Saturn Ion Complaints (2006)

1,235 consumer complaints on file.

#10559683January 13, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR WAS BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY ON JANUARY 4TH AROUND 12:30 A.M., WHEN THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF, NOR WOULD IT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THAT JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE THE WEEKEND OF THE FAMOUS POLAR VOPRTEX, FEATURING A SNOW STORM AND RECORD-BREAKING FREEZING TEMPERATURES. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, AND REQUESTED AN EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN HE ARRIVED, THE ONLY WAY HE COULD TURN THE CAR OFF WAS TO REMOVE A FUSE. ONCE EXAMINED ON 1/8/14 BY THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST GENERAL MOTORS DEALER, ADVANTAGE CHEVROLET IN BOLINGBROOK, IL. AFTER BEING NOTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BEING QUOTED THE PRICE OF $431.00 TO REPAIR IT, I RESEARCHED THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE, MAKE, AND MODEL CAR AS MINE. I THEN NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS' CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TRY AND AT LEAST GET SOME MONEY OFF THE REPAIR BILL, BUT TO ALSO NOTIFY THEM THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE 2006 SATURN ION IGNITION SWITCHES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I GOT NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM WITH THE BILL, AND THERE ARE STILL OTHER CONSUMERS OUT THERE WHO WILL BE MILKED FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR THIS SAME REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558428January 4, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE FREEWAY ON 11/17/13. I WENT TO GET IT FIXED ABOUT A WEEK LATER. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. WHEN THE GENTLEMAN TRIED TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN IT, HE NOTICED IT WAS ELECTRIC. HE SAID IT MUST HAVE GONE OUT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX MY POWER STEERING AND I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAR WHEN IT WENT OUT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558492January 4, 2014
TIRES, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
I NEEDED TO USE THE SPARE TIRE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN USED,TO HAVE A TIRE REPAIRED. THE TIRE WAS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION AND COULD NOT BE USE EVEN ONCE. THE TIRE INFORMATION IS T115/70R1488M RADIAL TUBELESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556413December 17, 2013
STEERING
MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEEL BARELY MOVED ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555787December 12, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION BARREL SWITCH SEIZED AND WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS FRACTURED. THE IGNITION BARREL SWITCH WAS REPAIRED BUT NOT THE DOOR LATCH FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555119December 6, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON SOME COLD DAYS, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC. WILL TURN ON WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START AND THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR LIGHT WILL BLINK. YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM 10-30 MINUTES FOR THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM TO RESET TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. I ONLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON COLD DAYS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WE'VE CONTACTED GM TWICE, BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553552November 23, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EACH TIME I KILL THE ENGINE I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR THE STRING OF ELECTRONIC TICS TO QUIT BEFORE MY CAR WILL LET GO OF THE KEY. EACH EPISODE SEAMS TO DIFFER ON THE LENGTH OF TIME IT, TAKES OR DECIDES, TO LET GO OF THE KEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549953October 29, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS REFUELING VEH. AND WHEN ALMOST FULL ,FUEL STARTED TO RUN ON GROUND. STOPPED REFUELING , AND LOOKED UNDER CAR . FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM FRONT , CENTER OF TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549893October 28, 2013
STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ALMOST CRASHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548658October 21, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY SATURN ION SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. FIRST THERE WAS A PURGE SOLENOID THAT WENT OUT ON MY CAR WHICH AFFECTED HOW I STARTED IT. THEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN MY IGNITION WITH THE CAR ON! I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR OFF. A MONTH LATER OF DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE KEY, I ORDERED A NEW PART FOR IT AND HAD A FRIEND REBUILD THE IGNITION IN THE CAR AND NOW ONLY MY SPARE KEY TO THE CAR WILL WORK. NOW THE MOST RECENT ISSUE TO DATE IS THE FUEL PUMP. I STARTED SMELLING GAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE OVER TIME. TOOK IT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THERE IS NOW GAS LEAKING ONTO MY GAS TANK AND GASOLINE IS ALSO POOLING UNDER MY CAR! HUGE PROBLEM! MY FRIEND SAYS IT IS THE FUEL PUMP THAT IS GOING OUT ON THE CAR AND I DO SEE THAT IT IS UNDER RECALL BUT I DON'T THINK MY CAR FALLS UNDER THE RECALL WHICH IS RIDICULOUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548673October 21, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTIONING DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DRIVER WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR BECAUSE NEITHER THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD ACTUATE THE DOOR LATCH, OPENING THE DOOR. EXTERIOR, INTERIOR MANUAL, INTERIOR POWER AND REMOTE POWER LOCKS WERE REPEATEDLY ACTUATED TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY, THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED AFTER USING A HANGAR THROUGH THE WINDOW CAVITY TO BUMP ONE OF THE LINKAGE ARMS. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT, THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO A SUCCESSFUL EVACUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548622October 20, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING HOME ON A PAVED ROAD AT 25 MPH WHEN SUDDEN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS FILLED THE CAR. FOR MORE DETAILS SEE SERVICE REQUEST [XXX]. GM HAS PUT ME THRU EXTREME STRESS AND ENDANGERED MY LIFE AND OTHERS FOR A 42 DOLLAR PART. AS I TYPE THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT HAS RETURNED. I FEAR FOR OTHERS ///PLEASE REVIEW THE RECORDS,TOWED TO DEALERSHIP....SPECIAL COVERAGE PART WAS NOT INSTALLED...MECHANIC CLAIMS GAS LINE UNDER CAR IS LEAKING. GAS IS POOLING ON TOP OF MOTOR..LAST REMARKS AS I LEFT THE DEALER" I WOULDN'T DRIVE IT...DON'T SMOKE" NOTHING BUT EXCUSES...CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAS BEEN EVER SINCE,,,,2006 SATURN IONS ARE DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARDS AND GM SEES RECALLS AS WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ON REPAIRS...THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FREE REPAIR = 400 OR MORE TO FIX...THEY DO NOT ABIDE BY THE RECALL ORDERS AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! 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
#10548257October 17, 2013
STEERING
PWR STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING. CAR DINGS AND DISPLAYS THE PWR STEERING CODE IN DASH. KNOWN ISSUE BY GM. TOOK IT TO DEALER TODAY, THEY SAID THEY'LL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE BASED ON 10187A SPECIAL POLICY. IT ONLY COVERS THE MOTOR/MODULE AND NOT THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM AFRAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RIP ME OFF BY SIMPLY SAYING THE WHOLE COLUMN IS THE PROBLEM SO I'M OUT A LOT OF MONEY. BASED ON RESEARCH AND COMPLAINTS GM RECALLED OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY USED THE SAME PART AND THEY WERE RECALLED IN OTHER MODELS THEN THE SATURN ONE SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. IT WAS VERY SCARY LOSING POWER STEERING. GM NEEDS TO MAKE SATURN OWNERS "WHOLE" BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS ISSUES ALREADY. I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547827October 14, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION ON A LOCAL STREET, PICKING UP MY CHILD FROM SCHOOL, WHEN THE IGNITION WENT OFF. THE CAR HAD NO POWER & I HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO STEER THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE BEFORE THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL & COASTED TO A STOP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A MINUTE, & THEN TURNED THE KEY AGAIN. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN & I TOOK IT DIRECTLY HOME. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD GO OF BY ITSELF. IT FELT AS IF THE KEY WAS NOT STAYING IN THE ON POSITION. NOT BEING AWARE OF A WARRANTY FROM SATURN, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. WHEN THE MECHANIC TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HE WAS FORCED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF & NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE KEY GOES IN. BECAUSE THE MECHANIC HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, I WAS ALSO FORCED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP A FEW DAYS LATER TO HAVE MY REMOTE LOCK REPROGRAMMED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR BOTH OF THESE REPAIRS, BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE THAT GM HAD A SPECIAL WARRANTY COVERING SUCH ISSUES. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A RECALL ISSUE IN OTHER STATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547352October 9, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
MY ION HAS HAD CONTINUOUS STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS SINCE 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MOTOR (WARNING LIGHT COMES ON - LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND HAD THE STEERING MOTOR REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWAY BAR, CONTROL ARMS, LINK, AND MUCH MORE. AND, I STILL HAVE DIFFICULTIES STEERING - HAVE A CONSTANT CLUNCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED THE RACK & PINION REPLACED - ESTIMATED COST $550. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 82,000 MILES. THE STEERING & SUSPENSION PROBLEMS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT 50,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547185October 8, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546926October 6, 2013
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
2006 SATURN ION WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A FLAT CURVE AT 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FROZE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND LEFT THE ROAD STRIKING TREES AND BRUSH CAUSING SOME PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING SIGNALS WERE SEEN OR HEARD AT OR BEFORE THE EVENT. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL WHEN IT CAME TO REST AND WAS DRIVEN BACK ON TO THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546781October 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
I BOUGHT MY CAR USED OFF OF A USED CAR LOT, THE POWER STEERING WAS RECALLED AND IT GOT FIX, BUT NOW THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MESSED UP. MY CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, THE WINDOWS WONT ROLL ALL THE WAY UP AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I CAN'T TURN MY CAR OFF. MY DRUM BRAKES ON THE BACK ABSOLUTELY SHATTERED ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRUM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546310September 30, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544009September 17, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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