Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10178318January 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. I PURCHASED IT IN JULY OF 04. IT NOW HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT & JUST STARTEDTO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ON VERY COLD MORNINGS (15-25 DGREES) IT WILL NOT START. AFTER TRYING TO START IT AFTER 15-30 MINUTES (OR TRYIN TO JUMP IT OFF) IT FINALLY CRANKS. NOW I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB (WHERE I GOT THIS WEBSITE) & NUMEROUS SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). IT IS AROUND $600 TO REPLACE THIS. WHY SHOULD THE OWNERS HAVE TO PAY THIS IF ITS A PART THAT SHOULD BE CLEARLY RECALLED! ITS SATURNS FAULT, MAKE THEM PAY THE MONEY. NOT SINGLE MOTHERS SUCH AS MYSELF! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178223January 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH "PASSLOCK" SENSOR WENT OUT ON MY 2003 SATURN ION II, IT WAS NEAR ZERO DEGREES OUTSIDE, MY 2 MONTH OLD SON WAS ALONG, AND I WAS STUCK ON THE ROAD FOR SEVERAL MINUTES TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY THAT A SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE GAS FLOW STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AND THE CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT INITIALLY DID NOTHING. I WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES, CALLED FOR MY SON TO BE PICKED UP, THEN TRIED AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES IT STARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I LEARNED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND HAD A FAULTY "PASSLOCK" SENSOR. APPARENTLY, WHEN THE IGNITION IS TOO COLD, THE GREASE BEGINS TO HARDEN, CAUSING THE SWITCH TO BE UNABLE TO MAKE PROPER CONTACT. THIS MAKES THE CAR THINK SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STEAL IT, SO THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN AND STOPS GAS FLOW FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES. AFTER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS AND YOU CAN ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IF THE GREASE HAS NOT WARMED UP ENOUGH BY THE, THE WHOLE THING STARTS OVER AGAIN. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL TODAY. THE SWITCH IS AGAIN GOING BAD. MY HUSBAND HAD TO BE TO COURT THIS AFTERNOON AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS TIME WE HAD TO WAIT AND TRY AGAIN 3 TIMES, WASTING 45 MINUTES. AT LEAST THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY TIME THAT WAS WASTED. LAST TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MY BABY COULD'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE COLD FOR TOO LONG WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY OTHER CARS IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY. NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME TO OUR VEHICLE, I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS QUITE REGULARLY AND THAT SATURN HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE SEE: HTTP://WWW.AUTOWEB.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/5610 FOR MORE COMPLAINTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178130January 8, 2007
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS CUT OFF BY A CAR FROM THE RIGHT LANE WHILE TRAVELING ON I280 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WAS FORCED INTO THE NEXT LANE TO MY LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION - I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS A RENTAL (ENTERPRISE-RENT-A-CAR) - MY ATTEMPTS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AS TO ANY POSSIBLE DEFECTS OF THE CAR FROM ENTERPRISE (& ELCO ADMIN SERVICES) HAVE PROVED FRUITLESS. I REPEATEDLY INFORMED ENTERPRISE THAT I WAS NOT INJURED AND THAT FOR MY OWN PIECE OF MIND I SIMPLY WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178132January 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK OR START AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING A SHORT OR LONG TIME. SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE VEHICLE. AFTER LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINS THE VEHICLE THEN STARTS AND SHUTOFF AGAIN AND IT TAKES ABOUT FIVE TRIES TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178138January 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2004 ION HAS THE INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE AS WELL. IT FIRST HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR HAD 42000 MILES (CURRENTLY AT 80000). THE DISPLAY ON THE DASH READS "SERVICE ENGINE" AND TURNING THE KEY RESULTS IN NOTHING. REPEAT ATTEMPTS IN 10 MINUTE INCREMENTS USUALLY FIXES IT RIGHT UP, AFTER 2 OR 3 TRIES. SATURN SHOULD REALLY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS THIS SEEMS TO BE THE RULE MORE SO THAN THE EXCEPTION WITH THESE IONS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177416December 31, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY SATURN ION 3 HAD 4 OCCURRENCES OF SERVICE VEHICLE'S MESSAGE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS SINCE DEC 29, 2006. WHEN I TURN THE KEY, THE ENGINE DOESN'T TURN OVER. THE MESSAGE WINDOWS SHOWS "SERVICE VEHICLE" AND THE "SECURITY"/PASS LOCK SYMBOL ON THE DASH KEEPS FLASHING. I KEPT TRYING TURNING THE IGNITION, NOTHING HAPPNENED. THE AFTER APPROX. 10 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED AND RAN GREAT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177388December 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 SATURN ION. THIS CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR WILL STALL. THIS WILL BE A RECALL ITEM ONCE WE GET TOGETHER AND SUE SATURN FOR THIS OBVIOUS NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND IS CONTINUAL. PERHAPS WHEN SOME UNFORTUNATE SOUL IS STRANDED IN THE WILDERNESS AND DIES, THEN THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS COLD WEATHER START PROBLEM. THE PUBLIC IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SO IS SATURN. IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH IT FOR THE CORPORATE OFFICE TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND DECIDE TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT THE DIFFICULTLY MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A TYPE OF LUBRICANT ON THE STARTER, WHICH HARDENS IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE CAR STALLS AS A RESULT, AND THEN THE PASSLOCK KICKS IN. AFTER 8 MINUTES, THE CAR MAY START, OR ONE MAY HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 8 MINUTES (OR MORE) FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOOSEN UP ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR MAY STALL YET AGAIN---AND SET OFF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM YET AGAIN. SATURN IS NEGLIGENT AT THE VERY LEAST--AND CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT IF THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM---THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF IT---AND DO NOTHING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176610December 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN 2003 ION WILL NOT START IN COOL TO COLD WEATHER. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR WILL NOT START, BUT WILL THEN START AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER SATURNS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176606December 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HEARING A NOISE IN THE CAR SINCE THE ODOMETER REACHED 500 MILES. AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEARS A NEW TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PUT ON THE CAR. THE NOISE STILL EXIST. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT. CONTACT BELIEVES THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS BAD WHEEL BEARINGS EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BEEN TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD A WARPED LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND THAT THE CAR HAS A BOUNCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE TRUE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176584December 19, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE CONSUMER HAS HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. SATURN DEALER REPLACED TIRE AS DEFECT FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERSHIP TOOK PICTURES OF TIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176340December 17, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, SUSPENSION:FRONT
2004 SATURN ION WITH 19,200 MILES ORIGINAL FIRESTONE 690 ( P185/70 R 14 ) FRONT TIRES WORN DOWN TO TREAD LIFE INDICATORS. FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WORN TO STEEL BELT. MOST WEAR ON BOTH FROM INNERMOST TREAD. VEHICLE TRACKS TRUE,NO MISALIGNMENT. ANY RECALLS OR INFO ON THESE TIRES OR VEHICLE ? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176227December 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TRIED TO START CAR NOTHING, SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT COMES ON. REPLACED BATTERY AND NEXT DAY SAME THING NO START. AFTER WAITING 10-15 MINUTES CAR STARTS LIKE NOTHING EVER WRONG . CALLED DEALER TOLD ITS GOING TO COST $175 FOR NEW SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176016December 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION 1. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN LATE 2004, AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL UNTIL THIS WINTER (2006). MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THE CAR REFUSES TO CRANK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO A SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. I PAID OVER $100 TO HAVE A NEW BATTERY PUT IN, AND WAS REASSURED THAT IT FIXED THE STARTING PROBLEM. I THOUGHT IT HAD UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK LATER. THE CAR HAS STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING AGAIN, SO I PAID FOR A BRAND NEW CAR BATTERY THAT I DIDN'T NEED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO SATURN TO GET THEM TO LOOK AT THE CAR AGAIN, BUT I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ONLINE. I FOUND THAT SATURNS NOT STARTING IN COLD WEATHER IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND SATURN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM NOT GOING TO GO PAY TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION SWITCH PUT IT, WHEN THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM AT ALL. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT SATURN ISN'T OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEMS SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE VEHICLES THEY OWN. SO MUCH MONEY IS BEING WASTED BY THE CONSUMER, TRYING TO GET A PROBLEM FIXED, THAT ISN'T FIXABLE UNLESS GM RECALLS THIS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175821December 11, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. I AM SEEING ALOT OF PEOPLE POSTING ON DIFFERENT FORUMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IS ANYTHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175461December 7, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I WENT TO START MY CAR 12-4-06 AT 6 AM CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LATER THAT DAY AT 9:45 AM CAR DID TURN OVER. CALLED CAR DEALER AND SPOKE TO HEAD OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT HE SAID THAT SINCE CAR WAS STARTED PROBLEM MIGHT NOT SHOW UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. ON 12-5-2006 SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE MORNING CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER. HAD THE CAR TOWED IN AND SAT THE FOR A FEW HOURS TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS AN IGNITION SWITCH.(IN THERE WORDS THE GREASE THAT IS INSIDE GELS UP IN VERY COLD WEATHER AND DOES NOT MALE CONTACT TO TURN THE CAR ON. I FEEL THAT A DISSEVICE IS BEING DONE TO ANYONE THAT OWNS A SATURN ION. THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE RUNNING INTO A LOT , BUT WE THE CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT. IF YOUR CAR DOES NOT START AND YOU GET STRANDED THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175327December 6, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON GRAVEL ROADS, DUST ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM ALL FOUR DOOR SEALS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND SUGGESTED NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON GRAVEL ROADS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, IT WAS DETERMINED DUST ACCUMULATED AROUND THE DOOR SEALS WHICH CAUSED THE DOORS TO OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - DUST ALSO ACCUMULATED IN AND AROUND THE LOCKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175340December 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 SATURN ION QUAD LEVEL 3, WILL NOT START WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS, OR STARTS AND IMMEDIATELY STALLS. THE PASSLOCK ICON BLINKS AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYS SERVICE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP VERBALLY STATED TO TURN KEY ON FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES TO RESET THE PASSLOCK, THEN TURN OFF, REMOVE KEY, AND TRY THE START SEQUENCE AGAIN. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE, FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, CAR IS CURRENTLY IMMOBILE IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS TOWN. AN INTERNET SEARCH STRONGLY SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THAT ALL SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT FOR RELIEF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175344December 6, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS DEVELOPED DUST AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR DOOR CAME OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED A BUNGY CORD WAS USED TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM OPENING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT THEN CLEANED OFF HEAVY DUST FROM THE LOCKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR SEALS BUT THAT DID NOT HELP*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175199December 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I OWN A SATURN ION II 2003 AND EVERY MORNING THAT IT IS COLD IT WILL NOT START. AFTER GETTING A NEW BATTERY, WHICH IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO DO, IT STILL WILL NOT START ON COLD MORNINGS. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN 03 TO LATE 04 MODELS REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH NOT TURNING IN COLD WEATHER. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175250December 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE WOULD START AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS OR NOT START AT ALL ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE NON SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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