Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10051368December 30, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BOUGHT A SATURN 2003 ION 1 THIS PAST SUMMER ,JUNE 2003. IT WORK JUST FINE UNTIL COLORADO GOT ITS FIRST COLD SPELL, THIS IS WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACT-UP. THE CAR WILL NOT START UP IN THE EARLY COLD MORRINGS. WHEN I FIRST TRY TO START THE CAR THERE IS NOTHING, JUST A CLICKING SOUND. THEN AFTER TRYING FOR A WHILE THE CAR FINALLY STARTS UP, BUT IT IS A VERY ROUGH START. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY SATURN DEALSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME AND TODAY WILL BE THE FOURTH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL NOT START UP IN THE EARLY COLD MORRINGS. I AM GETTING VERY TRIED OF THIS. I HOPE WITH THE FOURTH TRY THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. IF NOT, YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051255December 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION IN JANUARY 2003. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES AND A GRAND TOTAL OF 18 DAYS IN SERVICE. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHEN I TRY TO ACCERLERATE. THE SERVICE TECHS AT SATURN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE RECALIRBERATED AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS STILL DOWN SHIFTING WHEN ACCERLERATING. I AM TERRIFIED THAT I WILL BE HIT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS AND THEN TAKE OFF AGIAN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLIANT WITH THE BBB AND CURRENTLY HAVE A CASE PENDING. I WANT TO BE REFUNDED IN FULL FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051264December 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD TODAY BECAUSE MY WIFE LEFT THE LIGHTS ON BY ACCIDENT. WHEN THE BATTERY IN THIS MODEL CAR BECOMES DISCHARGED TWO UNDESIREABLE PROBLEMS ARISE. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THEM INTRODUCE SAFETY CONCERNS. FIRST, THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THROUGH NORMAL MEANS. SECOND, THE CAR CAN'T BE MOVED! THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER REMAINS IN THE PARK POSITION. I FEEL THAT A CAR DESIGNED SUCH THAT THESE TWO PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN THE BATTERY FAILS IS A POOR DESIGN. THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL PROVIDED WITH THE CAR MAKES NO MENTION OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCURING WITH A DEAD BATTERY. IN ORDER TO JUMP A DEAD BATTERY IN A CAR IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO MOVE THE CAR I N ORDER TO JUMP THE BATTERY FROM ANOTHER CAR. I FEEL HAVING AN INTENTIONAL DESIGN IN A CAR THAT PREVENTS IT FROM BEING MOVED BY THE OWNER CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN. REGARDING THE KEY SITUATION, MY WIFE LEFT HER ENTIRE SET OF KEYS IN THE CAR WHEN THEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MANY IMPORTANT KEYS WERE LEFT IN THE CAR UNATTENDED. IT COULD HAVE MADE A BAD SITUATION MUCH WORSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IN THE CAR DISCUSSES HOW TO GET STUCK KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT NO MENTION IS MADE IN THE BOOK THAT KEYS WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. I SPOKE TO THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AT SATURN REGARDING THIS CONCERN, BUT IT IS NOT SATURN'S POLICY TO RESPOND TO THIS TYPE OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINT. SINCE I FEEL THESE TWO PROBLEMS DO HAVE A SAFETY IMPACT, I DECIDED TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049712December 14, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A ION QUAD COUPE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT MOVING WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR. THEY WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. THE NEWLY REBUILT TRANMISSION STIL SLIPS AND HAS A HARD SHIFTING FEELING. I BROUGHT IT IN 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY FIXED, AND STILL NEED TO GO BACK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF IT WAS TO NOT DRIVE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR FAIL WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE I BROUGHT IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GIVE ME PAPERWORK ON MY CAR. I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT PARTS WERE EXACTLY REPLACED. PAPERWORK IS MISSING FROM OVER 2 WEEKS AGO FROM THE 2ND VISIT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049638December 12, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE TWO SATURN 2003 IONS I HAVE DRIVEN (INCLUDING MY CURRENT VEHICLE) HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHERE, WHEN ENGAGING IN THIRD GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL "FREEWHEEL" FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING WITH A LURCH. THE PROBLEM CAN BE CREATED BY ACCELERATING AROUND A CORNER WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD. THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED IN MARCH/APRIL, 2003. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049664December 12, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY SATURN ION QUAD COUPE IS EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND AT TIMES COMPLETELY DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THIS HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MOST NOTABLY WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC LAST WEEK. I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED, THEN SUBSEQUENTLY DISENGAGED FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY SEVERAL VEHICLES, WHICH HAD TO TAKE UNSAFE EVASIVE ACTIONS TO AVOID PLOWING INTO ME. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT BEING SAID, SINCERELY URGE YOU TO OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. ALSO, THIS MAY NOT BE RELATED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING NOISE BETWEEN 1100 AND 1300 RPM DURING DECELERATION , A METAL GRINDING NOISE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049399December 8, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 SATURN ION DOWN SHIFTS ON ME WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. IT IS GETTING CONSISTENTLY WORSE AND HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A SECOND AND THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A TECH HAS TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND SEEN IT HAPPEN FIRST HAND. STILL ON RESOLVED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LEMON LAW IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049830December 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT STALLING. IT OCCURRED ALMOST EVERY OTHER WEEK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 350 MILES PER WEEK. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048670November 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THERE WAS AN EGG SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS WORSE WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. THE SMELL MADE THE OCCUPANTS NAUSEOUS AND SICK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE SMELL BUT HAS GIVEN A LOT OF SCENARIOS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047270November 20, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS THE DRIVER OF A 2003 SATURN ION 2 INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE DID HAVE SEAT BELTS ON. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS 30-35 MPH. NONE OF THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS WERE SERIOUS. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10042851November 19, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
IN A PANIC SITUATION, THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON DUE TO THE SIZE AND LOCATION. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION, DUE TO THE CONSUMER HAVING TO TAKE HER EYES OFF THE ROAD AND LOOK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTED THE DRIVER'S HEAD REST WAS TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD, THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY CORRECTED. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047053November 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASE SATURN ION III IN MARCH. TRANSMSSION HAD HARD SHIFT THEN SLIP PROBLEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026977October 24, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND THE HOOD OPENED. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043213October 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT A SATURN ION IN EARLY AUGUST OF 2003. I HAVE HAD 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT ON ME AND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR WHAT SO EVER! THE LATEST TIME WAS AT THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH AN EIGHT WHEELER TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND ME. HAD I NOT THOUGHT QUICK AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE CAR OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT IT THE REAR BY A SEVERAL TON VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE ENTIRE POWER TO THE CAR DIES !! THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AND YOU THE ENTIRE CAR "SHUTS DOWN" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR W/ ONLY THE PRAYER OF RESTARTING YOUR SATURN ION SO THAT YOU ARE NOT KILLED! THE FIRST PERSON I SPOKE WITH IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HE HAD HEARD OF THIS IN A "COUPLE OF OTHER CARS" THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE "FIRST SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT." I AM OUTRAGED THAT SATURN SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THE CAR TO "DUPLICATE" THIS PROBLEM FOR THEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY OR EVEN EVERY WEEK. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "WE CAN'T FIX WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS BROKEN" I AM GOING TO ASK THAT THE CAR BE RETURNED TO GMAC WHICH IS THE LEAN HOLDER! I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MYSELF AND MY SMALL CHILDREN. "I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM PURCHASING THE SATURN ION !!!! I FEEL AS IF I HAVE BEEN RIDING IN A DEATH TRAP!! *LA OUTRAGED UNFORTUNATE SATURN OWNER OF WINSTON-SALEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041319October 6, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS BLEW OUT 11 TIMES. FIRST THE DEALER TOLD ME THE BULBS WERE BAD, THEN TOO MANY AMPS FOR THE TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT. THEY DID SOME "CONVERSION" 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE BULBS BLEW OUT LESS FREQUENT BUT STILL OCCURRING. THE DRIVER FRONT BULBS BLEW 3 WEEKS AGO. THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO MALFUNCTION WHENEVER I PLUG THE CELL PHONE CHARGER INTO THE POWER OUTLET. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE TURN SIGNAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037765October 1, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND WAS NOT TURNING SMOOTHLY, IT WAS HARD TO HANDLE THE WHEEL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND MIS-ALIGNED AND WAS REPAIRED. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041950September 30, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040964September 30, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR FRONT LIGHTING ON MY NEW 2003 SATURN ION WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ON 5/15/03 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ALBUQUERQUE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE RUNNING LIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THEY REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON 7/18/03 AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 100 MILES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THEN AGAIN ON 9/29/03 I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RUNNING LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL REPLACED. I TALKED WITH THE SALES MANAGER BEN VIGIL AND THE SERVICE MANAGER JUSTIN GREENBERG. I COMPLAINED THAT I'VE SPENT MORE TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE THAN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND I WAS CONCERNED I HAD BOUGHT A LEMON. I TOLD THEM THAT IF MY TURN SIGNALS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MR. GREENBERG TOLD ME THAT HE PROBABLY GETS TWO CUSTOMERS A DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (WHICH SHOCKED ME). HE SAID SATURN HAS SENT OUT NEW BULBS TO THE DEALERSHIPS WHICH THEY CLAIM WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE'LL SEE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040844September 28, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 3 ON JULY 11, 2003. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR HAS BASICALLY NOT WORKED AND MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED ON THREE OCCASIONS -- ONE OF THEM ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO REPAIRS THREE TIMES TO SATURN PENSACOLA AND SATURN HAS FAILED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" MY CONCERN. I AM MAINLY CONCERNED WITH GETTING THIS CAR FIXED OR IF IT IS NOT FIXABLE FOR ME TO GET A REPLACEMENT CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS AROUND ME! THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR TERMS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SATURN CORP REP DIANE WANTS ME TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SATURN FACILITY MYSELF TO GET THIS CAR FIXED. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE THE NEXT NEAREST FACILITY IS OVER 60 MILES AWAY! THEY REFUSE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO MOBILE OR MONTGOMERY. AND, THEY REFUSED TO LOAN ME A CAR OR TOW MY CAR TO THE PENSACOLA SERVICE CENTER WHEN MY CAR DIED THE SECOND TIME ON SEPT. 13. THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" AND TREATMENT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY SATURN CORP AND THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY POOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS A LEMON AS WELL AS THE BETTTER BUSINESS BUREAU, NHTSA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, GENERAL MOTORS (WHO OWNS SATURN), ETC. I FEEL EXTREMELY LET DOWN BY SATURN BECAUSE I OWNED A SATURN PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS EXTREMELY LOYAL TO THE VEHICLE. A CO-WORKER AT MY JOB IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HER 2003 ION. IN FACT, I WANTED SATURN TO COMPARE MY SATURN ISSUE TO MY CO-WORKER'S ISSUE (WHO IS BRINGING HER CAR IN TODAY) AND SATURN BASICALLY THREATENED ME THAT IF I DID NOT PICK UP MY CAR (WHICH WAS STILL IN THE SHOP) AND RETURN THEIR LOANER (WHICH I STILL HAD) THAT THEY WOULD REPORT THE LOANER AS STOLEN. DO NOT BUY A SATURN ION. SATURN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IS A BIG JOKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040419September 23, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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