Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10178597January 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WILL DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION IN MY SATURN ION LVL 3 SLIPS AND I HAVE TO LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN KICK THE GAS PEDAL FOR IT TO GO INTO GEAR. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. ALSO WHEN I GO TO PARK THE CAR, I PUT IT IN PARK AND PULL UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND I GO TO REMOVE THE KEY AND IT WILL ONLY GO AS FAR AS ACC MODE. IT WILL NOT RELEASE. I HAVE TO WAIT 20 TO 30 MINUTES UNTIL IT RELEASES AUTOMATICALLY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SATURNS AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. IT DOES THIS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178611January 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IF THE WEATHER BECOMES COLD, THE CAR WILL NOT FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES OF SITTING IN THE CAR AND TRYING TO START IT OVER AND OVER. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP TWICE, BUT AT THE TIME, THE CAR WORKED PROPERLY. BOTH TIMES, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW BATTERY. I AM NOW SAVING THE MONEY TO HAVE THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED. SATURN JUST KEEPS TELLING ME TO REPLACE MY BATTERY. HOW MANY DO I NEED? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178223January 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH "PASSLOCK" SENSOR WENT OUT ON MY 2003 SATURN ION II, IT WAS NEAR ZERO DEGREES OUTSIDE, MY 2 MONTH OLD SON WAS ALONG, AND I WAS STUCK ON THE ROAD FOR SEVERAL MINUTES TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY THAT A SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE GAS FLOW STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AND THE CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT INITIALLY DID NOTHING. I WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES, CALLED FOR MY SON TO BE PICKED UP, THEN TRIED AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES IT STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I LEARNED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND HAD A FAULTY "PASSLOCK" SENSOR. APPARENTLY, WHEN THE IGNITION IS TOO COLD, THE GREASE BEGINS TO HARDEN, CAUSING THE SWITCH TO BE UNABLE TO MAKE PROPER CONTACT. THIS MAKES THE CAR THINK SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STEAL IT, SO THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN AND STOPS GAS FLOW FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES. AFTER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS AND YOU CAN ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IF THE GREASE HAS NOT WARMED UP ENOUGH BY THE, THE WHOLE THING STARTS OVER AGAIN. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL TODAY. THE SWITCH IS AGAIN GOING BAD. MY HUSBAND HAD TO BE TO COURT THIS AFTERNOON AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS TIME WE HAD TO WAIT AND TRY AGAIN 3 TIMES, WASTING 45 MINUTES. AT LEAST THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY TIME THAT WAS WASTED. LAST TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MY BABY COULD'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE COLD FOR TOO LONG WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY OTHER CARS IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY. NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME TO OUR VEHICLE, I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS QUITE REGULARLY AND THAT SATURN HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE SEE: HTTP://WWW.AUTOWEB.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/5610 FOR MORE COMPLAINTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178132January 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK OR START AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING A SHORT OR LONG TIME. SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE VEHICLE. AFTER LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINS THE VEHICLE THEN STARTS AND SHUTOFF AGAIN AND IT TAKES ABOUT FIVE TRIES TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177416December 31, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY SATURN ION 3 HAD 4 OCCURRENCES OF SERVICE VEHICLE'S MESSAGE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS SINCE DEC 29, 2006. WHEN I TURN THE KEY, THE ENGINE DOESN'T TURN OVER. THE MESSAGE WINDOWS SHOWS "SERVICE VEHICLE" AND THE "SECURITY"/PASS LOCK SYMBOL ON THE DASH KEEPS FLASHING. I KEPT TRYING TURNING THE IGNITION, NOTHING HAPPNENED. THE AFTER APPROX. 10 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED AND RAN GREAT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177388December 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 SATURN ION. THIS CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR WILL STALL. THIS WILL BE A RECALL ITEM ONCE WE GET TOGETHER AND SUE SATURN FOR THIS OBVIOUS NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND IS CONTINUAL. PERHAPS WHEN SOME UNFORTUNATE SOUL IS STRANDED IN THE WILDERNESS AND DIES, THEN THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS COLD WEATHER START PROBLEM. THE PUBLIC IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SO IS SATURN. IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH IT FOR THE CORPORATE OFFICE TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND DECIDE TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT THE DIFFICULTLY MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A TYPE OF LUBRICANT ON THE STARTER, WHICH HARDENS IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE CAR STALLS AS A RESULT, AND THEN THE PASSLOCK KICKS IN. AFTER 8 MINUTES, THE CAR MAY START, OR ONE MAY HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 8 MINUTES (OR MORE) FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOOSEN UP ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR MAY STALL YET AGAIN---AND SET OFF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM YET AGAIN. SATURN IS NEGLIGENT AT THE VERY LEAST--AND CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT IF THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM---THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF IT---AND DO NOTHING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176610December 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN 2003 ION WILL NOT START IN COOL TO COLD WEATHER. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR WILL NOT START, BUT WILL THEN START AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER SATURNS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175821December 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. I AM SEEING ALOT OF PEOPLE POSTING ON DIFFERENT FORUMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IS ANYTHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175340December 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 SATURN ION QUAD LEVEL 3, WILL NOT START WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS, OR STARTS AND IMMEDIATELY STALLS. THE PASSLOCK ICON BLINKS AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYS SERVICE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP VERBALLY STATED TO TURN KEY ON FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES TO RESET THE PASSLOCK, THEN TURN OFF, REMOVE KEY, AND TRY THE START SEQUENCE AGAIN. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE, FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, CAR IS CURRENTLY IMMOBILE IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS TOWN. AN INTERNET SEARCH STRONGLY SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THAT ALL SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT FOR RELIEF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175199December 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I OWN A SATURN ION II 2003 AND EVERY MORNING THAT IT IS COLD IT WILL NOT START. AFTER GETTING A NEW BATTERY, WHICH IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO DO, IT STILL WILL NOT START ON COLD MORNINGS. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN 03 TO LATE 04 MODELS REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH NOT TURNING IN COLD WEATHER. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175250December 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE WOULD START AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS OR NOT START AT ALL ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE NON SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175038December 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION-3 AND IT WILL NOT START BELOW 40 DEGREES, THIS IS A RIDICULOUS PROBLEM. THERE IS A THREAD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT : HTTP://WWW.AUTOSITE.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/5610 THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, I AM JUST HOPING I CAN SELL THIS CAR ASAP BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN QUITE A PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175083December 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAVE A 5-SPEED MANUAL 2003 SATURN ION . EVERY TIME IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE CAR REFUSES TO START. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATED LAST WINTER, AND HAS A COUPLE TIMES THIS FALL, ALSO. NOW, THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS STAYING LOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIME AND EFFORT REQUIRED TO MAKE THE CAR START. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WORK FINE, INDICATING THERE IS POWER GETTING TO THIS EQUIPMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OVER TO START, A MESSAGE POPS UP SAYING "SERVICE ENGINE." NOTHING HAPPENS AFTER THAT. ONE CAN ALMOST PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. IF THE TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW FREEZING, ONE MUST BE PREPARED TO SIT AT HOME UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE RISES, AND ALLOWS FOR THE CAR TO START. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175019December 3, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DROVE TO WORK; USED SEATBELT GUIDE; GOT BACK IN CAR TO GO HOME GUIDE NOT THERE. SEAT BELT GUIDE ATTACHED TO HEADREST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF; CANNOT REACH TO WHERE SEATBELT ATTACHED TO CAR FRAME. CAR DEALERSHIP EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174660November 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY IN COOLER WEATHER, FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH, THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AN APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED WITH A SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174689November 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. THIS MOSTLY OCCURRED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS BUT WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN ABOVE 70 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND COULD IMMEDIATELY BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174400November 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
WHEN IT IS COLD OUT AND THE CAR HAS SAT, IT WILL NOT CRANK. I HAVE SEEN INFORMATION THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE $590 FIX, OR THE IGNITION SWITCH $200 FIX. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE TIED TO THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. IF THE CAR DOES NOTHING, AND I LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK THE CAR IT WILL CRANK FOR 1/2 A SECOND THEN STOP. IT WONT CRANK AGAIN UNTIL I LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR AGAIN. EVENTUALLY AFTER DOING THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IT WILL START. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM BUT BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM FOR EITHER THE BCM, THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR BOTH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171807October 25, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 45747 MILES AS OF THE SERVICE DATE. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN, AND ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER MAY WANT TO CLAIM THAT SNOW CAUSED THIS FAILURE, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SNOWFALL PRIOR TO THIS DATE (10-25-06). I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM WAS FOLDED OUTWARD FROM THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE SUPPORT BRACKET WAS BROKEN. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO OBTAIN THE SIMPLE BRACKET. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE WIPER MOTOR WHICH STILL FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY ARE A UNITIZED MODULE WHERE NO SINGLE PART CAN BE PURCHASED INDIVIDUALLY. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS ASSEMBLY (GM PART NUMBER 15221904 ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE) WAS $149.12 WHILE LABOR AND FEES MADE UP AN ADDITIONAL $100. OVERALL COST TO FIX WAS $250.91 WITH STATE TAXES. I ASKED FOR THE BROKEN PART, WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT (I WILL TAKE DIGITAL PICTURES IF YOU SO WISH). ADDITIONALLY, WHILE MOST OF THE MECHANISM IS CONSTRUCTED OF METAL, THE HIGH STRESS POINTS (THE BRACKETS) ARE MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC. WHILE NO HARM CAME TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHE DOES EXIST. IF THIS MECHANISM WERE TO FAIL WHILE ONE WAS DRIVING, THEIR VISION WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED AND AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN MY CASE, WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER WAS RENDERED VIRTUALLY USELESS. THIS DEFECT COULD EASILY BE CORRECTED. THE BRACKETS WHICH ARE BOTH MADE OF BRITTLE PLASTIC COULD BE REPLACED WITH A MORE RELIABLE METAL PART. TO SAVE PRECIOUS PENNIES, SATURN CHOSE TO CONSTRUCT THIS CRITICAL PART OF THE CAR WITH AN INFERIOR MATERIAL. THE RESULT IS A DESIGN FLAW POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THOUSANDS OF UNSUSPECTING SATURN OWNERS. I ASK THAT CONSIDERATION BE MADE FOR THEM WHILE THIS COMPLAINT IS REVIEWED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170324October 10, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONG FAN STOP WORKING. THE WHOLE SYSTEM WENT OUT FROM THE TURN ON SWITCH TO THE FAN MODE SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168970September 22, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
STEEL BAR IN HEAD REST IS NO LONGER PADDED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion