Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10217858February 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2004 SATURN ION I'M HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS. ON COLD DAYS THE CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES, BUT IF YOU WAIT A FEW MINUTES IT WILL START RIGHT UP. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SO LONG THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE IT AND GET A RIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217489February 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WHICH WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED. ONE MORNING I WENT TO START THE CAR. ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER (NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL). WHEN I RETURNED HOME THAT EVENING, THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY, RULING OUT A DEAD BATTERY. THIS FAILURE RE-OCCURS MOSTLY ON COLD MORNINGS. I DISCOVERED ON THE WEB THAT SATURN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH PASS LOCK SYSTEM WHEN IT IS COLD. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND ASKED HIM TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. HE MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO THE SATURN DEALER (30+ MILES) TO GET A NEW SWITCH, HOWEVER HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE PROGRAMMED AND ONLY A SATURN DEALER CAN DO THAT. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FAILED TO MENTION THIS TO HIM WHEN HE BOUGHT THE PART. NOW, I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER TO HAVE THE SWITCH PROGRAMMED, AS WELL AS FOR NEARLY A WEEK OF WASTED TIME, MONEY, AND CONVENIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216561January 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMP. IS VERY COLD. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO MISS WORK AND TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED THAT WERE IN WORKING CONDITION. RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. AFTER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS THE CAR STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216574January 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, EQUIPMENT
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD TO PUSH THIS SATURN INTO THE STREET TO GET OUR OTHER DRIVERS OFF TO WORK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID MY FLOORMATS WERE TOO THICK AND NOT GENUINE SATURN PARTS AND CAUSED IT NOT TO START(NO KIDDING, THEY SAID THIS). A FEW WEEKS LATER IT ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO TURN OVER. ANOTHER TOW TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY RE-CODED THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH. SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IT HAS FAILED TO START. IF I WAIT 20 MINUTES, THE ANTI THEFT MODULE RE-SETS AND IT WILL START. THIS MORNING I SLIPPED ON ICE WHILE PUSHING IT INTO THE STREET AND FELL. MY BACK IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW AND I'M VERY ANGRY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. NO SELF RESPECTING THIEF WOULD STEAL A SATURN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I SEE NO NEED FOR AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE ON THIS AWFUL CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10216407January 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SATURN 1ON 2004 BAD IGNITION SWITCH... *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216175January 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY 2004 ION WON'T START. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN NOVEMBER WITH COLD WEATHER, BUT HAS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS NOT COLD OUT AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL I CAN'T START IT AT ALL AND ITS BECAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. I HAVE READ PROBABLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SATURN OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S SAFETY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF A CAR PAYMENT WHEN YOU CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR OR LEAVE IN AN EMERGENCY? I USED TO BE ABLE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR THE PASSLOCK TO DEACTIVATE, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF DOING THIS BEFORE I EVER GOT ANYWHERE, BUT NOW NOTHING. THE CAR IS OK OTHERWISE. MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215689January 22, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR DOES NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS STUCK OUT IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH WARMED UP ENOUGH TO START. I WILL HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED, BUT I AM WAITING TO SEE IF IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215569January 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
MY CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START. IT HAS COMPLETE POWER. THE BATTERY IS WELL WITHIN THE NORMAL LIMITS. THE INSTANCES WHEN THIS OCCUR ALL SEEM TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS IN TEMPERATURES IN THE 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT RANGE OR COLDER. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ON, AND ALL THE ACCESSORIES WORK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START, BUT THE STARTER DOES NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" MESSAGE FLASHES. I PULLED ALL THE ELECTRICAL RELAYS IN THE FUSE BOX AND THE ENGINE WILL NOW START WITH NO PROBLEM. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE SAME FIX WORKS EACH TIME. THERE IS MOST LIKELY A FAULT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215466January 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HE SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AGAIN WHEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS RESET. PROBLEM IS IN THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF 2004 SATURN ION. CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS COLD OUT AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNS. VERY DANGEROUS -- CAN STRAND DRIVER IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE FOR 4+ YEARS BUT CONTINUES TO RISK THE LIVES OF DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10215222January 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 04 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLDER WEATHER. AFTER INVESTIGATING MANY WEB SITES, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I READ THAT SOMETIME IN 04 THEY STARTED USING A DIFFERENT SWITCH AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215228January 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NO WARNING ABOUT ISSUE TO COME BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THE FIRST COLD MORNING THIS WINTER MY WIFE'S 2004 SATURN ION-2 FAILED TO START. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR INTERMITTENTLY TRYING TO START IT, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY MORNING WHERE IT FELL BELOW 40DEG THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR NUMEROUS TIME TO MECHANICS TO DIAGNOSE. ORIGINAL ANSWER WAS I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH STRONGER BATTERY (HIGHER CCA RATING) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR HAS NEW BATTERY, FULL TANK OF GAS, AND SITS OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY. CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES DONE AND HAS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS WINTER. MY RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAD PRODUCED NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND NO AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS (I.E. REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH) GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WITH BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214428January 10, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
POWER STEERING TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. COMES BACK ON IF CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. DEALERSHIP CHARGING @ $920.00 TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE OF SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214329January 9, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
POWER STEERING CONTINUOUSLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. FOUND OTHERS ONLINE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. RESTART THE CAR AND IT COMES BACK ON MOST OF THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213825January 5, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON 12/03/2007 AT 8:41 AM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON I-240 EAST IN MEMPHIS TN. I WAS TRAILING TRAFFIC IN THE PASSING LANE, WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DIDNT REACT IN TIME AND SUFFERED A FRONTAL COLLISION TO A 2004 SATURN ION THAT I OWN. I WAS TRAVELLING APPROX 30-35 MPH WHEN I STRUCK THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTED IN MY GOING HEADFIRST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO HAVE TESTS AT THE DOCTOR FOR MIGRAINES AND STILL EXPERIENCE THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THIS ACCIDENT. *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10213826January 5, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON 12/03/2007 AT 8:41 AM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON I-240 EAST IN MEMPHIS TN. I WAS TRAILING TRAFFIC IN THE PASSING LANE, WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DIDNT REACT IN TIME AND SUFFERED A FRONTAL COLLISION TO A 2004 SATURN ION THAT I OWN. I WAS TRAVELLING APPROX 30-35 MPH WHEN I STRUCK THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTED IN MY GOING HEADFIRST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO HAVE TESTS AT THE DOCTOR FOR MIGRAINES AND STILL EXPERIENCE THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THIS ACCIDENT. *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10213716January 4, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DURING COLD WEATHER (AROUND 32 DEGREES F AND BELOW), CAR WILL NOT START FOR 8-10 MINUTES. ON INITIAL ATTEMPT TO START CAR, ENGINE BEGINS TO TURN OVER FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND, THEN STOPS. A LOCK SYMBOL FLASHES ON THE DASH AND THE MESSAGE READOUT STATES "SERVICE ENGINE". ANY ADDITION ATTEMPS TO START THE CAR WILL RESULT IN ABSOLUTELY NO TURNOVER OF THE ENGINE. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ATTEMPS TO JUMP START THE CAR WILL ARE NOT SUCESSFUL UNTIL AFTER THE 8-10 MINUTE PERIOD. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AND FOUND TO BE FINE. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED A REPAIR YET. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 AND HAS OCCURRED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213446January 2, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND I COULD BARELY STEER THE VEHICLE AND I HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY. AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND I WOULD PROCEED TO MY DESTINATION.*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213147December 29, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2004 SATURN ION 1 THE CAR REVS IT'S ENGINE TO OVER 3000 RPMS WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND IDLE. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR IT IS OK, BUT IF YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR THE CAR THE LURCHES FORWARD UNSAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212936December 27, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
FOLLOWING SEVERAL WEEKS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO CLEAN OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE CAUSED A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF SALT RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION AND SAID THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY "ICE LOADING" AND CAUTIONED ME TO MAKE SURE AND CLEAR AWAY ICE AND SNOW BEFORE ACTIVATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212248December 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PRIOR TO PURCHASING MY '04 SATURN ION I READ ALL THE REVIEWS AND CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I CAME ACROSS WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. I ASSUMED THAT SINCE I LIVED IN FLORIDA AND IT SEEMED MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WHERE FROM OTHER STATES WHERE THEY GET FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HOW WRONG I WAS, I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40 DEGREES. I CONTACTED SATURN AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THERE WASN'T A RECALL I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WHERE NOT EVEN THEM ATTEMPTING TO FIX IT HAS RESOLVED IT, I GUESS I'LL JUST LIVE WITH THE HEADACHE OF TRYING TO GET IT STARTED ON THE MORNINGS WHERE IT IS TOO COLD, THANKFULLY I DO LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THAT'S NOT VERY OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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