Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10283029September 6, 2009
STEERING
MY POWER-STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MESSAGE CENTER BEEPS AND THEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND STEERING WORKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282652September 2, 2009
STEERING
I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES, HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WOULD BE FINE. I DID BRING IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. HE FOUND NO ERROR CODES AND NO DUPLICATE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS AT RANDOM TIMES. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IT STARTED TO TURN OFF A COUPLE TIMES A DAY. I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN WHEN IT TURNED OFF ON ME ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST CRASHED WHEN A BIG RIG SWERVED. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN & MODULAR. THAT PART WAS $560.53 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS PART ON MY CAR WITH THE HELP OF MY MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY SATURN MAKE. HOWEVER, THE STORY DOES NOT END HERE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CAUSE FOR THE STEERING BREAKING. THE MOTOR IN THIS COLUMN PIECE FRIES THE WHOLE MODULAR. THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS WAS ANOTHER $175.00. THE SATURN FACTORY HAS PLENTY OF STEERING COLUMNS IN STOCK HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR, THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YES THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS FRUSTRATING AND EXPENSIVE BUT HAVING POWER STEERING GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIE OR BE INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE A SAFETY RECALL IS FORCED UPON SATURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282220August 29, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING MOTOR KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. IT GOES OUT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR- SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR ABOUT $1000 BUT AFTER READING MANY MANY PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282249August 29, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION KEEPS GOING OUT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AFTER IT HAS RAINED, AND IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. IT APPEARS THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282015August 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSAXLE GRINDING/WHINING NOISE IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, EXCESSIVE ENGAGEMENT OR DISENGAGEMENT EFFORT WHILE SHIFTING INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO EITHER 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279919August 10, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION2 SEDAN. AS OF THE PAST WINTER WITH UNSEASONABLE COLD TEMPS I BEGAN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION OF MY CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL SOMETIMES FOR HOURS AT A TIME. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I LIVE IN WESTERN NY WHERE WE DO SEE COLD TEMPS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE A CHILD I MUST GET TO SCHOOL BEFORE I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. I HAVE BEEN A TRUE ADVOCATE OF SATURNS VEHICLES UP UNTIL THE PURCHASE OF THIS ONE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND NO RESOLUTION. I REALLY HOPE THAT THEE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR GM TO ACTUALLY STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO SELL MY CAR OR BE FOREVER SLIGHTED BY SATURNS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE AS A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOM HELP TAKE CARE OF YOUR CONSUMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279644August 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 2004 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER, AFTER GETTING IT CHECKED IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER READING REVIEWS IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THIS YEAR AND MAKE. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SOMETIMES MORE. IT HAS MADE ME LATE FOR WORK AND EVEN MISS CLASSES. IF THIS IS SO COMMON WHY ISN'T THIS PART BEING RECALLED!? APPARENTLY A "SECURITY MEASURE" HAS THE CAR NOT STARTING FOR 10 MINS, SOMETIMES 20. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279642August 6, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON,STEERING BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE,. TROUBLE BEGAN AROUND 2 MONTHS AGO, NOW HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES DAILY, VERY SCARY, AS I TRAVEL A GREAT DEAL ON THE HIGHWAY. VIA INTERNET SEARCHES, NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP QUOTES 800.00 TO 1065.00 TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE BEEN ADVISED, DEALERSHIP CHARGES THIS AMOUNT,TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, REMOVES THE BAD COMPONENT, THEN RESELLS REMAINDER OF COLUMN FOR PROFIT. THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, AND THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. BROUGHT MY ION BRAND NEW IN 2005(YEAR END SALE),SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT 4 YEARS LATER,,ROUTINE MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED AND 39,000 MILES, THIS IS HAPPENING. WE(CONSUMERS THAT TRUSTED SATURN) NEED HELP IN REMEDYING THIS SITUATION AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279174August 3, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. AFTER CAR IS STOPPED AND KEY TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES ONCE A DAY OR TEN TIMES A DAY. CANNOT PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. WHEN IT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL CAR. HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE SIMILAR TO MINE AND WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278576July 28, 2009
STEERING
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION THAT OCCASIONALLY LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHICH HAD KNOWN ISSUES WHILE STARTING IN THE COLD. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PWR STR LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES APPEAR AND THAT IS WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS OUT THERE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277599July 21, 2009
STEERING
MY 2004 SATURN ION 3'S POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. OFTEN DRIVING IT FOR 10-15 MILES, THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY ON THE MESSAGE CENTER AND THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE AT ANY TIME IT WILL GO OUT. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL COST 1600 DOLLARS TO GET A NEW STEERING COLUMN FROM GM. IF I DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS, AN ACCIDENT WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, WITH 55,000 MILES AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET BY THIS WHICH SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT MANY 2004 IONS HAVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276990July 16, 2009
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IF THE STEERING WAS FAILING, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275486July 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THE LOCK ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO REMOVE BUT THE PROCEDURE REQUIRES THAT THE KEY BE TURNED TO THE RUN POSITION. WITH A BROKEN LOCK THAT CANNOT BE DONE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE LOCK OUT BE USING BRUTE FORCE AND COMPLETELY BREAKING THE LOCK MECHANISM. I AM HAPPY THAT THIS HAPPENED AT A STORE CLOSE TO HOME AND WE ABLE TO GET A RIDE HOME. I GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL WE WERE NOT ONE OF THE POOR SOULS WHO GOT STUCK IN AN ION THAT COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274797June 24, 2009
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGES COMES ON THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. SHUT OFF THE CAR THEN RESTART THE POWER STEERING IS BACK UNTIL IT GOES OUT AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273244June 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN
ENGINE STARTED A FAINT SQUEALING NOISE ON 24 NORTH DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND MANAGED TO GET OVER AND PULL OUT OF THE LANE, HOWEVER THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SHOULDER AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, MY TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT, HAD TO DRIVE ON THE EDGE OF THE SHOULDER TO THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS APPROX 11 MILES BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE PLACE, TRAFFIC GOING APPROX 80 MILES PER HOUR AND CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 50 MPH, AS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION BYSTANDERS PUSHED CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. HAD IT TOWED HOME, WAS TOLD TENSION ROD SEIZED AND TIMING CHAIN BROKE. HAD TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE FOR 5K, CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND 88K MILES. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR SEIZURE AS CAR HAD PLENTY OF OIL AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269825May 24, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON COLDER DAYS MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL ROLL OVER A FEW TIMES AND THEN SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT WILL APPEAR. THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15-30 MINS TO START LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED IN THE WINTER WITH NO HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THIS OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE WINTER AND IN THE FALL 3 TIMES A WEEK. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET, THEY THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON I KNOW WITH THE SAME CAR SATURN ION HERS IS 2005 MINE A 2004 AND HERS DID THE SAME THING HERS WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269113May 18, 2009
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY...MOSTLY WHEN I'M ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A WEEK AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267754May 5, 2009
STEERING
I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION LAST JUNE AND THE WEEKEND AFTER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY STEPFATHER LOOKED AT IT AND REPLACED THE FUSE FOR THE POWER STEERING. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 5 MONTHS AGO. AT THIS POINT MY WARRANTY WAS OVER AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT. THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVERYTIME I GO OVER 35MPH, OR IT JUST FAILS FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS TOLD ME IT WILL BE $1,000.00 TO FIX AND THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE YET TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265648April 16, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON APRIL 14, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND TRUNK FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRUNK STOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265398April 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING WHEN THE TEMP. GETS BELOW 30 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD THIS "FIXED" TWICE, AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS BECAUSE I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SITES WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SENSOR IN THE PASSLOCK PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES IT TO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN TEMP. GETS BELOW 30 DEGREES. SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF THIS I BELIEVE AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN THE COLD WEATHER. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS ALMOST COST ME MY JOB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion