Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10251875December 15, 2008
STEERING
STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN ION 3 - WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING CEASED. THE DASH BOARD STARTS DINGING AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING START TO FLASH. IT IS THEN IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT TURNING THE WHEEL FORCEFULLY. THIS HAS POSED A SERIOUS CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE USUALLY TRYING TO MAKE A TURN IN TRAFFIC. IT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER AND SHE GOT VERY FRIGHTENED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE STEERING WHEEL IS EVEN HARDER TO TURN THAN WHEN CARS DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT YET. THE CAR HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON MY SATURN IS ONLY 25,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251765December 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10-15 MINUTES WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE. BATTERY REPLACED AND IT DID NOT HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251677December 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START. THIS IS LEAVING MY WIFE AND KIDS STRANDED IN THE COLD A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY NOW. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND AT THIS WEBSITE AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. THIS IS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251607December 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY DESIGN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH LEAKS LUBRICANT ONTO THE WIRES OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. IN COLD TEMPERATURES THIS LUBRICANT FREEZES AND PREVENTS THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL NEEDED BY THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FROM BEING RECEIVED BY THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). WHEN THIS SIGNAL ISN'T RECEIVED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KICKS IN. IT THEN SHUTS OFF THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR A DEFAULT PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES OR SOMETIMES LONGER FOR UP TO AN HOUR. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE DRIVER BEING STRANDED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THERE'S NUMEROUS DOCUMENTATION IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SATURN IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, EXCEPT TO CHARGE UNREASONABLE PRICES TO FIX. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO MANY REVIEWS ONLINE THIS PROBLEM RESURFACES AT A LATER DATE... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251448December 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
SATURN ION 2005 PROBLEM STARTING-EVERY THREE OR FOUR STARTS, THE LOCK SYMBOL SHOWS UP AND CAR WILL NOT START, PANEL, HEADLAMPS, ACCESSORIES ARE OPERATING, BUT STARTER SEEMS LOCKED OUT. AFTER 10-20 MINUTE WAIT, IT USUALLY STARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251471December 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION AND START SWITCHES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE COOLANT SWITCH CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,240.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251291December 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE AT THE COST OF $300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251390December 10, 2008
STEERING
I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION WITH APPROXIMATELY 41K MILES. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. THIS STARTED ON DECEMBER 2, 2008 AND HAS CONTINUED. I WILL BE DRIVING AND THE DASH LIGHT COMES ON, A CHIME SOUNDS, AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. ONCE I AM ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN ONCE THE CAR IS RESTARTED. THERE IS NO SET PATTERN TO FOLLOW AS TO WHEN IT HAPPENS. ONE DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 10 MILES AND IT NEVER STOPPED WORKING. THE NEXT DAY IT STOPPED WORKING 6 TIMES DURING A 4 MILE TRIP. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND I'M CONCERNED IT IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED MY SATURN DEALER AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE POWER STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED IT IS GOING TO COST AROUND $1,100. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251160December 9, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER OR WILL OCCASIONALLY TAKE MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND MADE MINOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251220December 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 SATURN ION WON'T START WHEN IT'S COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251245December 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONCE CAR WAS ON COULDN'T TURN KEY BACK TO STOP VEHICLE AND COULDN'T REMOVE KEY. HAD TO PULL IGNITION FUSE UNDER HOOD AND DISCONNECT BATTERY IN TRUNK EVERY TIME WE WANTED TO START OR STOP THE VEHICLE. FINALLY GOT A NEW IGNITION BUILT AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT OF COURSE WARRANTY WAS UP AND THIS CAME OUT OF OUR POCKETS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251125December 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AT ABOUT 38,000 MILES, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SWITCH WITH KEY FROM THE SATURN DEALER FOR ABOUT $140.00 AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF (THANK GOD I'M A MECHANIC) OR THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT TRIPLE. SATURN DOES NOT CLAIM ANY DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF KEY SWITCH FAILURES, BUT GM IS CERTAINLY WILLING TO TAKE OUR MONEY TO REPAIR A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. NEXT VEHICLE I PURCHASE WILL BE MADE BY CHRYSLER-2005 CARAVAN SXT IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT WITH VERY GOOD FUEL ECONOMY. NO MORE GM PRODUCTS FOR THIS FAMILY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250924December 6, 2008
EQUIPMENT
THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2004 SATURN ION HAS A MALFUNCTION. THE CAR IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. UPON CALLING THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD, PA THE SERVICE RECEPTIONIST WAS ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I HAD TO WAIT 15 MINUTES TO HALF AN HOUR AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN TO SEE IF IT WILL START. GM AND SATURN KNOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY WHICH IS PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT THE RECEPTIONIST KNEW HOW TO START MY CAR BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRING FOR ME WAS ON NOVEMBER 19TH WHEN I TALKED THE RECEPTIONIST AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON DECEMBER 6, 2008 THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BROUGHT IN TO BE FIXED AND WAS CHARGED TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THIS IS A DEFAULT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250811December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WON'T START IN COLD FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. IT GETS WORSE EVERY WINTER. IT HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY DAY OR TWO FROM DECEMBER-FEBRUARY. COMMON PROBLEM. IN SATURNS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250830December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. MY WIFE WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO START HER CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND STILL NO LUCK. THE PASSLOCK LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SERVICE VEHICLE. SO I TOLD MY WIFE TO GET IN THE CAR AND SHIFT IT TO NEUTRAL SO WE COULD PUSH IT INTO A DIFFERENT SPOT SO SHE COULD TAKE MY TRUCK TO WORK. SHE DECIDED TO TRY AND START IT ONE LAST TIME AND IT THEN STARTED. FRUSTRATED, I WENT ON TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCH FOR ION PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND ABOUT 200 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND TAKE CARE!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250882December 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IF THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS), THEN WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON.' FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. 'THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON' SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. NOW, YOU MAY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. .HOWEVER, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. A SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY START AFTER THE PRESENT 'LOCK-OUT' WILL BE WHEN THE IGNITION SEEMS TO CRANK A BIT MORE THAN JUST A CLICK, BEFORE LOCKING OUT AGAIN. REMEDY:1. THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER MUST RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE. THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, WHICH CERTAINLY CAN BE CONSTRUED AS AN ADMISSION TO THE FAULTY DESIGN. OF COURSE, THIS TYPE OF REMEDIAL MEASURE CANNOT BE USED IN COURT, BUT IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL TO THOSE OF US CONSUMERS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE FAULTY DESIGN. SATURN MUST OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MISTAKE AND FIX IT, BEFORE SOMEONE IS STRANDED IN THE COLD, IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE. SERVICE BULLETIN:040845005 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10007431 MFG BULLETIN DATE: 20060301 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH BULLETIN SUMMARY: NO CRANK, NO START WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IS COLD - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) B2960 AND OR B3033 ARE SET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250787December 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MILDLY TURN THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIFT FORWARD. WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, PRODUCE ERROR CODES FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC, OR PROVIDE A REMEDY. LATER, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250573December 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE OWN A 2003 SATURN ION AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO PRESS A RELEASE BUTTON IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO GET THE KEY OUT. IN ADDITION, THIS APPEARS TO CREATE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE 30 DAY WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY SAID THEY WERE "UNABLE TO REPLICATE" PROBLEM, UNBEKNOWNST TO US THIS WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SATURN IONS. THE "TEMPORARY FIX" IS EVEN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THAT'S JUST WRONG! HOW CAN A COMPANY GET AWAY WITH SELLING SUCH A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT -- AND ESPECIALLY A CAR!!! I FEEL RIPPED OFF AND SATURN SHOULD STAND BEHIND SUCH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE ISSUE. THIS DOES CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START LEAVING YOU STRANDED. THE DEALERSHIP WON'T EVEN OFFER TO GIVE A "FREE ESTIMATE" -- AND NOW THEY TELL ME THERE ARE VARIOUS POSSIBLE FIXES -- IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PART IS BROKEN. SO I HAVE TO GIVE THEM $85 FOR THEM TO TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX. I AM A SINGLE PARENT, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS AFFORDABLE AND I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SATURN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM!!! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE ONLINE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250609December 3, 2008
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE AND WEATHER ARE TOO COLD, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO START OR WILL NOT START AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DOES NOT HEAT UP NORMALLY. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MUST BE DONE MANUALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE STEERING COLUMN TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,899.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250617December 3, 2008
STEERING
THIS HAS BEEN A RARE, SPORADICALLY, OCCURRING PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED THE CAR FOR OVER TWO YEARS. ON AVERAGE ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS THE INCIDENCE HAS INCREASED TO AS MUCH AS THREE TIMES PER DAY AND ABOUT FOUR DAYS PER WEEK. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY/ALL SPEEDS. THIS OBVIOUSLY RESULTS IN A SUDDEN, EXTREME DRAG ON THE STEERING MECHANISM REQUIRING GREATLY INCREASED DRIVER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. QUICK MANEUVERS OR SHARPER TURNS ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING RESTORES THE POWER STEERING. IF THIS IS ATTEMPTED WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, THE STEERING LOCK COULD BE ENGAGED, RESULTING IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES NO FAMILIARITY WITH THIS PROBLEM OR OF ANY BULLETINS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, DESPITE EVIDENCE FROM NUMEROUS INTERNET POSTINGS BY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. UPON MY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH SERVICE PERSONNEL AT SATURN DEALERS, THEY SPECULATE THAT A ROUGHLY $1000 REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY, WHICH CONTAINS SENSORS, ELECTRONICS, AND THE POWER STEERING ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TO DATE SUCH REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN PURSUED DUE TO INCONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS AND POSSIBLE HIGH COSTS. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2004 SATURN ION II, PURCHASED NEW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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