Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10098369April 12, 2005
AIR BAGS, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ON JULY 21, 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND ON AUGUST 3, 2004, I EXPERIENCED TREAD AND BELT SEPARATION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DISCOVERED I HAD NO BRAKES EITHER, (THE TIRE HAD RIPPED THE BRAKE LINES). I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER HITTING A ROAD SIGN. THE TIRE IN QUESTION, CAME STANDARD ON THE VEHICLE (WHICH HAD 816 MILES ON IT) AND WAS A FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 03, (P205/55R16). I SUFFERED A FRACTURE TO MY RIGHT FOREARM, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS, APPROXIMATELY $6000 WORTH OF VEHICLE DAMAGE, (NOT INCLUDING THE IMMEDIATE DEPRECIATION OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE), AND ULTIMATELY LOSS OF MY EMPLOYMENT RELATED TO NO TRANSPORTATION. I CALLED THE SATURN CUSTOMER SVC. CENTER AND THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, WHEN THEY HAD A SATURN REPRESENTATIVE FLY DOWN FROM TN TO TELL ME THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH NOT ONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE, HOWEVER IN THE MEANTIME I MUST IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THEIR PREMISES!! I FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT AND SHIPPED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE, PER THEIR REQUEST, ONLY TO BE TOLD 28 DAYS LATER THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF A "360 DEGREE SPIN CUT THROUGH THE TREAD". MY INSURANCE TOLD ME THAT IF I FILED THE CLAIM THROUGH THEM THAT I WOULD BE "HEAVILY PENALIZED" SINCE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT. SO, I LOST MY JOB, SPENT ALL OF MY SAVINGS, GOT BEHIND ON ALL OF MY BILLS AND ALL I HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT IS A NEW CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVABLE! *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10117431April 5, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2003 SATURN ION HAS PROBLEMS WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117340April 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114750March 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, THE CAR CONTINUED SPEEDING, TRIED TO BRAKE BUT BRAKES WORN OUT, WAS INEFFECTICE, CRASHED 5 CARS BECAUSE THE CAR WONT STOP.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10115181March 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AND LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD ALL THE GAUGES SHINED, INDICATING THAT NOTHING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE GAS GAUGE/ SPEEDOMETER, AND BATTERY METER, ETC. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113990March 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ALL DASH GAUGES FAILED, INCLUDING GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, ETC. ON AT LEAST TWO SEPARATE OCCAISIONS. CAR WAS TWO WEEKS OLD TO THE DAY. MY SON (THE OWNER/LESSEE) WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE IT FROM HIS WORK TO THE DEALER LESS THAN A HALF MILE AWAY FOR "ADVICE" WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT THAT PROBABLY DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER AND LET THEM KNOW THE SITUATION WITH THE DASH WAS THE REASON HE WAS RETURNING THE CAR, THE SALESMAN THEN INFORMED ME THAT "OH, YEAH, THOSE CARS SOMETIMES HAVE A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN THEM, AND WHILE WE HAD TO WAIT A WHILE TO GET A "FIX", WE NOW HAVE ONE." SO IF THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, WHY DIDN'T THEY FIX IT DURING THE "DEALER PREP" STAGE? OR AT LEAST WARN THE CONSUMER OF THIS PROBLEM? WE NOW HAVE A 2 WEEK OLD CAR WITH BODY DAMAGE AND ARE AWAITING WORD FROM OUR INSURANCE ON WHICH BODY SHOP IT SHOULD GO TO. BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, WE STILL HAVE A CAR IN NEED OF A "SOFTWARE UPGRADE" EVEN AFTER IT'S FIXED. I WILL BE HORRIFIED TO EVER SET FOOT IN THAT CAR AGAIN, LET ALONE KNOW THAT THIS CAR IS THE PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION FOR MY COLLEGE-AGE SON. THE CAR HAS APPROX 500 MILES ON IT NOW, LESS THE MILEAGE IT HAD ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115028March 11, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SUSAN'S MOTHER BRENDA O'BRIEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115152March 10, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
'RECALL CAMPAIGN' 2004 SATURN ION DAYTIME LAMP/TURN SIGNAL BULB REPLACEMENT. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP HIS VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS STILL INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED, THE WORK WAS DONE, BUT CONDENSATION WAS INSIDE THE UNIT THAT CONTAINED THE BULB IN QUESTION AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112773March 9, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION IN APRIL, 2004. IN JUNE, 2004 MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING MY RUNNING LIGHT ON THAT SIDE NOT TO WORK EITHER.*AK IN JULY, 2004 WHEN OPENING UP THE HOOD TO REFILL WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, THE HOOD LATCH INSIDE THE CAR CAME OFF IN MY HAND. ON DEC 22, 2004, THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED TO WORK CAUSE ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WHICH RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR. BOTH CARS WERE ONLY MOVING ABOUT 15 - 20 MPH, BUT ON IMPACT THE WHOLE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) SIDE BUMPER BROKE UP AND WAS ON THE GROUND. LEAVING A BIG GAPPING HOLE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DEFECTIVE BRAKES, AS OF THIS DATE. IN FEBRUARY, 2005, WHEN COMING OUT TO START CAR AFTER WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE KEY LOCKED IN THE IGNITION, THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK LOCKED AND COULDN'T GET THEM OPEN TO GET A JUMP FROM THE TOW TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SAME DAY I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WENT INTO A STORE WHEN I CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THIS TIME THE KEY DIDN'T LOCK IN IGNITION SO I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 4 DIFFERENT OCCASION, WITH THE DEALERSHIP NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114911March 8, 2005
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAGS OF THE CONSUMER'S 2003 SATURN ION 3 DID NOT INFLATE DURING ACCIDENT. *BF *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112536March 4, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I OWN AN 2004 SATURN ION 3 THAT CAME WITH FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK GTA TIRES AND THE SIZE IS P205/55R16 89H M+S. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AT 6,000 MILES. ON 3/3/2005 I HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS WAS AT NINE AT NIGHT AND I HAD FORGOTTEN MY CELLPHONE AND WAS MADE LATE FOR WORK. WITH SEMI'S DRIVING BY AT 70 MPH ON I-75 I WAS IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE. ON 3/4/2005 I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD THE TIRE AND HOW MUCH ETC. THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO SERVICE AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN. I WAS HAPPILY SURPRISED SINCE THIS WAS FRIDAY AT NOON. THEY INSPECTED THE TIRE FOR PUNCTURES (FOUND NONE) AND I THINK THEY WERE SURPRISED AT THE SIDEWALL SEPARATION. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY (NO CHARGE). THE TIRE HAD 9,000 MILES AT THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT 30 MPH I HEARD A CLUNK AND THOUGHT SNOW WAS HITTING THE TIRE. THIS THEN QUIETED DOWN. I GOT ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND WENT TWO MILES BEFORE I HEARD A NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A HELECOPTER OVERHEAD. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN MY NEW VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109636March 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS ADJUSTED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. HOWEVER, DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE TAKES 2-5 MINUTES FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN FROM 2500 RPM'S. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFOSTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HOOD WOULD NOT ALWAYS CLOSE PROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112334March 1, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
CAR PURCHASED ON 2/26/05. FIRST TIME DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY, A 20" PIECE OF THE RAIN DRIP PANEL FLEW OFF. DEALER STATES CAR MUST HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCK, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER ALSO SAID THIS IS "EXPECTED BEHAVIOR" IF HIT BY DEBRIS AT OVER 35 MPH. IF HIT BY DEBRIS, WAS SMALL ENOUGH THAT THERE WAS NO NOISE UPON IMPACT, NOR WAS IT VISIBLE. SINCE THERE WERE NO VEHICLES TO THE SIDE OR FRONT OF VEHICLE, WE BELIEVE THIS PANEL IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR, AND QUOTES $782 TO FIX. OTHER BODY SHOPS ARE CONSIDERABLY LESS. IF THIS BEHAVIOR IS "EXPECTED" SATURN FALSELY ADVERTISES DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, AS THEIR ADS DEPICT GOLF BALLS HITTING THE VEHICLE WITH NO DAMAGE. FURTHER IF THIS IS "EXPECTED" THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO OTHERS AROUND IT ON THE ROAD, IF SATURN BELIEVES IT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR 20" CHUNKS OF THE VEHICLE TO FLY OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112342March 1, 2005
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, AND I REAR ENDED HER. IT WAS A MINOR ACCIDENT - ONLY GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH - SO MINOR THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. BOTH OF MY REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, CAME UNLATCHED AND FLEW FORWARD, PUSHING MY DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT INTO THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, EVEN WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING LOOPED THROUGH THE SHOULDER HARNESS OF THE CAR SEAT. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. I CALLED SATURN TO REPORT IT. THEY SPOKE WITH THE COLLISION CENTER WHERE MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BROKEN THAT COULD BE FIXED. THE COLLISION CENTER ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THEY TRIED TO GET THE SEATS UNLATCHED BY PULLING ON THEM FROM THE FRONT AND BY TRYING TO KICK THEM FROM INSIDE THE TRUNK, NEITHER OF WHICH SIMULATES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACTUAL CAR ACCIDENT, WITH THAT KIND OF INERTIA. THE PERSON WHO INSPECTED MY CAR TOLD ME THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK UNLATCHED THE LOCKS DURING THE ACCIDENT. SATURN TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I EVEN SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY COULD SOMEHOW INSTALL A BETTER LOCK TO MAKE SURE THE SEATS WOULDN'T UNLATCH. THEY TOLD ME OVER AND OVER THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE NOTHING IS BROKEN. BUT SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG FOR THE SEATS TO HAVE COME UNLATCHED. AT THIS TIME, I STILL FEEL THAT MY REAR SEATS ARE UNSAFE AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN MY CAR BACK FROM THE COLLISION CENTER. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111734February 17, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. OWNER WAS DRIVING AND HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AT A FOUR WAY STOP. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 3,000 RPM AND SURGED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110946February 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
UPON DRIVING THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED SATURN, THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109179January 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL. CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE WILL JUST SLOW DOWN TO 10 MPH. WHILE DRIVING UP THE HILL VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UP TO 25 MPH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109004January 27, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107925January 26, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
FRIDAY THERE WAS A SNOWFALL. SATURDAY MORNING, I DROVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DIFFICULTY HANDLING THE STEERING OF THE CAR. AS I APPROACHED 40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I COULD NOT GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO I TRIED TO COPE BY SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN. THREE TIMES, I ALMOST CRASHED - TWICE INTO OTHER CARS, ONCE INTO THE HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE FASTER I WENT, THE MORE VIOLENT THE SHAKING. I WAS TRAVELLING FROM THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE ENTRANCE TO 280 TO 94 WEST TO THE 35W SOUTH. I GOT OFF AT THE FIRST EXIT I COULD ON 35W. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AS I DROVE ON THE CITY STREETS. ON TUESDAY I CALLED SATURN TO HAVE THEM FIX MY CAR. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 100 CALLS OF THIS KIND THIS WEEKEND AND THAT THIS WAS A RESULT OF SNOW GETTING INTO WHERE THE TIRE-WHEEL IS. IT WAS SUGGESTED I GO TO A CAR WASH AND THAW OUT THE SNOW AND WAS TOLD THEY'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR ME. PART OF WHY I CHOSE THIS CAR IS BECAUSE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS COMPUTERIZED HANDLING THAT WOULD FACILITATE MY DRIVING. OBVIOUSLY, I AM DISSATISFIED. WHEN THE SNOW MELTED OFF, THE CAR DROVE WELL. HOWEVER, I LIVE IN MN, WHERE THERE IS SNOW HALF OF THE YEAR. I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT MY CAR WOULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I CANNOT HANDLE THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107770January 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
3 DAYS IN A ROW 2004 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START. AFTER WAITING 10 MIN I TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUR TEMP.HAVE BEEN AVERAGING -4 TO 13 DEGRESS.WILL BE GOING INTO THE DEALERS TUES.THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE PASS LOCK SENSOR SINCE I HAVE READ ON ANOTHER SITE ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS IS CAUSING WITH SATURN NOT STARTING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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