Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10220104March 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START AND WILL ONLY START AGAIN WITH NEW SPARK PLUGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220173March 5, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILED. DRIVER'S SIDE PIVOT ARM IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE SUDDENLY! CANNOT USE THE WIPERS AT ALL. DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219886March 3, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BLIND SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE LOOKED OVER HER SHOULDER BEFORE CHANGING LANES, HER VISION WAS RESTRICTED AND SHE COULD NOT LOOK THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE RESTRICTION WAS CAUSED BY THE METAL THAT WAS IN BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS. SHE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE CHANGING LANES BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT SEE PROPERLY. WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE REAR MIRROR, HER VISION WAS ALSO RESTRICTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALLOWED HER TO TEST DRIVE A VEHICLE WITHOUT THE SPOILER, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,070. UPDATED 3/18/08 *CN UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219981March 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 SATURN ION III DISENGAGES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AS IF GEARS HAVE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AT SPEEDS FROM BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH, SO THAT THERE IS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT SUDDENLY AND THEN RE-ENGAGES. ALMOST REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO CAR WILL NOT START IF TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND KEY LOCKS IN IGNITION. GEARS WERE RE-CALIBRATED AND IGNITION REPLACED, BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219821March 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 SATURN ION AND WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN I DO. WILL THIS CAR GET A RECALL. SOME OF THE OWNERS ARE SAYING THAT IT IS THE LUBRICATE THAT SATURN USED ON THE IGNITION THAT IT CAN FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. IS THIS THE CASE. HELP IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219200February 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. MUST WAIT BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MINUTES AFTER EACH START ATTEMPT. POSTED BULLETINS RELATE THE PROBLEM TO A FAULTY PASSLOCK SWITCH/IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218730February 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2004 SATURN ION2 WILL NOT START IN VERY COLD WEATHER (SUB-ZERO AIR TEMPERATURES). AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS ARE MADE - WITH APPROX. 10-15 MINUTES BETWEEN EACH ATTEMPT - THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP. THE IGNITION WILL NOT CRANK THE CAR, CAUSING IT TO NOT ROLL OVER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DISPLAY ON THE DASH READS "SERVICE VEHICLE". AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I'VE LEARNED THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I AM TOLD I MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO THAT THIS MAY NOT EVEN BE A PERMANENT FIX. I AM APPALLED BY SUCH FAULTY WORKMANSHIP IN AN AMERICAN-MADE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218606February 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THIS YEAR, MY 2004 ION WOULD NOT START DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED. MY OWN MECHANIC TOLD ME TO HAVE IT SERVICED BY A SATURN DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ANTI THEFT CONTROLLER AND COULD ONLY BE WORKED ON BY THE DEALERSHIP. HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE. THE PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED AND REPAIRED (FOR $214.00).THE PARTS WERE ONLY $40.00.AS YOUR OWN WEBSITE(AND OTHERS)CONFIRM,THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM THAT MANY ION OWNERS EVENTUALLY WILL ENCOUNTER. DESPITE THIS "DEFECT", GENERAL MOTORS TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LOGICAL STRATEGY TO HOLD ON TO AN ALREADY DWINDLING NUMBER OF LOYAL CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218604February 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE MY 2003 SATURN ION WOULD NOT START. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHICH SAID HE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT BUT WOULD REPLACE THE STARTED AND SOLENOID WHICH HAPPENED. AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER, NO START, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHICH RAN TESTS ON IT AND SAID HE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT, BUT SINCE MY BATTERY WAS 5 YEARS OLD, MAYBE I SHOULD REPLACE THAT WHICH I DID. THEN 4 DAYS LATER, THE CARE WOULDN'T START AGAIN, AGAIN I TAKE IT TO YET ANOTHER MECHANIC WHICH RUNS A SERIES OF DIFFERENT TESTS ON IT AND SAYS EVERYTHING IS GOOD, NO EXPLANATION FOR THE NO STARTS. FINALLY AFTER MUCH FRUSTRATION I WAS ONLINE DOING SOME RESEARCH ABOUT MY CAR TO DISCOVER A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH THE 2003-2004 SATURN ION'S HAVING THIS IGNITION START PROBLEM AND YET THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE RECALLED IT, YET HASN'T AND SO WHILE THE ION OWNER LIKE MYSELF IS STRANDED HERE AND THERE AND MISSING DAYS OF WORK DUE TO INOPERABLE ON ONE'S PURCHASED VEHICLE, AND PAYING TOWING COSTS, REPAIR BILLS, TESTING COSTS, ETC...SATURN ALL ALONG KNEW THE PROBLEM. WHEN I FINALLY CALLED SATURN AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM, TOOK THE CAR IN AND WITH HOURS, HAD A NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND LOW AND BEHOLD YEP THAT WAS THE PROBLEM TO THE TUNE OF $179.00. I THINK IF SATURN KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND FIXED ON SATURN'S TAB, NOT MINE THE CONSUMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218686February 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR BEGAN FAILING TO TURN OVER BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONTINUING TO TRY WOULD EVENTUALLY SUCCEED. SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (EXCESSIVE MILEAGE) THE FAILURE REQUIRED SERVICE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WAS 'STICKING' AND CAUSING A SECURITY LOCKOUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218579February 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2003 ION 2 WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN MARCH 2003. STARTING IN DEC 2007, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. 10-15 MIN LATER I WOULD TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD START UP LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAD SATURN LOOK AT IT, THEY STATED THAT THEY "COULD NOT REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IN JANUARY 2008, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS, SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THE BATTERY WAS CHARGING FINE AND COULD NOT PIN POINT A PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED PUTTING IN A NEW STARTER WHICH COST ME $300. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT MY PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, BUT NOW IN FEB 2008 ( ONE MONTH LATER)IT IS NOT STARTING UP IN THE MORNINGS AGAIN ON REAL COLD DAYS (0-20 DEGREES), BUT 10-15 MIN LATER, IT STARTS RIGHT UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218424February 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION. ON COLD MORNINGS MY CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE BEEN LATE FOR WORK NUMEROUS TIMES AND LEFT STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS IS STILL A ON GOING ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218431February 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN! AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF IT FINALLY QUITS. I AM AFRAID THAT SOME DAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218176February 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN TEMPERATURE GETS LOW, MY 2003 SATURN ION WON'T START. IT MUST SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217952February 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IN 2003 SATURN ION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217995February 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I REGRETTABLY OWN A 2003 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING, THE CAR FAILS TO START. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DOING EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT IT STEMS FROM A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH LEAKS LUBRICANT ONTO THE WIRES IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. WHEN IT IS COLD ENOUGH FOR THE LUBRICANT TO FREEZE, IT IMPEDES THE SIGNAL REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM (STANDARD ON MY CAR) AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH (AT THE COST OF THE OWNER IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, ABOUT $300 TO $400). THE NEW SWITCHES WILL INEVITABLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AFTER THEY LEAK THE LUBRICANT. SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS PUBLISHED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #040845005. THEY, HOWEVER, REFUSE TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY AND DEVISE A RELIABLE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, WE ARE ALL FREEZING IN THE COLD WEATHER WHILE WE WAIT FOR OUR CARS TO START. I BELIEVE SATURN IS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT IN THIS RESPECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217858February 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2004 SATURN ION I'M HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS. ON COLD DAYS THE CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES, BUT IF YOU WAIT A FEW MINUTES IT WILL START RIGHT UP. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SO LONG THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE IT AND GET A RIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217885February 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WILL START SOME DAYS AND NOT START OTHERS. WOULD HAVE TO TRY OVER AND OVER AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. NOT THE BATTERY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217671February 11, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
IN BELOW FREEZING WEATHER, OUR 2006 SATURN 4-DOOR ION IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO WHEN EVERYTHING FREEZES. THIS MIGHT NOT BE ABNORMAL EXCEPT THAT THE PLASTIC TREAD ON THE DOOR FRAME AT THE BOTTOM ON MOST OF MY DOORS NOW HAVE SHATTERED AND BROKEN OFF DUE TO THIS. ALSO, THE BACK DOOR WINDOWS ROLL DOWN BY THEMSELVES A LITTLE IN ANY TEMPERATURE. AND TODAY (AGAIN IN FREEZING WEATHER), MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE LATCH WASN'T CATCHING. I CALLED SATURN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FIX FOR IT, AND YOU HAD TO SPRAY IT WITH WD40. I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE AND NEVER HAVE I SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. AS IT WAS, THE WD40 WORKED. THE NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR THE DOOR IS 2 (LAST NIGHT, AND THIS MORNING). THE NUMBER FOR THE DOOR TREAD IS 4 (ALL 4 DOORS). THE NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR THE WINDOW ARE FAR TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT, SO I'VE PUT IN THERE 100 BECAUSE I'VE HAD IT OVER A YEAR AND IT DOES IT CONSTANTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217489February 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WHICH WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED. ONE MORNING I WENT TO START THE CAR. ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER (NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL). WHEN I RETURNED HOME THAT EVENING, THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY, RULING OUT A DEAD BATTERY. THIS FAILURE RE-OCCURS MOSTLY ON COLD MORNINGS. I DISCOVERED ON THE WEB THAT SATURN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH PASS LOCK SYSTEM WHEN IT IS COLD. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND ASKED HIM TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. HE MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO THE SATURN DEALER (30+ MILES) TO GET A NEW SWITCH, HOWEVER HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE PROGRAMMED AND ONLY A SATURN DEALER CAN DO THAT. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FAILED TO MENTION THIS TO HIM WHEN HE BOUGHT THE PART. NOW, I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER TO HAVE THE SWITCH PROGRAMMED, AS WELL AS FOR NEARLY A WEEK OF WASTED TIME, MONEY, AND CONVENIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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