Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10315913March 2, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH LONG TRIPS AND SHORT. IT FAILS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN YOU RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WORKS FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315928March 2, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF STARTING THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315944March 2, 2010
STEERING
2007 SATURN ION, POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES, RESTART CAR, PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THEN COMES BACK AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315978March 2, 2010
STEERING
SATURN ION 2007- AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOES OUT IN THE CAR. IT HAS TO BE RESTARTED FOR THE PWR STR LIGHT TO GO OFF AND WORK PROPERLY. AS SOON AS THE LIGHT COMES ON IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS DAILY. IT STARTED WHEN MY CAR HIT APPROX. 50000 MILES ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315067March 1, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, PWR STR LIGHTS UP ON MY DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, SO I CAN CUT THE IGNITION OFF, AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO RESET THE SYSTEM FOR A SHORT TIME. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE, AND HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS. I HAVE CALLED SATURN, AND ADVISED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. OF COURSE, IT WILL COST ME OVER $1000 TO REPAIR IT AND IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AFTER EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315091March 1, 2010
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. AS SHE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF IT RESET AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON TOMORROW SO THAT THEY CAN PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED STATING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING UNIT AT NOT COST. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS SINCE. UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314464February 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER COMING OUT OF CARWASH I ATTEMPTED TWICE TO START CAR. ON THE THIRD TRY IT STARTED & THEN KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF W/ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION. I THEN PROCEEDED TO SATURN DEALER WHO FORTUNATELY WAS OPEN AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO STOP ENGINE. HOUSING, KEY ASSEMBLY, & CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE EXPENSE OF $598.06. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY OR HOW SITUATION OCCURRED SO AS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE IN FUTURE. MILEAGE WAS 40,071. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314087February 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RUNS AT BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DROPS BACK TO AN IDLE (~800RPM). AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR AGAIN, THE CAR LUNGES ONCE AGAIN - THROW IT IN NEUTRAL - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, SLOWLY RECOVERS. AFTER TWO - THREE MINUTES THE ENGINE STABILIZES AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR - EVER! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND USUALLY DURING HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAINY CONDITIONS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT I HAVE NEVER SOUGHT HELP FROM A DEALER. IT IS NOT REPEATABLE IN A WAY THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT HAPPENS FAIRLY RARELY (SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK - SOMETIMES ONCE A MONTH) AND INCONSISTENTLY. IF I WAS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND IF THIS WAS A MORE POWERFUL CAR, I WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY NOW. I HAVE LEARNED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOTOR WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IDLING A BIT FAST THEN I KNOW IT WILL TRY TO RUN AWAY WITH ME WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR SO I JUST WAIT FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT IN GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313493February 24, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF DURING CAR OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312908February 22, 2010
STEERING
ON SUNDAY, OCT. 25, 2009 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2006 SATURN ION SL3. RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT CAME BACK ON BUT WHEN OUT AGAIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER. TOOK THE CAR TO VAN CHEVROLET IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THE SAID I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS RUN OFF ELECTRIC MOTORS IN THE COLUMN. THEY RESET THE FAULT AND ORDERED A NEW COLUMN. WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE NEW COLUMN, THE POWER STEERING MOTORS WERE BAD, SO THE PUT THE ORIGINAL STEERING COLUMN BACK ON. THE DEALER DID SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER MODULE AND THE FAULT HASN'T COME BACK, BUT THEY DID TELL ME THAT IT DEFINITELY WILL AND THE POWER STEERING WILL DEFINITELY REALLY GO OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312632February 22, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76112.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312136February 19, 2010
STEERING
ON JAN 16 2010 MY 18 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 SATURN ION AND HE CALLED ME ON MY CELL TO TELL ME THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I TOLD HIM TO PULL OVER, (HE ALREADY DID) TURN THE CAR OFF, AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. HE DID THAT AND CALLED ME BACK ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER TO SAY HE DID MAKE IT HOME AND THE PS FAILED AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE HE GOT HOME. HE THEN TOLD ME HE NOTICED THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON IF THE RADIO WAS ON SO HE DID NOT HAVE THAT ON FOR THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. IT DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AT THE TIME UNTIL I WAS TOLD T THE CAR HAS ELECTRIC STEERING. THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY), I DROVE THE CAR TO SEARS TO HAVE THE BATTERY TESTED THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE NEVER CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. SEARS SAID THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THEY SAID MY PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING WAS PROBABLY NOT RELATED TO THE BATTERY AND THEY RECOMMEND I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DURING THE DRIVE THAT DAY TO SEARS THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE BECAUSE I DID NOT TURN ON THE RADIO OR HEADLIGHTS (THE PS LIGHT ALSO CAME ON WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON). HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME THE PS AGAIN FAILED ANYWAY RIGHT BEFORE WE GOT HOME. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN THE REST OF THE DAY. THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY THE 18TH, I DROVE THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER (SATURN OF TUCSON) AND THE STEERING WAS FINE THE WHOLE WAY OVER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THEIR EXPLANATION WAS IT SHORTED OUT. I ASKED IF THIS WAS SOMETHING I CAUSED AND THEY SAID NO. THEY ALSO HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED GIVEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 61,000 (APPROX) MILES AND IT WAS ONLY 4.5 YEARS OLD. THE REPAIR COST WAS $296.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311868February 18, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER INFO AREA GIVES PWR STR MESSAGE. AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR DOWN IT WILL WORK PROPERLY AND PWR STR MESSAGE GOES AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311348February 17, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2007 SATURN ION FAILED AT 40,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311450February 17, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY QUITS. OCCURS FREQUENTLY. LOW SPEED CONTROL REQUIRES PHYSICAL STRENGTH BEYOND THAT OF THE AVERAGE PERSON. RESETS WHEN MOTOR TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310813February 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THESE VEHICLES. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD AND DAMP OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL GET THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LIVE IN MO WHERE IT GETS VERY COLD AND NOT ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP WHEN THE CAR DIES. SO I AM LEFT STRANDED IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES. SATURN KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THIS. PLEASE SEE THAT A RECALL TAKES PLACE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310880February 16, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION PURCHASED USED IN MARCH 2008. SHE STATED UPON ATTEMPTING TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SATURN DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION HOUSING WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE SAME PART HAD FAILED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF THE PARTS BUT NOT FOR LABOR, DUE TO THE PARTS HAVING A TWO MONTH WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310479February 15, 2010
STEERING
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 SATURN ION. RUNS GREAT OTHER THAN ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING , THE (PWR STR) LIGHT WENT ON AND ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING AND WHILE MAKING THE TURN AT THE SAME TIME THE LACK OF STEERING HAPPENED SHE COULDN'T STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND COULDN'T STEER OUT AND SHE HIT THE CURB, DAMAGING THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF SHE WOULD'VE PANICKED OR JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT SIDEWALK . CURRENTLY ONLINE I'VE READ AND HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS WITH THIS ISSUE. MAYBE MORE THAT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST GOT IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310510February 15, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP LEADING TO GAS TANK HAD A CRACK. HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. WAS LEAKING GAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310143February 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND IT HAS THE SAME STARTING PROBLEMS REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS WEBSITE. ON COLD DAYS, THE CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT THE MOST IMPORTUNE TIMES AND LOCATIONS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS NO NOISE AND NO CRANKING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY ON. HOWEVER, WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR ABOUT 5 TO 15 MINUTES LATER, IT STARTS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE ALTERNATOR CHECKS OUT FINE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE, BUT THAT IS A GUESS ON MY PART BASED ON THE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS BY OTHER SATURN OWNERS. THERE IS ONLY ONE AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALER/SERVICE FACILITY LEFT IN THE HOUSTON. THE TECHNICIAN THERE TOLD ME HE HAS SERVICED NUMEROUS SATURNS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT REPLACING THE IGNITION MODULE SEEMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH NOT IN EVERY CASE. HE SAID THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A BULLETIN OR RECALLED SATURNS TO REPAIR THE UNITS. GM'S DENIAL OF A POTENTIALLY LETHAL PROBLEM IS NOT UNLIKE THAT OF TOYOTA IN ADDRESSING STUCK ACCELERATORS AND BRAKING PROBLEMS. MAYBE GM DOES NOT CARE BECAUSE IT IS CLOSING DOWN ITS SATURN DIVISION. I CAN SEE WHERE SATURN OWNERS, WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THE EXTENT OF THE STARTING PROBLEM, WIND UP HAVING THEIR BATTERIES, ALTERNATORS AND OTHER COMPONENTS REPLACED AT ENORMOUS COST AND INCONVENIENCE BEFORE SATURN SUGGESTS REPLACING THE IGNITION UNIT. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT IS RIPE FOR EXPLOITATION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD NEEDS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO GET HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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