Saturn Ion Complaints (2005)

573 consumer complaints on file.

#10253574January 2, 2009
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN ION, IT WAS SNOWING HERE IN SEATTLE. THE POWER STEERING WITHOUT ANY WARNING GAVE OUT. I COULD NOT MANEUVER MY CAR AND THE CAR ENDED UP HITTING THE SIDEWALK WITH ALOT OF FORCE AND CAUSING FRONT DAMAGE. WHEN I CONTACTED SATURN THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE NOT ISSUING A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252738December 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWO DAYS AFTER MOVING TO NJ FROM FL AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I FOUND THAT IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN THE STEERING IS GOOD FOR MAYBE 20 MINUTES. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSE AND TOOK IT TO A SHOP. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I DO SOME RESEARCH BECAUSE A CAR THIS YOUNG SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME MODEL. MY CAR IS A SATURN, ION 2005. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251996December 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION AND IT HAS A HABIT OF NOT STARTING AT TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE OWNED IT. WE TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. WE HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM 10-45 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO START AND IT SOMETIMES CAUSE MY HUSBAND TO BE LATE TO WORK. THIS IS AN EVEN BIGGER CONCERN SINCE WE HAVE A FOUR MONTH OLD SON. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY OR TIME DURING THE WEEK TO GO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE CALLED THE COMPANY WHO HANDLES MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. FROM THE DISCUSSION BOARDS I GATHER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251448December 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
SATURN ION 2005 PROBLEM STARTING-EVERY THREE OR FOUR STARTS, THE LOCK SYMBOL SHOWS UP AND CAR WILL NOT START, PANEL, HEADLAMPS, ACCESSORIES ARE OPERATING, BUT STARTER SEEMS LOCKED OUT. AFTER 10-20 MINUTE WAIT, IT USUALLY STARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251220December 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION WON'T START WHEN IT'S COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251125December 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AT ABOUT 38,000 MILES, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SWITCH WITH KEY FROM THE SATURN DEALER FOR ABOUT $140.00 AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF (THANK GOD I'M A MECHANIC) OR THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT TRIPLE. SATURN DOES NOT CLAIM ANY DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF KEY SWITCH FAILURES, BUT GM IS CERTAINLY WILLING TO TAKE OUR MONEY TO REPAIR A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. NEXT VEHICLE I PURCHASE WILL BE MADE BY CHRYSLER-2005 CARAVAN SXT IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT WITH VERY GOOD FUEL ECONOMY. NO MORE GM PRODUCTS FOR THIS FAMILY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247782November 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN ONE OF MY KEYS LOCKS THE IGNITION, ALL OCCURRENCES WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON, AND I HAD TO REALLY WORK AT IT TO GET THE KEY TO TURN. IT COULD TAKE UP TO 5 MINUTES OF JIGGLING THE KEY HARD BEFORE IT TURNS. THIS ENDED WHEN I STARTED USING MY OTHER KEY. WITH THIS OTHER KEY, THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE RADIO TURNS ON BUT THERE IS ONLY A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE CAR. IF I WAIT LONG ENOUGH, THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START. HOWEVER, I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO WAIT. THIS HAPPENS BOTH AFTER THE CAR SITS NO MORE THAN A FEW DAYS OR AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT THE DAY BEFORE. IT ALSO HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER AND IN MODERATE WEATHER. I CANNOT DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT IS SO UNRELIABLE, BUT I ALSO CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247414November 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246969October 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246669October 24, 2008
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION-3 WITH 87,639 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK ON THE FREEWAY OUT OF NOW WHERE MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED ME TO SWERVE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I THEN PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RE-GROUP AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE CAR AND STARTED DRIVING, IT WAS AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT NOW. IT OCCASIONALLY TRIPS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT, SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SATURN DEALER. THEY SCANNED THE CAR TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A FAILED POWER STEERING MODULE. THEY WANT $955.00 PLUS TAX TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR. HOWEVER I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DEAL WITH IT FOR I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK AND FORTH TO WORK TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245230October 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION LOCKS. CANNOT GET KEY TO TURN. HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244723October 8, 2008
STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN RESUMED WORKING. SHE STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HER FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN THE FOG LAMP WAS CRAXKED. UPDATED 12/16/08.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244129October 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A RECALL RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244037September 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
3-16-2005 CAR LEAKING RED FLUID: DIAGNOSIS-AXLE NOT SEATED, NEW PARTS ORDERED, CAR REPAIRED 4-7-2005 CAR MAKING THUD SOUND WHEN SHIFTING: DIAGNOSIS-NOT DUPLICATED (NEVER CHECKED TRANSMISSION-JUST DROVE CAR) 9-29-2005 CAR NOT GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEARS SMOOTHLY, CAR NOT STARTING WHEN KEY IN IGNITION, INTERNAL CAR GAUGES NOT WORKING: DIAGNOSIS-INTERNAL COMPUTER PARTS FIXED-COULD NOT DUPLICATE GEAR ISSUES (AGAIN-DID REMOVE TRANSMISSION AND INVESTIGATE) 3-24-2008 PREVIOUS GEAR PROBLEMS PERSISTED, CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR; TOOK CAR TO DEALER, DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE ALTHOUGH PROBLEM WAS REPORTED PRIOR UNLESS I PAID 9-1-2008 CAR WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR 2ND; DIAGNOSIS (PAID FOR AT MY EXPENSE)-TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED (AT MY EXPENSE) 9-11-2008 CAR REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEARS: RETURNED TO DEALER AND FOUND RED FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE: DIAGNOSIS-ADDITIONAL PART IN TRANSMISSION LOOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244064September 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN MY CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THE BATTERY TAKEN OUT TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS. EACH TIME THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243777September 28, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I SHUT OFF MY 2005 SATURN ION, THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE KEY WILL COME OUT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING. THE PWR STR COMES ON ALL THE TIME. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF, IT RESETS, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I TOOK MY CAR TO SATURN OF FAYETTEVILLE (NC) WHEN THE POWER STEERING FIRST STARTED ACTING UP, AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE STEERING CONSOLE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST OF FIXING IT? OVER $900. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243477September 25, 2008
STEERING
I HAVE 2005 SATURN ION AND WHEN I GO TO TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEY GETS STUCK. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SO FAR. SATURN IS NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241308September 8, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKED TO THE POINT THAT A TIRE GAUGE CAN BE PLACED INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INSPECTION STATION AND THE CONTACT WAS ORDERED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. SHE WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE HER TIRES AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT PAID FOR NEW TIRES, BUT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DOT NUMBER AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,240. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240807September 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED HER VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. SHE DROVE TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE BY PULLING WIRES AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. ALSO, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,600. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240300August 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCKS UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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