Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10192870June 10, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ROTORS ON 2004 SATURN ION BRAKES ARE PREMATURELY RUSTING PRIOR TO NORMAL ROTOR WEAR AND TEAR AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMER DUE TO THEIR OBVIOUS VERY POOR QUALLITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191451May 22, 2007
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT LOCKED. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. SATURN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT A DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,326.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10191169May 18, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE FAILURE WAS TO THE ARM THAT HELD THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN PLACE ON THE 2004 SATURN ION REDLINE. THE PART BROKE AND THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE ,AS SUCH THE CAR WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. 5 MINUTES EARLIER I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH AT WHICH SPEED I COULD HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH LIVES MAY HAVE BEEN LOST. THE DEAL OFFERED TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC ARM WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC ARM. THE PART THAT REPLACED MINE HAD A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER THAN ON THE ORIGINAL CAR, I WAS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS JUST A NEW PART NUMBER OR IF THE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. IF THERE WAS ANY HISTORY ON THIS PART I WAS NOT ABLE TO GAIN THE INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER, WHO WAS VERY UNWILLING TO COMPLY. THE DAMAGED PART WAS NOT RETURNED TO ME BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD TO RETURN ALL PARTS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188401April 19, 2007
EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
IT IS BECOMING APPARENT THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ON THE 2.2L AND 2.4L SATURN ION IS DEFECTIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS ACROSS THE INTERNET. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD MINE REPLACED ONCE AND IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. MY FEAR IS THAT I WILL BE DRIVING AND THAT IT WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT ALLOW ME TO SHIFT, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186454March 29, 2007
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
SINCE I PURCHASED 2004 SATURN ION III QUAD COUPE IN NOVEMBER 2004 I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE WORST IT DRIFTED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ONE MUST CONSTANTLY STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE DEALER MAINTAINED THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE, AND THAT THE PULL WAS THE RESULT OF RADIAL TIRE DRIFT . NOT SATISFIED , I PAID TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. THEY CORRECTED A MINOR PROBLEM THAT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE DRIFTING PROBLEM. SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT WEARING ODDLY I PUT UP WITH THE DRIFT UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES, BUT THE DRIFTING CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT VERY SLIGHTLY. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED THE CAR STILL DRIFTED. I COMPLAINED, AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE DEALER ACCOMPANY ME ON A TEST DRIVE, AND THEY ADMITTED THE VEHICLE STILL DRIFTED. THE REGIONAL ENGINEER FOR SATURN EXAMINED THE CAR, AND RESPONDED AT THIS TIME THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR. BY DESIGN THERE WAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT THEY COULD MAKE TO THE CAR TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REACHED THAT LIMIT, AND DEEMED THIS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THEY TOOK SEVERAL OTHER IONS OUT FOR TEST DRIVES. EVERY ONE THEY DROVE BEHAVED IN THE SAME MANNER. SO AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED MY VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. I HAVE ASKED THAT THEY PUT THIS IN WRITING WHICH THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO. I AM CONTACTING THE NHTSA BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM TO THE VEHICLE AND ITS DESIGN, AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU BECOME DISTRACTED IN THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED YOU CAN VERY EASILY FIND YOURSELF IN THE NEXT LANE. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOME IS HURT OR KILLED. BY THE WAY SATURN'S SOLUTION KEEP A GOOD GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186526March 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY 2004 SATURN ION OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT START (WILL NOT CRANK). THE BATTERY IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND A GOOD STATE OF CHARGE. IN GENERAL THE PROBLEM IS "CURED" BY WAITING 10 MINUTES OR SO, AND TRYING TO START IT AGAIN. THEN IT MIGHT BE SEVERAL WEEKS OF MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184661March 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
2004 SATURN ION - FAILURE TO START DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. CAR WOULD NOT START ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, IN EMPLOYER'S GARAGE, AND ALSO IN SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS MY STARTER WHICH WILL COST OVER $150 TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184357March 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SATURN 2004 ION 3 IF I HAVE THE WIPERS AND HEAT OR A/C ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RADIO THE RADIO LED LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AND I AM NOT ABLE TO READ THE TIME OR RADIO STATION ON THE RADIO. IF I TURN THE WIPERS OFF THE LED LIGHTS COME BACK ON. VISIBILITY PROBLEM CAUSES DRIVER TO TAKE VISION OFF ROAD LONGER-NO SPECIFIC ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WHAT APPARENTLY IS A FLAW. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE SALESMAN AND THE GENERAL MANAGE BOTH SAID THAT IS NOT RIGHT BUT THE SERVICE MANAGE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT IS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. A SATURN MANAGEMENT REVIEW TEAM PERSON FROM SATURN CORP. SAID IN A LETTER TO ME "YOUR RETAIL SERVICE TEAM LEADER HAS REVIEWED MY CONCERN AND DETERMINED THAT THE CONDITION IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE YOUR VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING WITHIN DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS, WE ASK THAT YOU ACCEPT THE DIAGNOSIS GIVEN AT THE TIME OF THIS REVIEW." IN OTHER WORDS THEY EITHER DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL/DRL SAFETY RECALL WHEN THEY INSTALLED A DRL JUMPER KIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183991March 2, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 SATURN ION AT ABOUT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. SHE S HIT THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF THE HER VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BAG. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T DEPLOY FULLY. THE AIR BAG NEVER CAME IN CONTACT WITH HER. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE AIRBAG. THE CONTACT REMOVED HERSELF FROM THE VEHICLE AFRAID THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. SHE CALLED 911 AND THE POLICE REPORTED THE CRASH. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY PROPERLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25900, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26000. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10183338February 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FAILING TO START. I WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT SATURN ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THE REFERENCE NUMBERS IS 04-08-45-005C, DATE OF ISSUE DECEMBER 4, 2006 AFFECTING 2003-2006 SATURN IONS BUILT UP TO AND INCLUDING VIN BREAKPOINT 6Z147837. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT MY CAR HAD BOTH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LISTED IN THIS BULLETIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183340February 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2004 SATURN ION II WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF THIS OCCURRING THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD AND THEY HAD BEEN SEEING THIS ON MANY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182933February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO COLD ISSUES AND IS CAUSED BY AN ISSUE IN THE STARTING MECHANISM. SOMETHING ABOUT THERE BEING A SECURITY FEATURE THAT CUTS THE CAR OFF FROM STARTING. CAR LEAVES YOU PRETTY MUCH STRANDED IN THE BITTER COLD WHEN IT WILL NOT START.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182965February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH FREEZES UP WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. HAD TO GET THE CAR JUMP STARTED WHEN IT WAS -10 DEGREES OUTSIDE. SATURN SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE DEALING NEAR ME, THERE WAS ABOUT 70 CARS THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182985February 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IN COLD WEATHER (USUALLY BELOW FREEZING), THE 2004 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL GO INTO A PASSIVE LOCK SITUATION UPON INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO START IT, THEN WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO START FOR AROUND 10 MINUTES. OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT START EVEN AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER WILL CHARGE AROUND $300.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE LOCK OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182743February 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 4 OCCASIONS NOW, WHEN I LEAVE WORK AT AROUND MIDNIGHT IN FRIGID WEATHER, I ATTEMPT TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION (MANUFACTURED IN LATE 2003), AND THE STARTER WILL TURN OVER APPROXIMATELY 1 OR 2 REVOLUTIONS, THEN STOP. IMMEDIATE SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO START SIMPLY RESULT IN THE "CLICK" OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF I WAIT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES, IT WILL TURN OVER ONCE OR TWICE AGAIN, ONE TIME, THEN I MUST WAIT ANOTHER 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THE STARTER WILL TURN OVER AGAIN. ACCORDING TO A WEBSITE I WAS READING, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IS USUALLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION PASS LOCK SWITCH, AN ANTITHEFT SYSTEM DESIGNED TO CUT OFF FUEL SUPPLY, AND SOME SORT OF GREASE THAT FREEZES. SO FAR, JUMP-STARTS SEEM TO HELP...BUT ACCORDING TO THAT WEBSITE, SIMPLY ATTEMPTING START, WAITING 10 MINUTES, ATTEMPTING AGAIN, WAITING FOR 10 MINUTES, AND TRYING AGAIN, EVENTUALLY WILL START THE CAR. PERHAPS THE TIME IT TAKES TO CONNECT JUMPER CABLES IS ENOUGH TO "RESET" THIS PASS-LOCK SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182818February 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN VERY COLD, CAR WILL NOT CRANK OR START- PASSLOCK SECURITY BECOMES ENABLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182621February 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION FROM THE DEALER IN 2004. IN THE COLD WEATHER, 30 DEGREES AND LOWER, IF THE CAR SITS IT WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES, LAST WEEK I GOT STRANDED AT WORK AT 2:00 AM WITH A CAR THAT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE TURNS OVER ONE TIME BUT DOES NOT START. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT LOOKS LIKE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HARDENS AND SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT AND EVEN CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY BUT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF US THAT OWN CARS BEFORE THIS CHANGE ARE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182441February 13, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION . WHILE DRIVING AT 8 MPH WITH THE ROAD CONDITION BEING EXTREMELY POOR THE VEHICLE SLID ON SOME ICE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE OF THE SIDE OF THE CURB. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS PUSHED BACK TO THE FENDER. THE RIGHT DRIVE AXLE BROKE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CV JOINT WAS STILL UNDAMAGED,NOT EVEN A TEAR IN THE BOOT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22500.*AK A MECHANIC WROTE THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN SO MUCH DAMAGE WHICH INVOLVED A LOW SPEED CURB IMPACT. UPDATED 03/13/07. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182438February 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NUMEROUS NO-START CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH 2004 SATURN ION WITH 49,000 MILES. IF CURRENT IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IT WILL BE THE THIRD SINCE CAR WAS NEW. ANYTIME VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO 32 DEG. OR LESS TEMPERATURE FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS IGNITION SWITCH FAULTS AND ENGAGES ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. USUALLY TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 30 MINUTES TO ?? TO GET VEHICLE STARTED. BEING IN UPSTATE NY WHERE TEMPS AND WEATHER PUSH THE EXTREMES POSSIBILITY OF VEHICLE LEAVING SOMEONE STRANDED IS IMMINENT. I CANNOT RELY ON THIS VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ISSUE ON INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR SATURN ION WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. SATURN NEEDS TO RE-DESIGN AND REPAIR ALL ASSOCIATED VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCHES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182310February 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 SATURN ION DID NOT CRANK OR START WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 35 DEGREES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSLOCK SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLEWAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 SATURN ION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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