Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10264096April 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 2004 AND I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH IT STARTING. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND GENERALLY AFTER 10 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES IT WILL START UP. I M NOT SURE IF THE FACT THAT I CAN REMOVE MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHILE IM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT OR NOT. IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT DOES IT MORE IN COLD/RAINY WEATHER THAN OTHER TIMES. THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE IT HAS BEEN WARM AND SUNNY AND IT WONT START. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO KIDS AND I HATE THE THOUGHT OF BEING STUCK IN MY CAR W/ MY KIDS AND UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PARKING LOTS LATE AT NIGHT AFTER I GET OFF WORK AND ONE TIME IT WOULDN'T START ON MY WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT AND EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH AGREES IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO W/ THE ANTITHEFT DEVICE PUT ON THE CAR. SO HOW DO WE FIX IT AND WHY WONT SATURN DO ANYTHING ABOUT . TODAY'S ECONOMY IS TO BAD TO BE LOOSING CUSTOMERS AND MY CHILDREN ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE STUCK IN A CAR (AT ANY GIVEN TIME) WITH NO WAY TO MOVE. IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A MORE DEPENDABLE SAFE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263891April 1, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SMELL OF GASOLINE DETECTED. IGNORED BY DEALER. ONLY RECOGNIZED WHEN I POINTED IT OUT TO THEM. NEEDED NEW FUEL PUMP. ONLY 30,000 MILES ON CAR. DAUGHTER HAS EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT SAME MILEAGE. SATURN REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS. SEEMS DANGEROUS WHEN GASOLINE IS LEAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263786March 31, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, IT WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINS, TRY AGAIN AND IT WILL START RIGHT UP. WELL, ABOUT A WEEK AGO IT "SHUT DOWN" WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET IN MY CITY. AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS OF IT SITTING, I WENT BACK AND DROVE IT HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. THEN, A FEW DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING WHILE RETURNING TO WORK FROM A LUNCH BREAK. I HAD TO LEAVE IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT A RIDE. AFTER WORK, I PICKED IT UP AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 EAST, IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN. ON THE INTERSTATE!!!!! IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I COASTED TO THE MEDIAN, EXCEPT GOD! MY CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. I LEFT IT THERE AND GOT A RIDE HOME WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SIT IN THE RAIN ALONE ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I WENT BACK AT ABOUT 11:00 PM TO PICK MY CAR UP, IT WOULDN'T START. I WAITED 10 OR SO MINS AND IT STARTED UP. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO A FRIENDS HOUSE THAT WAS NEARBY AND LEFT IT THERE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT TO SATURN, WHICH I HAVE DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE, SO I DID. THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. SO, I TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT UNTIL THEY FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE I WILL NOT PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH GM AND SATURN AND NO ONE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. ITS RIDICULOUS THAT THIS CAR IS PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. AND NOW I AM PAYING A NOTE ON SOMETHING THAT I CANT DRIVE BECAUSE IT MAY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263651March 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE CAR'S PURCHASE. IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, IT STARTED RIGHT UP. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL MECHANICS, I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE THEN, I CANNOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I GO OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WON'T START.NOW, I AM TOLD THAT IT 'MAY BE' A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I AM A TEACHER, AND CANNOT BE LATE FOR CLASS. I HAVE 34 STUDENTS WAITING FOR ME EVERY MORNING. NOW, I HAVE TO GO OUT TO MY CAR, 30 MINUTES EARLY, AND START IT. IF IT STARTS, I RUN OUT 30 MINUTES WORTH OF GAS FOR FEAR THAT IT WON'T START IF I TURN IT OFF. IF IT DOESN'T START, I WASTE 20 TO 25 MINUTES IN THE MORNING GETTING IT TO START. THIS WINTER, IT HAS NOT STARTED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES. THIS CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263570March 29, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION PROBLEM. CAR WILL NOT START. PASSLOCK ENGAGED. TURN KEY UNTIL PASSLOCK LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. WAIT 10MINS AND CAR WILL START. SERVICE BULLETIN IS OUT FOR PROBLEM. THE BULLETIN NUMBER IS 04-08-45-005D AND IT'S TITLED IGNITION SYSTEM - NO CRANK / NO START / DTC'S B2960/B3033. IT'S DATED MARCH 15, 2006. COVERING MODELS: 2003-2006 SATURN ION. THIS ISSUE IS WIDE SPREAD AND IS KNOW BY GM. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT. NHTSA SHOULD DO THE CORRECT THING AND MAKE GM ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263525March 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION DOES NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAS A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND STARTER, YET IT IS STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL GENERALLY START AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE BEING DELAYED 15-20 MINUTES EACH TIME I WANT/NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263217March 27, 2009
SEATS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS REAR ENDED AND SHOVED INTO A PICKUP ON 03/23/09 IN MY 2005 SATURN ION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BROKE AND WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10263251March 27, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. HE WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN ONCE THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263004March 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS THIS IS A FREQUENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM PROBLEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE THE CAR WON'T START. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND CATCHES, ONLY TO STALL. UPON REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR THERE WILL BE NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH; TWICE CAUSING ME TO BE LATE FOR PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS. UPON REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEIR STAFF HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. THIS HAS BEEN THEIR GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEVERAL ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY CAN'T FIND A THING WRONG WITH IT. SATURN SEEMS TO BE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF A POOR DESIGN SOMEWHERE ON THEIR PART. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 80 000 KM, AND NOW NEED TO REPLACE STRUTS. I AM HESITANT TO DO THIS THOUGH, AS THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG SATURN ION OWNERS IS THAT BUSHINGS AND STRUTS ARE IN PERPETUAL NEED OF REPLACEMENT ON THESE CARS. AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS MOST PEOPLE FIND THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME REPAIRS AGAIN WITHIN 2 YEARS. FURTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR ARE: TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEY, REPLACED WIRES ON BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS AND ONE HEADLIGHT, KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION, ERRATIC TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR (I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT I JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT), SEAT BELT GUIDES BROKEN (FRONT, BOTH SIDES), REAR SEAT BELT "FEMALE" COMPONENT FALLS INTO CREVICE IN SEAT, PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT BUMPER WITHOUT BEING CHIPPED PRIOR, AND A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS HAS TURNED UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE ION OWNERS COMMUNITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262770March 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES , AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS AFTER CRANKING THE KEY A FEW TIMES, IT WILL START RIGHT UP. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, SOMETHING TO DO WITH A WHITE WIRE THAT IS PART OF A PLUG CONTAINING A BUNCH OF WIRES THAT PLUG IN UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN ITS DAMP OR RAINING OUTSIDE. AND WILL ALWAYS FIX ITSELF IF YOU LET THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS BEFORE TRYING TO CRANK IT AGAIN. CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON BULLETIN BOARDS ON LINE. SEEMS LIKE CUTTING THE WHITE WIRE SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE EVERY TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262712March 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM HAVING A CONSISTENT PROBLEM W/ MY 2004 SATURN ION 4 DOOR 3.3 ENGINE. THE PROBLEM BEING IS NO CRANK WITH POWER ON. AFTER WAITING 10 - 15 MINUTES THE CAR WILL CRANK & START. THIS HAPPENS INTHE MORNING TRYING TO GET TO WORK, AT THE GAS STATION TRYING TO LEAVE AFTER A FILL UP, AT THE RED LIGHT IF I PUMP THE IGNITION JUST SO. AFTER READING SEVERAL ION FORUMS THERE IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM HERE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AT LEAST INVESTIGATED. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO SATURN MONDAY THE 3.23.09 TO HAVE OIL CHANGE & NO CRANK W/ POWER EVALUATED. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262437March 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RE: 2003 SATURN ION: BUY DATE 5/03. NOV,2003, SATURN SENT BULLETIN # 03-06-123-001, ENTITLED LOSS OF COOLANT/NO EXTERNAL EVIDENT. SENT SOLELY TO ALL PARTS MANAGERS AND TECH'S. CONDITION: SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKS VISIBLE. CAUSE"THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM OF CYLINDER HEAD CASTING. CAR HAS 34000 MI. WARRANTY IS 100,000 MI, OR 5 YEARS. THE LATTER EXPIRED MAY, 2008. I AM POSITIVE NO RECALL TO CUST'S WAS SENT. ASK THAT YOU VERIFY FROM NOV. 2003 TO PRESENT THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 500 MILES AGO. AFTER REPEATED INCIDENTS, MY LOCAL MECH. WENT ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND THE ABOVE MENTIONED BULLETIN. I AM 86 YRS OLD, HAVE EMPHYSEMA, ON OXYGEN 24/7.NEAREST FAMILY MEMBER IS 400 MI. AWAY. CAR IS ONLY MODE OF TRAVEL DUE TO DISABILITY. BEEN WARNED BY LOCAL MECH. NOT TO TAKE ANY TRIPS DUE TO FIRE DANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261699March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT WHEN IT COLDS DOES NOT START. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT THE BATTERY IS FINE. THEN WE NOTICED THAT IT ONLY HAPPENED ON COLD DAYS. IF THE TEMP WAS BELOW 40 DEGREES F. AND THE CAR SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS (MOSTLY MORNINGS), WHEN YOU ATTEMPTED TO CRANK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IF SEEMS IF YOU HAVE A DEAD BATTERY. MOST OF THE TIME IT WOULD START AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, BEING STRANDED DUE TO MILDLY COLD WEATHER. THANK GOD NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED WHILE WAITING FOR CAR TO CRANK. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL SATURN OWNERS, AND THEY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AT LEAST I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND IT DOES NOT STAY COLD LONG. SATURN NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE PERSON AT SATURN TO TAKE A BLOW DRYER TO WARM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261785March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN GIVING ME TROUBLE FOR AROUND 2 YEARS NOW. IT'S OFF AND ON. I'LL DRIVE MY CAR TO WALMART OR WHERE EVER AND GO IN THE STORE, COME OUT AND IT WON'T START. IF I GIVE IT 15-20 MINS IT FINALLY STARTS. MY DAD THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY BATTERY, BUT THAT WAS NEW. WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET AN IGNITION SWITCH NOW. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL FIX IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261787March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 04 SATURN ION. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A CONSTANT PROBLEM STARTING THE CAR. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEGREES, THE CAR WON'T START. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. SO I KNOW THE BATTERY ISN'T THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STARTS UP. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS THE STARTER SWITCH. THE GREASE HARDENS UP IN THE COLD, THEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKS OUT THE STARTER SWITCH. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW GM AND SATURN KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THEY ARE SAYING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO SIT IN THEIR CARS WHEN IT'S BELOW FREEZING, WAITING TWENTY MINUTES TO START THEIR ION'S. WHAT ABOUT PARENTS WITH KIDS? WHAT ABOUT IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CARJACK MYSELF? I DON'T HAVE AWAY TO ESCAPE BY DRIVING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261535March 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES THE PASSLOCK VEHICLE THEFT SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. I THEN HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES IN THE COLD FOR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM TO RESET SO THAT I CAN TRY AGAIN TO START MY CAR. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT, BUT HAS YET TO HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261555March 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTER FROM CRANKING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SATURNS, YET THEY REFUSE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHOUT CHARGING FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261414March 10, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING AND MUST BE PULLED IN ORDER FOR IT TO LOOSEN. THE PEDAL MADE A POPPING SOUND WHEN THIS OCCURRED. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY STATED THAT THE PEDAL WAS FAULTY. CURRENTLY, THE PEDAL IS STICKING ONCE AGAIN AND THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,650.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261144March 9, 2009
EQUIPMENT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
ON MY 2003 SATURN ION 3 THE LEFT SIDE WIPER WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY AND LOCKED IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TRY TO REPAIR WHILE ON ROAD. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S SATURN ION 2 AND WE PAID TO REPAIR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261293March 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON COLD DAYS IN THE WINTER MY SATURN ION 2 DOES NOT START. TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10 MINUTES. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION KEY REPLACED AND THAT FIXES IT FOR A WHILE. I WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY REPLACED THE PART WITH THE SAME SERIES PART SO NOW NOT UNDER WARRANTY THE PROBLEM RECURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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