Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10395784April 13, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT VIGOROUSLY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393747March 30, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD MOMENTARILY INCREASE AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A WIRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390566March 18, 2011
STEERING
I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND THE PWR STR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I SAFELY EXITED, I READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND IT SAID THIS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I WENT DIRECTLY TO A FIRESTONE DEALER BUT THEY WERE NEAR CLOSING AND COULD NOT PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTICS AND ASKED ME TO RETURN IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY RETURNED. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED GM TO RECALL OTHER GM VEHICLES IN MARCH 2010, BUT NOT THE SATURNS. WHILE THE PROBLEM MAY BE TEMPORARILY RESOLVED BY REPLACING 2 FUSES, THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR WHICH IS A RATHER EXPENSIVE ITEM. I BELIEVE THE SATURNS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL GM ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390551March 17, 2011
STEERING
I OWN A SATURN ION 2004 AND I AM EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. GM RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL SATURN IONS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS ISSUE. THE SATURN IONS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390057March 14, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3 COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE HARD AND DISPLAYED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. HE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,640.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386898March 8, 2011
STEERING
MY 2004 SATURN ION IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT RESETS IT, AS IT IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND KEEPS GETTING WORSE. IT WILL TURN OFF ABOUT 10 TIMES IN A MILE ON AVERAGE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND IT HAS CAUSED 14 DEATHS IN OTHER INSTANCES. AFTER CALLING THE DEALER, THEY SAY IT IS NOT A RECALL, AND WILL NOT HELP ME OUT. A FEW GM CARS LIKE THE COBALT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN. I AM IN THE PROCESS TO FIND THE PARTSAND REPLACED THEM, BUT THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. HERE IS A LINK ON A DISCUSSION FORUM FOR THIS TOPIC. HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/1695/SATURN-ION-POWER-STEERING-ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384121February 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY BECAME WEDGED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382849February 15, 2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381089February 8, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC YET THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING AND MOTOR MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379757January 31, 2011
STEERING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HER POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER 2004 SATURN ION. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. APPARENTLY MY WIFE'S CAR HAS THE SAME STEERING AS THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE VERY SAME THING. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CONSUMERS THAT DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING THIS CAR AND THAT THEIR STEERING CAN GO OUT ON THEM AT ANY MOMENT? THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378602January 25, 2011
STEERING
THIS COMPLAIN HAS TO DO WITH A SATURN 2004 ION, MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL, IT WAS HARD TO MAKE LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, AS DRIVING WITH A STEERING WHEEL THAT IS HARD TO MOVE IS REALLY DANGEROUS. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING TO A FAR PLACE, BUT I HAVE BEEN ONLINE CHECKING THE RECALLS ON THE SATURN ION 2004, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY WILL NOT RECALL THESE CARS, I KNOW THAT IS A LOSS ON MONEY BUT HONESTLY IS GOING TO BE YOUR FAULT IF SOMEONE GETS HURTS WHILE DRIVING WITH DEFECTS ON THE SATURNS, THEY WILL BE SUED . SO DON'T THINK ABOUT THE MONEY , THINK ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE, SO IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPENED TO ME, I WILL SUED THIS COMPANY . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378490January 24, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN REVVING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE WENT UNDER HIS HOOD AND PLACED THE THROTTLE BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. IT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378248January 22, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST BROUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION 2 A COUPLE DAYS AGO. TODAY I GOT UP AND READY FOR WORK AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR AND STILL NOTHING BUT THE LIGHTS AND RADIO ETC COME ON. I WAS LOOKIN FOR A RELIABLE CAR TO GET ME AND MY SON BACK AND FORTH BEING AS THOUGH WE HAVE NO FAMILY THAT LIVES CLOSE BY;;; TURNS OUT I THINK I MIGHT HAVE MADE A WRONG DECISION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 WEEKS NOW AND IT ALREADY IS TURNING INTO A NIGHTMARE. I AM HESITANT ON PUTTING MY SON IN THIS CAR BECAUSE IF I DO GET IT TO TURN ON AND THIS HAPPENS AGAIN WHAT ARE WE TO DO? IT IS FREEZING OUTSIDE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378220January 21, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND KEEP UP ON THE MAINTENANCE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS MISINTERPRETING A THEFT AND LOCKING UP THE FUEL . I READ THAT CHANGING THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT SATURN (GM) HAS KNOWN OF THIS COMPLAINT FOR SOME TIME NOW. THEY HAVE A NEW IMPROVED PART TO REPLACE THIS BAD ONE BUT I DON'T FEEL IT IS WORTH $400.00+ TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT WHEN IT IS A QUICK FIX AND IT IS THEIR FAULT TO START WITH. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE COLD WAITING AND PRAYING FOR THE CAR TO START SO THAT I CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME AND BACK HOME. IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 42,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376708January 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITHOUT NOTICE, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL START AND RUN LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED TOO, BUT AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANTS WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD, ALL THE LIGHTS, GAUGES AND HORN WILL WORK, BUT NO POWER GOES TO THE STARTER. AFTER A EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, TEN MINUTES OR MORE, THE CAR WILL START. THIS IS A RANDOM CONDITION, THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS OF WHEN IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS EITHER A GLITCH IN THE SECURITY PROGRAM OR THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GREASE IN THE STARTED SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376260January 11, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START ON MANY COLD MORNINGS. IT STARTED INITIALLY, I DROVE IT TO THE GAS STATION, THEN IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE BATTERY WAS FINE, BUT I REPLACED IT ANYWAY. THIS ISSUE PRESENTS IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS: TURN KEY AND GET NOTHING, OR TURN KEY AND HEAR AN INITIAL CRANK AND THEN IT SHUTS OFF. LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK. CAR WILL EVENTUALLY CRANK AND TURN OVER AFTER 10-20 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374686January 4, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION2. AT FIRST, I ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING. IF I WOULD WAIT FOR ANY UNGIVEN LENGTH OF TIME, IT WOULD MAGICALLY START. NOW, MY KEY HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION FOR TWO WEEKS. (STILL STUCK) I WENT TO A SATURN DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE SOLENOID, THE HOUSING UNIT, OR EVEN BOTH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY MAY HAVE WORN DOWN, OR A PART IN THE HOUSING MAY HAVE SCRATCHED THE INNER SURFACE OF THE HOUSING CAUSING THE KEY TO BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO THE "COLD" WEATHER ISN'T A FACTOR HERE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS WHO RIDE WITH ME EVERYDAY, AND I FEAR THAT WE WILL GET STRANDED IN GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE. IF MY CAR IS STOLEN BECAUSE THE KEY IS ALWAYS IN THE IGNITION, IF IT GETS STOLEN, WILL MY INSURANCE EVEN PAY FOR MY LOSS??? I THOUGHT SATURN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY GOOD WITH PROBLEMS INVOLVING THEIR AUTOMOBILES. I GUESS THAT IDEA ONLY APPLIED TO THEIR COMMERCIALS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374000January 3, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374022January 3, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. GM CLAIMS THAT THE CAR CAN STILL BE DRIVEN WITH EXTRA EFFORT. THAT'S BULL!!!! I AM A 200 POUND 6FT TALL MAN. AND I CANNOT STEER THE CAR INTO INTO A DRIVE WAY TO EXIT THE ROADWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 96000 MILES ON IT. HOW DOES THE SORRY EXCUSE FOR A RECALL FROM GM HELP ME?!!!!! 10 YEAR OR 100K MILE. MY CAR NOW HAS 150K MILES ON IT. PLEASE MAKE GM DO A FULL RECALL ON THESE VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373605December 31, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 36 DEGREES THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE IGNITION LOCKS ME OUT UNTIL THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE RESETS AND I CAN TRY AGAIN. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY OTHERS EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLVE OR RECALL BY GM, I HAVE BOUGHT A SMALL ELECTRICAL HEATER TO SET ON MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WARMS UP THE IGNITION INSIDE THE CAR AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. UNTIL I FOUND THIS SOLUTION I WAS LATE TO WORK, LATE FOR APPOINTMENTS AND ONCE STRANDED IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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