Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10438187December 3, 2011
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK, WHILE TURNING INTO CURVY ROADS AND ON OFF RAMP REQUIRING HIGH INPUT TO CORRECT AND RESULTING IN OVER CORRECTING AND SWINGING OUT OF MY LANE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOW (<5 MPH), BUT I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES DRIVING BETWEEN 35 AND 50 MPH IN THE CASE OF THE OFF RAMP AND DRIVING ON ROCHESTER ROAD BETWEEN TINKEN AND 32 MILE. YOU WILL GO INTO A CURVE AND THE STEERING WILL LOCK RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING AND YOU HAVE TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO GET ANY REACTION. LAST NIGHT WAS THE CLINCHER AND I DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THE STEERING LOCKED HARD AND WHILE TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN ONCE I GOT THE CAR STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COCKED 90 DEGREES OFF NORMAL. THIS IS DEFINATLY A PROBLEM, AS NOW THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN, UNTIL I CAN SEE IF IT CAN BE FIXED AND IF IT IS WORTH THE COST TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436005November 16, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR'S HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS SHUT OFF. WARNING LIGHTS SUCH AS "CHECK ENGINE", "ABS", AND "THEFT LOCK" ALL CAME ON AFTER PARKING THE CAR. THE HORN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET HORN TO STOP. ATTEMPTED TO START THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND WHILE RECONNECTING THE BATTERY THE HORN CAME ON AGAIN AND THE LISTED ABOVE LIGHTS STAYED ON. CAR HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433929November 2, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,693.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429925October 12, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE FOLLOWED BY THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZING. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,961 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429074October 7, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER BACK INTO A STRAIGHT POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427861September 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING COVERED BY A WARRANTY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONTACT NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ON VARIOUS MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAME MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427949September 29, 2011
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN DID NOT APPLY TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V283000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 10/19/11*LJ UPDATED 01/30/12*BF COMPLAINT STATUS UPDATE 02/08/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427257September 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
2003 SATURN ION . CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WHICH SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOOR. THEN IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. THEN HALF OF THE DASH WENT BLACK. THE NEXT WINDOW WOULD GO UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WITH NO CONTACT OF ANY TYPE. THEN THE CONTROLS TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE ELECTRONIC LOCK/OPENING DEVICE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS ANY LONGER OR LOCK THE TRUNK. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT REACT TO BEING IN PARK, SO THEREFORE, SHE HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE O2 SENSOR AND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER PROPERLY REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425721September 16, 2011
STEERING
SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES TOUGH TO TURN. DURING THE MIDDLE OF A TURN THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO COMPLETELY CUT OUT. IT HAS ALSO CUT OUT AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR RESTART FOR IT TO COME BACK ON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2004-2007 IONS, BUT NOT FOR 2003. I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS AS IT IS THE SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THAT RECALL. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422475August 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RANDOMLY, MY 2003 SATURN ION-3 REFUSES TO START DUE TO THE WIDELY KNOWN YET UNRESOLVED IGNITION SWITCH PASSLOCK PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCES HAVE STEADILY INCREASED IN FREQUENCY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PREVALENT ISSUE ARE BEING OVERLOOKED, AND IT SHOULD BE FORMALLY INVESTIGATED. ADDITIONALLY, IT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FAULTINESS IN OTHER CRITICAL COMPONENTS. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE UNFAIR TO US CONSUMERS FOR THIS ADMITTEDLY FAULTY PART; IT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422111August 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY SATURN ION HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND I CALLED GM AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL REQUEST NUMBER AND 48 HOURS LATER WAS CONTACTED AND AFTER ANSWERING A FEW QUESTIONS I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING. THE REASON THEY GAVE WAS BECAUSE THE CAR HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY THE STATE OF MN AND NOW HAVE A PRIOR SALVAGE TITLE. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS COSMETIC AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POOR TRANSMISSION THAT GM SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. SINCE THEN I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS STORIES ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION--SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419641August 16, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLIMENT WEATHER, HE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419351August 14, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR WILL BE RUNNING JUST FINE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATES AND WANTS TO GO FAST. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. THEN THE ACCELERATION STOPS BY ITSELF AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS MISSING A GEAR. IT DOES THIS PROBABLY ABOUT 2 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419349August 14, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR SLOWS DOWN AND MAKES SOME FUNNY GRINDING NOISE. DOES NOT BLOW AS STRONG AS IT USED TO ON MY 2003 SATURN ION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417882August 8, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2003 SATURN ION-2 GOES OUT JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY, AT RANDOM, WHILE I AM DRIVING MY CAR. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS AS THE ISSUE HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER ONE YEAR AND I CANNOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON RECALLS FOR THE FAULTY POWER STEERING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS WEBSITES/FORUMS AND HAVE OBSERVED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER WHO HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO HOW UNSAFE IT IS TO DRIVE AROUND AND LOSE CONTROL OVER YOUR STEERING AT RANDOM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416631August 2, 2011
STEERING
STEERING LOCKS UP IN LOW SPEED TURNS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415348July 27, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TURNS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410523July 5, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407679June 21, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START BUT THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT TWO POWER FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED WHEN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IT CAUSED AN OVERALL COMPUTER FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406852June 14, 2011
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2003 SATURN ION DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. WHEN I START THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN STOP WORKING. POWER STEERING LIGHT MESSAGE DISPLAYS ON THE MESSAGE SCREEN, BUT ERROR CODE CAN BE FOUND. THE SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER GM MODELS, BUT NOT THE 2003 ION. I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR FOR THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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