Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10661722December 29, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION SAFETY RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY MOVE OUT OF THE "RUN" POSITION, RESULTING IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. *MW THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AS DIRECTED BY RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668929December 29, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SATURN TODAY 12/29/2014 WITH THE LETTER STATING DECEMBER 2014. IN THE LETTER IT STATES THE FOLLOWING " THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SHIFTER MAY NOT PROPERLY TRANSMIT AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL THAT ALLOWS THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED COUNTER CLOCKWISE PAST THE ACCESSORY MODE TO THE "LOCK" POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. IF THIS OCCURS, THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE MANUAL RELEASE PLUNGER LOCATED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. A KEY LEFT IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN SEVERE BATTERY DRAIN AND A POSSIBLE NO START CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664407December 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WIRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660342November 23, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 AND THE DOOR LOCKS "ALL OF THEM" LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. WHEN I GET OUT OF THE CAR AND TIME PASSES BY , "I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME HAS TO PASS BETWEEN THAT TRIGGERS THE DOORS TO UNLOCK BUT EACH TIME I GO BACK TO THE CAR ALL DOORS HAVE UNLOCKED THEMSELVES..... " ". I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM CAN POSSIBLY TURN INTO A DEADLY ISSUE REGARDING THE LIFE OF A CONSUMER AND OR OTHERS " " IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WHO KNOWS IF THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK OR OPEN ? I BELIEVE THAT THE DOORS MAY DO JUST THE OPPOSITE THAT THE DOORS MAY REMAIN LOCKED PREVENTING ANYONE FROM BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF FIRE< ACCIDENT< OR AN OTHER EMERGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658795November 18, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,603.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10655362November 17, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IS REALLY SCARY! THE GAS PEDAL STICKING IT GETS REALLY STIFF AND DOESNT WANT TO STOP . THE ONE TIME I WAS GOING 25 MPH AND IT WOULDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO SLAM IT IN PARK AND THE RPMS GOT UP TO 4 . IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT . IT IS NOT LETTING UP AND I AM SCARED FOR MY SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653887November 10, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTED. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653681November 9, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
SLIGHT SHUDDER AT A STOPLIGHT.. LOST ACCELERATION AND POWER STEERING. MADE IT TO SHOP. CODE P0420 CATCON WAS ALL THAT CAME UP, BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR(NEW) TESTED FINE AND VEHICLE STARTED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD EXHAUST TESTED AND 4 HOURS OF GENERAL DIAGNOSTICS= "THE CAR SEEMS FINE, YES THAT IS WEIRD, JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT" IT TWICE MORE, AND CONSISTENTLY FELT "ROUGH" BEFORE FEBRUARY 2014, (TWO YEARS) GOT NEW SUSPENSION, SPARK PLUGS, FUEL AND COOLANT SYSTEMS CLEANED, ETC... MY CAR FELT ALMOST NEW, A LITTLE ROUGH SO I BABIED IT. AFTER ALL, IT IS OBSESSIVELY WELL MAINTAINED...IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECALL IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BY DEALER, ONE MONTH AGO, THE "REALLY ROUGH" FEELING RETURNED. SHIFTING HARD, VIBRATING, IT ALMOST STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CHECKED TRANSMISSION (ALONG WITH TWO OTHER SHOPS THAT LOVE MONEY)... ALL SAY TRANSMISSION IS FINE, BUT TO ME IT FELT LIKE IT WAS FALLING APART. WHEN I HAD A DAY OFF TWO DAYS AGO, I BROUGHT IT TO THREE TRANSMISSION SHOPS, TWO EXHAUST SHOPS, AND TWO TIRE SHOPS (WHO ALSO INSPECTED MY SUSPENSION, WHEEL BALANCE AND BRAKES) ALL SAID IT WAS FINE AND THAT IS "NORMAL" TO FEEL THAT WAY AS I APPROACHED 183000 MILES. THE NEXT DAY ( LAST NIGHT) WHEN AFTER TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, IN THE SPACE OF THIRTY SECONDS, I LOST ACCELERATION, POWER STEERING, RADIO WAS FLASHING LIGHTS, BATTERY LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING CAME ON ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT.. MY CAR COULDN'T MAKE IT OVER THE LITTLE HUMP ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND I (5'3 120 LBS) WAS FORCED TO PUSH MY RUNNING CAR ACROSS THE HIGHWAY THAT RUNS THROUGH TOWN. I MADE IT TO THE FRONTAGE ROAD, BARELY ABLE TO TURN WHICH PUT ME HEAD ON WITH ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. BATTERY TESTED FINE. TOWED HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652752November 5, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL LINES BETWEEN THE GAS TANK AND ENGINE HAVE RUSTED OUT. THEY ARE RUSTED DUE TO THE BRACKETS HOLDING THEM TO THE FRAME AS WELL AS A WATER SOAKED INSULATING BLANKET THAT HAD BEEN PUT AROUND THE FUEL LINES TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES HEAT. THIS ONLY SPED UP THE RUSTING PROCESS. THEY ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE GAS IS SPRAYING ON THE EXHAUST PIPES CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THE LEAK IS ONLY WITHIN A FOOT FROM THE GAS TANK MAKING IT EVEN MORE DANGEROUS. UPON MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT SATURN HAS ADDRESSED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2004 MODELS BUT NOT THE 2003 MODEL. (GM RECALL NO. 04053) THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MODEL YEARS HAS NOT MADE THIS ANY LESS OF A HAZARD. IN A CALL TO SATURN THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE WITH MY 2003 BUT IF I OWNED A 2004 THIS WOULD BE COVERED ON A SAFETY RECALL. THIS REASONING SOUNDS RATHER FOOLISH TO ME AND THE HAZARD SHOULD BE FIXED REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR VEHICLE. A FIRE OR EXPLOSION DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE MODEL YEAR IT IS. WHY DID SATURN NOT MAKE THESE FUEL LINES OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL, A MATERIAL THAT WOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED AND BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY UPDATES ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652473November 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652184November 3, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ON 7/17/14. ON 8/30/14 KEY WOULD NOT TURN IGNITION TO SHUT CAR OFF. PUT IN REVERSE THEN DRIVE THEN PARK AND KEY THEN TURNED TO SHUT ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 9/18/14 & 10/20/14. USED SPARE KEY ON 10/21/14, AND NOW ON 11/03/14 ABOVE HAPPENED AGAIN. INFORMED GM OF THESE EVENTS, TODAY 11/3/14, THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT, AND WILL HAVE ATLANTIC CHEVY IN BAY SHORE CONTACT ME WITHIN 24 HRS. TO DISCUSS SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650593October 28, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS IN FOR RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH, AT THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED OIL AND CONDUCTED MULTIPOINT INSPECTION OF VEHICLE. EIGHT WEEKS LATER VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FOR SERVICE FOR SMELL OF GAS, DEALERSHIP REPORTED ALL GAS LINES CORRODED AND LEAKING GAS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, DEALERSHIP STATES NOT RELEATED TO FUEL FILTER CORROSION RECALL (NTHSA 04V003000) EVEN THOUGH RECALL SERVICE NOT PERFORMED. CORRODED, LEAKING GAS LINES MAKE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH LEAKING GAS LINES PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. NOT MENTION THE $1000 PLUS REPAIRS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650001October 25, 2014
ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AFTER HAVING CLEARED A TUNE UP ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, AND FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH 2003 IONS BUT GM HAD NO RECALL INFORMATION FOR ME, ON MY PROFILE PAGE ON THEIR WEBSITE. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR AND NO WAY TO AFFORD A NEW ONE, AND THE ONLY THING I'M THANKFUL FOR, IS THAT I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANYTHING WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND IT OCCURRED WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649385October 23, 2014
STEERING
HI: MY SATURN LOSES ITS POWER STEERING ON START UP, BUT WAS TOLD IT CAN DO IT WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE AND I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE RECALL STARTS WITH THE 2004, MY SATURN WAS BUILT APPROX 8 MONTHS BEFORE THE RECALL. I CANT SELL THE CAR BECAUSE OF I WONT GIVE THAT SAFETY PROBLEM.THE CAR IS KEPT LIKE NEW AND HAS THE SERVICE DONE ON IT. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL DONE BUT IT MADE MY REMOTE START NOT WORK. HAD TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF,GM OR THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PAY. IT IS STILL MESSING UP.THE COST OF THE FIX FOR THE POWER STEERING, DEALERSHIP, ABOUT $400.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10648889October 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK FROM REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY BACK AND FORTH, APPLY FORCE TO THE SHIFTER AND TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER AND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10645065October 16, 2014
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST POWER STEERING. THE BELL STARTED SOUNDING AND THE DASH SAID PWR STEERING. I HAVE TO MAN HANDLE MY CAR TO GET PULLED OVER, KILL THE MOTOR FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND START IT BACK UP. SOMETIMES IT DOES IT AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT WILL GO FOR A WHILE BEFORE RECURRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10644889October 15, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V003000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED DUE TO SEVERAL RECALLS. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLES FUEL FILTER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED: MAY, 2014, THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE AND IS LEAKING FUEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10641787October 6, 2014
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING, I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM WHO ADVISED ME THERE IS NO SAFETY RECALL ON THE 2003 ION BUT THERE ARE POWER STEERING SAFETY RECALLS ON 2004-2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640439October 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ASK A MECHANIC SPRING 2014, WE HAD THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION FIXED ON MY 2003 SATURN. ON SEPTEMBER 9TH MY SON DROVE THE SATURN TO DETROIT MI. ABOUT HALF WAY THERE ON I-94, AT RUSH HOUR, THE SATURN LOST POWER AND BEGAN STOPPING. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MILES/HOUR AND DIDN'T HAVE EXTRA KEYS ON THE KEY RING. LUCKILY, HE IS STRONG, SMART AND QUICK THINKING. HE WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE THE STEERING COLUMN TOWARD AN EXIT, WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH AND RESTARTING THE CAR. THANKFULLY IT STARTED! IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR, I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT FIXED THE CAR AND AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO TOW THE CAR AND FIX IT. NOW SEVERAL WEEKS LATER AND IN RESPONSE TO LETTERS SENT TO GM EXECUTIVES, THEY TELL US THE SAME THING. I AM TELLING THEM THEIR FIX IS NOT A FIX! I DON'T WANT OTHERS INJURED OR DEAD. WHY IS THIS ENTITLED 'ASK A MECHANIC'? WE WERE TOLD MANY YEARS AGO BY A MECHANIC AT THE SATURN DEALER NOT TO HANG EXTRA KEYS ON OUR RING. THIS DEALER HAS BEEN GONE FOR MANY YEARS. MAYBE SOMEONE NEEDS TO ASK A CURRENT MECHANIC IF THIS IS THE RIGHT FIX FOR GM VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640309September 30, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO FAILED TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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