Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10086701August 12, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN OCTOBER OF 1993, I BOUGHT A 2004 ION 2 QUAD COUPE FROM SATURN OF LARCHMONT. I TRADED IN MY 1997 SC1 FOR THIS CAR. IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, I NEEDED TO HAVE THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT BULB REPLACED BECAUSE IT BURNED OUT. IN JANUARY, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE AND TWO RECALLS. IT ALSO TO MADE A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH. THIS FIRST TIME, THE LINK AND TORSION BAR SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED. I RETURNED ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER WITH THE RATTLE AND AN ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT. THE CAR HAD STALLED WHILE DRIVING IT. I WAS TOLD THAT A BOOK UNDERNEATH THE SEAT WAS MAKING THE RATTLING NOISE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE STALLING COULDNT BE DUPLICATED, SO THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. I RETURNED ONE WEEK LATER WITH THE SAME RATTLING PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND DROVE IT OVER SIXTY MILES. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS. FINALLY, THE NOISE STOPPED! IN JULY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS. THE CAR HAD STALLED AGAIN AND STARTED STUTTERING WHEN STEPPING ON OR RELEASING THE GAS PETAL. AGAIN NO CODES WERE FOUND TO INDICATE WHY IT STALLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE STUTTERING WAS NORMAL FOR THE VTI ENGINE BECAUSE OF ITS NEW TECHNOLOGY. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, THE RATTLING STARTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS AGAIN. TWO DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT, THE RADIO HAD RESET ITSELF. ON THE DAY OF MY APPOINTMENT, THE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE CAR OUT AND SAID HE HEARD NO NOISE AND FELT NO RATTLING. HE TOOK ME OUT WITH HIM AND SAID WHAT I HEARD WAS NORMAL. AGAIN A TEST WAS RUN AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF LARCHMONT ON JULY 30, 2004 BECAUSE THE RATTLING CONTINUED AND THE RADIO RESET ITSELF AGAIN. BOB LINDER, THE SERVICE MANAGER, TOOK HIS TIME AND LOGGED MY ISSUES FOR THE TECHNICIANS TO ADDRESS THEM. THE STABILIZER LINKS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. A NEW RADIO WAS ORDERED TO REPLACE THE ONE IN THE CAR. THE BANGING UNDERNEATH THE CAR HAS RETURNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083516August 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD FEEL AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE RPM WOULD GO UP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND NO PROBLEM WOULD BE FOUND BY THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONSUMER HAD ALMOST EXPERIENCED 2 REAR END COLLISIONS AND 1 BROADSIDE COLLISION. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087585August 10, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG LIGHTS WERE ON. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HE IS CALLED. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE WITHOUT AIR BAGS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10084044August 2, 2004
CHILD SEAT
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER BRAKED SUDDENLY TO AVOID A COLLISION AND HEARD A DISTURBANCE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE GUARD ON THE SEAT SEPARATED, AND THE CHILD WAS LYING AGAINST THE FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE CHILD WAS NOT INJURED BY THE MISHAP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082541July 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 2 IN JANUARY SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE ONLY GOT AN AVERAGE OF 22.5 MPG THAT IS 270 MILES PER 12 GALLON TANK (AND IT STILL CONTINUES). IN MARCH AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD, IT LURCHED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT BOGGED DOWN, AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 50MPH AND WAS EXTREMELY SLUGGISH, FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING A GOLF CART. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE RECALLS ON THE FUEL FILTER AND COMPUTER SYSTEM WERE COMPLETED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPEATED. JUNE 10TH, THE CAR REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN, THEY DID THE 6,000 MILE SERVICE ON IT. PER MY RECORDS, EVERYTHING "CHECKED OUT". THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPEATED. THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED. 3 WEEKS LATER, DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR ONCE AGAIN, LURCHED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WENT FROM 65 40 MPH. THANKFULLY I DID NOT GET REAR-ENDED. I EXITED THE FREEWAY, HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT, THEN DURING A LEFT HAND TURN HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR FINALLY CORRECTED ITS PROBLEM, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP YET AGAIN, THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED MY VALVE BODY AND NOW MY CAR IS RUNNING WORSE THEN IT WAS BEFORE. I STOPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP A DAY AGO, AND TALKED TO THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER, AND HE STATED THAT HE HOPES THEY REPLACE THE CAR, SINCE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO ME AND OTHERS AROUND. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM NO LONGER COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR. I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH SATURN CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. THIS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND AS I HAVE READ OTHERS TOO, IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080405July 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE OWN A 2004 SATURN ION3 QUAD COUPE, IT HAS A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION THEN THE OTHERS. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 31, 2003. IT HAD 91 MILES ON IT. WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HESITATE A LITTLE GOING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR IT'S FIRST OIL CHANGE IN MARCH, WE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY REPORTED BACK THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR A 4 CYLINDER TO ACT THE WAY IT WAS. ASSUMING THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WE LEFT IT AT THAT. WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR PAINT DAMAGE THEY HAD CAUSED WHEN THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE OIL CHANGE, AND AGAIN ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION (ONLY ABOUT A WEEK LATER). THEY AGAIN REPORTED THEY TEST DROVE AND IT WAS FINE. NOW THIS PAST WEEK FOR IT'S SECOND OIL CHANGE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 29TH, WE AGAIN ASKED THEM BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. THEY AGAIN REPORTED IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. NOT A WEEK AFTER THAT REPORT ON SUNDAY, JULY 4TH AMIDST OUT 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION WE DROVE A BLOCK AND A HALF FROM HOME AND TURNED A CORNER ONTO THE MAIN ROAD. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR REVVED AND DIDN'T SWITCH INTO SECOND GEAR. IT FOUGHT TO GO FASTER IN FIRST GEAR, BUT NEVER SWITCHED. WE NOTICED IMMEDIATELY AND TRIED PARKING AND AGAIN MOVING INTO DRIVE, THINKING MAYBE IT HAD DROPPED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. AGAIN THE SAME THING, WE SLOWLY TURNED THE CORNER AND PUTTED OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE BLOCK TO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MILES AN HOUR SO AS NOT TO FURTHER DAMAGE THE ENGINE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 7000 MILES ON IT AND A TRANSMISSION THAT DOESN'T WORK. WE MEET WITH THE DEALERSHIP TODAY TO DISCUSS RETRIBUTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079846June 23, 2004
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN 2 INCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DAUGHTER WAS HIT BY A HARLEY DAVIDSON F150 TRUCK IN THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE SHE TURNED AND THE HARLEY HIT HER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DAUGHTER DROVE 4 MILES, AND PARKED, THEN FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. THE BRAKES HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT OFF. *SC *JB (DUPLICATE REPORT - SEE ODI REF. NO. 10074368 *MJJ)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078691June 23, 2004
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM:RAVALING AT INTERSTATE SPEED - DESIGN FLAW.ESIGN FLAW RESULT - LOST CONTROL OF CAR DUE TO SUDDEN JERK OF WHEEL TO AVOID COLLISION WITH MOTORIST COMING INTO OUR LANE. DID 270 DEG SPIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAME TO STOP AGAINST MEDIAN GUARDRAIL AFTER CROSSING TWO LANES.PEED 65 MPH WITH TRAFIC FLOW. MISC. NOTES: 1) CAR OCCUPANTS = 3EA. 2) IT IS PREDICTED THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW IS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXPOSED TO NEWS REELS DETAILING FLAW RESULTING IN DEATHS, SATURN WILL BE FORCED TO RECALL. TIME TO GET BUSY TO MAKE RECALL EFFORT REALITY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078329June 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 ON THURSDAY JUNE 10, 2004. ON SUNDAY JUNE 13 THERE WERE SUBSTANTIAL RAINS IN THE ATLANTA AREA AND I NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK WAS FULL OF APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF STANDING WATER AROUND THE TIRE AND BATTERY. THE BOX OF BOOKS IN THE TRUNK ALONG WITH SOME OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE WATER. ON MONDAY JUNE 14, AFTER HAVING HAD THE CAR IN MY POSESSION FOR ONLY 4 DAYS I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ADVISED ME ON TUESDAY JUNE 15 THAT THE HOLE WHERE THE WATER IS SUPPOSED TO DRAIN OUT OF IF THE CAR HAD A SUNROOF WAS LEFT UNPLUGGED DURING MANUFACTURING RESULTING IN THE FLOODING OF THE TRUNK. I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP MY CAR ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY JUNE 16. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AS I WAS USING THE POWER OUTLETS IN THE CAR THE TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ORDER FOR MY TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO WORK I MUST UNPLUG WHATS IN THE POWER OUTLET AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I RESTART THE CAR THEY ARE OPERABLE AGAIN, BUT IF I NEED TO USE MY POWER OUTLETS I MUST USE THEM KNOWNING THAT I WON'T HAVE TURN SIGNALS OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I EITHER HAVE TO GIVE UP THE USE OF MY POWER OUTLETS OR MY TURN SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075135June 10, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, 3 TIMES. THE SATURN DEALER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074368May 27, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10072796May 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, EQUIPMENT
THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WHICH SEND A VIBRATION THROUGH THE BODY OF THE CAR WHILE GOING OVER DIPS AND STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND THE CURRENT DIAGNOSES IS THAT IT'S A NORMAL NOISE. CONFIRMED WITH OTHER DEALERS THAT THE NOISE IS NOT NORMAL. VISIT 1: REPLACED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. VISIT 2: REPLACED RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM VISIT 3: REPLACED RIGHT FRONT STRUT VISIT 4: REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND BOTH TORSION BAR SUPPORTS VISIT 5: "IT'S A NORMAL NOISE" I'VE TEST DRIVEN OTHER NEW CARS AND THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT. I WILL BE PERSUING THE LEMON LAW AT THIS TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073331May 10, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THEY DID NOT CLOSE FULLY, THEY STAYED AJAR, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHEN TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THEIR PRESENCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067907April 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063610March 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN I ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THE CAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT BUCKS THEN PUSHES ITSELF. THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD. SOUNDS LIKE GRINDING OR WHIRRING. THEY HAVE HAD TO CALIBRATE THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES IN THE 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN TODAY. (3RD TIME). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060217March 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VTI TRANSMISSION CAUSES SUDDEN VEHICLE DECELERATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058082February 12, 2004
TIRES
A BRAKE PAD FELL OFF THE TRAILER IN FRONT AND STRUCK HIS VEHICLE DAMAGING THE TIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053056January 13, 2004
EQUIPMENT
BRAKES FAILURE
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion