Saturn Ion Complaints (2006)

1,235 consumer complaints on file.

#10345079July 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION II, NOT EVEN FIVE MINUTES, HEADING STRAIGHT. THE CAR DINGED THREE TIMES AND I GLANCED AT THE INFORMATION CLUSTER (WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER IS, ETC) AND THE WORDS "PWR STR" WHERE ON. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT UNTIL I HAD TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, AND THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. UPON MAKING IT HOME, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN BACK ON TO REALIZE THE PROBLEM HAD SEEMED TO FIX IT SELF. THE "PWR STR" MESSAGE WAS GONE, AND THE CAR TURNED LIKE IT NORMALLY DID. I THEN WENT BACK OUT, AND ON MY WAY HOME AGAIN, HEADING STRAIGHT UNDER 30 MPH, THE CAR MADE A DINGING SOUNDS THREE TIMES AND THE MESSAGE REAPPEARED. I HAVE VISITED A LOCAL MECHANIC CHAIN STORE, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SLEW OF THINGS. I SEARCHED THE INCIDENT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAS RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SYSTEM AND THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE SATURN IN THE RECALL. FOR THIS, I AM RELUCTANT TO SHELL OUT LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ON A PART THAT WAS PROVEN FAULTY AND RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344984July 23, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344675July 22, 2010
STEERING
ON JUNE 22ND WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE PWR STEERING WARNING CAME ON MY DASH CLUSTER AFTER THIS CAME ON I LOST POWER STEERING AND IT TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I CK FOR A BROKEN BELT OR FLUID LEAK BUT FOUND NEITHER. AFTER RETURNING TO MY CAR AND RESTARTING MY CAR THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A ONE TIME THING. THEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED, SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. SHE CALLED ME AND I HAD HER SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. AGAIN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. SINCE THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED OVER AND OVER. AT HIGH SPEEDS LOW SPEEDS, AND WHILE TURNING. I CALLED SATURN COMPLAINT LINE 1-800-972-8876 AND TALKED TO TARCARIA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN THE ADDRESS AND NUMBER TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO COULD ASSIST ME WITH THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND PARTS DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $400.00 PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER GM PRODUCTS (CHEVY COBALT) THAT USED THE SAME TYPE OF STEERING AS MY SATURN ION BUT MY 2006 SATURN ION WAS NOT ON THIS LIST, BUT IT COULD BE ADDED LATER. IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE UPPER BODY STRENGTH IT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344697July 22, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON JULY 21, 2010, WE WERE OPERATING A 2006 SATURN ION DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SIMPLY DIED AS WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND ANGLED DOWN TOWARD RAILROAD TRACKS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE TURN LANE AND RESTART THE CAR AND AVOIDED ANY INCIDENT. WE WENT TO DINNER AND, AFTER DINNER, STOPPED TO FILL THE GAS TANK. UPON RETURNING HOME, WE PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND SCARILY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN SO THAT WE COULD KILL THE ENGINE! AFTER VARIOUS MANEUVERS AND READING ONLINE ABOUT OVER 400 OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING, I FINALLY REMOVED FUSE #16 AND REMOVED THE NEGATIVE CABLE OFF THE BATTTERY.AFTER READING FURTHER, I NOTED THAT THE ENGINE DYING AT RANDOM COULD EASILY BE RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. I CONTACTED A LOCKSMITH THIS MORNING WHO WORKED AND WORKED ON TRYING TO REMOVE THE LOCK CYLINDER AND HE COULD NOT. NOW I AM WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK TO COME GET THE CAR AND REPLACE THE LOCK CYLINDER AND POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD THIS BEEN MY MOTHER OR ANYONE ELSE'S MOTHER FOR THAT FACT, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE SAT IN THE GARAGE OR DRIVEWAY UNTIL THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. THIS IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS THAT THERE ARE OVER 400 COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING CARS FOR THIS ISSUE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE TURN LANE AND GET STOPPED AND RESTARTED WITHOUT CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE AND VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE INTERNET TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR'S ENGINE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344778July 22, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING ALARM ACTIVATED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BECAME INOPERABLE. WHEN SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE EVENING THAN ANY OTHER TIME. SATURN WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344045July 19, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, MY 2006 SATURN ION2'S POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING MOTOR VS. A POWER STEERING PUMP. DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING WILL SHUT DOWN MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON, THE MOTOR WILL RESET ITSELF FOR A WHILE BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN AGAIN. THIS SAME MOTOR HAS BEEN RECALLED BY GM ON DIFFERENT GM CARS, BUT NOT THE SATURNS AS OF YET. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR THREE WEEKS NOW. MOSTLY DRIVING STRAIGHT HAS POSED LIMITED DANGER, HOWEVER, THE OTHER DAY I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON A CURVE WHEN IT SHUT DOWN ON ME WHICH CAUSED ME TO DRIFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT'S VERY SCARY AND I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN MY CAR AT THE MOMENT, BUT I HAVE TO GET TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344105July 19, 2010
STEERING
HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION, IT HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD 2 DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS 2 YEARS AGO AND I COULD NOT GET THE IGNITION TO TURN OFF, TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE PROBLEM IS THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN TO GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS CONCERNING THIS CAR, BUT NOT FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343761July 17, 2010
STEERING
STEERING ASSIST SHUT DOWN WHILE IN A TURN CAUSING CAR TO MOMENTARILY ENTER LANE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343682July 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN MY 2006 SATURN ION TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS AS OF NOW, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE BESIDES MYSELF. I HOPE THIS GETS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT IF THAT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. THE POWER STEERING RESETS WHEN THE CAR GETS TURNED OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343688July 16, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR POTENTIALLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,445 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,465.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343458July 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEYS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION GAUGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION GAUGE WAS TOO TIGHT. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE SPORADICALLY AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RANDOMLY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,364 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343176July 14, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,103 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,216.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343271July 14, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING ASSIST CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342751July 12, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL IN MY 2006 SATURN ION WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAVE A LOT OF CURVES ON MY WAY HOME AND TAKE A U TURN TO GET HOME. IT TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO DO BUT I MANAGED TO GET HOME. WHEN I WAS HOME I ASKED A FRIEND TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR. THEY FIGURED THAT IT JUST NEEDED SOME POWER STEERING FLUID. WHEN WE WENT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR WE COULDN'T FIND ANY PLACE TO PUT IN SOME POWER STEERING FLUID. THEN HE TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE DASH BOARD DIDN'T SAY THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. WE WENT ON LINE TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS NO PLACE TO PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID. IT IS CONTROLLED BY A MOTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS UPSETTING TO LEARN BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN BEFORE WHEN MY KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN OFF. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN THEN, BUT THAT WAS UNDER A RECALL. NOW MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT ABOUT EVERY DAY TO EVERY OTHER DAY. I HAVE TO STOP AND TURN MY CAR OFF AND THEN START IT UP AGAIN SO THAT I CAN HAVE POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341945July 8, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE IN 2006 SATURN ION 3 WITH 56000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341957July 8, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL FOR THE 2007 MODEL YEAR SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341675July 6, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING CLICKS AND SHUTS OFF MULTIPLE TIMES DURING ANY GIVEN DRIVE. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON ONLY "FIXES" THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME. WHEN POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF, CAR VERY HARD TO STEER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341440July 5, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING HOME AT LUNCH FROM WORK WHICH IS APPROX. 10 MINS. WHEN TURNING ON TO A MAIN ROAD WHICH IS CONSIDERED A STATE HIGHWAY MY POWERSTEERING LIGHT WENT ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MY CAR. THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS OF THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING AND FAILING AND THERE IS NO RECALL. HOWEVER,THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH DOES HAVE RECALLS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341499July 5, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING IN MY SATURN 2006 ION LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND I NEED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED ON JUNE 30TH 3 TIMES, JULY 1ST 1-2 TIMES AND JULY 3RD 1-2 TIMES. I HAD TO GET THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THAT GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN CARS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT THE SAME PARTS IN THE CARS THEY ARE RECALLING IS IN THE SATURN. THE SATURN ION'S SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341377July 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WILL GIVE YOU WHAT I SENT TO A CONSUMER REPAIRS OFFICE AND THE FTC: DATE = COMPANY NAME = SATURN/GMC COMPANY CONTACT = CUSTOMER SERVICE/ROADSIDE SERVICE INCIDENT = I GOT HOME FROM SHOPPING WITH MY SATURN 2006 ION II, AND TRIED TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I TRIED TO GET THE PANEL UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL OFF AND HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT OFF, SO I COULD GET TO THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE, AND COULDN'T FIND THE PLUNGER AT FIRST, AND THEN IT WOULDN'T MOVE EITHER LIKE IT SAID IT WOULD TO GET THE KEY OUT. THE KEY CAME OUT, BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. I TRIED THREE TIMES TO TALK WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ROADSIDE SERVICE THROUGH ON STAR AND SATURN AND GOT VERY LITTLE INFORMATION OF HOW TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING. FINALLY, THE LAST PERSON AT ROADSIDE SERVICE FOR SATURN HELPED ME TO REMOVE THE FUSE 16 FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS WHICH CUT THE ENGINE, BUT THEN DIDN'T TELL ME HOW TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT WAS STILL POWERED ON. THANK GOD FOR A FRIEND WHO CAME OVER TO HELP ME GET THE MAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY CABLE UNSCREWED, NOT UN-BOLTED, LIKE IN OLDER CARS, TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE, SO THAT THE POWER WOULD NOT BE DRAINED BY ALL THE REMAINING POWER THAT WAS ON. WHAT IS BAD IS THAT THE SO-CALLED AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER FOR SATURN IN MY TOWN IS NOT OPEN ON SATURDAYS. SATURN, AT LEAST USE TO HAVE SATURDAY HOURS FOR SERVICE. WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT FORCING GMC AND SATURN TO RECALL THIS DEFECT. THEY GET TOYOTA TO DO THINGS, BUT FOR AMERICANS THEY DO LITTLE!!! HELP GOVERNMENT REGULATORS! I HAVE TO TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR ON TUESDAY AND TAKE OFF WORK. THERE IS A TECH BULLETIN REFERRING TO THIS WHICH IS 04-08-45-005D, I BELIEVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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