Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10098508November 9, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB 'BRIGHT' / 'HIGH' ELMENT BURNED OUT. BULB WAS OEM WAGNER 5702KA. BULB BASE WAS BLACKED, HAD SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. BOTH LEFT AND FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY OUTER LENSES HAVE CHANGED FROM CLEAR TO TRANSLUCENT IMEDIATELY ABOVE TURN SIGNAL BULBS, PERHAPS DUE TO OVERHEATEING. DEALER SAID A PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND FIXED IN THE LATER 2003 IONS. DEALER OFFERED TO DIAGNOSE AND INSTALL A 'RESISTOR AND HARNESS' KIT AT MY EXPENCE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN ERROR AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT SATURN'S EXPENCE. MAY BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099573November 8, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN SURGED FORWARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098494November 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I HIT ANOTHER CAR IN ITS LEFT SIDE HARD, IT SMASHED MY FRONT END COMPLETLY TO THE WINDSHIELD, THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED SO BADLY THAT IT WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE CO. YET NO AIR BAGS WAS ACTIVATED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10098282November 4, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT A BEAM AS FAR AS WHEN VEHICLE WAS NEW. NIGHTIME DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS DURING DEER SEASON IS HAZARDOUS. SATURN DEALER HAS INSTALLED UPDATED WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT REPEATED PREMATURE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILURES AND COINCIDENTLY OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE PERFORMED POORLY SINCE THEN. DISCUSSED THIS WITH SATURN DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAS LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE FROM THE ION. I KNOW MY SATURN ION HEADLIGHTS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY AT FIRST, BUT HAVE DEGRADED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MY VISION ARE BOTH FINE. THE SUPENSION HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I REPLACED FACTORY HALOGEN BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR 9007 BULBS AND ILLUMINATED FIELD IS BRIGHTER, BUT STILL DOES NOT EXTEND DOWN THE ROAD MUCH FARTHER. AT SPEEDS OVER 55MPH, ON A DARK RURAL HIGHWAY, I CAN OVERDIVE MY HEADLIGHTS. EMAILED SATURN AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF MY PROBLEM AND DID NOT OFFER A SOLUTION, BUT WILL LISTEN TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A "TREND". I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099238November 2, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM 5 TO 20 MILES ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB THE DRIVER HAS ELECTRICAL WINDOWS AND LOCKS FAILED. THE WINDOW WOULD ROLL UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD DO THE SAME. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THESE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO OCCURRED AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE DRIVER HAS INFORMED THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099032October 29, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM KEEP RECURRING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097430October 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND GOING DOWN A HILL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 RPM'S AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093934October 11, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
RECEIVED FIRST SATURN ION 04 AND WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE CAR WAS DISPLAYING CLEAR SIGNS OF EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. WAS REPLACED WITH A SECOND ION O4. NOTICED A STRANGE CLUNKING SOUND. BROUGHT CAR IN AT 3600 MILES, AND IT WAS TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AXELS, AND BREAK ROTORS. CAR WAS RETURNED WITH A BROKEN PIECE IN THE INTERIOR, AND SMELLING OF BURNING PLASTIC. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE, AND SATURN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THAT I SHOULD BE ISSUED A REFUND, DUE TO FAULTY CONSTRUCTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093324September 29, 2004
TIRES
ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. I BEGAN TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE PATTERN OF THE NOISE AND VERIFIED THAT IT PRIMARILY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS OF 20-25MPH OR HIGH SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. I TOOK MY CAR INTO SATURN DEALERSHIP 9/18/04 TO HAVE IT 'CHECKED OUT'. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT I EITHER HAD A FAILING WHEEL-BEARING OR I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TIRES. THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOT IMMANENT DANGER OF DRIVING THE CAR. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD AND THE WHEEL COMES COMPLETELY OFF. UPON PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, I FIND THAT ALL FOUR LUGNUTS HAVE BROKEN OFF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY "DID NOT KNOW WHY THE TIRE CAME OFF, AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO DAMAGE, SO THEY OFFERED TO PLACE THE TIRE BACK ON AND 'SEND ME ON MY WAY'. I CHOSE TO LEAVE MY CAR UNREPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THE REGIONAL ENGINEER COULD LOOK AT IT, CONVENIENTLY, THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE ENGINEER SUPPLIED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE NO REASON FOR THE LUGNUTS TO HAVE BROKEN AND THE TIRE TO HAVE COME OFF. THE ENGINEER OFFERED TO FURTHER TEST THE TIRE AND 'TAKE A CLOSER LOOK' AT THE PARTS THAT HOLD THE TIRE ON. THE ENGINEER TOLD US HE HAD PLACED THE TIRE ON ANOTHER CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM A PLUG THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE TIRE OVER A YEAR AGO. HE ALSO STATED HE STILL DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE LUGNUTS TO BREAK AND THE TIRE TO COME OFF. HE STATED THAT SATURN WAS NOT LIABLE DUE TO ME HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED OVER A YEAR AGO BY AN OUTSIDE COMPANY. HE SUGGESTED HE COULD "FIX" MY CAR IF I WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES INCURRED DURING THE ACCIDENT. HE ALSO SUGGESTED I FILE A CLAIM THROUGH MY VEHICLE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093266September 28, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
APPARENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS LED TO FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. MANUFACTURER'S AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094315September 24, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH WAS NOT BOLTED DOWN, CAME OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE SHOE AND IT WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE FLOORBOARD AND THE PEDAL. THERE WAS NOTHING THERE TO SECURE THE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO END CAPS TO KEEP THE PEDAL IN PLACE. CONSUMER ASKED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE EQUAL IN VALUE TO THE ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED. DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A VEHICLE OF LESSER VALUE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ONE OF THE SAME VALUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093060September 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY SATURN ION QUAD COUPE INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGES OR FAILS TO ENGAGE WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT DOES NOT ENGAGE WHILE I AM PULLING INTO TRAFFIC I COULD BE HURT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND A "FIX" WOULD BE OUT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ON OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER RE THIS ISSUE (IMPLYING THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS WOULD BE REPLACED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM.) WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY TO DISCUSS MY CONCERNS, THE DEALER'S RESPONSE THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE, AND THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTENTS, THE RESPONSE WAS ESSENTIALLY THAT IF THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN, THERE IS NO PROBLEM--ESSENTIALLY, THEY SAID SOMETHING BAD HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY WILL TAKE ACTION, AND THE DEALER DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE CONCERN. I THINK IT'S WRONG AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 2X PER DAY, NEVER IN THE SAME PLACE, NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092981September 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
USUALLY I CHARGE MY CELL PHONE AT HOME OVERNIGHT. BUT ON MONDAY 9/20/04 I HAD FORGOTTEN TO CHARGE THE PHONE AND USED THE CELL PHONE CHARGER IN MY NEW 2004 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN. I NOTICED THAT MY TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR WAS FLASHING QUICKLY. I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE NORMAL DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I WENT TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER. HE SAID I NEEDED UPGRADED RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS TO HANDLE MY CELL PHONE CHARGER. THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTEE IN 2 HOURS. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAPPENS WITH SOME BUT NOT ALL CELL PHONE CHARGERS. THE SATURN FACTORY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND PUT IN THE BETTER RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS TO HANDLE CELL PHONE CHARGERS IN CARS MADE AFTER 5 MONTHS AGO. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH NON WORKING FRONT TURN SIGNALS, IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO WONDER IF PEOPLE WITH THE OLD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIGHT SUFFER DAMAGE TO THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH CELL PHONE CHARGES OVER TIME WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN MY CASE I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S CELL PHONE CHARGER DOESN'T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS BUT JUST STRAINS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091260September 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
SATURN ION 2004 I4, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WAS LOOKED AT ON 19TH SEPT 2004 BY DEALERSHIP. ON SEP 20TH I WENT TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND I COULD NOT. GAS SPILLED OUT OF THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS IT WILL NOW ALLOW ME TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR. I WAS STUCK AT HOME AFTER RETURNING FROM GAS STATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090971September 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE AREA IN MY TRUNK ABOVE THE MUFFLER HAS STARTED GETTING EXTREMELY HOT. ITEMS STORED IN THE TRUNK ARE HOT TO THE TOUCH AND THE METAL IN THE TRUNK IS TOO HOT TO LAY A HAND ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER DROPPED ITEMS WHILE REMOVING THEM FROM THE TRUNK BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE FEBRUARY 2003. I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND IT IS IN THE SHOP EVERY MONTH TO MONTH AND A HALF BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL (4 TIMES), RADIO, INTERIOR FAN, TRANSMISSION, GEAR SHIFT, BRAKES, TIRES, HOOD LATCH, WINDSHIELD, ETC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092554September 13, 2004
STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 28-32 MPH. AT ALL OTHER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IS QUIET. *NM THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW. NO ONE COULD GIVE THE CONSUMER AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091890September 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION , AND GRINDING SOUND WHEN VEHICLE WAS COLD . CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP WAS DOING NOTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING, FEARING THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091919September 13, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL TWENTY SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE PEDAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082111September 13, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED WHILE RUNNING THE VEHICLE IDLING HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGN. *NM (POSSIBLE VALVE STICKING) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THEN TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN REVERSE AS WELL. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS WOULD ALMOST OCCUR. THERE WOULD BE HIGH RPM'S OF 6000 PLUS. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: WIND NOISE WHEN SUNSHADE WAS CRACKED, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT CANCEL ON TURNS AND THE CHIME WOULD GO OFF AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH SEEMED LOOSE AND OR MISALIGNED, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOW. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091462September 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion