Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10078453June 18, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN MAKING TURNS, PARTICULARLY RIGHT TURNS, MY WIFE'S NEW SATURN ION QUAD COUPE, LOSES POWER AND HESITATES AFTER IT GETS THE TURN PARTIALLY COMPLETED. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT ONCE A WEEK SO IT IS TOUGH TO DUPLICATE BUT IT HAS CAUSED HER TO BE NEARLY HIT SEVERAL TIMES BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS THE WAY THE VTI TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED TO WORK SO THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. SATURN IN SPRING HILL DID NOT DENY THIS WAS HOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED TO WORK. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SERVICE BULLETINS THAT WOULD FIX THIS AND THEY SAID NONE WOULD ACTUALLY FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO MY CERTIFIED RETURN RECEIPT LETTER EVEN THOUGH I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED A WRITTEN RESPONSE. PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR CARS TO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO BE FIXED. SATURN IS REIMBURSING SOME OF THESE CHARGES BUT THEY CALL IT STRICTLY A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE". COMPLAINTS 10049664 AND 10049638 SOUND VERY SIMILAR. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU REQUEST THAT SATURN PROVIDE ALL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THEM ABOUT THE VTI TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHERE INDEPENDENT SHOPS DID REPAIRS. THOSE OWNERS/INDEPENDENT SHOPS COULD PROBABLY PROVIDE A WEALTH OF INFO ABOUT VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I THINK YOU WILL FIND THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND A RECALL IS WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078329June 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 ON THURSDAY JUNE 10, 2004. ON SUNDAY JUNE 13 THERE WERE SUBSTANTIAL RAINS IN THE ATLANTA AREA AND I NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK WAS FULL OF APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF STANDING WATER AROUND THE TIRE AND BATTERY. THE BOX OF BOOKS IN THE TRUNK ALONG WITH SOME OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE WATER. ON MONDAY JUNE 14, AFTER HAVING HAD THE CAR IN MY POSESSION FOR ONLY 4 DAYS I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ADVISED ME ON TUESDAY JUNE 15 THAT THE HOLE WHERE THE WATER IS SUPPOSED TO DRAIN OUT OF IF THE CAR HAD A SUNROOF WAS LEFT UNPLUGGED DURING MANUFACTURING RESULTING IN THE FLOODING OF THE TRUNK. I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP MY CAR ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY JUNE 16. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AS I WAS USING THE POWER OUTLETS IN THE CAR THE TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ORDER FOR MY TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO WORK I MUST UNPLUG WHATS IN THE POWER OUTLET AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I RESTART THE CAR THEY ARE OPERABLE AGAIN, BUT IF I NEED TO USE MY POWER OUTLETS I MUST USE THEM KNOWNING THAT I WON'T HAVE TURN SIGNALS OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I EITHER HAVE TO GIVE UP THE USE OF MY POWER OUTLETS OR MY TURN SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075135June 10, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, 3 TIMES. THE SATURN DEALER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074993June 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT MY AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS ON AND I HAPPEN TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES AND THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW. I EVEN CALLED SATURN AND THEY HAVE MY COMPLAINT ON FILE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072189June 4, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN ASSEMBLY REQUIRED EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO ACTIVATE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HORN WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074368May 27, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10072796May 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, EQUIPMENT
THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WHICH SEND A VIBRATION THROUGH THE BODY OF THE CAR WHILE GOING OVER DIPS AND STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND THE CURRENT DIAGNOSES IS THAT IT'S A NORMAL NOISE. CONFIRMED WITH OTHER DEALERS THAT THE NOISE IS NOT NORMAL. VISIT 1: REPLACED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. VISIT 2: REPLACED RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM VISIT 3: REPLACED RIGHT FRONT STRUT VISIT 4: REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND BOTH TORSION BAR SUPPORTS VISIT 5: "IT'S A NORMAL NOISE" I'VE TEST DRIVEN OTHER NEW CARS AND THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT. I WILL BE PERSUING THE LEMON LAW AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073331May 10, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THEY DID NOT CLOSE FULLY, THEY STAYED AJAR, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHEN TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THEIR PRESENCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068100April 30, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN HAS HAD AT LEAST EIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS FAIL SINCE THE CAR WAS DELIVERED IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE BULBS IN QUESTION ARE MANUFACTURED BY WAGNER, AND ARE TYPE 5702. FAILURE OF FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT, SINCE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS NO INDICATION OF MY INTENT TO TURN. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED THE CAR ON THREE OR FOUR OCCASIONS, AND HAS FOUND NO OBJECTIVE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. REPLACING THE BULB CORRECTS THE PROBLEM, TYPICALLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT IN SEVERAL INSTANCES FOR LESS THAN A WEEK. THE BULBS IN QUESTION ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM NATIONAL PARTS CHAINS SUCH AS NAPA, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, AUTOZONE, AND PEP BOYS; THE ONLY SOURCE IS A SATURN DEALERSHIP, WHICH CHARGES APPROXIMATELY $8 FOR A REPLACEMENT LAMP. I HAVE SINCE EXPERIMENTED WITH USING A SYLVANIA 3157NALL, WHICH IS APPARENTLY IDENTICAL AND IS RATED FOR USE IN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT APPLICATIONS. IT FUNCTIONS IDENTICALLY TO THE OEM PART, EXCEPT THAT IT APPEARS TO LAST MUCH LONGER (IT HAS YET TO FAIL AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS), AND IS READILY AVAILABLE FROM ANY AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE COST. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067907April 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067822April 26, 2004
AIR BAGS
WHILE TRYING TO FIND A SPOT IN A PARKING LOT, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VAN BACKING OUT AND ABOUT TO HID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY HORN TO WARN BOTH DRIVERS. WHEN I HIT THE HORN, THE CENTER SATURN EMBLEM WENT THROUGH THE PLASTIC AIR BAG COVER. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD TO BE RELPACED. WHILE THIS INCADENT DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURIES, IT CONSERNS ME THAT ANOTHER EMBLEM COULD FALL INTO THEE AIRBAG MODULE AND CREATE A FLYING OBJECT IN A CRASH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066562April 20, 2004
SEAT BELTS
SUBJECT: LOOSE SATURN SEATBELT BOLT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION 3: I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT CHANGED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN MARCH 2003. THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS PUTTING MY SON IN HIS CARSEAT IN THE BACKSEAT AND NOTICED MY FOOT JIGGLING SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER I REALIZED IT WAS THE RESTRAINING BOLT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT, AND THE BOLT WAS SO LOOSE THAT IT CAME OUT OF THE HOLE INTO MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. I WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED. TO THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT HAD BEEN KEEPING MY HUSBAND AND I "SAFE" WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD!!! I TOOK MY CAR INTO SATURN OF SALEM TODAY AND HAD THEM COMPLETELY GO OVER THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THAT LOCK-TIGHT HAD BEEN PUT ON THE BOLT WHEN THE NEW SEATBELT HAD BEEN INSTALLED BUT THE BOLT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED ENOUGH (TO SATURN'S SPECS). AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT! I AM TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY HUSBAND, MYSELF AND MY CHILD, AND THE SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO ACT AS IF THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS NO BIG DEAL. I AM APPALLED. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS RAISED THIS CONCERN, BUT I WISHED TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. SINCERELY, DAWN YOUNG 503-485-8642 (WORK)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061289April 1, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING VEHICLE WOULD BOG DOWN AND STALL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064300March 31, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
SATURN HORN IS HARD TO ACTIVATE (ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN WINTER CLIMATES) DUE TO A POOR HORN BUTTON DESIGN. IN A PANIC SITUATION YOU HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AND HUNT FOR THE "G" SPOT ON THE HORN BUTTON IN ORDER TO SOUND THE HORN WITHIN SUFFICIENT TIME TO BE USEFUL IN WARNING OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE EXPERINCED THIS MANY TIMES IN A PARKING LOT SITUATION, AND ALSO DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE HORN FAILS TO SOUND AT ALL. SATURN CORP. REFERRED ME TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DESIGN WITH THE AIR BAG. OTHER IONS THAT I TEST DROVE ALSO DISPLAYED THIS BEHAVIOR AND SATURN CORP. SHOULD BE WORKING ON A SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063993March 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
TO DATE, VEHICLE HAS HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WHICH DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. 10 SERVICE VISITS IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND NO END IN SIGHT. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/BLINKER LIGHTS INOPPERABLE (REPAIRED 6 TIMES); OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GUAGE MALFUNCTIONING (REPAIRED 3+ TIMES); AIR CONDITIONING INOPPERABLE AND COMPASS MALFUNCTIONING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064712March 23, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10063610March 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN I ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THE CAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT BUCKS THEN PUSHES ITSELF. THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD. SOUNDS LIKE GRINDING OR WHIRRING. THEY HAVE HAD TO CALIBRATE THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES IN THE 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN TODAY. (3RD TIME). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060930March 17, 2004
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MPH FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE BLEW OUT. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BLEW OUT AT THE SAME SPEED. FIRESTONE, AFFINITY. *AK BOTH TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052170March 17, 2004
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 100 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL HEAD ON. THE OWNER STATED THAT NEITHER THE FRONTAL NOR SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE OWNER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *JB *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10062125March 13, 2004
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
SATURN ION 3 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. 2003. POWER STEERING-ELECTRIC: IT APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS PROGRAMMED TO GIVE MORE ASSIST IN A PANIC SITUATION. SENSORS DETECT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING MOVED RAPIDLY, AND IMMEDIATELY GIVE MORE ASSIST, MAKING THE WHEEL VERY EASY TO TURN. SINCE MOST PEOPLE OVER-CORRECT IN A PANIC SITUATION, THIS INCREASE IN ASSIST IS EXACTLY THE WRONG THING TO DO. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHERE THE SPEED REALLY ACCENTUATES THE EFFECT. I DO 90% OF MY DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, SO THIS IS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ME. I NOW HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ODD STEERING BEHAVIOR SINCE ABOUT 2000 MILES WHEN I SWERVED TO AVOID AN ANIMAL AND ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD. IF THE CAR WAS STILL WITHIN THE 30 DAY, 1500 MILE BUY BACK PERIOD, IT WOULD HAVE GONE BACK. EVEN KNOWING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS, AND OCCASIONALLY GIVING THE WHEEL A SHARP MOVEMENT SO THAT I KNOW HOW THE CAR REACTS, I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD-RAIL WHEN I WAS SURPRISED BY ANOTHER CAR DRIFTING INTO MY LANE ON THE DATE BELOW. I TELL EVERY SATURN ION OWNER THAT I MEET ABOUT THE PROBLEM. A FRIEND'S SON DROVE THEIR ION OFF THE ROAD ABOUT A MONTH AGO UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. OWNERS WHO DON'T OFTEN VENTURE ON TO THE INTERSTATES ARE RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THERE IS ANY SUCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR NEW CAR. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO. THEY SEND ME ON MY WAY, DRIVE A COUPLE OF MILES, TELL ME THEY DROVE 50 MILES AND THAT THE CAR IS PERFECTLY FINE. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM, BUT I'M SURE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion