Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10266512April 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UNABLE TO TURN KEY IN THE OFF POSITION OF MY 2005 SATURN ION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. HAD TO EVENTUALLY UNHOOK THE BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY ENDED UP BREAKING THE KEY TO REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION AND THEN REPLACING THE ENTIRE IGNITION LOCK MECHANISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266530April 23, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN THAT DETERMINED THAT THE BALL BEARINGS WHERE PRESSING ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE RIGHT AND LEFT CONTROL ARM WHERE REPLACED AT A COST OF 668.91. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,417.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266388April 22, 2009
STEERING
NOTHING LED UP TO THIS FAILURE-I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG WHEN THE PWRSTR ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY SCREEN AND THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE AT THE TIME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE. WHEN I STARTED IT UP LATER, THE PWRSTR ERROR MESSAGE WAS GONE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS OK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SINCE THE SATURN HAS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN AND THE COST WOULD BE $1200. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266873April 20, 2009
AIR BAGS
2006 SATURN ION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN HE CAME UPON A VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMERS SON WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10266117April 20, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE LETTERS "PWR STR" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER THAT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $1,300 TO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265996April 19, 2009
STEERING
MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN LIKE NORMAL. IT IS SOMETIMES SLOW AND DOES NOT WANT TO TURN, OR WILL KEEP TURNING AND NOT WANT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THIS IS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY STEERING SYSTEM WHICH HAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER IONS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT, NOT JUST THE '03. I AM NOT EVEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AT HOME BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO SCAN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. MY SATURN WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE READ THAT IT COULD COST $1200 TO FIX. PLUS THE PARTS ARE NOT EVEN SOLD AT ANY PARTS STORE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET BUT THE CAR IS NO LONGER A SAFE VEHICLE AND I AM DISCONTINUING USE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265648April 16, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON APRIL 14, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND TRUNK FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRUNK STOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265398April 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING WHEN THE TEMP. GETS BELOW 30 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD THIS "FIXED" TWICE, AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS BECAUSE I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SITES WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SENSOR IN THE PASSLOCK PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES IT TO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN TEMP. GETS BELOW 30 DEGREES. SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF THIS I BELIEVE AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN THE COLD WEATHER. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS ALMOST COST ME MY JOB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265445April 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STARTS. THIS HAS BEEN A SPORADIC EVENT SINCE DECEMBER 2007. IT HAPPENS PERHAPS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH IN THE COLDER WEATHER. CAR WILL START FINE AT ONE STOP, THEN TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENS. COME BACK 10-20 MINUTES LATER AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE OLD BATTERY, BUT THAT HAS BEEN REPLACE AND THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265270April 14, 2009
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
THE OTHER DAY WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPER WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND ATTEMPT TO FIX ON HIGHWAY. THE WIPER SINCE THEN WILL NOT WORK. THE WIPER ARM NO SITS LOOSELY ON CAR. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S SATURN ION ALSO WE HAD TO REPAIR IT. THAT TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT MECHANIC THEY NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265291April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. DURING "COLD DAYS" MY CAR DOES NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ION 2003-2007 HAVE, SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265317April 14, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265197April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION WITH 58,000 MILES HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. AFTER A BRIEF STOP FOR SHOPPING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT WOULD TURN OVER ONCE AND THEN NOTHING. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED. IT WAS A COOL DAY, BUT THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE ON EVEN COLDER DAYS. ONE DEALER CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ANOTHER LOCATION IDENTIFIED THE BATTERY AS LOW. IT WAS REPLACED. BUT THE REAL CAUSE OF THIS EVENT IS STILL A MYSTERY. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS, I SEE THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EVENT IN A 2003 ION. I AM VERY CONCERNED, NOW, THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND STILL THERE WILL BE NO REMEDY. ARE THERE NO RECALLS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR HOW TO REMEDY IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265203April 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
I HAVE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH MY 2004 SATURN OF COURSE I HAVE THE COLD START PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE HAD SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR(WITH ONLY 7 MILES ON IT). ANYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR OVER 30 MILES AN HOUR IT SHAKES HAD THAT PROBLEM FIX 2 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SEAL LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. NEW PROBLEM DON'T THINK I'VE SINCE THIS ONE YET THE TRANSMISSION IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER GOES OUT ND GUESS WHAT FOR ONLY $275 SATURN WILL REPLACE THAT FOR YOU. THIS CAR IS SUCH A LEMON. CLEARLY AS I READ OVER COMPLAINTS OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS LIKE MYSELF, THE TEACHER OR JUST SOMEONE WHO WANT A RELIABLE CAR. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME NEVER BY AMERICAN AGAIN AND DO MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER CAR. THE THING I HATE THE MOST IS THAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265117April 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN ION2 WITH 4 CYL AND VTI TRANSMISSION WITH 71,000 MILES TO WORK AND IT FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SLOWED TO A STOP. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND WAS STRANDED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT TURNS OUT MY VTI TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST GM FOR IT, AND IT IS FOLLOWING THE SETTLEMENT BEFORE IT HAS BEEN RULED UPON BY THE JUDGE. THEY ARE COVERING 75% OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED 100%. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED CAR. I WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION NOISES AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IN REQUESTING THE SERVICE RECORDS, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WORK WAS DONE FOR THEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THEY ALSO DID A REPAIR ON MY TRANSMISSION (THIS WAS PRIOR TO IT HAVING 36,000 MILES AND WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY). I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR SATURN VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL FIND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. THE 75% REPAIR STILL LEAVES ME PAYING $1,150 AND MY CAR IS WORTH VERY LITTLE BECAUSE ALL THE CAR COMPANIES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS DEVALUED THE CAR. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE VERY SAME DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND AGAIN THE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS THEY GO BAD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. CAN THE NHTSA PLEASE HELP ME AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM? THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265167April 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE INITIALLY HAD TROUBLE STARTING, MADE STRANGE SOUNDS,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON,WOULD NOT GO OVER 25-30MPH., FOLLOWED TOWTRUCK TO SATURN DEALER, WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE & MODEL, THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS KNOWN AND THAT GM WAS AWARE OF IT BUT HAD NOT RECALLED. TURNED OUT THAT IT WAS THE IGNITION MODULE, SWITCH,COIL, HARNESS ETC., JUST UNDER $800 TO REPAIR. IT'S STILL SITTING IN THE GARAGE. THING IS...I PURCHASED THIS CAR ALMOST NEW B/C I HAD AN OLDER CAR & WANTED A NEW CAR IN CASE THE OTHER QUIT! WOW. WHO NEW? POWER STEERING ALSO GROANS AND ITS FULL OF FLUID. BECAUSE OF THIS,(IGNITION), THE KEY HAD TO BE MANUALLY PULLED OUT, TO GET THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING,ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED ON, HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, WAS TOLD DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AS A RESULT, THE DEALER SAID THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AS A RESULT. YET THEY DON'T WANT TO RECALL BECAUSE OF THE RE-ORGANIZATION? WHAT ABOUT MY SAFETY? GOD KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265030April 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE THERE HAVE, BEEN NO ADVERSE DEATHS OR INJURIES THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATHS. I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION 2 TIMES. THE IGNITION LOCKS UP AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE RUNNING EVEN IF I REMOVE THE KEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265047April 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2004 BRAND NEW. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A HIGH IDLE CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I MUST RESET THE BATTERY ONCE A WEEK TO RESTORE IT TO NORMAL. IT SEEMS TO BE FINE FOR A WEEK AND HIGH IDLE COMES BACK. I HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I MUST TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON TO WARM UP THE BATTERY BEFORE TRYING TO START CAR. SATURN WAS NO HELP. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264974April 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE CAR FAILED TO START. THE LIGHTS, HORN WORK, BUT THERE IS NO IGNITION NOISE. AFTER WAITING AT LEAST 15-25 MINUTES EACH TIME, THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED. ON APRIL 6TH, 2009 AS I WAS COMING HOME ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING. I WAS ABLE TO CROSS A LANE TO GET INTO THE SLOW LANE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 12 :48PM. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD'VE BEEN VERY TRAGIC. I LATER TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE WASN'T RECORDED IN MY VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM. OUTRAGEOUS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264240April 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR 2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START AT TIMES. TYPICALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS A COLD MORNING. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE CITED THE VERY SAME PROBLEM ON CAR DISCUSSION SITES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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