Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10549610October 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS, THE KEY BEING SHAKEN THE CAR WOULD START. I TOOK THIS CAR TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THIS IGNITION AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT GM AND SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. AT TIMES IT WOULD TAKE 10 MINUTES BEFORE I COULD START THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549523October 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY RECUR DURING COLDER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM WAS RE-WIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549577October 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DROVE LESS THEN A MILE, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD MY HUSBAND OPENED THE CAR DOOR TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WHEN FLAMES SHOT IN BESIDE HIS LEG WE JUMP OUT OF THE CAR AND HE GOT OUR SON OUT OF HIS CAR SEAT. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT STARTED ORDER THE HOOD AND THEY BELIEVE THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549278October 23, 2013
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN SUDDENLY MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON JUST AS I WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN. AT THAT VERY MOMENT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR, IT WAS WORKING AGAIN BUT THEN 10 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS IS BECOMING A HASSLE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM NOT GOING TO RISK THEIR LIVES FOR SOME FAULTY CAR MOTOR. SO THIS IS TO THE CAR MANUFACTURES, COULD YOU PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT REALLY HURTS SOMEONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548981October 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548658October 21, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY SATURN ION SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. FIRST THERE WAS A PURGE SOLENOID THAT WENT OUT ON MY CAR WHICH AFFECTED HOW I STARTED IT. THEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN MY IGNITION WITH THE CAR ON! I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR OFF. A MONTH LATER OF DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE KEY, I ORDERED A NEW PART FOR IT AND HAD A FRIEND REBUILD THE IGNITION IN THE CAR AND NOW ONLY MY SPARE KEY TO THE CAR WILL WORK. NOW THE MOST RECENT ISSUE TO DATE IS THE FUEL PUMP. I STARTED SMELLING GAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE OVER TIME. TOOK IT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THERE IS NOW GAS LEAKING ONTO MY GAS TANK AND GASOLINE IS ALSO POOLING UNDER MY CAR! HUGE PROBLEM! MY FRIEND SAYS IT IS THE FUEL PUMP THAT IS GOING OUT ON THE CAR AND I DO SEE THAT IT IS UNDER RECALL BUT I DON'T THINK MY CAR FALLS UNDER THE RECALL WHICH IS RIDICULOUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548673October 21, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTIONING DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DRIVER WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR BECAUSE NEITHER THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD ACTUATE THE DOOR LATCH, OPENING THE DOOR. EXTERIOR, INTERIOR MANUAL, INTERIOR POWER AND REMOTE POWER LOCKS WERE REPEATEDLY ACTUATED TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY, THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED AFTER USING A HANGAR THROUGH THE WINDOW CAVITY TO BUMP ONE OF THE LINKAGE ARMS. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT, THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO A SUCCESSFUL EVACUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548775October 21, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT A FUEL LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS REPLACED UNDER A SERVICE WARRANTY IN 2009 HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECENTLY RECURRED. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE FUEL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548622October 20, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING HOME ON A PAVED ROAD AT 25 MPH WHEN SUDDEN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS FILLED THE CAR. FOR MORE DETAILS SEE SERVICE REQUEST [XXX]. GM HAS PUT ME THRU EXTREME STRESS AND ENDANGERED MY LIFE AND OTHERS FOR A 42 DOLLAR PART. AS I TYPE THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT HAS RETURNED. I FEAR FOR OTHERS ///PLEASE REVIEW THE RECORDS,TOWED TO DEALERSHIP....SPECIAL COVERAGE PART WAS NOT INSTALLED...MECHANIC CLAIMS GAS LINE UNDER CAR IS LEAKING. GAS IS POOLING ON TOP OF MOTOR..LAST REMARKS AS I LEFT THE DEALER" I WOULDN'T DRIVE IT...DON'T SMOKE" NOTHING BUT EXCUSES...CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAS BEEN EVER SINCE,,,,2006 SATURN IONS ARE DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARDS AND GM SEES RECALLS AS WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ON REPAIRS...THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FREE REPAIR = 400 OR MORE TO FIX...THEY DO NOT ABIDE BY THE RECALL ORDERS AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! 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
#10548257October 17, 2013
STEERING
PWR STEERING FAIL WHILE DRIVING. CAR DINGS AND DISPLAYS THE PWR STEERING CODE IN DASH. KNOWN ISSUE BY GM. TOOK IT TO DEALER TODAY, THEY SAID THEY'LL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE BASED ON 10187A SPECIAL POLICY. IT ONLY COVERS THE MOTOR/MODULE AND NOT THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM AFRAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RIP ME OFF BY SIMPLY SAYING THE WHOLE COLUMN IS THE PROBLEM SO I'M OUT A LOT OF MONEY. BASED ON RESEARCH AND COMPLAINTS GM RECALLED OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY USED THE SAME PART AND THEY WERE RECALLED IN OTHER MODELS THEN THE SATURN ONE SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. IT WAS VERY SCARY LOSING POWER STEERING. GM NEEDS TO MAKE SATURN OWNERS "WHOLE" BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS ISSUES ALREADY. I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548316October 17, 2013
STEERING
FIRST INCIDENT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED IN SNOWY CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. HEARD CHIME TO ALERT ME TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, SAFELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING HAD RETURNED AND DASHBOARD ALERT HAS GONE AWAY. NO FURTHER ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING UNTIL 9/15 GOING ABOUT 15 MPH ON AN INCLINE; AGAIN CHIME AND ALERT FOR NO POWER STEERING, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. POWER STEERING REGAINED UPON RESTART. SINCE 9/15 POWER STEERING LOSS OCCURRING AT VARIABLE SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS AND ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. TOOK VEHICLE TO TECHNICIAN WHO CHECKED FLUID, FLOAT, ALL CONNECTIONS AND HOSES AND RELAYED THAT A LIKELY CAUSE MIGHT BE A ELECTRIC PUMP OR ELECTRIC PUMP MODULE TO CHECK WITH THE DEALER ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS. FULL VEHICLE INSPECTION AND TUNE UP WITH NO SOLUTION. POWER STEERING PROBLEM PERSISTS. ALL COMMUNICATION WITH SATURN HAS BEEN UNHELPFUL, THEY FULLY DENY ANY DEFECTS. SATURN KEEPS TELLING ME THAT NO RECALL FOR MY VIN HAS BEEN ISSUED AND NO ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FROM SATURN FOR THE ISSUES I AM EXPERIENCING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548080October 16, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHAKE THE KEY UNTIL IT RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547932October 15, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548022October 15, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547827October 14, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION ON A LOCAL STREET, PICKING UP MY CHILD FROM SCHOOL, WHEN THE IGNITION WENT OFF. THE CAR HAD NO POWER & I HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO STEER THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE BEFORE THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL & COASTED TO A STOP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A MINUTE, & THEN TURNED THE KEY AGAIN. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN & I TOOK IT DIRECTLY HOME. IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD GO OF BY ITSELF. IT FELT AS IF THE KEY WAS NOT STAYING IN THE ON POSITION. NOT BEING AWARE OF A WARRANTY FROM SATURN, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. WHEN THE MECHANIC TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. HE WAS FORCED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF & NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE KEY GOES IN. BECAUSE THE MECHANIC HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, I WAS ALSO FORCED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP A FEW DAYS LATER TO HAVE MY REMOTE LOCK REPROGRAMMED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR BOTH OF THESE REPAIRS, BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE THAT GM HAD A SPECIAL WARRANTY COVERING SUCH ISSUES. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A RECALL ISSUE IN OTHER STATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547352October 9, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
MY ION HAS HAD CONTINUOUS STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS SINCE 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MOTOR (WARNING LIGHT COMES ON - LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND HAD THE STEERING MOTOR REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWAY BAR, CONTROL ARMS, LINK, AND MUCH MORE. AND, I STILL HAVE DIFFICULTIES STEERING - HAVE A CONSTANT CLUNCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED THE RACK & PINION REPLACED - ESTIMATED COST $550. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 82,000 MILES. THE STEERING & SUSPENSION PROBLEMS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT 50,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547185October 8, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546926October 6, 2013
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
2006 SATURN ION WAS TRAVELING THROUGH A FLAT CURVE AT 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FROZE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND LEFT THE ROAD STRIKING TREES AND BRUSH CAUSING SOME PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING SIGNALS WERE SEEN OR HEARD AT OR BEFORE THE EVENT. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL WHEN IT CAME TO REST AND WAS DRIVEN BACK ON TO THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546781October 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
I BOUGHT MY CAR USED OFF OF A USED CAR LOT, THE POWER STEERING WAS RECALLED AND IT GOT FIX, BUT NOW THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MESSED UP. MY CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, THE WINDOWS WONT ROLL ALL THE WAY UP AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I CAN'T TURN MY CAR OFF. MY DRUM BRAKES ON THE BACK ABSOLUTELY SHATTERED ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRUM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546610October 3, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WENT ON AS DID THEIR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT..THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO DRIVE..I HAD IT IN AND TO A GM DEALER--THEY SAID BY THE TIME I DROVE IT UP (40 MILES)CAR DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN..WHILE UP THERE THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND SAID BECAUSE THE LIGHT WOULDN'T GO ON FOR THEM--THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $98..I HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH GM IN MICH.THEY HELPED ME GET THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED.AT NO CHARGE.I HAVE HAD THE CAR HOME FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK--AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON 10-02-13-POWER STEERING LIGHT WENT ON..SO I HAD TO SIGN A STATEMENT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE IF NOT THERE FAULT..WHAT A SAFETY HAZARD..I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND NEVER HAD TROUBLE EXCEPT FOR THIS--WHICH IT'S LIKE NOT HAVING A CAR..IN TOUCH WITH GM AGAIN--WAITING FOR A CALL BACK.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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