Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10384784February 28, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I GOT HOME ON FRIDAY JAN 28, AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TRIED TO TURN THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY, FREEZING, WAITING FOR A FRIEND TO COME OVER AND STOP THE MOTOR, UNHOOK THE FUSES, AND UNHOOK THE BATTERY. PAID FOR A NEW KEY CYLINDER, PAID TO HAVE IT REKEYED, AND PAID A LOCKSMITH TO TAKE OUT THE OLD ONE AND REPLACE THE NEW ONE. IT WORKED FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN IT DID THE SAME THING, ONLY THIS TIME I WENT TO GO START MY CAR, AND THE KEY JUST WONT TURN. THE LOCKSMITH CAME BACK OUT AND SAID HE CAN'T FIX IT, IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I ASKED WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL AND SHE COULDN'T TELL ME, I ASKED WHO WOULD KNOW, AND SHE SAID NO ONE. SHE SAID THERE IS NO ACTUAL PERSON THAT I CAN TALK TO ABOUT THAT. SHE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. GOOGLE SATURN ION IGNITION, AND OMG THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME DEFECT. I WORRY FOR THE MOM WITH HER BABIES IN THE CAR DRIVING TO THE STORE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHUT OFF HER CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384781February 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO START OUR CAR, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS 602.00. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 6:00 AFTER WE HAD DONE SOME ERRANDS AND STOPPED AT A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE. WE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH OUR IGNITION BEFORE. WE HAVE 2007 SATURN ION 2. IT HAS ABOUT 64,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384592February 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION-3 PURCHASED NEW BEGAN NOT STARTING IN 2009. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES THE CAR STARTS UP. TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE CAR NOT STARTING. WENT ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. WROTE A LETTER AND SENT COPIES OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS TO GM IN JANUARY 2009. A SERVICE REP. CALLED ME SAYING THEY HAD NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BY GM. STARTING HAVING MANY MORE INCIDENTS OF THE CAR NOT STARTING IN 2010, BUT WAITING THE 10-15 MINUTES AND THE CAR THEN STARTING. SENT AN E-MAIL TO GM REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AGAIN A SERVICE REP. CALLED AND SAID DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR I SHOULD TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE REPAIR, IF THEY COULD FIND IT, WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. THIS ISSUE CAN BE QUITE SERIOUS SINCE YOU CANNOT START YOUR VEHICLE AND ARE LEFT SITTING THERE IN CONDITIONS THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS (VERY COLD WEATHER, LATE AT NIGHT, ETC.) LATELY THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED 6-8 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND WOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384333February 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INITIALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. BUT, AFTER APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES OF REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. AFTER STALLING, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/22/11*LJ UPDATED 11/16/11. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10385168February 24, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY THAT INVOLVED A GM RECALL OF 53,000 CHEVY COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION MODELS FOR A FUEL LEAK BECAUSE OF A FAULTY MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY ON THE FUEL PUMP MODULE THAT CRACKS. WITHIN THAT RECALL WERE SPECIFICALLY 2006 AND 2007 SATURN IONS. THE RECALL INCLUDED ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND TEXAS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING AND I GRADUALLY SMELLED GASOLINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. THIS WAS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE CAR COULD HAVE EXPLODED IF SOMEONE THREW A LIT CIGARETTE OUT OF THE WINDOW FROM ANOTHER CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND THAT MY VIN WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I CALLED SATURN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN SATURN CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE GATHERED, IT WAS NOT A DEFECT. A FUEL PUMP MODULE TYPICALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND DOESN'T CRACK. THIS WAS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT IN 53,000 OTHER 2006 SATURN IONS. SATURN SHOULD CLEARLY COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS REPAIR AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A MUCH WIDER SAFETY ISSUE THAN THEY ORIGINALLY OPENLY ADMITTED TO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384089February 23, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, PARTICULARLY AT SPEEDS BELOW 30MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR BUT CLAIMED THAT, AT 119,877 MILES, THE VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT FROM GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384121February 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY BECAME WEDGED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384237February 23, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2005 SATURN ION JUST SHUT OFF ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING. IT NOW SHUTS OFF AT LEAST ONCE PER TRIP. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE HAVE ALREADY TRIED REPLACING THE FUSE AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383968February 22, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN, A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING LIGHT. SUDDENLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING RESET. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384046February 22, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION IGNITION SWITCH BROKE; BECAME INOPERATIVE & COST $600.00 TO REPAIR & COULD HAVE BEEN ACCIDENT CAUSAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383449February 21, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2005 SATURN ION. FRONT AND BACK BLINKERS WILL NOT BLINK. I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INSPECTABLE BECAUSE IT HAS TO HAVE ALL LIGHTS WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH AN AUTO MECHANIC/ELECTRICIAN FOR OVER 2 WEEKS NOW AND IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND UNACCEPTABLE. SATURN HAS TO FIND A WAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION. NOT ONLY HAVE I HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SATURN AND THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING REPAIR PARTS, BUT TO FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO WORK ON THEM IS NOT EASY EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING EXPENSE THAT APPEARS TO BE NEVER ENDING . THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROADS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED AND UNKNOWING EVENTS OF WHEN AND WHAT WILL MALFUNCTION AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I ALSO FEEL THAT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REFUNDED TO EACH CUSTOMER AS AN "ALLOWANCE" TO PUT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A SAFER VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO THE FULLEST BY THE NHTSA IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383482February 21, 2011
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383871February 20, 2011
STEERING
WAS TURNING ONTO HIGHWAY AND "POWER STEERING" LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE TO A PARKING LOT AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WE RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE TO A GROCERY STORE. AFTER THE STORE TRIP, WE STARTED HOME AND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FURTHER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AGAIN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN WE MAKE TOO MANY TURNS IN A SHORT TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383292February 18, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383085February 17, 2011
AIR BAGS
NO AIRBAGS CAME OUT OF A INBACK ON PASSENGER DOOR OR ANYWHERE IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382887February 16, 2011
STEERING
MY 2007 SATURN ION LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY FOR NO SPECIFIC REASON. THE WARNING SCREEN WOULD FLASH AND BEEP AND THEN IT WOULD STOP WORKING. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT RANDOM TIMES. EVERY TIME I WOULD TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK AGAIN AND THEN RANDOMLY STOP WORKING USUALLY AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382849February 15, 2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382856February 15, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING QUITS AND REVERTS TO MANUAL STEERING WITHOUT WARNING ON AVERAGE 6 TO 8 TIMES A DAY. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WARNING SYSTEM COMES ON AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT TO RESET THE SYSTEM. THE CAR ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383540February 14, 2011
STEERING
TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH INSTRUMENT PANEL *DINGED* THE PWR STR* CAME UPON THE PANEL. AT THAT TIME I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE TRAVELING FULL SPEED AND HAD A HARD TIME PULLING OFF THE EXIT. ONCE OFF THE EXIT CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 HOURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381541February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSLOCK LIGHT BLINKING VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BELOW 30 F REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE EGRESS IS NEEDED FROM AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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