Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10061019February 23, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE LEFT FRONT BLINKERS AND REAR BLINKERS. *LA *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059463February 19, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
RIGHT TURN SIGNAL OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY LEAVING CONSUMER VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENT. *LA DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053369February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THERE'S A STRONG SULFUR ODOR ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE SMELL MAYBE CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE SMELL COULD MAKE OCCUPANTS ILL ESPECIALLY ANYONE WITH RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053436February 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN DID NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THE DESIGN FOR THE HORN, ONLY ALLOWED IT TO BE USED WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FINGERS WERE DIRECTLY ON THE HORN INDICATOR SYMBOL. *AK THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE HORN WORKED AS DESIGNED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055983January 28, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD LATCH BROKE. THIS IS THE CABLE WHICH ENABLES CONSUMER TO OPEN THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054880January 26, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE
2003 SATURN ION 1. DURING COLD WEATHER THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FROSTS. THE CONTROLS ARE SET FOR DEFROST, AIR ON AND BLOWER MEDIUM HIGH. EVEN WITH THE BLOWER ON HIGH THERE IS VERY LITTLE AIR COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DEFROST OUTLET. A CO-WORKER HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HIS ION. THE DEALER SAID THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. 2. THE HOOD LATCH FREEZES AND THE HOOD CANT BE OPENED TO ADD WINDOW WASHER FLUID. SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THE HOOD OPEN BUT YOU CANT RELATCH THE HOOD COMPLETELY WITHOUT PUSHING THE HOOD RELEASE HANDLE DOWN. A CO-WORKER HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HIS ION. 3. SOME THE EDGES ON INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS ON THE ARE VERY SHARP. THE WORST IS THE COMPARTMENT DOOR TO THE LEFT DRIVERS LEG. THIS POPPED OPEN AND HAD A SHARP ROUGH EDGE. AS I EXITED THE CAR I CUT MY LEG. I FIXED THIS MYSELF BY FILLING THE EDGE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10054396January 18, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT AS THE ACTIVATION LOCATIONS ARE NOT PROMINENT ENOUGH TO FIND WHEN INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IN FACT I BELIEVE THAT THE HORN DID NOT OPERATE ON ONE OCCASION WHEN POSITIVE ACTIVATION WAS ACHIEVED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN. ONE THAT MORE THAN LIKELY HAS OR WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070881January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 9/9/03, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 9/11/03 I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR TOTALED $8400.00 AND IT WAS A DEAD-CENTER HIT TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR BENDING BOTH OF THE FRONT FRAMES AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT AND BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT WAS MORE THEN 50% MY FAULT MY LAWYER HAS ADVISED ME THAT THERE ARE NO LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT I NEED TO TAKE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INSURE THAT THE WORD IS OUT THERE FOR CONSUMERS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO INSURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070537January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 3 MARCH 17, 2003. WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE CAR HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER WITH COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. SATURN CORP. RECALLED THE CAR. THE PURCHASE OF [XXX] WAS CANCELED 4/17/03 AND I PURCHASED A 2ND 2003 SATURN ION 3, [XXX], ON 4/17/03. THE 2ND CAR FROM THE BEGINNING HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, JERKING UP AND DOWN FROM 30 MPH TO 70 MPH, KICKS WHEN STARTED, RATTLES LOUDLY IN REVERSE, AND STEERING PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF TURNS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 4 TIMES (BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055481January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING TWO RECALLS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *PH WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER HE HAD HEARD OF THE RECALL BUT WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IT SAID, THE CONSUMER WANTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT WAS TOLD THE MOST SKILLED MECHANICS WORKED WEEKDAYS. THE CONSUMER FELT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ONLY BEEN MINIMALLY INFORMED OF THE RECALL. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053874January 13, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 69 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A RACCOON AND DAMAGED THE UNDERBODY, RADIATOR ,AND THE FRONT END. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053326January 5, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THE HORNS BUTTON WHEN NEEDED DUE TO ITS LOCATION. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WARN OTHER MOTORIST IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING ON WET SURFACE TIRES WILL SPIN BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052398January 5, 2004
AIR BAGS
I WAS IN AN HEADON COLLISION IN MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE (PURCHASED 6/3/03) AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING AT 60MPH (THE HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT IS 65) WHEN I HYDROPLANNED OFF THE HIGHWAY FROM THE CENTER LANE INTO THE MEDIAN GUARDRAIL. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10052273January 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING
WHEN TIRES SPIN TRANSMISSION DISCONNECTS. THEN. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS SNOWING. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL TURNS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051368December 30, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BOUGHT A SATURN 2003 ION 1 THIS PAST SUMMER ,JUNE 2003. IT WORK JUST FINE UNTIL COLORADO GOT ITS FIRST COLD SPELL, THIS IS WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACT-UP. THE CAR WILL NOT START UP IN THE EARLY COLD MORRINGS. WHEN I FIRST TRY TO START THE CAR THERE IS NOTHING, JUST A CLICKING SOUND. THEN AFTER TRYING FOR A WHILE THE CAR FINALLY STARTS UP, BUT IT IS A VERY ROUGH START. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY SATURN DEALSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME AND TODAY WILL BE THE FOURTH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL NOT START UP IN THE EARLY COLD MORRINGS. I AM GETTING VERY TRIED OF THIS. I HOPE WITH THE FOURTH TRY THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. IF NOT, YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051255December 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION IN JANUARY 2003. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES AND A GRAND TOTAL OF 18 DAYS IN SERVICE. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHEN I TRY TO ACCERLERATE. THE SERVICE TECHS AT SATURN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE RECALIRBERATED AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS STILL DOWN SHIFTING WHEN ACCERLERATING. I AM TERRIFIED THAT I WILL BE HIT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS AND THEN TAKE OFF AGIAN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLIANT WITH THE BBB AND CURRENTLY HAVE A CASE PENDING. I WANT TO BE REFUNDED IN FULL FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051264December 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD TODAY BECAUSE MY WIFE LEFT THE LIGHTS ON BY ACCIDENT. WHEN THE BATTERY IN THIS MODEL CAR BECOMES DISCHARGED TWO UNDESIREABLE PROBLEMS ARISE. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THEM INTRODUCE SAFETY CONCERNS. FIRST, THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THROUGH NORMAL MEANS. SECOND, THE CAR CAN'T BE MOVED! THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER REMAINS IN THE PARK POSITION. I FEEL THAT A CAR DESIGNED SUCH THAT THESE TWO PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN THE BATTERY FAILS IS A POOR DESIGN. THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL PROVIDED WITH THE CAR MAKES NO MENTION OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCURING WITH A DEAD BATTERY. IN ORDER TO JUMP A DEAD BATTERY IN A CAR IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO MOVE THE CAR I N ORDER TO JUMP THE BATTERY FROM ANOTHER CAR. I FEEL HAVING AN INTENTIONAL DESIGN IN A CAR THAT PREVENTS IT FROM BEING MOVED BY THE OWNER CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN. REGARDING THE KEY SITUATION, MY WIFE LEFT HER ENTIRE SET OF KEYS IN THE CAR WHEN THEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MANY IMPORTANT KEYS WERE LEFT IN THE CAR UNATTENDED. IT COULD HAVE MADE A BAD SITUATION MUCH WORSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IN THE CAR DISCUSSES HOW TO GET STUCK KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT NO MENTION IS MADE IN THE BOOK THAT KEYS WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. I SPOKE TO THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AT SATURN REGARDING THIS CONCERN, BUT IT IS NOT SATURN'S POLICY TO RESPOND TO THIS TYPE OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINT. SINCE I FEEL THESE TWO PROBLEMS DO HAVE A SAFETY IMPACT, I DECIDED TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049712December 14, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A ION QUAD COUPE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT MOVING WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR. THEY WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. THE NEWLY REBUILT TRANMISSION STIL SLIPS AND HAS A HARD SHIFTING FEELING. I BROUGHT IT IN 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY FIXED, AND STILL NEED TO GO BACK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF IT WAS TO NOT DRIVE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR FAIL WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE I BROUGHT IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GIVE ME PAPERWORK ON MY CAR. I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT PARTS WERE EXACTLY REPLACED. PAPERWORK IS MISSING FROM OVER 2 WEEKS AGO FROM THE 2ND VISIT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049638December 12, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE TWO SATURN 2003 IONS I HAVE DRIVEN (INCLUDING MY CURRENT VEHICLE) HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHERE, WHEN ENGAGING IN THIRD GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL "FREEWHEEL" FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING WITH A LURCH. THE PROBLEM CAN BE CREATED BY ACCELERATING AROUND A CORNER WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD. THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED IN MARCH/APRIL, 2003. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049664December 12, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY SATURN ION QUAD COUPE IS EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND AT TIMES COMPLETELY DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THIS HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MOST NOTABLY WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC LAST WEEK. I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED, THEN SUBSEQUENTLY DISENGAGED FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY SEVERAL VEHICLES, WHICH HAD TO TAKE UNSAFE EVASIVE ACTIONS TO AVOID PLOWING INTO ME. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT BEING SAID, SINCERELY URGE YOU TO OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. ALSO, THIS MAY NOT BE RELATED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING NOISE BETWEEN 1100 AND 1300 RPM DURING DECELERATION , A METAL GRINDING NOISE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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