Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10211909December 14, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SATURN ION 2003 PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE CAR AROUND/BELOW 32`F, THIS IS SECOND COLD SEASON I AM HAVING OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WITH START THE ENGINE PROCESS, AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I AM FINDING "THE BIG FAMILY" OF SATURN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH/PASSLOCK SENSOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211534December 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN ION 2003 FAILS TO START WHEN COLD OUT. REFERENCE NHTSA #10007431. SATURN DOES NOT ADMIT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. BUT WILL CHARGE YOU AND ARM AND A LEG TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO ALLDATA WEB SITE AND THE SHOW NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 SATURN ION BUT GM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211745December 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, I STOPPED AT A BLOCKBUSTER TO DROP OFF SOME MOVIES. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND CALLED A FRIEND TO COME AND GIVE ME A JUMP. I TRIED TO JUMP IT, AND THAT DID NOT WORK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT IS NEARBY WHERE I LIVE. I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I COULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I SAID THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START, WHEN I TRIED TO JUMP IT THAT DIDN'T WORK, AND THAT MY KEY IS NOW STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS, "I BET IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THOSE NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS COLD. DID YOU SAY YOU JUMPED IT? YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. THAT CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO HAVE A SHORTAGE". TODAY, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND A DEAD BATTERY. I HAD THEM REPLACE BOTH, AND I ALSO KEPT BOTH OF MY OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211112December 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE TIMING BELT BROKE ON MY 2003 SATURN ION ON 11-28-07. THE CAR ONLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE BELT BREAKING IT MESSED UP THE VALVES, HEAD GASKET AND FUEL PUMP. WHICH IS COSTING ME ALMOST $3000. THE BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN WITH THAT FEW OF MILES ON IT. NOW I AM DOWN TO ONE CAR AND IT HAS BECOME A HUGE HASSLE. I AM NEVER GOING TO BUY A SATURN AGAIN. IN MY OPINION THE WARRANTY IS AWFUL AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON-EXISTENT. THE WARRANTY IS ONLY ON THE FIRST 30,000 MILES AND OR 3 YEARS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT HELP ME IN THE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211163December 7, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON THE VEHICLE. ALL I DID WAS GO TO START IT UP AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GOODYEAR BUT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. SO RIGHT NOW IT IS BEING LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKEN AND BECAUSE OF THE BREAKAGE I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE VALVES REPLACED AS WELL AS THE THERMOSTAT, THE FUEL PUMP AND THE HEAD GASKET. ALL OF THESE WERE DAMAGED BY THE CHAIN. THIS IS NOW COSTING ME APPROXIMATELY $3000. ALL OF WHICH IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY BELT THAT SATURN INSTALLED ON THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210992December 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
SATURN 2003 ION WILL NOT START IN THE WINTER, WHEN TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREE'S OR LOWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210918December 5, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10210954December 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY STICKS FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO START. CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE. HAD IT TOWED IN. REPLACEMENT PART # 10392423 IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210780December 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT MY CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS LEAVING WORK AND HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND AS I WAS ACCELERATING THE CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF, I WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, SO IT WAS REPLACED AND I PICKED UP MY CAR. TWO WEEKS LATER I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND WHILE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE GOING 65 MPH THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND COASTED TO A STOP, USING SOME BRAKES, BUT I COULDN'T STOP TOO SUDDENLY OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE NEXT TO A JERSEY WALL, THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF A SHOULDER SO I WAS PARTIALLY ON IT AND PARTIALLY BLOCKING TRAFFIC, I AM VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HIT. IT WOULD BE A REAL TRAGEDY FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION BEFORE NOTICE WAS TAKEN AND THESE CARS RECALLED COMPLETELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210850December 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. I READ THROUGH MESSAGE BOARDS AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO READ SOME PEOPLES CAR ACTUALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, WHICH SOUNDS RELATED TO ME. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE ALSO POPULAR COMPLAINTS. THESE CARS ARE OBVIOUSLY RIDDLED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND ARE ROLLING DEATH TRAPS. I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING LOSS ONCE, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE UNTIL READING OTHERS POSTS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND HAVE FOUND NO RESOLUTION. I FOUND A TSB STATING THAT A FAULTY IGNITION IS THE CAUSE OF THE COLD STARTING PROBLEM, SO I WILL LIKELY REPLACE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210450December 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WOULDN'T START, BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OK. FINALLY CHECKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR AND THE COLD WEATHER PROBLEM WITH THE STARTED IS A KNOWN ISSUE. WAITED AN HOUR OR SO TO TRY AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210452December 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, STRUCTURE
HOOD LATCH BROKEN, IGNITION SWITCH SPARKS AND THE CAR DOESN'T START, LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT END, TRANSMISSION IS QUIRKY WHILE SHIFTING(AUTOMATIC) DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210379November 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LESS AND THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THEN THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN AND THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON". THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 8 TO 10 MINUTES. AFTER 8 TO 10 MINUTES THE LIGHT STOPS BLINKING AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE GOES OFF AND THEN THE CAR STARTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND IT OCCURS ALL DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAYS. AS I READ ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $200.00 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210168November 28, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER COMBINED WITH SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKOUT. THE PROBLEM ARISES AS FOLLOWS: A.THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS.) B.AN OPERATOR ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. C.THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: ?SERVICE ENGINE SOON.? FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. D.THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. E.AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. ?THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON? SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. F.NOW THE OPERATOR MAY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. G.HOWEVER, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. H.A SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY START AFTER THE PRESENT ?LOCK-OUT? WILL BE WHEN THE IGNITION SEEMS TO CRANK A BIT MORE THAN JUST A CLICK, BEFORE LOCKING OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209978November 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES GET COLDER THEN 32 F. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209840November 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 ION WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, MY CAR WILL NOT START, I WILL TRY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WILL WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL START LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS COMPLETELY FINE. IT WILL TURN ON ALL ELECTRONICS, TELL ME TO SERVICE ENGINE, THEN IT WON'T TURN OVER. NEXT I WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTS. AND RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209233November 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
WHEN IT IS TOO COLD, MY IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS MY SECURITY SYSTEM AND I HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME BEFORE MY CAR STARTS. SATURN HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY (# 04-08-45-005D) ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL (EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT). MANY OTHERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208523November 9, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CAR WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES. SATURN REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BACK IN 10/05. IT DID IT AGAIN IN 2006 AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2007. THE CAR THINKS THAT IT IS BEING STOLEN AND CUTS THE FUEL LINE TO THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208145November 7, 2007
TIRES
RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEWER CAR(O3 ION COUP) WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE NEW AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 5,793 MILES I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE HAVE CHOPP. I AS WELL NOW SEE THEIR IS A RECALL ON THE TIRE LINE NHTSA ID # 01T006000. THEY ARE FIRESTONE TIRES FIRE HAWK GTA-02 205-55R16. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO HAZARD BUT NOW IM VERY CONCERNED.THE CAR IS NOT RIDING RIGHT. THE DEALER AT THIS POINT IS ONLY WILLING TO REPLACE ONE TIRE. I AS WELL HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY WARRANTY ROAD HAZARD AT 1-800346-6469 CLAIM # 21833283 AS OF 11/07/2007. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER TO TRY AND GET THEM REPLACED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE DRIVEN 5,793 MILES ON THE TIRES. I FEEL THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE. AND AM UNSURE OF WHERE TO GO WITH THIS NOW.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207771November 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I AM WRITING TO NOTE THAT MY 2003 SATURN ION 3 DOES NOT START UP IN THE COLD, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAPPENED ONCE IN 2005, AND THEN I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR THE REST OF THAT WINTER AND THE NEXT. AT THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY A SATURN MECHANIC IN 2005 OVER THE PHONE THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES OCCUR WITH IONS IN COLD WEATHER. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THIS PAST MONDAY AND THIS MORNING. THIS AFTERNOON I WENT ONLINE TO SEEK OUT GUIDANCE IN TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING ONLINE RESOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A RECURRENT ONE THAT SATURN HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CLEAR-CUT CASE FOR A COMPONENT RECALL, BUT SATURN WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I ASK THAT THE NHTSA DIRECT ITS RESOURCES TOWARD SATURN TO SEEK A DETERMINATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.* *I HAVE FORWARDED A COPY OF THIS EXPLANATION TO MY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, REPRESENTATIVE JIM MORAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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