Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10532987July 31, 2013
STEERING
WAS DRIVING ON I-40 HEADING HOME ONE NIGHT FROM WORK AND THE POWER STEERING ALERT CAME ON. THE WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND CONTROL MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ALL WAS RIGHT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SINCE THEN I HAVE NO POWER STEERING IN MY CAR BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532325July 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE COULD NOT POWER DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY REMAINED STUCK AND NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD SHUT OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532116July 27, 2013
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO MY JOB, THE POWER STEERING BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAPPENED. AFTER MAKING IT TO WORK WHERE THE CAR SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS, UPON CRANKING THE CAR UP THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES, THE STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WAS BACK ON THE DASH. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP ON THE WAY HOME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED AND AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND CRANKED AGAIN THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING ONCE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT INVESTIGATE OR WORK ON THAT MAKE & MODEL CAR WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM AND REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531922July 26, 2013
STEERING
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, WITHOUT WARNING OR PRIOR INCIDENT; WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, DRIVING ON A FREEWAY ABOUT 55-60MPH, I NOTICE A "PWR STR" WARNING LIGHT COME ON MY DASH. SINCE I AM DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, I NOTICE NO CHANGE. AS SOON AS I ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LANES TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, I REALIZE THAT I CAN BARELY STEER THE CAR AND THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE IS NO SHOULDER ON THIS FREEWAY, SO IT IS SAFEST TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. MAKING THE RIGHT TURN OFF THE FREEWAY IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND TAKES ALL OF MY STRENGTH JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND PUT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND NOBODY WAS HURT. THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, AND ONCE OFF THE FREEWAY, I COULD QUICKLY AND SAFELY COME TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD PULL OVER AND PARK. AFTER READING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SIMILAR PROBLEM, I AM AMAZED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO DATE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE BY WAY OF AN ACCIDENT... THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531995July 26, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, THE STEERING SYSTEM STARTED CLICKING AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,744.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531804July 25, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SMELLED GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531861July 25, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AFTER THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL STEERING FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531875July 25, 2013
STEERING
THE PWR STR MESSAGE APPEARS AND THEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT 10 MINUTES, AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531625July 24, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526142July 22, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526239July 22, 2013
STEERING
I HAVE HAD REPEATED INSTANCES OF HAVING MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKING WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. UPON INSERTING THE IGNITION KEY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WITHOUT REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. BEGINNING ON THE INCIDENT DATE, I PARKED MY CAR AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT TURN FROM THE ON POSITION. I VERIFIED THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY AGAIN. AT ONE POINT, I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. AFTER REINSERTING THE KEY INTO THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND PUSHING IN ON IT, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. ALL SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS (APPROXIMATELY 4 DIFFERENT TIMES) HAVE REQUIRED ME TO JIGGLE THE KEY UNTIL IT WOULD FINALLY TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I DROVE IT TO A GM REPAIR FACILITY AND AT THAT POINT, WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OR TURN OFF THE ENGINE. IT NOW APPEARS THAT I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE IGNITION LOCK AND HOUSING ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. FURTHER ONLINE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM HAS TURNED UP HUNDREDS OF SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE REPEAT ISSUES WITH THEIR NEW LOCK/HOUSING ASSEMBLIES. TO DATE, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT GM HAS ISSUED ANY RECALL/REPAIR NOTICES FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525925July 20, 2013
AIR BAGS
I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 30 MPH. COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE, AND YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INSTEAD OF MY AIRBAGS STOPPING MY HEAD FROM HITTING ANYTHING MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY EYE SOCKET WAS FRACTURED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10525730July 19, 2013
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE ON A BUSY FREEWAY. VERY SCARY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE PROBLEM WAS GONE BUT HAS SINCE HAPPENED TWO TIMES. I NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND FEEL GM SHOULD FIX THIS AT NO CHARGE AS THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525565July 18, 2013
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING LIGHT POPS ON WHILE I'M DRIVING. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THERE IS NO POWER STEERING LIGHT BUT WILL POP BACK ON LATER DURING MY DRIVE. EXTREMELY HARD ON THE DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525332July 17, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SCHOOL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LOW FUEL CAME UP SO I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND THEN IT WENT EMPTY BY THE TIME I GOT HOME FROM GRIFFIN. WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF I GOT OUT AND SAW GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER MY CAR AND SAW THE LONG TRAIL OF GAS THAT I HAD TRAILED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525070July 16, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND ARRIVING AT DESTINATION, THE NORMAL ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF IGNITION AND VACATE VEHICLE FAILED INSOMUCH THAT IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN TO THE OFF POSITION DUE TO A STUCK IGNITION CYLINDER. CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF AND REMOVING BATTERY TERMINAL FAILED TO KILL THE ENGINE. ONLY AFTER A CRITICAL FUSE WAS REMOVED WOULD THE ENGINE DIE. INTERNET SEARCHES HAS REVEALED A CHRONIC TREND FOR THIS FAILURE AND TYPICAL REPAIR COSTS AT DEALERSHIPS AVERAGE OVER $400. IF THIS FAILURE SHOULD OCCUR AT AN ACCIDENT SCENE WHERE THERE IS SPILLED FUEL THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. I AM APPALLED THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A FLAWED DESIGN OR THE USE OF INADEQUATE MATERIALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525071July 16, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,710.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525247July 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I AM NOT SURE IF THE POWER TRAIN IS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN, CAUSING IT TO LOOSE SPEED INCREDIBLY FAST ALMOST TO THE POINT OF STOPPING. I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION, BUT GM NOW SAYS THERE WAS NOT. EVEN THOUGH WHEN I FIRST CALLED, THE GENTLEMAN THAT ANSWERED SAID THAT THE SYMPTOMS FIT THE RECALL STATS. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH THE PERSON THAT WAS HANDLING THE CLAIM, SHE SAID IT WAS PAST 8 YEARS, AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE RECALLED PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE GARAGE, AND TRANSMISSION COMPANY TELL ME THAT THIS TRANSMISSION IS ON A RECALL, JUST BY CHECKING THE VIN #. GM NOW REFUSES TO FIX IT AND DENIES SAYING IT WAS ON RECALL. THE AUTO DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SOLD OTHER SATURNS, SAME YEAR. I SPOKE WITH THE GIRL THERE THAT "ENTERS THE VINS INTO THE SYSTEM TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CAR"...AND SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS CAR, ALTHOUGH IT HAS 4 OTHER RECALLS LISTED FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS, I FIRST CALLED A LOCAL SATURN DEALER, AND THEY BLEW ME OFF SAYING IT WAS JUST "STUCK" (THE TRANSMISSION) I KEPT DRIVING IT THINKING I WAS WRONG IT WAS STUCK LIKE THEY SAID, WHATEVER THAT MEANT. IT GOT WORSE, I ENDED UP CALLING GM AS REFERRED TO BY MANY GARAGES AND AUTO PARTS STORES, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL ON TRANNY, THEN FLIPPED IT AROUND . WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR WHETHER IT IS ON THE HIGHWAY OR A STREET, IT WILL SUDDENLY ALMOST STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE BREAKS, AS IT WILL DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN. THIS ALMOST CAUSED MORE THAN ONE ACCIDENT. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN, I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524823July 15, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS SHUT DOWN THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524577July 12, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN THE SUMMER OF 2010, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF MY CAR MY KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. ALL ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE KEY FAILED AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT LOCK IGNITION FELL APART AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I DID NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. NEARLY THREE YEARS LATER (JUNE 2013), I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF MY CAR AND KEY WAS STUCK IN ON POSITION. AGAIN ALL ATTEMPTS TO GET KEY OUT FAILED. HAD TO GET SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO TURN OFF CAR BY REMOVING FUSE IN CAR TO TURN IT OFF. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT LOCK IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS TIME CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR AND RENTAL CAR. LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER I HAD BEGUN TO SMELL GAS ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF MY CAR. BROUGHT TO SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING AND FELL UNDER RECALL SO I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING BUT STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR RENTAL CAR. I BELIEVE THAT THE LOCK IGNITION PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DEFECT. ADDITIONALLY, THE FACT THAT SO MANY ISSUES WITH MY CAR STEM FROM PART DEFECTS THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, GM SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE CAR AND/OR PROVIDING MONETARY COMPENSATION. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL BE INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY AND SOME REMEDY SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR AND NOW HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE NUMEROUS DEFECTS. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE STUCK WITH A LEMON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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