Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10318284March 9, 2010
STEERING
MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN LOOSING ITS POWER STEERING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN DURING THE TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT OR WHEN I TRY TO DO A 3 POINT TURN. I HAVE BROUGHT IT 2 TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT AND WHY ITS HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR ISSUES. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT RANDOM SPEEDS NOT USUALLY THE SAME TIME AT ANY TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317625March 8, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE PREVIOUS DAY THE VEHICLE WAS USED TO JUMP START ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317694March 8, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317290March 6, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
CAR DOES NOT START WHEN BELOW 35 DEGREES. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES THEN IT WILL USUALLY START. POWER STEERING WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES AND GRADUALLY WORSENS OVER TIME. MY POWER STEERING IS NOW COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME SEVERAL MINOR TO MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING EITHER BY MYSELF OR WITH MY CHILDREN. I REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FUSES FIRST TO SEE IF THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO REALIZE ITS THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME $1100. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH THE CONSTANT FAILING OF THE POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316931March 4, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE ON MY 2004 SATURN ION REDLINE OFF & ON FOR THE LAST YEAR & 6 MONTHS. IT HAPPENS W/O WARNING ON THE FREEWAY, AROUND CORNERS, & SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT BACK TO BACK MANY, MANY TIMES IN A ROW. THIS IS THE SAME RECALL AS GM IS HAVING ON THEIR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTORS, IN FACT THE SAME PART #. THE CHEVY COBALT IS THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR, IN FACT THE SAME DRIVETRAIN. BUT FOR SOME REASON THE SATURN IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. WE HAVE THE SAME ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WITH THE SAME PART # & THE SAME DANGER AS THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316235March 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP GAVE OUT. IT STARTED IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS WORKING ON AND OFF AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FINALLY GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316320March 3, 2010
STEERING
1. POWER-STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 2. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES 2-3 TIMES A DAY AND OTHER DAYS, ONLY ONCE. 3. IF YOU TURN IGNITION OFF AN RESTART POWER-STEERING WORKS UNTIL THE POWER-STEERING FAILS AGAIN. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP BEING FIXED AT THIS MOMENT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316421March 3, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILS IN MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING. ODDLY, IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN DURING WARMER WEATHER. THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 AND THAT IT WOULD BE A USED COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316112March 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LOWER MY CAR WILL NOT START IF IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN 4 OR 5 HOURS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS WILL HAPPEN EVERY MORNING AND OCCASIONALLY AFTER WORK IF THE TEMPERATURE IS TOO COLD. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL COST AROUND $200.00 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316115March 3, 2010
STEERING
I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. MY CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER STEERING RANDOMLY. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD STOP. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK. THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 MONTHS. THEN, ON A LONG CAR TRIP, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN GOING OUT EVERY MILE OR SO. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316128March 3, 2010
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. IF UNDER 15 MPH, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC STEERING. WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAY HAPPEN 4-5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315346March 2, 2010
STEERING
MY GM 2004 SATURN ION THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ! IF I TURN MY CAR OFF , IT RESETS AND WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND GOES BACK OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315550March 2, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING DISABLES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 SATURN ION. CYCLING IGNITION ENABLES POWER STEERING AGAIN, BUT THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315654March 2, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WITH A BAD POWER STEERING MODULE. I READ TODAY THAT GM IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVROLET COBALT VEHICLES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE SATURN ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MODULE AS THOSE VEHICLES SO I HOPE IT IS ALSO RECALLED. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE IS AS FOLLOWS: START THE CAR, DRIVE AROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS, AND THE DASH DISPLAYS POWER STEERING AND THERE IS A "CHIME" SOUND INDICATING THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THEN STARTED AGAIN, AT WHICH TIME THERE IS ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS BEFORE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT $800 TO REPLACE THE MODULE. SO FAR WE'VE JUST LIVED WITH IT AND STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AND DECIDED TO NEVER BUY GM AGAIN. IF YOU SEARCH GOOGLE FOR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING PROBLEMS" OR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING RECALL" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315731March 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED OFF AND ON AND IT RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HE HAD TO PAY $2000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND TOLD AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR AND COST WERE THE SAME THAT THE DEALER STATED. HE THEN FILED CLAIM# 71-808240519 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315772March 2, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROADS (ANYWHERE FROM 15-65 MPH, NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO FREEWAYS) THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT. WE WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO REGAIN POWER STEERING. AT FIRST IT HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, THEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY (AND THEN PROGRESSED TO EVERY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED AT ALL). CAR WAS TAKEN TO SATURN DEALER FOR STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE DEALER SAYS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM", BUT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315766March 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. TEN MINUTES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314087February 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RUNS AT BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DROPS BACK TO AN IDLE (~800RPM). AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR AGAIN, THE CAR LUNGES ONCE AGAIN - THROW IT IN NEUTRAL - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, SLOWLY RECOVERS. AFTER TWO - THREE MINUTES THE ENGINE STABILIZES AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR - EVER! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND USUALLY DURING HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAINY CONDITIONS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT I HAVE NEVER SOUGHT HELP FROM A DEALER. IT IS NOT REPEATABLE IN A WAY THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT HAPPENS FAIRLY RARELY (SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK - SOMETIMES ONCE A MONTH) AND INCONSISTENTLY. IF I WAS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND IF THIS WAS A MORE POWERFUL CAR, I WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY NOW. I HAVE LEARNED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOTOR WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IDLING A BIT FAST THEN I KNOW IT WILL TRY TO RUN AWAY WITH ME WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR SO I JUST WAIT FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT IN GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312632February 22, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76112.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310813February 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THESE VEHICLES. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD AND DAMP OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL GET THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LIVE IN MO WHERE IT GETS VERY COLD AND NOT ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP WHEN THE CAR DIES. SO I AM LEFT STRANDED IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES. SATURN KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THIS. PLEASE SEE THAT A RECALL TAKES PLACE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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