Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10224605April 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IGNITION PROBLEM - ENGINE WON'T START, PASSLOCK PREVENTS IGNITION. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND IT'S RARELY THAT COLD IN THE MORNINGS, EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IT HAS BEEN A COLD WET BLUSTERY DAY BUT NOT FREEZING. CAR ACTS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DEAD, BUT FREQUENT MANIPULATION OF THE PASSLOCK REMOTE WILL EVENTUALLY CLEAR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, AND IF SATURN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THE 5 YEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING, THEN THEY SHOULD BE HELD CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION AND THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, AND REPLACE OR REPAIR THE CONTROL MODULE AT NO COST. MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK, AND IN SPEAKING TO OTHER OWNERS I CAN EXPECT A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE COMING MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224541April 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS AT 30 DEGREES F OR BELOW MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND COULD LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS STRANDED SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222656March 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
I PURCHASED MY 2007 ION IN OCTOBER 2007. WITHIN A MONTH OF ITS PURCHASE, I WAS AT THE DEALER GETTING THE CAR WASHED AND MENTIONED THAT THE CAR WAS "BREATHING HEAVY" LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL. THE SALES PERSON PACIFIED ME BY MENTIONING TO TIGHTEN THE GAS CAP WITH 3 - 5 CLICKS. THE WANTING TO STALL AND HEAVY BREATHING CONTINUED, SO THE SCIENCE PROJECT BEGAN. I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS- MAY IT WAS BAD GAS; NO. I TRIED SWITCHING TO MEDIUM GRADE GAS; NO. THE CAR SEEMS TO IDLE LOW: 600RPMS. IT WOULD SHAKE AND RUMBLE LIKE IT S "COUGHING." I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2008. THEY FOUND A SIX INCH SHARD OF METAL IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THEY DIDN'T SHOW IT TO ME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND A SENSOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I BROUGHT IT IN A THIRD TIME. A FIELD INSPECTOR WAS TO BE IN THE AREA. HE COULDN'T MAKE IT SO THEY CONSULTED WITH HIM OVER THE TELEPHONE AND THE REPORT BACK TO ME WAS THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE STALLING, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD HEAR THE "HEAVY BREATHING" THE CAR IS WORKING IN NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. I DON'T ACCEPT THIS! THE CAR HAS A DEFECT AND TRIES TO STALL WEEKLY! THE MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE WEEKENDS WHICH IS WHEN THE PROBLEM IS MOST EVIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222666March 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR OFTEN WILL NOT START. SEEMS TO BE IGNITION SWITCH, AND/ OR RELATED CIRCUITS. LEAVES MOTORIST STRANDED, USUALLY IN BAD WEATHER. REPLACED BATTERY AT 18 MOS., WHICH WAS NOT PROBLEM. REQUIRED 'RESCUE' FROM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MANY TIMES, IN LIEU OF TOW SERVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222232March 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A WEEK AGO, I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT LOSING REVERSE IN MY TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE DEALER REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE OR LABOR COSTS. I APPLAUD JAY WOLFE SATURN OF TIFFANY SPRINGS, MISSOURI. FOR TAKING THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222011March 22, 2008
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
SINCE 45,000 MILES THE CARS POWER STEERING WILL STOP WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN THE STEERING WILL WORK FOR A FEW MILES. TROUBLE CODE C0475 MEANS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ACCORDING TO THE TSB. CAR HAS 67,000 MILES AND I REFUSE TO PAY $1000 FOR A POORLY DESIGNED GM PART JUST ASK THEY CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221639March 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK ON MONDAY MARCH 16, 2008. THE CAR STARTED. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE DOORS LOCKED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO BACKWARD. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALERS FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221474March 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT IS USUALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO ROLL OVER. IT WILL ACT LIKE THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAVE ATTEMPTED REPLACING THE BATTERY AND THE SAME INCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. FROM WHAT THE MECHANICS TOLD THEM, AND THAT IT WAS AROUND A $500 PART TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221481March 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON SEVERAL OCCASSION WHILE IT HAS BEEN COLD OUT, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO ROLL OVER. THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEEM TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION WAS BY "JUMP STARTING" MY SATURN WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES IN THE WINTER THAT I FINALLY GOT SICK OF IT AND PARKED THE SATURN AND DROVE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I AM SO SICK OF MY CAR THAT I AM READY TO SELL IT. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE. AFTER READING THE FIRST 20 SOME RESULTS AND SEEN THAT EVERYONE WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE I WAS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS TOO AND AM GLAD THAT I HAVE NOT RAN INTO THEIR PROBLEM YET. IF SATURN DOES NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM REALLY SOON, I WILL SELL MY CAR AND I WILL NEVER BUY A SATURN AGAIN. THEY ARE REALLY MAKING A BAD PRODUCT THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY NEVER SELL AGAIN. AFTER ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE TO RECALL THE PROBLEM. TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS, NEVER BUY A SATURN. IT IS NOT JUST THE ION. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH OTHER VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221491March 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, OUR 07 SATURN ION HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT STALLS ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAIL - CAN'T EVEN PUT ON THE HAZARDS LIGHTS. THE SATURN DEALER HAS EVALUATED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM EACH TIME WITH NO RESULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221166March 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 1-50 MPH IN WET, SLIPPERY, OR ICY ROADS, THE TIRES WOULD SPIN OUT AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND THE THROTTLE POWER FAILED FOR 5-8 SECONDS. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONER. AFTER IT SNOWED, THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO SPIN AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND THEN SLID BACK DOWN. ON FEBRUARY 13, 2008, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL REGULATOR AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER THREE WEEKS. AN UNAUTHORIZED DRIVER AT THE DEALER CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH WITH TWO FEET OF WATER, CAUSING WATER TO ENTER THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT HAS 56 PHOTOS AVAILABLE. HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, TRANSMISSION TYPE, POWERTRAIN, AND FUEL TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220896March 12, 2008
STEERING
AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS, OUR 2006 SATURN ION'S POWER STEERING HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS ELECTRONIC AND THAT SEVERAL IONS HAVE COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX THIS IS ESTIMATED AT $900. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220985March 12, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE SIDE DOOR PANELS OF CAR ARE BUCKLING, DISTORTING AND MELTING....PAINT IS BUBBLING. DUE TO EXTREME HEAT FROM THE SUN REFLECTION OFF HOUSE WINDOWS CLAIMS SATURN. DAMAGE IS TOTALING ALMOST $3,000.00 CONTINUES TO GET WORSE EVERDAY AND IS GROWING ACROSS THE CAR PANELS. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SATURN WILL NOT PAY DENYING IT'S A WARRANTY ISSUE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR NEAR ANY FIRES...THERE ARE NO BURN MARKS ON CAR.....EVERYONE SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220678March 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN THE OUTSIDE WEATHER IS COLD, MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220693March 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING (32 DEGREES OR LOWER), MY CAR WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK. THIS IS A REPETATIVE PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BY MY DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220715March 10, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL). HE REPLACED THE BULBS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID, AND THE ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220745March 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY SATURN ION 2003 DOES NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COUPLED WITH IT GETTING A BIT HUMID. IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY ON A COLD, WET MORNING I WILL HAVE TO CALL A TAXI. SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR ITSELF -- IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM INTERFACING WITH THE STARTER/IGNITION IS A GUESS. SATURN WILL NOT ADMIT TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW AND/OR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP! MY CAR IS NOT RELIABLE AT ALL!! I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND THE DEALER. THE DEALER, AFTER THROWING IT ON THE COMPUTER, SAID THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND CHARGED ME $70 FOR ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. PLEASE HELP. SATURN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL AND FIX THEIR DESIGN PROBLEM. MY FIRST TWO SATURNS WERE GEMS THAT DROVE AND DROVE - NEEDING LITTLE CARE. THIS ONE IS SIMPLY ONE BIG DESIGN MISTAKE ... AND MY LAST SATURN. IT SIMPLY WILL NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220489March 9, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION2. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT FROM THE FIRST DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. RECENTLY (I.E IN THE LAST 2 YEARS) WHEN IT IS PARTICULARLY COLD, THE CAR WILL NOT START. I KEEP TRYING IT THEN WAIT 10 MINUTES AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. I HAVE SPENT $1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND THE STEERING WHEEL LUBRICANT LEAKING ON THE SYSTEM. IN COLD WEATHER THIS SEEMS TO MAKE THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM THINK SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STEAL THE CAR AND MAKES IT UNABLE TO START. THE PASSLOCK TIMES OUT AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN WILL START. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON ALL ION 2'S AND I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF LETTERS ON FORUMS PERTAINING TO THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220355March 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
EVERYTIME THE WEATHER IS A BIT COLD, MY SATURN ION 2003 WILL NOT START. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A TYPICAL AND UNFAIR PROBLEM FOR THE SATURN ION OWNERS. THE ALSO TOLD ME THEY DO THE SAME JOB ON THESE SAME CARS APPROXIMATELY 15 CARS/TIMES PER WEEK. THE EXPLANATION THEY GAVE WAS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEED IT TO BE REPLACED. THEN I TOOK IT TO MY SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE EXACT SAME THING: "THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS CAUSING THE PASSLOCK (SECURITY) SYSTEM TO THINK THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN AND SHUTS THE STARTER OFF." HE ALSO SAID IT WAS REALLY COMMON TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCHES EVERY WINTER BECAUSE THOSE KINDS OF CARS HAVE BEEN HAVING THAT SAME PROBLEM REGARDLESS WHAT THE YEAR MODEL THEY ARE. I ALSO ASKED THEM HOW MANY CARS (PER WEEK) THEY HAD TO FIX DUE TO THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT VARIED, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS BETWEEN 10 AND 25 CARS PER WEEK. ALSO THEY SAID THAT PREVIOUS YEAR THE WEATHER WAS SO COLD AND THE SATURN IONS WERE NOT STARTING, THAT IN JUST A WEEK THEY HAD 40-SOMETHING CARS COME IN TO GET FIX FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOLD THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR ME BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING. I REFUSED TO PAY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND I'M ASSUMING PEOPLE ARE PAYING TO FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EVEN THEIR FAULT. I ALSO CALLED SATURN AND THE CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE AT SATURN SAID THAT SATURN DOES NOT HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. THE LAST THING I DID WAS A RESEARCH ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I FOUND MANY WEBSITES, BLOGS AND FORUMS THAT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AS A FACTORY DEFAULT FROM SATURN. I READ PEOPLE'S COMMENTS AND THEY ALL SAID THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR SATURN IONS AND THAT SATURN DID WANT TO ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM OF THEM. IT APPEARS AS IF NO ONE WAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE ONES PAYING FOR THIS ARE THE CUSTOMERS. THIS IS NOT FAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220411March 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
OUR 2003 SATURN ION HAS A PERMANENT DEFAULT, IN THAT IT WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. AND THE TERM "COLD" IS RELATIVE. SATURN TOLD US THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. THUS, WE PAID AN EXCESS OF $200 TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS "SOLUTION" LASTED ONLY A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. NOW, SATURN TELLS US THAT THOUGH WE HAVE THE UPDATED IGNITION SWITCH, IT STILL CAUSES THE SAME NO-START PROBLEM, AND WE NEED A $575 (PLUS TAX) BODY CONTROL MODULE. WE HAD TO PAY $104.54 FOR SATURN TO TELL US THIS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER , WHICH IS LEAVING MANY PEOPLE STRANDED MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECTIFIED THROUGH A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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