Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10265203April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
I HAVE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH MY 2004 SATURN OF COURSE I HAVE THE COLD START PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE HAD SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR(WITH ONLY 7 MILES ON IT). ANYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR OVER 30 MILES AN HOUR IT SHAKES HAD THAT PROBLEM FIX 2 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SEAL LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. NEW PROBLEM DON'T THINK I'VE SINCE THIS ONE YET THE TRANSMISSION IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER GOES OUT ND GUESS WHAT FOR ONLY $275 SATURN WILL REPLACE THAT FOR YOU. THIS CAR IS SUCH A LEMON. CLEARLY AS I READ OVER COMPLAINTS OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS LIKE MYSELF, THE TEACHER OR JUST SOMEONE WHO WANT A RELIABLE CAR. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME NEVER BY AMERICAN AGAIN AND DO MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER CAR. THE THING I HATE THE MOST IS THAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265047April 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2004 BRAND NEW. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A HIGH IDLE CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I MUST RESET THE BATTERY ONCE A WEEK TO RESTORE IT TO NORMAL. IT SEEMS TO BE FINE FOR A WEEK AND HIGH IDLE COMES BACK. I HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I MUST TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON TO WARM UP THE BATTERY BEFORE TRYING TO START CAR. SATURN WAS NO HELP. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264096April 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 2004 AND I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH IT STARTING. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND GENERALLY AFTER 10 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES IT WILL START UP. I M NOT SURE IF THE FACT THAT I CAN REMOVE MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHILE IM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT OR NOT. IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT DOES IT MORE IN COLD/RAINY WEATHER THAN OTHER TIMES. THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE IT HAS BEEN WARM AND SUNNY AND IT WONT START. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO KIDS AND I HATE THE THOUGHT OF BEING STUCK IN MY CAR W/ MY KIDS AND UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PARKING LOTS LATE AT NIGHT AFTER I GET OFF WORK AND ONE TIME IT WOULDN'T START ON MY WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT AND EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH AGREES IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO W/ THE ANTITHEFT DEVICE PUT ON THE CAR. SO HOW DO WE FIX IT AND WHY WONT SATURN DO ANYTHING ABOUT . TODAY'S ECONOMY IS TO BAD TO BE LOOSING CUSTOMERS AND MY CHILDREN ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO ME TO BE STUCK IN A CAR (AT ANY GIVEN TIME) WITH NO WAY TO MOVE. IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE LOOKING FOR A MORE DEPENDABLE SAFE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263651March 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE CAR'S PURCHASE. IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, IT STARTED RIGHT UP. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL MECHANICS, I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE THEN, I CANNOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I GO OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WON'T START.NOW, I AM TOLD THAT IT 'MAY BE' A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I AM A TEACHER, AND CANNOT BE LATE FOR CLASS. I HAVE 34 STUDENTS WAITING FOR ME EVERY MORNING. NOW, I HAVE TO GO OUT TO MY CAR, 30 MINUTES EARLY, AND START IT. IF IT STARTS, I RUN OUT 30 MINUTES WORTH OF GAS FOR FEAR THAT IT WON'T START IF I TURN IT OFF. IF IT DOESN'T START, I WASTE 20 TO 25 MINUTES IN THE MORNING GETTING IT TO START. THIS WINTER, IT HAS NOT STARTED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES. THIS CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263525March 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION DOES NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAS A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND STARTER, YET IT IS STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL GENERALLY START AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE BEING DELAYED 15-20 MINUTES EACH TIME I WANT/NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262770March 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES , AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS AFTER CRANKING THE KEY A FEW TIMES, IT WILL START RIGHT UP. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, SOMETHING TO DO WITH A WHITE WIRE THAT IS PART OF A PLUG CONTAINING A BUNCH OF WIRES THAT PLUG IN UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN ITS DAMP OR RAINING OUTSIDE. AND WILL ALWAYS FIX ITSELF IF YOU LET THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS BEFORE TRYING TO CRANK IT AGAIN. CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON BULLETIN BOARDS ON LINE. SEEMS LIKE CUTTING THE WHITE WIRE SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE EVERY TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262712March 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM HAVING A CONSISTENT PROBLEM W/ MY 2004 SATURN ION 4 DOOR 3.3 ENGINE. THE PROBLEM BEING IS NO CRANK WITH POWER ON. AFTER WAITING 10 - 15 MINUTES THE CAR WILL CRANK & START. THIS HAPPENS INTHE MORNING TRYING TO GET TO WORK, AT THE GAS STATION TRYING TO LEAVE AFTER A FILL UP, AT THE RED LIGHT IF I PUMP THE IGNITION JUST SO. AFTER READING SEVERAL ION FORUMS THERE IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM HERE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AT LEAST INVESTIGATED. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO SATURN MONDAY THE 3.23.09 TO HAVE OIL CHANGE & NO CRANK W/ POWER EVALUATED. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261699March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT WHEN IT COLDS DOES NOT START. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT THE BATTERY IS FINE. THEN WE NOTICED THAT IT ONLY HAPPENED ON COLD DAYS. IF THE TEMP WAS BELOW 40 DEGREES F. AND THE CAR SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS (MOSTLY MORNINGS), WHEN YOU ATTEMPTED TO CRANK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IF SEEMS IF YOU HAVE A DEAD BATTERY. MOST OF THE TIME IT WOULD START AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, BEING STRANDED DUE TO MILDLY COLD WEATHER. THANK GOD NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED WHILE WAITING FOR CAR TO CRANK. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL SATURN OWNERS, AND THEY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AT LEAST I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND IT DOES NOT STAY COLD LONG. SATURN NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE PERSON AT SATURN TO TAKE A BLOW DRYER TO WARM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261785March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN GIVING ME TROUBLE FOR AROUND 2 YEARS NOW. IT'S OFF AND ON. I'LL DRIVE MY CAR TO WALMART OR WHERE EVER AND GO IN THE STORE, COME OUT AND IT WON'T START. IF I GIVE IT 15-20 MINS IT FINALLY STARTS. MY DAD THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY BATTERY, BUT THAT WAS NEW. WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET AN IGNITION SWITCH NOW. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL FIX IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261787March 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 04 SATURN ION. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A CONSTANT PROBLEM STARTING THE CAR. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEGREES, THE CAR WON'T START. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. SO I KNOW THE BATTERY ISN'T THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STARTS UP. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS THE STARTER SWITCH. THE GREASE HARDENS UP IN THE COLD, THEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKS OUT THE STARTER SWITCH. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW GM AND SATURN KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THEY ARE SAYING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO SIT IN THEIR CARS WHEN IT'S BELOW FREEZING, WAITING TWENTY MINUTES TO START THEIR ION'S. WHAT ABOUT PARENTS WITH KIDS? WHAT ABOUT IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CARJACK MYSELF? I DON'T HAVE AWAY TO ESCAPE BY DRIVING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261535March 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES THE PASSLOCK VEHICLE THEFT SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. I THEN HAVE TO WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES IN THE COLD FOR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM TO RESET SO THAT I CAN TRY AGAIN TO START MY CAR. SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT, BUT HAS YET TO HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261293March 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON COLD DAYS IN THE WINTER MY SATURN ION 2 DOES NOT START. TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10 MINUTES. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION KEY REPLACED AND THAT FIXES IT FOR A WHILE. I WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY REPLACED THE PART WITH THE SAME SERIES PART SO NOW NOT UNDER WARRANTY THE PROBLEM RECURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260820March 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 SATURN ION, IN COLD WEATHER FAILING TO START, CRANK OR TURN OVER. BATTERY, STARTER, AND WIRES ALL CHECKED ALL IN WORKING ORDER. FIND OUT THERE WAS A TSB # 040845005 FOR IT AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF IT. HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR PAST TWO YEARS BUT NEVER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THAT BUT DID HAVE IT THERE FOR OTHER SERVICE AND WAS NEVER ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. DUE TO EXPIRED WARRANTY DEALER AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE UNSURE IF THEY WILL COVER ALL OR ANY OF THE CHARGE TO REPAIR IT. COST IS $250 FIRST EXPERIENCED LAST WINTER AND IN THE PAST MONTH THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260753March 4, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION DOES NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER! IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2008. TODAY IS MARCH 3, 2009. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALREADY CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WASN'T THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260405March 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SATURN ION ON 9/30/03. WINTER OF 03-04 CAR FAILED TO START IN COLD WEATHER. SATURN PUT 2 NEW IGNITION SWITCHES IN (WARRANTY) 2004. THIS WINTER (08-09) SAME STARTING PROBLEM. FAILS TO START IN COLD TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF POORLY ENGINEERED IGNITION SWITCH COMMON IN THE SATURN ION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260294February 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DATE BELOW IS THE DATE THE ISSUE BEGAN. I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION, THAT BEGAN WITH COLD START ISSUES THIS WINTER. AFTER LOOKING UP THE ISSUE ONLINE, I NOTICED IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS, YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR ON A COLD MORNING (OR MIDDAY), THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER. IT OFTEN TAKES 10-20 MINUTES OF TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO ENGAGE. I CALLED SATURN, AND THEY OFFERED NO REMEDY, AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (ONLY A 4.5 YEAR OLD CAR!) - AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE $250 REPAIR FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. ON DECEMBER 26, 2008, I WAS STRANDED FOR NEARLY AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND SUFFERED FROST BITE AND MILD HYPOTHERMIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10259714February 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND LIKE OTHERS, IT HAS THE COLD WEATHER FAIL TO START PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. I STOPPED BY THE LOCAL SATURN GARAGE TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF REPAIR IS RECOMMEND FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH NO WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THEIR SUGGESTION, IF I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE BUNDLE OF MONEY TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WAS TO CARRY BIC LIGHTER TO WARM THE KEY. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THAT SATURN ENGINEERING SPECED THE WRONG TEMPERATURE GREASE TO LUBE THE SWITCH. NOW, I THE CUSTOMER, HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ANOTHER GM GENERATED ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN NOT RELY ON AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY GOOD RUNNING CAR AND CAN'T COUNT ON IT FOR AN EMERGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259585February 22, 2009
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE. DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259303February 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN TURNING KEY IN IGNITION. PASSLOCK ICON FLASHES ON DASHBOARD AND "SERVICE VEHICLE" COMES UP ON MESSAGE PANEL. THIS IS A COLD WEATHER STARTING PROBLEM DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF THE PASSLOCK CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION (KEY) SWITCH. PASSLOCK MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACE 3 TIMES BY DEALER. LAST TIME 2006. SATURN HAS A COMPLAINT FILE UNDER MY NAME, VIN, AND PHONE NUMBER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS EVERY WINTER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. IT IS ALSO A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET GM REFUSES TO RECALL THE CARS AFFECTED. OUT OF WARRANTY DEALER REPAIR RUNS OVER $ 500. RECENT FAILURE TO START HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER OF 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259290February 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 04 SATURN ION, IT DOES NOT START IN THE COLD, IT GIVES ME SO MANY HEADACHES, THERE IS OVER 30 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITE WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AND SAME PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO BE A WHITE WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WHY IT CANT BE FIXED. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK, COLLEGE CLASSES, AND TO BE STUCK OUT ON A COLD NIGHT BY MYSELF DUE TO MY CAR NOT STARTING. YOU HAVE TO TRY TO START IT AND THEN LEAVE IT ALONE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT USUALLY STARTS RIGHT UP. IT HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME BUT IT IS SO RANDOM YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL BE STRANDED. I HAVE SPENT MONEY REPLACING BATTERIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHEN NONE OF THIS CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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