Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10356229September 18, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MY 2004 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME APPEARED. I LOST POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN MY VEHICLE AROUND AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. I IMMEDIATELY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY IN PLACE FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE REPAIRED BUT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES (118,000) IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356106September 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD ONLY BE LIABLE FOR ONE HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FULL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354652September 9, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CAR PARKED BESIDE BUSY THOROUGHARE OVERNIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354659September 9, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHEET METAL PART FORMED INTO A RECTANGLE SHAPE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL AND THE FRAME WORKING AS A TYPE OF ARM TO CONNECT THE WHEEL TO THE FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART CORRODED AND THAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE PART AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE DEALER AND THE POLICE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 45000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354783September 9, 2010
STEERING
MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. IT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE LAKE ONE DAY AND WAS DRIVING DOWN A CURVY ROAD AN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT! IT TOOK ALL THAT I HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL SO I WOULD NOT GO OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN THE HILLS SIDE! THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AFTER A LOT OF TURNING. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF THAT IT WILL RESET IT'S SELF, BUT THIS IS STILL VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. A WEEK AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING THAT IF I HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT IT COULD BE FIXED AT ANY GM DEALER, BUT WHEN I MADE MY APPOINTMENT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE MY CAR IS PRIOR SALVAGED AND THIS IS NOT A RECALL! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS IT WILL COST $600 TO $1000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ECONOMY IS BAD ENOUGH WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY OR NEED TO BE PAYING FOR GM'S MISTAKES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AN IT NEEDS TO BE TAKING CARE OF! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353945September 5, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND HEARD A CHIME SOUND. THIS WAS AROUND 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE AFTER THAT. NOW I HAVE ABOUT 123,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MY SATURN ION BUT NO RECALL. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHEVY COBALTS HAVE THE SAME PART , BUT THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353002August 31, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,020.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352850August 30, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE HEARD A CHIMING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. HE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND STATED THAT HE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH DIFFICULTY TO HIS DESTINATION. FOUR HOURS LATER HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. HE HAD TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON THE WAY HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WITH OTHER 2004 IONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352396August 27, 2010
STEERING
SATURN NOTIFIED ME IN AUGUST OF 2010 THAT THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TO 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PART WENT OUT A FEW YEARS AGO AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO. MY CAR IS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES. HAD I BEEN INFORMED BEFORE THE INTITIAL WARRANTY RAN OUT, I WOULD'VE HAD IT FIXED. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352145August 26, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING LIGHT AND SOUND POPS UP ON DASH. POWER STEERING GOES OUT. VERY SCARY. AT HIGHWAY SPEED NOT TOO BAD UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO EVADE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. AT LOW SPEED VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER TURNS OR AROUND OBJECTS IN THE ROAD INCLUDING CHILDREN AND PETS. TURN CAR OFF, TURN BACK ON AND STEERING RETURNS FOR A WHILE AND THEN HAPPEN AGAIN, AND AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352156August 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IN THE STREET OR A CAR WASH, THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON, IT WON'T START. YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO START IT UNTIL THERE IS NO NOISE AT ALL EXCEPT FROM THE DASH BOARD. LET IT SIT FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES AND THEN IT WILL START AGAIN, AT LEAST UNTIL ANOTHER RAIN STORM OR CAR WASH. HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS, AT HOME BEFORE WORK, AND MANY OTHER TIMES. I JUST HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS IN AN EMERGENCY. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THREE OF THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS NOT OPENING OR CLOSING, INCLUDING THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE DRIVER WINDOW BEING STUCK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AT THE BANK, DRIVE THRUS, AND COULDN'T ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO COOL THE CAR OFF. ALL THREE WINDOWS WERE NOT WORKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WINDOW'S START WORKING AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING WHICH IS POWERED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD HEAR A ?DING,? THE DASH BOARD WOULD READ ?POWER STEERING? AND THEN IT WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. COOLANT LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL, THE TEMP IS RIGHT, AND FLOAT IS WORKING. THE DEALER WANTED $350 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK. I SAID FORGET IT AND PUT UP THE CONSTANT ?DING? FROM THE DASH BOARD EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. IF SOMETHING SHOULD EVER REALLY GO WRONG WITH IT, I WOULDN'T KNOW. THERE APPEARS TO BE A HUGE NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SATURN IONS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. DID THEY SET THE COMPUTERS OR ELECTRONIC PATS TO MALFUNCTION ON PURPOSE RIGHT AFTER WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351289August 23, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 10 MPH, CAUSING LIMITED ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD RESET ITSELF AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351077August 21, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START ON COLD DAYS. I LIVE IN VERMONT SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF COLD DAYS. IT USUALLY TAKES ME ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO1/2 HOUR TO GET IT STARTED, IF IT STARTS. WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS I HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUNNING SO THE ENGINE WILL WARM UP BECAUSE IF I DON'T I HAVE TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE! EVERYONE I'VE BROUGHT IT TO DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT COULD DEFINITELY DO WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350820August 20, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN 2004 SATURN ION AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (2008). TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $1000. COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND BEGAN LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER ALTERNATIVE. FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED SATURN BY PHONE, MAIL, SIGNED PETITIONS. NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. RECENTLY FOUND OUT GM RECALLED THE SAME PART FOR THE CHEVY COBALT, BUT NOT SATURN. FINALLY SEEN WHERE YOU COULD TAKE THE SATURN IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE, SATURN NEVER SENT ME NOTIFICATION. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID I HAD 2,000 MILES OVER WHAT THE "SPECIAL WARRANTY" WOULD COVER. CONTACTED THEY SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY OPENED AN INVESTIGATION AND CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO THE 2,000 MILES AND WHEN I ASKED FOR SOMEONE HIGHER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOWHERE HIGHER THIS WAS GM'S FINAL DECISION BUT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THIS WAS A HAZARD. I ASKED AGAIN FOR A SUPERVISOR OR ANYONE ELSE HIGHER THAN HER SHE AGAIN SAID THERE WAS NO ONE HIGHER AND THIS WAS GM'S FINAL DECISION AND REMAINED ON THE LINE SILENT THEN FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE CALL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN REFUSE TO LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE HIGHER AND FURTHERMORE REFUSE TO COVER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350859August 20, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES, THE CAR DINGED AND THE PWR STR LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE WHEEL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL AND WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349146August 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND SHE HAD TO HOLD ON TO THE SHIFTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUAL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE LOCAL MECHANICS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HAS REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT SHE NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO LOCKED IN GEAR AND SHE COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT 9,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THIRTY SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS NEVER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CONTACT WOULD NOT PAY $500.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348892August 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF THE SATURN ION 2004 WILL NOT COME OUT AND THE CAR CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF . JUST LAST MONTH THE KEY WOULD NOT FO INTO THE IGNITION OR START THE CAR. BROUGHT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP HAD TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER PUT IN A MONTH AGO. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION HOUSING. THIS IS NOT JUST MY CAR. 90 % OF THE 2004 AND 2006 HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IF NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY THE CAR COULD OVERHEAT .AND EVEN CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348214August 9, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION . WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING CHIME SOUND ALERTED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A USED STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHEN THE CHIME ALERTED HIM AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THERE WERE FRONT END DAMAGES AND NO INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348081August 9, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY STOPS WHILE DRIVING. INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES IT'LL STOP 5 SECONDS AFTER DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT'LL WORK FOR A FULL HOUR DRIVE. I ALMOST GOT INTO A COUPLE BAD INCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347362August 4, 2010
AIR BAGS
1) MY SON DROVE OUR 2004 SATURN ION3 OFF THE ROAD WHEREIN THE FRONT OF THE CAR HIT A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH (ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTICS FROM THE ON BOARD COMPUTER). 2) THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. 3) GM WAS QUERIED AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. GM PROVIDED THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS OF THE INCIDENT BUT DID NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER/EXPLANATION DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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