Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10256061January 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN
DOES NOT CRANK, DOES NOT START IN COLD WEATHER & LEAVES YOU STRANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256133January 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 SATURN WILL NOT START DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION. 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. CALLED EVERY SATURN DEALER WITHIN 200 MILES. ALL KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND KNOW IMMEDIATELY WHAT IS NEEDED TO FIX IT. THEY TELL ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS. YET NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256161January 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING UP IN COLD WEATHER, BUT IT'S SPORADIC - SOMETIMES IT WILL START, SOMETIME IT WON'T. BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A "WHITE" WIRE THAT IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255966January 22, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY I HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR IN THE COOLER TEMPERATURES. THE IGNITION TRIES TO START UP, BUT THEN DOES NOTHING. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHEN THIS IS A PROBLEM IN -20 WEATHER, BUT THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURES AREN'T EVEN BELOW FREEZING. I HAVE TRIED ADDING IGNITION CLEANER, AND I ADD HEAT TO MY TANK EVERY TIME I FILL UP (AND NEVER LET MY TANK GET BELOW HALF-FULL) - NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. ONLINE FORUMS I HAVE LOOKED AT FOR THIS PROBLEM SAY THAT MY MAKE AND YEAR (AS WELL AS YEARS SURROUNDING MINE) HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THIS "SHOULD" BE A RECALL BUT ISN'T. I'VE BEEN LATE TO WORK, OR MY CAR HASN'T STARTED AT ALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256004January 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. I NEED TO WAIT 10-15 MIN AND TRY AGAIN. I SEE A LOT OF SATURN OWNERS' ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256042January 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
HI, I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION, WITH ONLY 22,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. I HAD TO TAKE MY MOMS 1988 BUICK TO WORK YESTERDAY BECAUSE MY CAR WOULDN'T START IN THE COLD! IT HAPPENED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS GOING OUT TO LUNCH, SAME THING AFTER TEN MINUTES IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I CAN'T KEEP BEING LATE FOR WORK AND MISSING APPOINTMENTS AND WHEN I TAKE MY WIFE'S CAR SHE HAS TO WALK 15 BLOCKS WITH THE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND IF IT'S TOO COLD FOR THIS CAR TO START I DON'T REALLY WANT MY KIDS TO WALK. I CALLED SATURN TODAY AND WAS TOLD THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS, YET WHEN YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255828January 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR HAS STARTING PROBLEMS. INTERMITTENT STARTING IN COLD WEATHER AND NOW STALLS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSTALLED NEW IGNITION SWITCH ONE WEEK AGO FOR $230, BUT STALLING IS ONCE AGAIN A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255873January 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION THAT I PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 2008. I HAD TROUBLE FROM THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED IT. THE ION RANDOMLY DOES NOT START. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC TEST THE BATTERY AND SAID IT TESTED OUT FINE. I HAD ONE MECHANIC TELL ME IT WAS THE STARTER WHICH WOULD BE OVER $400, ANOTHER TELL ME IT WAS THE IGNITION, AND ANOTHER TELL ME THAT ON ONLY MECHANICS THAT HAD THE PARTS WERE THE DEALERSHIPS. MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS AND RANDOMLY SINCE LAST APRIL. I'VE MISSED WORK DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THE FRUSTRATING THING IS THAT MY OTHER VEHICLE THAT'S OVER 9 YEARS OLD IS MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS SATURN. LOOKING ONLINE, I'VE REALIZED HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255891January 21, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. SPORADICALLY, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN. TYPICALLY, AFTER HE RESTARTS THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM RESUMES AS NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE STEERING UNIT AT THE COST OF $1,100. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255607January 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SATURN ION HAS BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING IN COOLER WEATHER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH EITHER GOES BAD OR THE WRONG SWITCH WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH A KEY CODE AND VOLTAGE. THIS HAS OCCUR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR A MONTH NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255714January 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SATURN ION REFUSES TO START SPORADICALLY ON COLD MORNINGS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE EARLY FALL. MY CAR REPAIR SHOP ASSURES ME THAT THE BATTERY IN MY CAR IS FULLY CHARGED AND CAPABLE OF STARTING. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 5-6 OF THESE ISSUES WITH SATURN IONS IN THE PAST MONTH, AND THAT I MUST TAKE IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. I LIVE IN A FAIRLY SMALL TOWN, THE FACT THAT MY SHOP HAS SEEN THIS MANY ISSUES WITH SATURNS IS ASTOUNDING. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND THE TEMPS IN INDIANA HAVE BEEN BELOW ZERO. I FEAR THAT I WILL HAVE THEM OUT SOMEWHERE AND BE UNABLE TO START MY CAR IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, OR THAT I WILL BE UNABLE TO PICK THEM UP FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE I CANNOT GET MY CAR STARTED. I HAVE READ ON THE WEB THIS MORNING, THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY ISSUES WITH MY SATURN ION. I REALIZE THAT NO ONE HAS DIED OR BEEN INJURED IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION, BUT IF SMALL CHILDREN ARE STRANDED IN MY CAR IN SUB-ZERO TEMPS BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T START, IT SEEMS THAT, AT THE VERY LEAST WE HAVE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255760January 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. IN DECEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255530January 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION, WITHIN THE PAST 2 WEEKS THE CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT START IN THE MORNINGS. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY FROM THE SATURN DEALER AND STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND THE CHECK CAME BACK WITH EVERY THING BEING OK BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. WHEN I CALLED SATURN THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP STATED THERE IS NO RECALL BUT TRIED TO SELL ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255556January 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. MY CAR DOES NOT COLD START IN TEMPERATURES UNDER 30 DEGREES. MANY SATURN OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT WHEN IT WAS I BROUGHT IT IN MANY TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND SERVICE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TWICE AND STARTER ONCE. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED. ITS WORSE NOW THEN EVER BEFORE IN THESE COLD DAYTON OHIO WINTERS. NOW THEY SAY THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTHER BOARD FOR MY CAR AFTER DOING ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS TEST FOR A TOTAL OF @ $500.00. I FEEL SATURN IS NOT ONLY GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND BUT WILL GLADLY STILL TAKE MY HARD EARNED MONEY. PLEASE HELP. IM ABOUT TO BE A FATHER AND DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED IN THE COLD WITH MY CHILD BY A COMPANY THAT JUST GOT MILLIONS LOANED TO THEM BY OUR GOVERNMENT. NOT FAIR, PLEASE HELP HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR WRONGDOINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255578January 19, 2009
STEERING
ON AT LEAST TEN OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS FAILED. IT DOES SO WITHOUT WARNING (THERE IS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN WEATHER, TIME OF DAY, OR OTHER SUCH CONDITIONS) AND IT MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. ONE HAS TO SLOW DOWN TO THE POINT OF A CRAWL IN ORDER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON ANY FREEWAY EXITS WITH A LOOP. LAST THURSDAY IT WENT OUT A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF ONE AFTERNOON. IT SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF ONLY AFTER TURNING THE CAR OF AND RESTARTING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SO ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER DOING AN ONLINE SEARCH IT APPEARS THAT MINE IS NOT THE ONLY CASE AND THAT THE SOLUTION CAN RANGE FROM A SMALL INEXPENSIVE REPAIR TO A RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255469January 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DURING EVERY COLD SEASON SINCE THE PURCHASE OF 2003 SATURN ION, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER (USUALLY WHEN BELOW 25 DEG F). THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. HOW THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS IS AS FOLLOWS: IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, ENGINE FREQUENTLY (AT LEAST 25% OF THE TIME) WILL NOT "CATCH" AND RUN- JUST TURNS OVER. IF IMMEDIATELY TRYING TO START IT AGAIN AFTER A FIRST FAILED START, ENGINE TURNS OVER SLOWLY AND DIES (SIMILAR TO DEAD BATTERY SYMPTOM, HOWEVER BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK). AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR 5 MINUTES AFTER A FAILED ATTEMPT, TRYING AGAIN MAY RESULT IN A MOMENT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE, AND MORE ENGINE TURNING, HOWEVER ENGINE STALLS. AFTER REPEATED WAITING AND START RE-ATTEMPTS (OFTEN 5- 10 TIMES, AND AN ELAPSED PERIOD OF TIME OF 30- 60 MINUTES OF RE-ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE WILL FREQUENTLY START AND REMAIN STARTED. HOWEVER THE INCONVENIENCE OF A 30-60 MINUTE DELAY IS DISCONCERTING, AND ON SOME COLD MORNINGS, REPEATED FAILED ATTEMPTS CAUSES BATTERY TO DRAIN AND NEED FOR "JUMP STARTING" THE CAR, AT OWNER EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON 2003 SATURN ION COLD STARTING PROBLEM INDICATES A PERVASIVE AND SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM IN IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN, HOWEVER SATURN HAS NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DESIGN FLAW IN A FORMAL RECALL. TODAY, REPAIRS HAVE TO BE MADE AT OWNER EXPENSE ($200-300 REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE FEEDBACK). SEE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML MY REQUEST OF THE NHTSA IS THAT YOU URGE SATURN TO ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE RESPOND WITH YOUR INPUTS AND INTENDED APPROACH ON THIS SITUATION. ALSO, IF YOU ARE AWARE OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255471January 18, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FAILURE OF GM TO NOTIFY ME OF 3 RECALLS ON 2003 SATURN ION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, BUT I CANNOT TELL AT THIS TIME AND WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. RECALLS ARE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V547000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V003000 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255476January 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN ALL COMPONENTS ARE GOOD. FAULTY ANTI THEFT DEVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255502January 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL SPORADICALLY NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. STARTS FINE IN WARM SEASON. WAITING 10 MINUTES AFTER INITIAL TRY WILL USUALLY REMEDY THIS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS 5 TIMES A WEEK AND NORMALLY IN THE MORNING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STARTER AND BATTER HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASS-LOCK SYSTEM BEING TEMPERAMENTAL. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND CONDENSATION. THE COLD START TRIGGERS AN APPROXIMATE 10 MINUTE WAIT TIME BEFORE THE SYSTEM IS RESET AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER UNTIL AFTER THAT PERIOD. I HAVE READ WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DISABLED THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM TO REMEDY THIS WITH GOOD RESULTS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH PAYING A MECHANIC TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM OR DOING THIS MYSELF AND FEEL THAT SATURN SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A SPORADIC AND TEMPERAMENTAL PROBLEM IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE.... HENCE THE DOZENS OF ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE REPLACING STARTERS AND BATTERIES WITH NO LASTING RESULTS. I HAVE, WITH MIXED RESULTS, THAT HEATING THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE THE INITIAL START WILL CAUSE A BETTER CONNECTION. I AM GOING TO TRY THIS METHOD. OVERALL THIS IS JUST A RIDICULOUS ISSUE AND I'M TIRED OF BEING LATE FOR WORK AND STARTING MY CAR 10 TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING MY CAR UNATTENDED WHILE GETTING READY. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP FIX THE PROBLEM FOR ME AND THE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SUCH STRONG DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR SATURN VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255396January 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. THIS FIRST HAPPENED LAST YEAR, AND I THOUGHT THAT THE GAS LINES WERE FREEZING. I HAVE PUT SEVERAL BOTTLES OF DRY GAS IN MY TANK THINKING THAT THIS RESOLVES THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS A PASSLOCK SECURITY ISSUE AND MY EFFORTS OF DRY GAS DID NOTHING. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED COUNTLESS TIMES DUE TO THE ERROR. THIS PROBLEMS RENDERS THE CAR USELESS. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY, BUT THIS HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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