Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10453422March 29, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING WHEEL RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453445March 29, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY
I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE DATES OF WHEN WE NOTICED THE PROBLEMS. SO FAR I HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 04 ION'S FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CHEAPLY MADE PLASTIC WIPER LINKAGES THAT BREAK EASY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SO FAR BECAUSE THE PART FAILS AND YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR, AND MOST RECENTLY I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO ASK ABOUT A "CLUNKING" NOISE IT MAKES WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN FOR A KNOWN STEERING LINKAGE OR STEERING MOTOR (EPS) PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ON THESE CARS THE STEERING LINKS/MOTOR HAVE TENDANCY TO BREAK! IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD RESULT IN DEATH! I'VE ALSO DONE SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND MANY FORUMS/ARTICLES WITH OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL. ONE COMMENT I READ THE PERSON SAID "THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!" MINE AND MANY OTHER'S 04 SATURN ION'S HAVE ALOT OF KNOWN YET SERIOUS ISSUES BUT SATURN STILL HAS NO RECALLS FOR THIS CAR!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM! -CONCERNED/FRUSTURATED SATURN OWNER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453370March 28, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL WAS EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEAT WAS SOAKED WITH FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTER WERE RUSTED, CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE REAR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW FUEL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452968March 26, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING ABILITIES. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452629March 22, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING WOULD RESETS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS AUTOMATIC AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450540March 6, 2012
STRUCTURE
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SEVERE LEAK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,030. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445782January 29, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILST DRIVING, MY CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN GOING ALMOST 45-50MPH. PRESSING THE BRAKES WOULD BARELY DO ANYTHING. IT WON'T START WHEN IT THINKS IT'S TOO COLD OUTSIDE, I'VE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT IS FINE. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT RESISTS A LOT. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445418January 26, 2012
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/25/12. I FELT STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT AND SAW MESSAGE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY. BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE, SATURN WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS UNDER THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY". A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442299January 3, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND GATHERING SPEED, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR REACHED 85MPH. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME (10 MILES) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442030January 1, 2012
STEERING
WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2004 SATURN ION SUDDENLY FAILED. AS WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD, WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THAT LIKELY COULD HAVE OCCURED IF WE HAD BEEN TURNING. UPON RETURNING HOME, I PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE 3 FUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT ALL WERE FINE. IT APPERAS TO BE THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR ITSELF THAT FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AT THE TIME OUR STEERING FAILED, MY 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE GM IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE? PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL SO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED. IT MAY BE A "NUMBERS" GAME TO SOME, BUT TO THE REST OF US IT IS OUR SAFETY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439838December 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN
APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS NOT FAVORABLE AND I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE TRANNY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED TO BE THE TRANNY AND THEY TRIED TO PUT A BANDAIDE ON IT BY FLUSHING IT AND CHANGING THE FLUIDS. ONE WEEK LATER SAME NOISE ONLY LOUDER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANNY. 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR; THE NOISE RETURNED, THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS, IN THE TRANNY THEY JUST PUT IN IT. JUST OVER 12,0000 MILES LATER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANNY WAS AGAIN REPLACED, THAT WAS JUST UNDER 12,0000 MILES AGO AND THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING AGAIN, ONLY NOW THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE SAY I AM OUT OF FUNDS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A VEHICLE BEYOND IT'S WORTH. I HAVE HAD THE AXLE REPLACED TWICE AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN, EXTENDED WARRANTY AGAIN SAY'S THEY ARE DONE PAYING OUT ON THIS CAR EVEN THOUGH MY TIME OR MILEAGE IS NOT EXPIRED ON THE WARRANTY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FAILED TO START AND BECAUSE I HAD READ THIS WEB SITE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS CAR I KNEW TO WAIT 5-15 MIN AND TRY AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT SO FAR IT EVENTUALLY STARTS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON CREDIT JUST OVER A YEAR AGO TO GET A RELIABLE VEHICLE BECAUSE I WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK OUT OF MY CAR AND IT IS BECOMING A NIGHTMARE NO-ONE WILL WAKE ME UP FROM. AND BECAUSE I AM UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LOAN I CANNOT EVEN TRADE IT IN FOR SOMETHING THAT IS RELIABLE. FOR THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECOURSE TO THE CONSUMER. I HAVE HAD THE TRANNY REPLACED TWICE AND FIXED TWICE, THE AXLE HAS BEEN DONE TWICE AND NEED IT AGAIN. CHEVY BOUGHT THIS COMPANY OUT AND SHOULD HAVE TO HONOR THE STANDARDS FOR A SAFE VEHICLE OR STOP SELLING THEM TO UNSUSPECTING BUYERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439263December 10, 2011
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE STEERING LIT UP AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED MY CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE FOLLOWING DAY MY VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING). THE ESTIMATED COST OF JUST THE PART IS $1200. I DID NOT ASK ABOUT THE COST OF LABOR. I HAVE STARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT AND SOMETIMES THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT ON AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES. ULTIMATELY THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING FAILS AGAIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES. AT OTHER TIMES I HAVE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS NO POWER STEERING.AS I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436937November 24, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED ON ITS OWN WHILE TRAVELING 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE THE STEERING HAS FAILED EVER TIME THE VEHICLE IS USED. I HAVE HAD NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER, INCLUDING THE SAFETY RISK, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435728November 15, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,926.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435348November 12, 2011
STEERING
WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I AM NO TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT IF IT KEEPS GOING OUT I DON'T WANT TO WRECK. I HAVE CALLED MANY MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING ME THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. TODAY IT HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. WHEN I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR IT WILL WORK FOR AWHILE. I HAVE SEEN MANY ARTICLES ABOUT THIS I FOR ME THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. NOW THAT SATURN IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS WHAT AM I TO DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435177November 10, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,314.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433453October 28, 2011
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING NEARLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS USED. IT FAILS WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. MAKING TURNS REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR CAN STILL BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, BUT ONE WOULD HARDLY CALL IT SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433025October 27, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE LITANY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE VEHICLE IS LONG AND VARIED. MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, ETC.. GM AND SATURN KNEW OF THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES CONCERNING THE VTI TRANSMISSION, YET THEY CHOSE TO CONTINUE TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK BY DENYING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REAL WAY, IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT IS TO FULLY RECALL AND REPLACE THESE VEHICLES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN LATE 2003 AND CONTINUES TO BE A HAZARD. PLEASE FORCE GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433060October 27, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BUT WOULD HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,343.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432653October 24, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE LIGHT WENT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,354.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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