Saturn Ion Complaints (2005)

573 consumer complaints on file.

#10403432May 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO GO BACK TO THE 'LOCK' POSITION WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IT WOULD EVENTUALLY COME OUT - UNTIL THIS PAST SUNDAY WHEN THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN AT ALL AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TO REMOVE THE IGNITION FUSE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $390 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME HOW IT WOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY IGNITIONS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A WEB-SITE (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML) WITH 88 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. GENERAL MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR OVER 5 YEARS (AT LEAST) AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL NOTICE. HOW MANY CONSUMERS DOES IT TAKE TO GET THEM TO BE A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY? I CONTACTED GM AND VOICED MY CONCERN. THE TWO INDIVIDUALS I SPOKE TO WERE RATHER SNIPPY. THEY WERE ALSO LESS THAN CORDIAL WHEN THEY SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP - WANTING TO KNOW WHY I WAS GIVEN THEIR PHONE NUMBER. I TOLD GM THAT I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THIS HAS BEEN AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN LINE AND THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT SO MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS WHY HAVEN'T YOU ISSUED A RE-CALL. THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'WE CAN'T ACCEPT THIRD PARTY DOCUMENTATION AS PROOF OF ANY PROBLEM'. IT ENDED UP THAT I ONLY HAD TO PAY $100, WHICH I AM VERY GRATEFUL ABOUT BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE THE CORPORATION OF GENERAL MOTORS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD RESULT IN A VERY DEADLY OUTCOME IF SOMEONE WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THEIR CAR OFF IN AN EMERGENCY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397676April 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT WAS ABOUT 25 F AT ABOUT 8 AM VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR CRANK. THE PASS LOCK LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WHEN I RESEARCHED SAID THAT I WAS STARTING WITH THE WRONG KEY. UPON MUCH MORE RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 2003-2006 ION. AFTER MANY IGNITION SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AND EVEN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD RECUR. THE BEST SOLUTION I FOUND CAME FROM AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC. BE SURE THE IGNITION IS OFF. HE SAID TO SPRAY LPS ELECTRO CONTACT CLEANER (ANY PURE ALCOHOL CONTACT CLEANER WILL WORK) INTO THE IGNITION. SATURATE IT. WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO DRY THEN SPRAY SEA FOAM DEEP CREEP PENETRANT AND LUBRICANT INTO IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WORKED FOR 2 YEARS FOR ME. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS PAST MARCH OF 2011. I REPEATED THIS PROCESS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE. THIS WORKS BY CLEANING OUT THE OLD STIFF LUBRICANT GM USED DURING MANUFACTURE AND PUTTING IN A LIGHTER LUBRICANT. TOTAL COST FOR BOTH SPRAYS WAS UNDER $20.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396818April 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: UPON ENGAGING THE CLUTCH (PRESSING ON THE PEDAL AS USUAL) I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK NOISE AND THE PEDAL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR VERY EASILY. DATE/TIME/PLACE OF FAILURE: ON 4-19-2011 AT 9:20 AM WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT. THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DUE TO A BRACKET OR SOME OTHER PART OF THE ASSEMBLY'S BREAKAGE. THIS BRACKET HOLDS A PISTON IN PROPER PLACE TO ACTUATE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AS THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE BRACKET IS BROKEN, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE FULLY, IF AT ALL. I HAVE TEMPORARILY PLACED DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE WHERE THE BRACKET USED TO BE ON THE PEDAL SO THAT THE PISTON ROD CAN REMAIN SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO ITS ORIGINAL MOUNTED POSITION - SO THAT I MAY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR - PRESUMABLY DUE TO THE PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. THIS BRACKETS FAILURE PRESENTS A LOSS OF CONTROL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER; WHEN COMING TO A STOP EARLIER TODAY, I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP - WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394343April 5, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHIN A 5 TO 10 MINUTE TIMEFRAME, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394969April 5, 2011
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO TURN BACK AND FORTH. CAR GOT DOES THIS ONCE IN A WHILE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393969April 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 SATURN ION, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY I NEED TO PUSH A BUTTON UNDERNEATH AND INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, IT PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING AND DRAINS THE BATTERY, I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN ONE YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392354March 21, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING MESSAGE COMES ON AND CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER. IF I STOP AND RESTART THE CAR THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK. AT FIRST THIS HAPPENED ONCE EVERY FEW WEEKS. NOW IT IS BECOMING A DAILY OCCURRENCE; EVEN MORE THAN ONCE PER DAY. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SATURN IONS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT INHERITED SATURNS TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO BE SERVICED YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390325March 15, 2011
STEERING
2005 SATURN ION .88 K MILES.SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. FUSES REPLACED. RESETS ITSELF WITH RESTART BUT RECURS FREQUENTLY. VERY HARD TO STEER AND DANGEROUS WHEN OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED BUT THEY DENY A GENERAL RECALL. NOT HELPFUL. THE VIN IS [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
#10386929March 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION AND WHEN ITS COLD, CAR WON'T START. THE PASSLOCK ILLUMINATES AND SOMETIMES TAKES 30 MINUTES TO RESTART. I HAVE SPENT OVER $700 TRYING TO FIX IT LIKE CHANGING IGNITION AND STARTER AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE BEEN LATE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR WORK AND WAS STRANDED THE OTHER NIGHT FOR 30 MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN MINUS 20 DEGREE WEATHER. ( THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.) I AM FED UP AND CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386672March 7, 2011
STEERING
2005 SATURN ION I POWER STEERING RECALL I HAD THE RECALL NOTICE - CALLED SATURN OF COOL SPRINGS - AND THEY POINT BLANK ASKED "IS IT DOING IT NOW" I SAID "NO" AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT". ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, A LIGHT (A WARNING LIGHT) CAME ON MY DASH, THEY NEXT THING I KNOW THE STEERING JERKED AND I CROSSED OVER 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL HEAD ON. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING AS IT WAS LOCKED. GM STATES THE RECALL IS FOR ONLY GOING AT LOW RATES OF SPEED - I THINK THAT IS A COP OUT FROM GM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10384237February 23, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2005 SATURN ION JUST SHUT OFF ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING. IT NOW SHUTS OFF AT LEAST ONCE PER TRIP. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE HAVE ALREADY TRIED REPLACING THE FUSE AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383449February 21, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 SATURN ION. FRONT AND BACK BLINKERS WILL NOT BLINK. I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INSPECTABLE BECAUSE IT HAS TO HAVE ALL LIGHTS WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH AN AUTO MECHANIC/ELECTRICIAN FOR OVER 2 WEEKS NOW AND IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND UNACCEPTABLE. SATURN HAS TO FIND A WAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION. NOT ONLY HAVE I HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SATURN AND THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING REPAIR PARTS, BUT TO FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO WORK ON THEM IS NOT EASY EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING EXPENSE THAT APPEARS TO BE NEVER ENDING . THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROADS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED AND UNKNOWING EVENTS OF WHEN AND WHAT WILL MALFUNCTION AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I ALSO FEEL THAT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REFUNDED TO EACH CUSTOMER AS AN "ALLOWANCE" TO PUT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A SAFER VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO THE FULLEST BY THE NHTSA IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383085February 17, 2011
AIR BAGS
NO AIRBAGS CAME OUT OF A INBACK ON PASSENGER DOOR OR ANYWHERE IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383540February 14, 2011
STEERING
TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH INSTRUMENT PANEL *DINGED* THE PWR STR* CAME UPON THE PANEL. AT THAT TIME I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE TRAVELING FULL SPEED AND HAD A HARD TIME PULLING OFF THE EXIT. ONCE OFF THE EXIT CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 HOURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381541February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSLOCK LIGHT BLINKING VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BELOW 30 F REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE EGRESS IS NEEDED FROM AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380192February 4, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WONT ALWAYS START, HAVE TO WAIT 10-20 MINUTES FOR IT TO START AND NOT ALL OF US HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, PEOPLE HAVE PLACES TO BE, THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS AND HAS NOW HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE WEEK AND THE CAR SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AS WELL AS GETTING STUCK FOR 20 MINUTES IN THE COLD AT THE GAS STATION WAITING FOR IT TO START. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE AND THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL IS RIDICULOUS! HAVE READ SO MANY DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHAT TO REPLACE AND I DON'T WANT TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON POINTLESS PARTS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379425January 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN
IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 29 DEGREES, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. PASSLOCK LIGHT WAS BLINKING FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN STOPPED. AFTER THAT, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378502January 24, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR KIT AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377768January 18, 2011
VISIBILITY
ON 1/9/10 THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50-55MPH DURING A RAIN STORM CAUSING THE WIPERS TO BECOME ENTANGLED. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND THE PART WAS PLACED BY THE APPROPRIATE SATURN WIPER TRANSMISSION, WHICH FAILED ON 1/18/11 UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376904January 17, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK EVEN WITH NEW BULB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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