Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10397881April 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH FAULTY IGNITION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES OR LONGER, BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED AN IGNITION HOUSING PROBLEM WAS COMMON WITH HER VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/23/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397953April 26, 2011
STEERING
I RECENTLY HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 SATURN ION. THIS HAS RANDOMLY OCCURRED FOUR TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS. SUDDENLY, THE WARNING MESSAGE "PWR STR" WILL APPEAR IN PLACE OF MY DIGITAL ODOMETER READING AND THE CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY LOSE POWER STEERING AND BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUND THAT AM ABLE TO "RESET" THE STEERING BY PULLING OVER AND TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO TWO WEEKS AGO. THE CAR HAS APPROX 185K MILES ON IT. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE TODAY (THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED), I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT NHTSA IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING SATURN IONS FOR THIS ISSUE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : RQ10004), TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER GM CARS. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS COMPLAINT IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397438April 25, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RETURNED HOME AND TRIED TO TURN OFF CAR BUT KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE CAR OFF WAS TO REMOVE A FUSE AND UNHOOK THE BATTERY. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE AND ON THIS WEBSITE, I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SATURN IONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397327April 25, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WOULD POWER THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT TO ALLOW THE POWER STEERING TO RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397397April 25, 2011
STEERING
HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION 2 AND WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN THE WARNING CHIME WENT OFF AND DISPLAYED "PWR STG" IN THE DASH DISPLAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHIME THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. STARTED CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES LATER, I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. CAR IS NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY UNUSED. TAKING CAR INTO GM DEALERSHIP TOMORROW FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG BEFORE LOOKING AT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397409April 25, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,967.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397204April 23, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE, AND THE PWR STR WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. HAVE TO STOP VEHICLE AND RESTART TO GET HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397118April 22, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, MANUALLY DEPRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON AND PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE HAD FROZE IN ACCELERATION MODE AND DISCONNECTED THE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,051.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397146April 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE SINCE IT OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY HOWEVER, HE BELIEVED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397676April 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT WAS ABOUT 25 F AT ABOUT 8 AM VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR CRANK. THE PASS LOCK LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WHEN I RESEARCHED SAID THAT I WAS STARTING WITH THE WRONG KEY. UPON MUCH MORE RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 2003-2006 ION. AFTER MANY IGNITION SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AND EVEN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD RECUR. THE BEST SOLUTION I FOUND CAME FROM AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC. BE SURE THE IGNITION IS OFF. HE SAID TO SPRAY LPS ELECTRO CONTACT CLEANER (ANY PURE ALCOHOL CONTACT CLEANER WILL WORK) INTO THE IGNITION. SATURATE IT. WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO DRY THEN SPRAY SEA FOAM DEEP CREEP PENETRANT AND LUBRICANT INTO IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WORKED FOR 2 YEARS FOR ME. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS PAST MARCH OF 2011. I REPEATED THIS PROCESS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE. THIS WORKS BY CLEANING OUT THE OLD STIFF LUBRICANT GM USED DURING MANUFACTURE AND PUTTING IN A LIGHTER LUBRICANT. TOTAL COST FOR BOTH SPRAYS WAS UNDER $20.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396818April 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: UPON ENGAGING THE CLUTCH (PRESSING ON THE PEDAL AS USUAL) I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK NOISE AND THE PEDAL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR VERY EASILY. DATE/TIME/PLACE OF FAILURE: ON 4-19-2011 AT 9:20 AM WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT. THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DUE TO A BRACKET OR SOME OTHER PART OF THE ASSEMBLY'S BREAKAGE. THIS BRACKET HOLDS A PISTON IN PROPER PLACE TO ACTUATE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AS THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE BRACKET IS BROKEN, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE FULLY, IF AT ALL. I HAVE TEMPORARILY PLACED DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE WHERE THE BRACKET USED TO BE ON THE PEDAL SO THAT THE PISTON ROD CAN REMAIN SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO ITS ORIGINAL MOUNTED POSITION - SO THAT I MAY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR - PRESUMABLY DUE TO THE PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. THIS BRACKETS FAILURE PRESENTS A LOSS OF CONTROL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER; WHEN COMING TO A STOP EARLIER TODAY, I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP - WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396841April 19, 2011
STEERING
06 SATURN ION SEDAN LOSS POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING CORNER AND BARELY MISSED HITTING PARKED VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396657April 18, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,800. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/26/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397568April 15, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER ONLY 20K MILES ON MY SATURN ION 2007 DUE TO THE SMELL OF GAS AND LEAKING ON TOP OF THE PUMP, I WAS TOLD BY A GM DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS 09226 FUEL ODOR OR SPOTTING ON GROUND-REPLACE FUEL PUMP. MY PROBLEM IS THAT DUE TO THE LOCATION I AM AT ILLINOIS I AM NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. I READ THE RECALL AND IT IS ONLY INVOLVING THE STATES THAT ARE CONSIDERED HOT. (IT DOES GET INTO THE 90S-100 IN ILLINOIS ALSO. ALL SOMEBODY HAD TO DO WAS THROW/DROP A MATCH AND IT COULD HAVE IGNITED A FIRE IN THE CAR. THIS ALSO CAUSED HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE GAS FUMES I HAD TO INHALE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WAS HOPING THIS WAS A GOOD AVENUE TO TAKE AND HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO WHY AND WHEN ILLINOIS AND OTHER STATES WERE GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME DANGER NO MATTER WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395905April 14, 2011
STEERING
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. I HAD MY TWO KIDS IN THE BACK AND DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP FROM GOING INTO THE OTHER LANE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395705April 13, 2011
EQUIPMENT
MY 2006 SATURN ION WILL NOT START EVERY TIME I TRY TO TURN IT ON. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN MY CAR STILL HAS POWER BUT THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OVER. I TOOK TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AFTER THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS A VERY INCONVENIENT PROBLEM TO HAVE WITH YOUR CAR. HAVING TO WORRY IF IT WILL START IN THE MORNING OR NOT AND THEN HOW TO GO ABOUT YOUR DAY IF IT DOES NOT START TRYING TO FIND A RIDE TO WORK OR EVEN POSSIBLY MISSING WORK BECAUSE YOUR CAR WONT START BECAUSE OF A COMMON IGNITION PROBLEM ON THE MANUFACTURERS SIDE. I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THE RECALL LIST..SO THAT WE AS CONSUMERS CAN HAVE THIS VERY COMMON ISSUE FIXED WITH OUT COST TO US..SINCE WE ALREADY INVESTED MONEY INTO A VEHICLE WE EXPECT TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395784April 13, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT VIGOROUSLY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395798April 13, 2011
STEERING
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING AN ALARM WILL SOUND AND A MESSAGE WILL SHOW UP ON DASH THAT SAYS "PWR STR" IMMEDIATELY THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395800April 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WAS ON AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395814April 13, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I OPERATE A SATURN ION WHICH HAS A CONSTANT FUEL LEAK AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A FIRE IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS NEARBY. I GET A CONTINUOUS GAS SMELL AS SOON AS I ENTER THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IT TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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