR MATERIAL. THE RESULT IS A DESIGN FLAW POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THOUSANDS OF UNSUSPECTING SATURN OWNERS. I ASK THAT CONSIDERATION BE MADE FOR THEM WHILE THIS COMPLAINT IS REVIEWED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171522October 22, 2006
AIR BAGS
DRIVING CAR IN FRONT STOPS FAST. I TURN TO MISS BUT NOT ENOUGH, SO WE CRASHED. NO AIR BAG COME ON, NO MOTOR KILL, NO FUEL KILL. AND WE WHERE GOING 35 AT THE MAX. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171533October 22, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT ON MY 2005 SATURN ION LEAKS. WATER CONDENSATION FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171133October 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONTINUOUS LOW RPM CAUSING STALL-OUTS WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. RPM AT LOW IDLE IS NO HIGHER THAN 650 TO 750. ENGINE ALWAYS FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL. DEALER STATES THAT "THIS ENGINE IDLES AT A LOW RPM" (COMPARED TO MOST CARS THAT IDLE AT 950 RPM). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170957October 16, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING UNIT ON MY 2005 SATURN ION HAS FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SATURN OF ELLICOTT CITY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A "SERVICE BULLETIN" ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 WITH LESS THAN 32K MILES. THE STEERING FAILED WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND AGAIN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT. SATURN ADMITTED THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IT IS ON MANY SATURN VEHICLES, NOT JUST MINE. **NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170324October 10, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONG FAN STOP WORKING. THE WHOLE SYSTEM WENT OUT FROM THE TURN ON SWITCH TO THE FAN MODE SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169579September 29, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 35 MPH ON A STREET, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169110September 22, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DEFECTS WITH HIS 2006 SATURN ION. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MALFUNCTIONING PASSENGER SEAT BELT, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168970September 22, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
STEEL BAR IN HEAD REST IS NO LONGER PADDED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168833September 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS STARTED AFTER ONE HALF HOUR AND MOVED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE WHERE AN UNDETERMINED PART WAS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168551September 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN IDLE STATE OR PLACED IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE EASILY RESTARTED AFTER STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE EXCESSIVE WEIGHT OF ALL THE KEY CHAINS USED BY THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE IGNITION TO TURN OFF ON ITS OWN. AFTER THE DEALER'S ASSESSMENT, ONLY ONE KEY CHAIN WAS USED WHILE THE KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE ENGINE STALLING PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168397September 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2003, THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OCCASIONALLY UPON NORMAL ACCELERATION. WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP AT OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENTS, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF THE TRANSMISSION. FAST-FOWARD 3 YRS, 40,000 MILES, AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVING IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A MAJOR ROAD, THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE HILL INTO THE ROAD, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FARTHER ONCE ON A FLAT SURFACE. I AM LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS COMING TOO CLOSE OR FAST BEHIND ME, OR MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUDDEN, UNAVOIDABLE ROADBLOCK FOR SURE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH HEAVY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. PEOPLE WERE SOMEHOW ABLE TO AVOID MY CAR, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A MAJOR HAZARD TO SAFETY. THESE WERE TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES, AND I IMMEDIATELY DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT (I HAPPENED TO BE DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE DEALER WHEN THESE EVENTS OCCURRED). ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY DARK, FLUID PUMP SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND THE 2ND GEAR CLUTCH AND COAST ASSEMBLY "BURNED UP". THE TRANSMISSION, PUMP, GEARS, CLUTCHES, AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1250, WHICH THEY CLAIMED WAS A GREAT DEAL FOR US, AS THIS WAS CLAIMED TO BE A $5500 JOB. I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS AND ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, HOWEVER I AM STILL DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL, AND THE APPARENT LACK OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENGINEERING OF THIS VEHICLE. NO ONE EXPECTS TO NEED TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION IN A CAR WITH 40,000 MILES. MY LIFE WAS PUT AT RISK BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR IN THIS VEHICLE, AND I HOPE THAT THE THE NHTSA TAKES THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PREVENT MORE LIVES FROM BEING PUT AT RISK OR LOST DUE TO THIS ERROR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168048September 12, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO REACTION. THE HAND BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKES NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THE BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED, BUT THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168053September 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE ACCESSORY JACK BECAME INOPERABLE, THE RADIO WOULD STOP PUTTING OUT SOUND, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IT OFF THEN THE ABS LIGHT WOULD STAY ON AND THE WARNING BELL WOULD GO OFF. FINALLY THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. UPON GOING TO MY CAR AFTER WORK IT WOULD NOT START. I THOUGHT IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY SO WE JUMPED THE CAR AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES IT STARTED. 1 WEEK LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AGAIN, BUT AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR IT WENT OUT. AGAIN WHEN I WENT OUT ANOTHER DAY TO START BY CAR AFTER MY LUNCH BREAK THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I CALLED SATURN AND REQUESTED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT AFTER 15 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED. I TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER (CONTROL) BODY SYSTEM. THE NEXT DAY THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH IN THE IGNITION. IN JUNE THE RADIO AGAIN WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR IT WORKED AGAIN. I CALLED SATURN AGAIN TO COMPLAIN AND TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AT THAT TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES. 1 WEEK LATER THE RADIO AGAIN WOULD NOT WORK, SO I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT RESTARTING THE CAR SO THAT THEY COULD SEE THE PROBLEM IN ACTION. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE RADIO ONLY AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. A NEW RADIO HAS BEEN ORDERED BUT DURING THIS TIME THE ABS SYSTEM AGAIN CAME ON WITH A WARNING BELL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF. 2 DAYS LATER AFTER LEAVING THE STORE THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN WITH THE BELL AND THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT CAME ON. I RESTARTED THE CAR, BUT THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT STAYED ON THE ENTIRE TRIP HOME. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS ON THE CAR SHOULD NOT RUN, BUT IT DID. I TOOK THE CAR IN TODAY FOR THEM TO "LOOK" AT IT AND THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE RADIO AND RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167877September 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
2004 SATURN ION RIGHT FRONT TIRE WORN DOWN TO METAL. THEN RIGHT FRONT LOWER ARM BROKE INTO CAUSING A CRASH. NO CORRECTIONS WERE DONE. SATURN CO. SAID IT WASN'T A FAULTY PART. SAID PART BROKE WHEN HITTING A THE CURB. CURB WAS HIT BECAUSE NO CONTROL OF STEERING. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10166298August 23, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
I RECENTLY WENT OUT OF TOWN. I HAD TWO PASSENGERS. BOTH PASSENGER SEAT BELTS CONTINUOUSLY RETRACTED AND LOCKED, CAUSING THEM TO HAVE TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. SATURN'S TECHNICIANS AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED ONLY ONE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION, AND REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166299August 23, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
IN FEBRUARY/MARCH OF 2006 I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE SUNROOF. THE SWITCH OPERATING THE SUNROOF WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE AND HAD THIS CHECKED ON 03/17/2006. THE PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED AND A REPLACEMENT PART WAS ORDERED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166302August 23, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
DURING A WEEKEND OF THUNDERSTORMS MY SUNROOF LEAKED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SOAKED. I GOT THE CAR BACK, AND DURING ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM THE CAR LEAKED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO LEFT MY CAR OUT IN THE RAIN WITH A KNOWN LEAK FOR THREE DAYS ON THE FIRST TRIP TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER REFERRED TO THIS LEAKAGE PROBLEM AS A DESIGN FLAW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166303August 23, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
THE REAR BUMPER IS STARTING TO HAVE OBVIOUS SCRATCHES WHERE THE TRUNK LID COMES DOWN. THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THAT SATURN IDENTIFIED TWO YEARS AGO. DURING THE SERVICE VISIT THE TECHNICIAN REALIZED THAT MY BUMPER WAS MISALIGNED AT ASSEMBLY AND REALIGNED AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. NOW IT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE BUMPER WHERE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO SHAVE THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK LID AND RE-PAINT. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE ADVISOR THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THAT AIR OR WIND RESISTANCE GOES THROUGH THE BUMPER AND PUSHES THE BUMPER AGAINST THE TRUNK LID CAUSING THE SCRATCHES ON THE BUMPER AND BOTTOM OF TRUNK LID. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164015July 31, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT SEATBELTS LOCKED INTO PLACE WHEN THE BREAK PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING THE SEATBELT DURING THE INCIDENT AND THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS REMAINED LOCKED AFTERWARDS. THE SEATBELTS WERE INSPECTED BY THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SEATBELTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE SEATBELTS WERE A SAFETY FEATURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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