Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10251967December 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. CAR WON'T START, THEN INTERLOCK PREVENTS CAR FROM BEING STARTED FOR 8-10 MINUTES. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251765December 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10-15 MINUTES WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE. BATTERY REPLACED AND IT DID NOT HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251677December 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START. THIS IS LEAVING MY WIFE AND KIDS STRANDED IN THE COLD A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY NOW. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND AT THIS WEBSITE AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. THIS IS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251607December 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY DESIGN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH LEAKS LUBRICANT ONTO THE WIRES OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. IN COLD TEMPERATURES THIS LUBRICANT FREEZES AND PREVENTS THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL NEEDED BY THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FROM BEING RECEIVED BY THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). WHEN THIS SIGNAL ISN'T RECEIVED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KICKS IN. IT THEN SHUTS OFF THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR A DEFAULT PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES OR SOMETIMES LONGER FOR UP TO AN HOUR. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE DRIVER BEING STRANDED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THERE'S NUMEROUS DOCUMENTATION IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SATURN IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, EXCEPT TO CHARGE UNREASONABLE PRICES TO FIX. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO MANY REVIEWS ONLINE THIS PROBLEM RESURFACES AT A LATER DATE... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251160December 9, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER OR WILL OCCASIONALLY TAKE MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND MADE MINOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250830December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. MY WIFE WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO START HER CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND STILL NO LUCK. THE PASSLOCK LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SERVICE VEHICLE. SO I TOLD MY WIFE TO GET IN THE CAR AND SHIFT IT TO NEUTRAL SO WE COULD PUSH IT INTO A DIFFERENT SPOT SO SHE COULD TAKE MY TRUCK TO WORK. SHE DECIDED TO TRY AND START IT ONE LAST TIME AND IT THEN STARTED. FRUSTRATED, I WENT ON TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCH FOR ION PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND ABOUT 200 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND TAKE CARE!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250882December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IF THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS), THEN WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON.' FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. 'THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON' SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. NOW, YOU MAY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. .HOWEVER, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. A SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY START AFTER THE PRESENT 'LOCK-OUT' WILL BE WHEN THE IGNITION SEEMS TO CRANK A BIT MORE THAN JUST A CLICK, BEFORE LOCKING OUT AGAIN. REMEDY:1. THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER MUST RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE. THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, WHICH CERTAINLY CAN BE CONSTRUED AS AN ADMISSION TO THE FAULTY DESIGN. OF COURSE, THIS TYPE OF REMEDIAL MEASURE CANNOT BE USED IN COURT, BUT IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL TO THOSE OF US CONSUMERS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE FAULTY DESIGN. SATURN MUST OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MISTAKE AND FIX IT, BEFORE SOMEONE IS STRANDED IN THE COLD, IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE. SERVICE BULLETIN:040845005 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10007431 MFG BULLETIN DATE: 20060301 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH BULLETIN SUMMARY: NO CRANK, NO START WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IS COLD - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) B2960 AND OR B3033 ARE SET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250573December 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE OWN A 2003 SATURN ION AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO PRESS A RELEASE BUTTON IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO GET THE KEY OUT. IN ADDITION, THIS APPEARS TO CREATE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE 30 DAY WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY SAID THEY WERE "UNABLE TO REPLICATE" PROBLEM, UNBEKNOWNST TO US THIS WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SATURN IONS. THE "TEMPORARY FIX" IS EVEN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THAT'S JUST WRONG! HOW CAN A COMPANY GET AWAY WITH SELLING SUCH A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT -- AND ESPECIALLY A CAR!!! I FEEL RIPPED OFF AND SATURN SHOULD STAND BEHIND SUCH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE ISSUE. THIS DOES CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START LEAVING YOU STRANDED. THE DEALERSHIP WON'T EVEN OFFER TO GIVE A "FREE ESTIMATE" -- AND NOW THEY TELL ME THERE ARE VARIOUS POSSIBLE FIXES -- IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PART IS BROKEN. SO I HAVE TO GIVE THEM $85 FOR THEM TO TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX. I AM A SINGLE PARENT, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS AFFORDABLE AND I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SATURN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM!!! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE ONLINE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250640December 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD THE CAR IN MARCH 2008 FROM A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP, AND NEEDED A HEAD GASKET IN LESS THAN A YEAR. IF THE CAR WAS CERTIFIED HOW THE CAR CAN HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM SO MUCH. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENT, OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THEN THE LIGHT BLEW OUT IN THE DASH BOARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250224December 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OCCURS ONLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THE CAR STARTS THEN DIES OR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START AT ALL. IT USUALLY TAKES BETWEEN 20 MIN TO SEVERAL HOURS IN THE FREEZING COLD TO GET THE CAR STARTED. SO FAR THIS WEEK IT HAS REFUSED TO START 4 TIMES 2 OF THOSE TIMES WHEN I WAS AWAY FROM HOME OR FRIENDS LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE COLD. I WAS ONCE FOR 2 DAYS AT A COWORKERS HOUSE BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO START IN THE FREEZING COLD LAST WINTER AND I LIVED 30 MILES AWAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY CAR THAT SATURN REFUSES TO RECALL. ONE DAY SOMEONE LIKE ME IS GOING TO GET STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND POSSIBLY FREEZE IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR SEVERAL DIFFERENT REPAIR PLACES AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10250133November 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT JUST MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. I HAVE HAD A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED LAST YEAR FOR A LOT OF MONEY LAST YEAR. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER, BUT AS SOON AS IT GOT COLD THIS WINTER THE PROBLEM IS BACK. IT WILL OCCUR ABOUT 1/4 OF THE TIMES IT IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN VERY COLD WEATHER (UNDER 25 F). I JUST WAIT 8 MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN. I CAN'T KEEP FIXING THIS WHEN SATURN IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. AT LEAST THE MONEY I SPENT LAST YEAR SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE FOR GOOD. IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING AND IF CAUGHT IN THE SEVERE COLD COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249288November 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A SATURN ION 2 2003 AND IT TAKES SPELLS WHERE IT WON'T START. TODAY I HAD TROUBLE. WHEN IT WON'T START THE LIGHTS AND RADIO, ETC WORK, A LIGHT COMES ON ON THE MESSAGE CENTER THAT SAYS TO SERVICE VEHICLE BUT IT WON'T TURN OVER. TODAY I LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MIN AND IT STARTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248671November 13, 2008
VISIBILITY
MY 18 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING DURING A HEAVY RAIN DOWNPOUR AND ALMOST HAD A WRECK DUE TO THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE WIPER ARM SUDDEN BECAME "POSSESSED" WERE IT WAS MOVING ERRATICALLY CAUSING PRACTICALLY ZERO VISIBILITY ON A BUSY TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. SHE BARELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS A SCHOOL BUS ROUNDED THE CURVE. NEEDLESS TO SAY EVERYONE WAS LUCKY. A GOOD SAMARITAN MECHANIC STOPPED AND QUICKLY ASSESSED THAT A PLASTIC SUPPORT HAD BROKEN ON THE WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. WE HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR IN A STRANGER'S DRIVEWAY UNTIL WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO MOVE IT DURING SAFER CONDITIONS. I GOT ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND WHERE OTHERS HAD SUFFERED THE SAME ISSUE!! I KNOW PARTS WEAR OUT, BUT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT GIVES NO WARNING. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY NOT HAVE WRECKED OR INJURED THE SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT WERE STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AWAITING THE BUS. ANGRY MOTHER *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248580November 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY SATURN ION 03 WILL NOT START UP IN EARLY MORNING COLD TEMPERATURE. THE IGNITION SENDS NO SIGNAL TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT SHUTS OFF FUEL TO THE CAR. IT TAKES, ON AVERAGE, TWENTY MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY START. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. AT FIRST, I SPECULATED IT WAS THE BATTERY, COOLANT/ANTI-FREEZE FLUID, LOW GAS BUT ALL CHECKED OUT FINE. AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS AND SATURN ION PROBLEMS I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT WAS TRIGGERING THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248613November 12, 2008
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST THING I HAVE EXPERIENCED HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON VERY COLD DAY BELOW 32 DEGREES. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED LAST YEAR AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLD HERE IN INDIANA I HAVE BEGUN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR JUST WILL NOT START ON VERY COLD DAYS AGAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248615November 12, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BEGINNING IN THE FALL OF 2006 I BEGAN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR REVVING UP WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. AT TIMES THIS PROBLEM WOULD STOP AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT AND HAVE NOT FOUND ANY THING WITH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MOST RECENTLY I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE CAR WAS HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. I AM NO EXPERIENCING A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 5-10 MIN. THE ENGINE REVES UP AND THE CAR IDLES VERY HIGH 3 OR 4 RPMS. WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR FOR WHATEVER REASON THE CAR STOPS FINE BUT CONTINUES TO IDLE HIGH. THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO LUNG FORWARD WHEN THE ENGINE IDLES HIGH. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO GO THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME AND I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WILL GET HURT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248620November 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE HEATER IS OPERATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE EXTREMELY HIGH. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE FALL OF 2006. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES, THEN NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248485November 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, IT WILL NOT START, BUT IF I WAIT 10-15 MINUTES IT WILL START. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING STATING, "WE CAN'T FIX IT IF IT IS NOT DOING IT AT THE TIME WE ARE LOOKING AT IT." NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248384November 10, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNFASTEN THE SEAT BELT, SOMEONE HAD TO CUT IT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CONTACT FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET REPAIRED AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SHE FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT; THEREFORE, THE REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000. UPDATED 12/1/08 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE SET BELT AND BUCKLE. UPDATED 12/05/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248053November 9, 2008
EQUIPMENT
CAR WILL NOT START AT RANDOM TIMES. I WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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