Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10049399December 8, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 SATURN ION DOWN SHIFTS ON ME WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. IT IS GETTING CONSISTENTLY WORSE AND HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A SECOND AND THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A TECH HAS TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND SEEN IT HAPPEN FIRST HAND. STILL ON RESOLVED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LEMON LAW IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049830December 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT STALLING. IT OCCURRED ALMOST EVERY OTHER WEEK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 350 MILES PER WEEK. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048670November 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THERE WAS AN EGG SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS WORSE WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. THE SMELL MADE THE OCCUPANTS NAUSEOUS AND SICK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE SMELL BUT HAS GIVEN A LOT OF SCENARIOS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047270November 20, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS THE DRIVER OF A 2003 SATURN ION 2 INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE DID HAVE SEAT BELTS ON. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS 30-35 MPH. NONE OF THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS WERE SERIOUS. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10042851November 19, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
IN A PANIC SITUATION, THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON DUE TO THE SIZE AND LOCATION. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION, DUE TO THE CONSUMER HAVING TO TAKE HER EYES OFF THE ROAD AND LOOK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTED THE DRIVER'S HEAD REST WAS TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD, THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY CORRECTED. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047053November 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASE SATURN ION III IN MARCH. TRANSMSSION HAD HARD SHIFT THEN SLIP PROBLEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026977October 24, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND THE HOOD OPENED. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043213October 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT A SATURN ION IN EARLY AUGUST OF 2003. I HAVE HAD 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT ON ME AND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR WHAT SO EVER! THE LATEST TIME WAS AT THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH AN EIGHT WHEELER TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND ME. HAD I NOT THOUGHT QUICK AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE CAR OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT IT THE REAR BY A SEVERAL TON VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE ENTIRE POWER TO THE CAR DIES !! THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AND YOU THE ENTIRE CAR "SHUTS DOWN" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR W/ ONLY THE PRAYER OF RESTARTING YOUR SATURN ION SO THAT YOU ARE NOT KILLED! THE FIRST PERSON I SPOKE WITH IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HE HAD HEARD OF THIS IN A "COUPLE OF OTHER CARS" THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE "FIRST SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT." I AM OUTRAGED THAT SATURN SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THE CAR TO "DUPLICATE" THIS PROBLEM FOR THEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY OR EVEN EVERY WEEK. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "WE CAN'T FIX WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS BROKEN" I AM GOING TO ASK THAT THE CAR BE RETURNED TO GMAC WHICH IS THE LEAN HOLDER! I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MYSELF AND MY SMALL CHILDREN. "I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM PURCHASING THE SATURN ION !!!! I FEEL AS IF I HAVE BEEN RIDING IN A DEATH TRAP!! *LA OUTRAGED UNFORTUNATE SATURN OWNER OF WINSTON-SALEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041319October 6, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS BLEW OUT 11 TIMES. FIRST THE DEALER TOLD ME THE BULBS WERE BAD, THEN TOO MANY AMPS FOR THE TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT. THEY DID SOME "CONVERSION" 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE BULBS BLEW OUT LESS FREQUENT BUT STILL OCCURRING. THE DRIVER FRONT BULBS BLEW 3 WEEKS AGO. THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO MALFUNCTION WHENEVER I PLUG THE CELL PHONE CHARGER INTO THE POWER OUTLET. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE TURN SIGNAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037765October 1, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND WAS NOT TURNING SMOOTHLY, IT WAS HARD TO HANDLE THE WHEEL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND MIS-ALIGNED AND WAS REPAIRED. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041950September 30, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040964September 30, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR FRONT LIGHTING ON MY NEW 2003 SATURN ION WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ON 5/15/03 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ALBUQUERQUE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE RUNNING LIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THEY REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON 7/18/03 AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 100 MILES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THEN AGAIN ON 9/29/03 I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RUNNING LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL REPLACED. I TALKED WITH THE SALES MANAGER BEN VIGIL AND THE SERVICE MANAGER JUSTIN GREENBERG. I COMPLAINED THAT I'VE SPENT MORE TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE THAN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND I WAS CONCERNED I HAD BOUGHT A LEMON. I TOLD THEM THAT IF MY TURN SIGNALS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MR. GREENBERG TOLD ME THAT HE PROBABLY GETS TWO CUSTOMERS A DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (WHICH SHOCKED ME). HE SAID SATURN HAS SENT OUT NEW BULBS TO THE DEALERSHIPS WHICH THEY CLAIM WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE'LL SEE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040844September 28, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 3 ON JULY 11, 2003. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR HAS BASICALLY NOT WORKED AND MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED ON THREE OCCASIONS -- ONE OF THEM ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO REPAIRS THREE TIMES TO SATURN PENSACOLA AND SATURN HAS FAILED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" MY CONCERN. I AM MAINLY CONCERNED WITH GETTING THIS CAR FIXED OR IF IT IS NOT FIXABLE FOR ME TO GET A REPLACEMENT CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS AROUND ME! THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR TERMS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SATURN CORP REP DIANE WANTS ME TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SATURN FACILITY MYSELF TO GET THIS CAR FIXED. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE THE NEXT NEAREST FACILITY IS OVER 60 MILES AWAY! THEY REFUSE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO MOBILE OR MONTGOMERY. AND, THEY REFUSED TO LOAN ME A CAR OR TOW MY CAR TO THE PENSACOLA SERVICE CENTER WHEN MY CAR DIED THE SECOND TIME ON SEPT. 13. THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" AND TREATMENT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY SATURN CORP AND THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY POOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS A LEMON AS WELL AS THE BETTTER BUSINESS BUREAU, NHTSA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, GENERAL MOTORS (WHO OWNS SATURN), ETC. I FEEL EXTREMELY LET DOWN BY SATURN BECAUSE I OWNED A SATURN PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS EXTREMELY LOYAL TO THE VEHICLE. A CO-WORKER AT MY JOB IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HER 2003 ION. IN FACT, I WANTED SATURN TO COMPARE MY SATURN ISSUE TO MY CO-WORKER'S ISSUE (WHO IS BRINGING HER CAR IN TODAY) AND SATURN BASICALLY THREATENED ME THAT IF I DID NOT PICK UP MY CAR (WHICH WAS STILL IN THE SHOP) AND RETURN THEIR LOANER (WHICH I STILL HAD) THAT THEY WOULD REPORT THE LOANER AS STOLEN. DO NOT BUY A SATURN ION. SATURN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IS A BIG JOKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040419September 23, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039405September 23, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD 3 ON 6-12-2003. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE BEGINNING. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. A TECH FROM SPRING HILL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. TRYING TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS A NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL IS CRACKED AND BEING REPLACED. THE REAR BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF SCRATCHES FROM THE TRUNK RUBBING. THE FRONT BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF RUNS IN THE PAINT. NONE OF THE BODY PANELS SEEM TO MATCH UP. THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO FIX A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THEY'RE REPLACING THE DR SIDE GLASS BECAUSE IT IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED. IT SOMETIMES RUNS ROUGH AT FIRST CRANK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039290September 22, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
KEY ALWAYS STUCK IN IGNITION, CAR DOESN'T START CAR DOOR LOCK BROKEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039325September 22, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS MY KNEE HAS ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE KEYS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. MY WIFE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN ONCE. I AM 6 FOOT 3 INCHES, MY WIFE IS 5 FOOT 6 INCHES. IN OTHER WORDS, NORMAL HEIGHTS. TWO OF THESE OCCASIONS HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY, GOING 65 MPH. LUCKILY TRAFFIC HAS BEEN LIGHT SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT. HAD TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVIER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021800September 15, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING KNUCKLE SHEARED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK DEALER REPAIRED AT NO COST. REPLACED RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLED AND ASSOCIATED SUSPENSION PARTS. FRONT RIGHT WHEEL,TIRE, SPOILER AND UNDER SKIRTING. SATURN'S ENGINEER'S OF DETROIT SENT THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT DAMAGED PARTS FOR INVESTIGATION. CONSUMER HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038372September 8, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE DRIVER PULLED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING AND OBJECT IN THE ROAD, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE IMPACTED A TREE, AND DAMAGED THE A FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037030September 2, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A ION 2003, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR WE ALSO PURCHASE THE PLASTIC WINDOW GUARDS FROM THE DEALER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOOR, THE TWO PARTS MAKING UP THE DOOR WERE SEPARATING AT TOP OF WINDOW. THEY TRY TO GLUING, IT DIDN'T WORK, THEN THEY TRY SOMETHING ELSE AND IT DID WORK, AND FINNALLY THEY ORDER A NEW PART. WHEN THEY INSTALL THE NEW PART, THEY REMOVED THE PLASTIC GUARD FRON THE WINDOW AND SAID THEY WILL REPLACE IT AT THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. WELL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE CAME A THEY NOT ONLY DID NOT REPLACE THE WINDOW GUARD BUT THEY REMOVED THE GUARD FROM THE OTHER WINDOW!!!!THEY STATED THE GUARD WAS THE CAUSED OF THE PROBLEM. NOW I WANT TO KNOW ARE THE DOORS SAFE. MY WIFE PLACE MY GRAND CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. IS THERE A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS ????*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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