Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10175038December 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION-3 AND IT WILL NOT START BELOW 40 DEGREES, THIS IS A RIDICULOUS PROBLEM. THERE IS A THREAD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT : HTTP://WWW.AUTOSITE.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/5610 THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND SO FAR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, I AM JUST HOPING I CAN SELL THIS CAR ASAP BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN QUITE A PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175083December 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAVE A 5-SPEED MANUAL 2003 SATURN ION . EVERY TIME IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE CAR REFUSES TO START. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATED LAST WINTER, AND HAS A COUPLE TIMES THIS FALL, ALSO. NOW, THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS STAYING LOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIME AND EFFORT REQUIRED TO MAKE THE CAR START. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WORK FINE, INDICATING THERE IS POWER GETTING TO THIS EQUIPMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OVER TO START, A MESSAGE POPS UP SAYING "SERVICE ENGINE." NOTHING HAPPENS AFTER THAT. ONE CAN ALMOST PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. IF THE TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW FREEZING, ONE MUST BE PREPARED TO SIT AT HOME UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE RISES, AND ALLOWS FOR THE CAR TO START. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175099December 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WON'T START IN COLD WEATHER. WON'T EVEN TURN ON, THEN WILL AND SHUTS RIGHT OFF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175019December 3, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DROVE TO WORK; USED SEATBELT GUIDE; GOT BACK IN CAR TO GO HOME GUIDE NOT THERE. SEAT BELT GUIDE ATTACHED TO HEADREST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF; CANNOT REACH TO WHERE SEATBELT ATTACHED TO CAR FRAME. CAR DEALERSHIP EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174855December 1, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 SATURN ION NOT STARTING A FEW TIMES LAST WINTER I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO WATER IN THE FUEL OR A BATTERY PROBLEM AND AFTER TAKING STEPS TO FIX ANY DEFECTS WITH EITHER I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEM WITH MY CAR UNTIL THE FIRST COLD DAY THIS WINTER. IT HAS IN THE LAST MONTH FAILED TO START AT LEAST 6 TIMES, ALL ON COLD MORNINGS. IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO I DID SOME RESEARCH BEFORE CALLING THE DEALER AND FOUND OTHER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, THEY WERE STILL GOING TO CHARGE ME DIAGNOSTIC FEES IF I BROUGHT IN MY CAR. I CONTACTED THE SATURN CORPORATION TO FIND OUT WHY THAT HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND DID NOT GET AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. I AM PRESENTING THIS AS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR A FEW REASONS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE SITTING IN YOUR CAR IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO EVENTUALLY START. YOU CAN'T PLAN AHEAD FOR EMERGENCIES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE AUTOMATIC LOCKS THAT UNLOCK EVERYTIME YOU REMOVE THE KEY AND THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER IF I DON'T REMOVE THE KEY IN BETWEEN EACH ATTEMPT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SITTING IN MY CAR FOR 10-15 MINUTES, LATE AT NIGHT, AFTER WORK IN A DARK PARKING LOT WITHOUT LOCKED DOORS, AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO MY FAMILY OR ANYONE ELSE'S JUST BECAUSE THEIR CAR WASN'T BUILT PROPERLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174796November 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD MY 04 ION FOR ONE AND HALF YEARS NOW, AND LAST YEAR WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COLD, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE GREASE AROUND THE IGNITION COULD NOT TOLERATE THE COLD WEATHER HERE IN NEVADA. SO I HAD IT REPLACED. PROBLEM SOLVED, UNTIL THIS YEAR. JUST TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, IT DIDN'T START. NOW THE WEATHER HERE HAS BEEN IN THE TEENS FOR THE PAST WEEK, THIS TELLS ME THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE TEMPERATURE, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHAT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174848November 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WE OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS INTO THE BELOW 30 F, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY IS GOOD. SATURN HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS SO WIDESPREAD AND PERVASIVE OF A PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF SATURN/GM, AND THE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF SATURN/GM. IN ADDITION, PUTTING A SMALL ELECTRIC HEATER IN THE COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR TO KEEP THE CAR WARM, SO THE CAR WILL START WHEN IT IS COLD, PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION (FIRE, PROPERTY DAMAGE, ETC) OWNERS OF AFFECTED SATURN'S SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ENDURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174660November 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY IN COOLER WEATHER, FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH, THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AN APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED WITH A SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174689November 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. THIS MOSTLY OCCURRED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS BUT WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN ABOVE 70 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND COULD IMMEDIATELY BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174400November 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
WHEN IT IS COLD OUT AND THE CAR HAS SAT, IT WILL NOT CRANK. I HAVE SEEN INFORMATION THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE $590 FIX, OR THE IGNITION SWITCH $200 FIX. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE TIED TO THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM. IF THE CAR DOES NOTHING, AND I LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK THE CAR IT WILL CRANK FOR 1/2 A SECOND THEN STOP. IT WONT CRANK AGAIN UNTIL I LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR AGAIN. EVENTUALLY AFTER DOING THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IT WILL START. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM BUT BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM FOR EITHER THE BCM, THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR BOTH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174428November 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WOULDN'T START WHENEVER TEMP GOT BELOW 35 DEGREES. THIS HAPPENED TWICE.........THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE STARTER SWITCH NEEDED REPLACED! THIS ON A CAR THAT HAS FEWER THAN 60K ON IT. THEY ALSO HAD TO REPROGRAM THE BCM. APPARENTLY, I'M ONE OF 100'S THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM! SATURN DEALER WAS VERY NICE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING............BUT IS THIS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE TEMP IS REALLY FRIGID AND YOUR CAR NEEDS TO START TO KEEP WARM?? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174211November 24, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
2005 SATURN ION, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS W CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGING & NOT OPERABLE UNLESS VEHICLE SHUT OFF, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, & ACTIVATING ON IT'S OWN. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT BELIEVE ME UNTIL THE SERVICE MANAGER WITNESSED THIS PROBLEM. WHEN SATURN SENT AN ENGINEER TO REVIEW THE ISSUE HE ALSO DOUBTED ME AS HE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK & WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I SUBMITTED FOR A NEW VEHICLE UNDER THE STATES LEMON LAW THE SERVICE MANAGER ACCUSED ME OF MAKING THIS UP TO GET A NEW VEHICLE. SATURN REQUIRED ME TO PAY $1800 FOR MILEAGE DEPRECIATION TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE & REFUSED TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH CAME WITH MY ORIGINAL VEHICLE. MY BIG ERROR WAS IN GIVING THE DEALER & SATURN CORP 5 TIME TO TRY & FIX THE PROBLEM. THOSE 2 EXTRA ATTEMPTS CAUSED FURTHER MILEAGE WHICH COST ME IN ADDITIONAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173931November 21, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. (THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED BACK APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES.) WHILE I WAS WEARING THE SAFETY BELT, I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY HEAD, CHEST, AND KNEES. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10173597November 15, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING SUDDEN BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONSUMERS FOOT HIT THE BRAKE ARM WHICH SUPPORTS THE BRAKE PEDAL PAD WHICH RESTRICTS BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173019November 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
9/21/06, MY SON WAS DIVING HIS 2005 SATURN ION REDLINE HOME FROM WORK. CAR HAD 20,000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW. HE SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. HE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND DISCOVERED A LARGE FLUID LEAK WITH NO ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF DANBURY. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD LITERALLY "EXPLODED" (THEIR WORDS) AND UPON INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION CASE BLOWN APART, SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED BY "EXCESSIVE RPM". THE CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR FREE: TRANSAXLE ASSY & MOTOR ASSY, STARTER,2 PLATES, FLYWHEEL, SHAFT ASM I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE REP, WHO TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT PROVE IT WASN'T A DEFECT, AND WOULD THEREFORE COVER IT UNDER A "GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT, BUT NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN WHY THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RPM- ENOUGH TO BLOW UP THE TRANS CASE. I WAS ASSURED THAT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS ANYTHING MY SON HAD DONE TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE. GRANTED, AT 20 YEARS OLD, I AM CERTAIN HE ISN'T A MODEL DRIVER, BUT HE IS ALSO A VERY RESPONSIBLE KID AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW BADLY HE COULD HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR TO CAUSE THIS. THEIR REPAIR TICKET STATES THAT THE "FAILURE APPEARS TO BE FROM AGGRESSIVE DRIVING". COME ON! THE CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED TO SATURN THIS MORNING, DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH STARTING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME WE COULDN'T START IT EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH, THE DIALS BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH, AND THE ERROR READS "POWER START". WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, BUT AFTER READING NUMEROUS THREADS RE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, I AM LEARY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING COMMON THAT PERHAPS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173083November 9, 2006
STRUCTURE
IT HAS RAINED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE MIDDLE CONSOLE OF MY CAR AND ALSO AROUND MY ROOF AREA AND ALL DOWN THE SIDES. THE FIRST TWO TIME I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED THEY SAID SATURN COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THIS CONTINUED TO OCCUR FOR THE NEXT MONTH UNTIL IT GOT SO BAD TO START DRIPPING OUT OF MY MAP LIGHTS AGAIN. SATURN MECHANICS ASKED IF I WAS PARKING ON ANGLE, WHICH SHOULD NOT MATTER, OR IF I WAS DRIVING ON LARGE ANGLES, AND TOLD ME AGAIN THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIND ANYTHING. SATURN JUST TOLD ME THAT THE SUNROOF HAD A PROBLEM THAT WAS UNFIXABLE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT SCARES ME. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TABLE ON HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO COME OUT WITH A FIX BUT THEY WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TEMPORARY THAT SHOULD HELP BUT IF IT DIDN'T FOR ME TO BRING IT BACK IN TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. I FEEL AS THOUGH SUNROOF LEAKING AROUND MY ELECTRICAL PARTS IS DANGEROUS AND THAT THE CONTINUING BUILDUP OF MOISTURE IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY DO MY BODILY HARM. (1) THE WATER COULD LEAK INTO ELECTRICAL AREAS OF THE CAR CAUSING A FIRE AND (2) MOLD COULD BEGIN TO DEVELOP IN THE CAR FROM ALL THE MOISTURE WHICH EMITS VAPORS THAT ARE TOXIC A TEMPORARY FIX HAS BEEN APPLIED WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL FIX IT OR OF A FUTURE SATURN RECALL TO FIX THE SUNROOF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172994November 8, 2006
STEERING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND WOULD NOT NEED FIXED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172945November 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BEING PARKED A FEW DAYS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE STARTED OR DRIVEN MORE OFTEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172389November 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 SATURN ION III LOST 4 OF 5 QUARTS OF OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,000. THE DEALER SAID, TOO BAD". *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172144October 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MY CAR THAT I BELIEVE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. FIRST MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AND A "SERVICE VEHICLE" LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACE A BLOWN FUSE. TWO TO THREE DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I JUST DID NOT HAVE TIME TO TAKE THE CAR IN AGAIN TO HAVE A "BLOWN FUSE" REPLACED AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER IT HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY FINALLY (AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR A DAY AND A HALF) FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S DOOR HAS A WIRE INSIDE IT FOR THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS. ROLLING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW UP AND DOWN CAUSED THE WIRE TO CHAFFE AND BECOME BARE. THE WIRE WOULD TOUCH SOMETHING METAL IN THE DOOR AND BLOW THE FUSE. THIS, IN MY OPINION, COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD OR OTHER SAFETY ISSUES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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