Saturn Ion Complaints (2006)
1,235 consumer complaints on file.
- #10522378June 29, 2013STEERING
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING THROUGH INDIANA ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN A NOTIFICATION SOUNDED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO LOCK UP AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MANEUVER. WE CHANGED THE FUSE IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL BOX, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND THE POWER STEERING DISABLES WHILE DRIVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10522015June 27, 2013ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ON JUNE 21, 2013 PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN ENGINE OFF. KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO REMOVE KEY BUT COULD NOT. CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. IN ORDER TO TURN CAR OFF HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE PLUG FROM THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE EVERYTHING ELSE CONTINUE TO RUN AND KILL THE BATTERY. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE KEY IGNITION BUT NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START. SEEMS LIKE ITS AN ELECTRICAL OR SECURITY PROBLEM WITHIN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. CAR IS STILL IN SHOP WITH MECHANIC HOPING TO GET IT STARTED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10521405June 24, 2013STEERING
WITHOUT WARNING MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE THRUWAY. I STOPPED AT THE NEXT REST AREA AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE MORE ON MY TRIP DOWN AND THREE TIMES ON MY WAY BACK HOME, FOR A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. STEERING WAS VERY HARD AT LOW SPEEDS AND I ALMOST HIT THE WALL TO A PARKING GARAGE WHEN I STOPPED AT A REST AREA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10520811June 20, 2013STEERING
POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED AND STEERING BECAME HEAVY. I HAD TO USE LOT OF FORCE TO PULL OVER. I CALLED FOR HELP THEY RESTARTED THE CAR AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. IT CAME BACK AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND THE DAY AFTER. ITS CONSISTENTLY COMES AND GOES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10519925June 15, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE A SEVERE GAS LEAK IN MY CAR. THE GAS SMELL WAS FAINT AT FIRST. THEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR IN MORNINGS OR EVENINGS. THEN THE GAS BECAME UNBEARABLE & YOU COULD SEE A CONSTANT DRIP OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. I FELT SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT THAT I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST PLACE. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FUEL PUMP. I CALLED SATURN & THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME $100 TO SEE IF IT'S THE ACTUAL "SPECIAL POLICY" THAT'S ON MY CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10519427June 12, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY BECAME STUCK IN IGNITION. COULD NOT REMOVE, CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. EMERGENCY IGNITION RELEASE DID NOT WORK. TOOK CAR TO AUTHORIZED GM DEALER, WAS TOLD THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING HAD FALLEN APART AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT IT IS FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH THIS CAR MODEL. TOTAL REPAIR COST $569.97. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10515870June 9, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN AUGUST OF 2008 AT APPX 37000 MILES, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED IN THE 'RUN' POSITION. SINCE THE CAR WAS A MANUAL, I STALLED IT OUT AND CALLED A LOCKSMITH, WHO COULD NOT REMOVE OR TURN THE KEY EITHER. HE DISCONNECTED THE CAR FROM THE BATTERY SO THAT IT WOULD NOT DRAIN DUE TO THE ACCESSORIES STILL BEING ACTIVE. HE TOLD ME HOW TO RECONNECT THE BATTERY SO THAT I COULD DRIVE IN FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY (JUNE 2013) AT APPX 100000 MILES. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN BEYOND THE ACCESSORIES POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, KEY POSITIONS, CLUTCH POSITIONS, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO A REPAIR CENTER. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAULTY IGNITION PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE FROM BOTH SIDES (COULDN'T TURN OFF AND COULDN'T TURN ON). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514799June 3, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
MY SATURN ION HAS HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION AND OR THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE 29,000 MILES .IT CURRENTLY HAS 143,000 MILES AND HAS ISSUES ONCE AGAIN. EACH TIME EITHER THE KEY WOULD CLICK BACK ONLY ONE NOTCH AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF AT ALL DUE TO THE KEY BEING "FROZEN" IN THE CYLINDER OR THE KEY WOULD NOT SPRING BACK FROM THE STARTING POSITION TO THE RUN POSITION THUS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AFTER CAR STARTED. THE LAST DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO GM AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR OTHER CAR OWNERS BEFORE, BUT WITH NO RESULT. EACH TIME IT HAS COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $350. TO $700.00 NOT INCLUDING TOWING AND RENTING OF AN ALTERNATE VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TECHNICALLY NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND RECALLED SO IT DOES NOT BECOME ONE WHEN A LITTLE KID CLIMBS INTO A CAR THAT CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF OR THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514603June 1, 2013STEERING
AS I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF IT WILL RETURN. IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND INTERMITTENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514409May 30, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE IGNITION WOULDNT TURN OFF, THE KEY CAME OUT, LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING. I TRIED WIGGLING THE KEY, CHECKING THE SHIFTER, EVERYTHING, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IVE SEEN AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, GM IS LOOSING A LOT OF BUSINESS DUE TO NOT SOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514095May 29, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OR RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE BATTERY AND FUEL SENSOR WAS DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO POWER THE VEHICLE OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513652May 27, 2013STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WORKED FINE. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE/MORE FREQUENT. I CAN HEAR A CLICK WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511601May 13, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2 UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS 5/6/13. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT MOVE. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED. I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE ION. I DROVE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I PAID $292.68 FOR A NEW IGNITION LOCK AND IGNITION CYLINDER. I SEE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE YET AT NO POINT DID GM NOTIFY ME OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM NOR OFFER TO FIX IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511695May 13, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10510992May 7, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE REMAINED POWERED ON AND THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT A WIRE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,117.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10510160April 30, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE KEY STICKS IN IGNITION AND THE CAR CAN'T BE TURNED OFF UNLESS THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED OR THE FUEL PUMP IS DISCONNECTED. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE AVERAGE USER, LIKE MYSELF, WHO ISN'T AWARE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE POSES THE RISK OF BEING SHOCKED OR BURNED TRYING TO TURN OFF THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508870April 19, 2013STEERING, AIR BAGS
MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE FREEWAY, SHE CALLED ME HYSTERICAL. SHE COULDN'T STEER THE CAR. SOMEONE HELPED HER PUSH IT TO THE SIDE. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD WHAT HAPPENED WAS VER RARE AND DANGEROUS. MY MAINTENACE PERSONEL WHO HAS WORKED FOR BMW FOR 17 YEARS SAYS HE'S ONLY SEEN THIS ONCE IN HIS LIFE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO FH DAILEY IN SAN LEANDRO, AND THE TOTAL COST WAS $965.00 A FEW DAYS LATER MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY HORN WOULDN'T BLOW NOR WOULD MY CRUISE CONTROL WORK. AGAIN I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED I WASN'T GOING TO TAKE THE CHANCE AND DRIVE IT WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. THE COST FOR THAT REPAIR WAS $172.57 I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE $240 BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY LOWER. I'VE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RE-CALL. I AM ASKING FOR A FULL REFUND. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10507066April 4, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, POWER TRAIN
2006 SATURN ION MANUAL TRANS. KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. TO TURN CAR OFF, NEED TO STALL ENGINE (POP CLUTCH), THEN DISCONNECT BATTERY SINCE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS REMAIN ON. REPAIR WAS IGNITION LOCK REPLACEMENT BY DEALER (APPROX $400). BASED ON COMMENTS AT NHTSA AND OTHER SITES, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE TYPE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10504507March 26, 2013ENGINE
ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CAR HAS HAD MOMENTS WHEN IT WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I MAY ACCELERATE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ONE DAY I'M JUST DRIVING DOWN A PARKWAY AT ABOUT 40MPH, AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE RADIO STAYED ON BUT THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. LUCKILY NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME AT THAT POINT. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAID IT MAY BE THE BATTERY. WE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THAT DIDN'T STOP THE PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY, I PULLED OUT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN, AT THAT MOMENT, MORE THAN 10MPH AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WITH CARS RAPIDLY SPEEDING UP ON ME AND MY CAR NOT MOVING. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10504623March 26, 2013STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION REGARDING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS CRASH, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0