Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10576619April 2, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 5/20/14*CN UPDATED 06/17/14*MA UPDATED 8/7/17*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576286April 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN DEC. 2011, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AND I PAID $280 FOR A REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY USED ANOTHER FAULTY SWITCH THAT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF THE CURRENT RECALL. IN CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY, I AM USING A SINGLE KEY, AS GM INSTRUCTED, AND WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO GET THE PART TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. SUPPOSEDLY, IT WILL HAPPEN THIS MONTH - APRIL. ALSO IN 2011 (OR MAYBE THE BEGINNING OF 2012) I EXPERIENCED THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THAT WAS PAID FOR BY GM BUT, AGAIN, NOW I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY PUT IN ANOTHER FAULTY POWER STEERING COLUMN THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S RECALL. WHEN I CALLED GM TODAY, THEY SAID THAT LAST POWER STEERING REPLACEMENT WAS NOT A RECALL, IT WAS A SPECIAL SAFETY ISSUE #10187. I ASKED IF THE INCENTIVE TO TRADE IN THE CAR WOULD BE EXTENDED DUE TO ANOTHER RECALL AND THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION BECAUSE THAT IS A SALES ISSUE, NOT A REPAIR ISSUE. I THINK IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THIS CAR, MAYBE WITH A FORD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576434April 1, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,500 AND THE CURRENT MILE WAS 77,590. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN UPDATED 8/4/17*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576563April 1, 2014
AIR BAGS
I WRITE ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF [XXX]. [XXX] WERE KILLED ON AUGUST 17, 2012 IN A 2004 SATURN ION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A PICKUP TRUCK AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
2
#10576575April 1, 2014
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2004 MY POWER STEERING KEPT TURNING OFF PERIODICALLY, MY CAR IS STANDARD SO I ACTUALLY TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING PRESSING MY CLUTCH IN AND RESTARTED MY CAR. I DROVE LIKE THIS FOR ABOUT 5 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE FACT I WAS OVER 150000 MILES IT VOIDED MY WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECT TO MY STEERING MOTOR. I SPENT OVER 500 DOLLARS TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, NOW KNOWING THAT IT WAS AN EXISTING DEFECT KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575878March 31, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ION SATURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED GASOLINE FUEL HAD SPILLED ON THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL LINES WAS CORRODED AND LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575970March 31, 2014
STEERING
POWER STEERING TEMPORARILY LOCKED IN RIGHT TURN POSITION, DURING RIGHT HAND TURN, BUT WAS ABLE TO FORCE BACK IN TIME BEFORE HITTING OTHER CAR. STEERING IS STILL ACTING UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (ESPECIALLY COLD), WHEN TRYING TO RETURN WHEEL BACK TO STRAIGHT POSITION, WHEEL TIGHTENS UP AND NEEDS TO BE FORCED BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576047March 31, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR STARTED NOT STARTING UP AT ALL. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD BE HARD TO TURN, AND A JUMP WOULD NOT WORK. I WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT AND START MY CAR 30 MINUTES BEFORE I HAD TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND LET IT RUN. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC TO CHANGE MY OIL AND IT WOULD NOT START. THEY TRIED TO GIVE ME A JUMP AND I TOLD THEM THAT DO NOT WORK AND EXPLAIN WHAT IT DOES ALL THE TIME AND THE OWNER CHECK HIS COMPUTER UNDER THE SAFETY RECALLS AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON MY IGNITION, SO I TOOK MY CAR TO A SATURN DEALER "THIS WAS IN 2010" AND I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. I WROTE A LETTER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. NOW IN 2013 MY CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET FOR NO REASON. I WAS JUST GOING TO GET MY IGNITION FIXED WHEN I GOT THIS LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL. THIS CAR WAS GIVEN TO MY SON FOR A GRADUATION PRESENT AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576622March 30, 2014
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, MAKING THE EFFORT OF STEERING THE VEHICLE INCREASE GREATLY. UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY, BUT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AT AN EVER-INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL THIS DATE. FOR THE PAST YEAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WITHIN DRIVING THE FIRST 200 FEET EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE OPERATED THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH SATURN IONS AND RELATED GM VEHICLES, CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, AND THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER DUE TO THE EXTREME PHYSICAL EXERTION REQUIRED TO STEER THESE VEHICLES AFTER THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575083March 27, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS CORRODED CAUSING THE LEAK. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V281000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574701March 25, 2014
STEERING
AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT-AWAY, ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD 3 DINGS IN MY CAR - SO I CHECKED THE DASHBOARD (I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE FUEL OR MAYBE OIL LIFE), IT READ PWR STR. THEN I NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER MY CAR...I HAD LOST MY POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. THE AMOUNT OF STRENGTH IT TOOK JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL WAS IMMENSE. THIS TOOK MORE EFFORT THAN DRIVING AN OLDER CAR THAT DOES NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, I WAS JUST ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION. ALSO LUCKILY, THE ISSUE GOES AWAY ONCE I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE-START IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME - ONCE WHILE ON A HIGHWAY, ONCE WHILE PARKING MY CAR, AND ANOTHER WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574321March 24, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER, I CALLED ROAD SIDE IN HOPES THAT THE BATTERY JUST NEEDED A JUMP, BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT TURNING OVER BECAUSE OF ANOTHER REASON. MY FRIENDS CAME OVER AND WE POPPED THE CLUTCH AND DROVE IT TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK, I WAS THINKING EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR. HE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT TO TELL ME TO CONTACT GM ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION IS BAD AND WILL NOT TURN THE CAR OVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574501March 24, 2014
ENGINE
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE MORNINGS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE WILL START AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVERY DAY OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION RELATED TO NTHSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,127. RG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574594March 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THEY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND SOMETIMES I CANT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. MANY TIMES IF I CAN GET THE KEY IN AND TRY TO START IT THEN IT DOES NOTHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNABLE TO START?? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY CAR FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, IS TOWING ALSO INCLUDED I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PAYING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574123March 22, 2014
STEERING
POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE IT HAPPENS YOU CANNOT TURN THE VEHICLE. MUST POWER DOWN THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK. IT CAN HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES IN A 5 MILES STRETCH, INCONSISTENT. WARNING - HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE - I ALMOST CRASHED. HAD TO STOP AUTO IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION - VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573957March 21, 2014
STEERING, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES. THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE MID APRIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175. THE MILEAGE OF 175 WAS REAFFIRMED BY THE CONTACT. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES 2 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WOULDNT START, IT HAD HIGH IDLING PROBLEMS, AND MOST RECENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. THE BATTERY AND THROTTLE WERE BOTH REPLACED. UPDATED 05/29/2014* JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573711March 20, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573810March 20, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573906March 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED 2004 SATURN ION 3 IN 2013 AND WITHIN 30DAYS I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AND BEGIN TO HESITATE AROUND 35MPH. I STARTED INQUIRING ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON INTERNET AND OBSERVED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'M GETTING NO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WITH GM DEALERSHIP. WITH ALL THE OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE SATURN ION THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL TO FIX TRANSMISSION DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE.(CVT OR VTI TRANSMISSION). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573593March 19, 2014
STEERING
AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY ON A CLEAR DAY. I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHEN I TRY TO CHANGE LANE. I THEN DECIDED TO PULL OVER AT THE FIRST EXIT. WHEN I SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN, IT WAS CLEAR THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE DASH CONSOLE AND NO AUDIO ALARM. FINALLY, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK AND I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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