Saturn Ion Complaints

4,344 consumer complaints on file.

#10246473October 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2006 SATURN ION IN OCT.2007. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER WE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. THEY KEY WILL TURN, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE AM WHEN MY SON IS TRYING TO LEAVE FOR SCHOOL. IT WILL START A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER HOWEVER. MY SON WILL LEAVE FOR COLLEGE NEXT YEAR AND I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT HIM BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND SO FAR, SATURN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WHEN THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SATURN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS IS AN ONGOING MATTER. IT HAPPENS 4-5 DAYS A WEEK - USUALLY IN THE MORNING, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246479October 23, 2008
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246503October 23, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD (USUALLY BELOW 40), MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT SIMPLY CLICKS AND SECURITY SENSORS START COMING ON. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START AND PROMPTLY STALL OUT. I HAVE HAD IT STALL WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246423October 22, 2008
STEERING
MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND I HAVE A FLEET OF 9 SATURN VEHICLES. 6 OF WHICH ARE SATURN ION'S. THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ON ONE 2005 AND ONE 2006 ION'S WHILE THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT GOES OUT. THESE WERE FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES. 37,000 AND 53,000 MILES ON THE CARS. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ION'S. I ALSO AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN MY EMPLOYEES ARE DRIVING THESE CARS. THE REPAIR FOR EACH IS ALMOST $1,000. I FEEL LIKE SATURN SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND REPLACE THE PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246303October 22, 2008
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THERE ARE REPORTS ON-LINE ABOUT MOST PEOPLE ALMOST LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO RECENTLY CRASHED ON THE 405 FREEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246083October 20, 2008
AIR BAGS
I WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN MY 2003 SATURN ION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS CRUNCHED IN AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT UNHARMED, BUT IF I HIT THE OTHER CAR ANY HARDER I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT! I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERS HERE IN SYRACUSE AND THEY DID NOT SEEM VERY CONCERNED AT ALL WITH THE IDEA OF CHECKING THE SAFETY DEVISE THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAGS! WHAT CAN BE DONE? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246127October 20, 2008
STEERING, SUSPENSION
D
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245716October 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT ON COLD DAYS (AND SOMETIMES NOT SO COLD) MY CAR WILL JUST CLICK AND NOT START, OR WILL START AND DIE OUT. BUT IF I KEEP TRYING TO START IT AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE AND COME BACK, IT WILL START RIGHT UP. WHEN IT DOES THIS, THEY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT USUALLY COMES ON WHEN TRYING TO START IT, BUT WHEN I GET IT STARTED IT IMMEDIATELY GOES OFF. I'VE HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE. IT ONLY HAPPENS USUALLY IN THE MORNINGS OR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN IT'S BEEN COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245581October 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. SPORADICALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD ALSO EXPERIENCE A NO START CONDITION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AT THE COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. LASTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD REPEATEDLY HOP AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. ON ONE OCCASION, THE WIPER FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245230October 13, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION LOCKS. CANNOT GET KEY TO TURN. HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245247October 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SATURN ION 2006 69K MILES - IGNITION KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION. CANNOT TURN CAR OFF. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS FLAW IN THE IGNITION LOCK. DEALERSHIP WANTS 500 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245080October 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT ON COLD DAYS (AND SOMETIMES NOT SO COLD) MY CAR WILL JUST CLICK AND NOT START, OR WILL START AND DIE OUT, RESULTING IN MY HAVING TO WAIT 9-10 MINUTES FOR THE PASSLOCK TO RESET AND HOPEFULLY ALLOW MY CAR TO START ON A SECOND ATTEMPT. ON SOME RARE OCCASIONS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT THROUGH THIS 9-10 MINUTE CYCLE 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START PROPERLY SO I CAN DRIVE. THE KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION. WHILE I AM ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, I CAN'T TURN THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS BY USING A SCREWDRIVER IN THE SMALL PANEL HOLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN AND MOVING A SMALL SWITCH TO RELEASE THE KEY. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2003 I HAVE HAD MORE TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR THAN ANY USED CAR I POSSESSED. MY HOOD LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH AND WAS REPAIRED 4 TIMES. THE HEATING CONTROL KNOB WAS REPLACED 7 TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY FUNCTIONED PROPERLY WITHOUT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244723October 8, 2008
STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN RESUMED WORKING. SHE STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HER FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN THE FOG LAMP WAS CRAXKED. UPDATED 12/16/08.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244720October 8, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CALLED A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED HER TO BRING HIM THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF; THEREFORE, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS. HE TOLD THE CONTACT TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING THE NEXT TIME THE FAILURE OCCURS. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT HEEDED THE MECHANIC'S INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH ALLOWED HIM TO PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, WHICH ONLY COVERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF SHE ONLY PAID $448, THEY WOULD COVER THE REMAINING COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244475October 6, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I HEARD ABOUT A RECALL FROM A YEAR 2007-2008 OR SO AGO FOR SATURN, TURN SIGNAL. AT THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL WAS WORKING, BUT I TOOK IT TO SATURN AND INQUIRED ABOUT IT BUT THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. LATER ON I TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT ON SIDE. I REPLACED IT BUT NOTICED THAT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I TOOK TO SATURN AND ONE MAN TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED! THEN I TOOK IT BACK TO GET IT FIXED AT ANOTHER MAN SAID THAT THE RECALL HAS NOT EXPIRED, BUT IT IS NOT MY VIN NUMBER. I PAID ABOUT 60 DOLLARS ON SATURN, AND GUESS WHAT THEY DID? THEY CHARGED ME ALL THAT MONEY TO TIGHTEN UP THE BULB AND PUT SOME GREASE ON IT. I DROVE AWAY AND WENT DOWN THE STREET AND IT WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS UPSET, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THEY DID NOTHING. I TOOK IT BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER, THEN THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CLEAN THE AREA AND SAW SOME BURNT WIRE AND THEY PUT ANOTHER BULB ON. THEY ASSURED ME AGAIN THAT IT WAS FIXED. I DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK. THEY CHARGED MY ALL THAT MONEY TO SIMPLY SCREW THE LIGHT BULB. I TOLD THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT WAS NOT THE LIGHT BULB. IT WAS THE WIRING BECAUSE THEY LIGHT BULB WOULD WORK ONE DAY AND NOT THE NEXT. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO NOT HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR A YEAR. THE PUT DOWN I DECLINED MAINTENANCE(S). AS WELL AS THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE. I ONLY DECLINED THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER MAINTENANCE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE NONE WAS OFFERED. SATURN DID NON EVEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO MY CAR. MY CAR HAS DEFECTS IN IT AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A CERTAIN VIN NUMBER THEY DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244530October 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2006 SATURN ION FAILS TO START. LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC COME ON BUT WILL NOT TURNOVER. THIS MORNING AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES AND TURNING THE KEY OFF/OFF MULTIPLE TIMES, IT FINALLY STARTED. OTHER TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED I HAVE WAITED ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL START. THIS HAPPENS WEEKLY AND I AM A SINGLE WOMEN AND I AM AFRAID I WILL EVENTUALLY BE STRANDED. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, HE COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL. I TOOK IT HOME AND IT HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I CALLED HIM HE TOLD ME HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE AN IGNITION PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244295October 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON THE VEHICLE HAS A RETAINER THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER DURABILITY. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE RETAINER DETACHES AND CAUSES THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO RAISE UPWARDS. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY SWITCH GEARS FAST ENOUGH. WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED ON JULY 20, 2007, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDER AXULATOR, MASTER CLUTCH, THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL, AND THE RETAINER. THE REPAIR LASTED FOR 15 MONTHS. RECENTLY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH HAD ONCE AGAIN LOST THE RETAINER AND CAUSED THE PEDAL TO RAISE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS LOCATED, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,751 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,210.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244129October 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A RECALL RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244160October 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY HUSBAND CAME HOME AND WENT TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THE KEY WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I CALLED ON-STAR FROM MY CAR AND HE GOT A ROADSIDE ASSISTANT ON THE PHONE AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME OUT AND COULD NOT DISABLE THE CAR AND HAD TO TOW THE CAR, WHILE IT WAS RUNNING, TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS FAIRLY COMMON IN OUR VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD THE NEXT DAY BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HOUSING UNIT NEEDED REPLACED. I CALLED GM CORPORATE TO ASK IF THIS WAS A RECALL AND/OR IF SOMEONE WAS LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM AND ALL I WAS TOLD WAS THAT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS LIVID AND WILL NEVER DEAL WITH GM AGAIN FOR SUCH A LOUSY RESPONSE. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH THEM IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. TELL ME THAT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244818September 30, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
2006 SATURN ION - DRIVER'S HOOD OF HIS VEHICLE CAME UP CAUSING THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO BREAK WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NJ THE VEHICLE HAD PRIOR DAMAGE DUE TO A CRASH THAT OCCURRED THE SAME DAY. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-0658-91. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Saturn Ion