Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10303956February 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START SECURITY LIGHT TURN ON AND WON'T START FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK. ITS HORRIBLE BEING STRANDED OUT IN THE COLD WHEN IS BELOW ZERO FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. SATURN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING OUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303513February 1, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 SATURN ION - CAR EXPERIENCES DAILY INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO START AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IN MOST INSTANCES YOU EXIT THE CAR, INSERT KEY 5-10 MINUTES LATER AND THE CAR WILL GENERALLY. EVENTUALLY IT DOES. PROBLEMS POINTS TO SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF SATURNS WITH THIS IGNITION ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303374January 30, 2010
STEERING
MY WIFE OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION, ONLY 50,000 MILES. FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMING ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING- ONCE YOU TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN MOMENTARILY- THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE REPLACED THE FUSES AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT AT LEAST A FEW TIMES A WEEK IF NOT A FEW TIMES A DRIVING TRIP AND IT IS GETTING TO BE VERY UNSAFE. IF THE POWER STEERING WERE TO CUT OUT ON THE FREE WAY DURING A SHARP TURN, I'M VERY CONCERNED MY 105 LB. WIFE COULD LOSE CONTROL AND SERIOUSLY HURT HERSELF OR OTHERS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF AND IS UNWILLING TO DO A RECALL- THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE MORE $$ BUY CHARGING OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IN A LOT OF CASES IT SOUNDS AS IF IT COULD BE A CHEAPER FIX THAN WHAT SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT A CAR WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND SATURN SHOULD BE LIABLE AND CORRECT THESE SAFETY ISSUES. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM A FEW DEATHS BEFORE THEY REALIZE THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302913January 28, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN COLD WEATHER(TEMP UNDER 32F), MY WIFE'S SATURN WILL NOT START. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS. SHE HAS LIGHT, RADIO BUT TURNING THE KEY EVERYTHING GOES DARK AND NO TURN OVER OF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE EVEN SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302992January 28, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 30 DEGREES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PASS LOCK CIRCUIT THAT WAS INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE RESISTANCE VALUE WITHIN THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302511January 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. DURING COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START SINCE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE RESETS TO A SECURITY MODE AS IF IT HAS BEEN STOLEN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE SWITCH; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD USE THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WHEN THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302425January 26, 2010
TIRES
I HAVE HAD 4 TIRE FAILURES ON MY 1997 SATURN ION. ALL TIRES WERE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE 195/60/R15 TIRES. IN ONES INSTANCE, A TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED. IN TWO INSTANCES, BUBBLES DEVELOPED ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF A FRONT TIRE. THE FOURTH INSTANCE ALSO HAD SIDEWALL DAMAGE, BUT WHETHER THERE WAS A BUBBLE FIRST IS NOT KNOW. THIS HAPPENED ON 1/22/2010, 11/5/2008. 1/26/2009 AND 7/16/2009, AT 26,000, 29,000, 34,000 AND 40,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302136January 25, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH HE ENCOUNTERED A BUMP IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD RATTLING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO BOTH FRONT LOWER ARM BUSHINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 05/13/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302259January 25, 2010
VISIBILITY
MY DRIVER WIPER IS INOPERABLE. THE ENTIRE ARM PIVOTED 180 OPPOSITE OF ITS RESTING POSITION WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING 50MPH TO CLEAN MY WINDOW. INITIALLY MY PASSENGER SIDE WASN'T WORKING AT NORMAL SPEED. IT SEEMED 'SLUGGISH'. SO I INCREASED THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS UNTIL IT REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL. THIS OCCURRED 1 DAY AFTER ABOUT 8 INCHES OF SNOW FELL INCLUDING ICE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY. AFTER I REACHED MY DESTINATION I REMOVED THE BLADE FROM THE ARM SO THE ENTIRE WIPER WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH TRAFFIC. AN AUTO MECHANIC STATED THE PIECE IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I AM FIGHTING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO REPLACE THE PIECE AT NO CHARGE. THEY STATED THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE WIPER MOTOR, BUT NOT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. READING OTHER REVIEWS, OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER DOING A RECALL OR FIX FOR FREE. OCCURRED AT 54K MILES ON CAR. JAN 16, 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301938January 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THIS BEGAN 3 MONTHS AGO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WINTER SEASON, UNFORTUNATELY THE FIRST DAY OF A NEW JOB. THIS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES UNTIL I WAS LET GO FOR SHOWING UP LATE TO WORK (APPARENTLY, A CAR THAT PROBLEMATIC WAS INCONCEIVABLE). I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, BUT MOSTLY IN THE EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING WHEN IT'S COLDEST OUTSIDE. THIS PAST WEEK ALONE, MY CAR WOULDN'T START 3 TIMES. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM IN SATURN ION'S (2003-2006 MODELS). SOME COMPLAINTS HAVE SUGGESTED IT'S THE IGNITION, THE PASSLOCK KEY, OR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND MY MECHANIC IS LOOKING INTO THE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC DOESN'T READ A PROBLEM IF THE CAR IS STARTING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CASE BY THE TIME THE MECHANIC'S SHOP OPENS (WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FAIRLY GOOD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON MOST DAYS). THE OTHER DAY, MY CAR HAD STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS, THANKFULLY ON A SMALL RESIDENTIAL STREET, BECAUSE IT DID NOT WANT TO RESTART. IT TOOK 10 MINUTES TO GET THE CAR GOING AGAIN. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DISASTROUS THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR BUSY CITY ROAD. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY GM. I HAVE ALSO MADE COMPLAINTS TO THE FTC & TO SATURN. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, REPLACING THE PART DOESN'T EVEN HELP BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ION PARTS ARE FAULTY. PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301683January 21, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SO THAT IT WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TO FIVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING A LONGER DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MOTOR AND COLUMN $1000 AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE SATURN MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF UPDATED 06/11/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300307January 19, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A USED 2003 SATURN ION WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2008. IN COLD TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HER LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. TWO WEEKS LATER, IN COLD AND RAINING TEMPERATURES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,221. UPDATED 02/03/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED SO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE CAN BE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/11/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300050January 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND CHANGED. THEN ON JANUARY 13, 2010, MY CAR STALLED ON ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND CALLED THE NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A GENEROUS OFFER TO ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPORTS FOR ABOUT 15 SATURN VEHICLES ON RECALL LISTS, THE ION WAS NOT ONE OF WHICH I COULD READ ABOUT. IN SOME CASES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THE SATURN VUE CAN BE A RECURRING PROBLEM; FOR THE SAME CUSTOMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299944January 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND LAST YEAR, THE WINTER OF 2008 WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 40, WHICH WAS ONCE OR TWICE, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THIS YEAR, 2009, THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN BELOW 40 FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND OUT OF THE 5 WORK DAYS OF THIS WEEK MY CAR STARTED ONCE ON THE FIRST TRY. WHEN I TRY TO START IT, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO START AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK THE SECOND TIME, USUALLY I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE THIRD TRY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299660January 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO THE PASSLOCK TIMING ME OUT. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES AND YESTERDAY I HAD TO WAIT 3 HRS FOR MY CAR TO START. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND WANTED TO FILE A WRITTEN COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299665January 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR WON'T START WHEN THE TEMP IS BELOW 20 F, HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN FOR ANTI THEFT TO RESET AND THEN TRY AGAIN. SOME TIMES HAVE TO TRY 3 OR 4 TIMES. DEALER SAY IT'S A KNOW PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299680January 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SATURN ION REFUSES TO START WHEN IT IS COLD BUT AFTER 10 MINS IT WILL DECIDE IT WANTS TO START. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND PUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANIC NOT SEEING THE PROBLEM. PUT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH IN THE CAR AND STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB MANY SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND SATURN IS REFUSING TO DO SO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298972January 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. 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 PASS-LOCK 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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299044January 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2003. SHE STATED THAT IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL IN COLD WEATHER AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED GETTING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED A SECOND TIME AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 88,500. UPDATED 01/29/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/01/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298901January 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT REFUSES TO START. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE DURATION OF OUR OWNERSHIP. THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS A POSSIBLE CULPRIT. IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS. TURNS OUT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP THE MANY OF US TO GET GM TO FIX THIS. IT MAKES OUR LIVES HARDER BY THE DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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