Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10339348June 21, 2010
STEERING
THE STEERING ON SATURN ION 3, 2006 LOSES POWER DURING THE REGULAR OPERATION. THE CAR HAS TO BE STEERED CLEAR OF TRAFFIC (REQUIRES A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE FROM THE DRIVER). IT NEEDS A RESTART, UPON WHICH THE POWER STEERING WORKS FOR ABOUT 15 MINS AND THE STEERING POWER GOES OUT AGAIN. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE ALL OF MY STEERING COLUMN FOR A CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM AND MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339350June 21, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING HAS WENT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. UPON LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I WAS FLOODED WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT RISK. THE CHEVY COBALT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND CONTAINS THE SAME ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN RECALLED AND PEOPLES LIVE ARE AT RISK EVERY DAY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF ITS HEALTH RISKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339358June 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 AND IT WILL PERIODICALLY LOCK OUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT 8-10 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. WE HAVE REPLACED, THE IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, BATTERY, AND A FEW OTHER PARTS TO NO AVAIL. IT WAS ONCE IN JAN. OF 2010 AND THEN AGAIN IN MARCH, BUT NOW IN JUNE IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. I READ ON A FORUM THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES DURING WINTER, BUT HAWAII IS A MODERATE CLIMATE YEAR ROUND, NO EXCUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339394June 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339398June 21, 2010
STEERING
2006 SATURN ION LOSS OF POWER STEERING. BOTH MY SELF AND MY SISTERS CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1000.00 AFTER READING THE INTERNET THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF SATURN OWNERS ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2003. THIS SITUATION ALMOST KILLED MYSELF AND MY TWO CHILDREN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT DOING 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339254June 21, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A SATURN 2007 ION WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I HAD A CHIME AND A LIGHT GO ON THAT READ PWR STR. WENT TO MAKE A SHARP TURN AND I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR!! IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR THERE I WOULD HAVE CRASHED WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WENT HOME AND READ ON INTERNET TO FIND OUT WHERE THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND GOES AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS NO FLUID. AFTER READING I FOUND OUT THAT IT HAPPENS TO ALL SATURNS AFTER SO MANY MILES!!! THEY RECALLED THE CHEVY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE SATURN. YOU CAN TURN OFF AND ON AND IT'S FIXED FOR THE TIME BEING BUT ALWAYS HAPPENS A COUPLE TIMES A DAY. PLEASE MAKE GM RECALL THE SATURNS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339187June 20, 2010
STEERING
WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, AND THE POWER STEERING IN HER SATURN ION JUST QUIT WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DEALER IS THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE STEERING COLUMN OVER HEATS AND JUST STOPS WORKING. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RE-STARTING MAKES IT WORK AGAIN, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339233June 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2006 SATURN ION KEY IS LOCKED IN IGNITION IN THE "ON" POSITION WITH CAR RUNNING. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION OR ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. NO WAY TO STOP CAR WITHOUT PULLING THE FUSE AND UNHOOKING THE BATTERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339124June 19, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I DRIVE A 2007 SATURN ION, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL ONLINE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT GM HAS AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED OR RECALLED. I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND WENT TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE KEY WAS STUCK. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL GM DEALERS AND THEY ALL SAY IT'S A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BUT STILL EXPECT ME TO PAY AROUND 500 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT IT'S NOT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND KNOWN ABOUT. GM EITHER MADE THESE INTENTIONALLY THIS WAY TO SCAM IN MONEY OR REALLY SCREWED UP AND SHOULD FIX IT. THIS COULD OF GONE A LOT DIFFERENTLY WHAT IF THE CAR WOULD OF LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND LOCKED OUT THE STEERING WHEEL? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ALL SATURNS OR JUST THE ION MODEL BUT IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS GONE ON FOR SOMETIME. AS TAX PAYERS WE BAILED THEM OUT OF FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND THIS IS HOW WE ARE REPAID AND TREATED. PLEASE MAKE GM DO A RECALL ON THE SATURN IGNITIONS IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE A 10 MONTH OLD AND STUFF LIKE THIS SCARES ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339176June 19, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING PERIODICALLY ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH BUT NOW IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. IT IS NOW CUTTING OUT ABOUT EVERY 5 MINUTES OR MORE WHICH MAKES THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE. WHEN IT INITIALLY HAPPENED I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR OF THE POWER STEERING IS BAD (SHORTING OUT) AND IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339023June 18, 2010
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING... NOT NECESSARILY TURNING AT ALL.. PWR STR COMES UP ON THE DISPLAY WITH THE CHIME AND THE POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING. MUST RESTART CAR TO MAKE IT WORK AGAIN. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN WEATHER IS HOT...MAY JUST BE A COINCIDENCE. HAPPENS SOMETIMES 3 TIMES A DAY (WITHIN AN HOUR) , SOMETIMES NOT FOR A WEEK. POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND MOTOR WERE REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. DON'T KNOW IF THEY KEPT THE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR HAS LESS THAN 30K MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336958June 18, 2010
STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER AND ADVISED THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339044June 18, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THIS PART BREAKING AND GM NEEDS TO FIND A FIX AND RECALL THIS CAR AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FOUND 44 PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SAME CAR ON THIS WEBSITE: (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML) I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION SEDAN. MY IGNITION IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SHUT MY CAR OFF IS TO PULL THE FUSE TO THE ECM. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AND WILL PULL OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH THE CAR RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS IGNITION PART CHANGED 4 TIMES ALREADY. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE KEY WOULD PULL OUT WITH CAR RUNNING, THE SECOND TWO TIMES I HAD TO PAY FOR. THE LAST TWO TIMES IT WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT WON'T LET ME TURN IT OFF. I KNOW THIS IS AN OLDER CAR, BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339075June 18, 2010
STEERING
NO CRASHES OR INJURIES. MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING 'OUT'. ONE TIME I WILL DRIVE AND IT WILL BE FINE, I'LL START IT UP AN HOUR OR SO LATER AND BOOM FOR WHATEVER REASON THE P.S. LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE NO P.S.. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT, THE SAME PS 'COLUMN' THAT WAS ALSO INSTALLED IN A FEW OTHER GM CARS WERE RECALLED, BUT, FOR WHATEVER REASON THE SATURN ION WAS NOT? THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I AM TAKING IT TO SATURN FOR A DIAGNOSTICS TEST ON MON. I AM ALSO HOPING THAT SATURN CAN 'CLEAR THE CODES' IF THIS IS JUST AN ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM. IF NOT, IT SEEMS TO ME THEY SHOULD HONOR THE RECALL SET OUT TO THE OTHER CONSUMERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2005. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR OTHERWISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336795June 17, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WITHIN TWO TRAVELED MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED REPLACING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336840June 17, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION KEY BROKE OFF IN THE IGNITION. HAD A LOCKSMITH REMOVE THE BROKEN KEY. CAR WOULD NOT START. LOCKSMITH REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH MECHANICAL PORTION. CAR WILL NOT START. I WENT THROUGH THE RESETTING PROCEDURE TO RESET THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT WOULD NOT RESET AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM SATURN OWNERS ABOUT THIS SAME COMPLAINT. THE ONLY WAY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN IS TO TAKE IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, AND THEY CHARGE A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THIS PROCEDURE. THEY ALSO ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THE REPAIR OF IT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MANY SATURNS BEING TOWED IN AND DOING THE REPAIRS ON THEM. DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS IN THIS SYSTEM OF THE SATURNS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS INDUSTRY WIDE KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336906June 17, 2010
STEERING
2004 SATURN ION - POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING! HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. IF THE CAR IS RESTARTED IT COMES BACK ON FOR A SHORT TIME THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY CAUSING THE ISSUE, HAPPENS AT RANDOM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336590June 16, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 65,232.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336411June 15, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING . THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336400June 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE KEY WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITHOUT REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT REMOVING THE KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT DURING THE WINTER THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT START WITHOUT REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND A POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE AN UNKNOWN SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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