Saturn Ion Complaints (2003)

758 consumer complaints on file.

#10207052October 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN FIRST ATTEMPTING TO START IS IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES IT WILL FINALLY START WHEN ATTEMPTING AGAIN. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206923October 25, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WON'T START - NO CRANK, NO START. IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LOW USAGE AND MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205951October 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IN COLD WEATHER. MUST PLAY WITH IGNITION SWITCH MANY TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205055October 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHENEVER IT IS DAMP OR COLD OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL REFUSE TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS REFUSED TO START I MUST WAIT A MINIMUM OF 10 MINS BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE. ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS THIS PROCESS REPEATS AND I MAY HAVE TO WAIT UPWARDS OF 20 MINS TO START MY VEHICLE AND DRIVE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GMS PASSLOCK VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE FAULT AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE CONSUMER INCURRING SUBSTANTIAL COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204245September 27, 2007
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE 2003 SATURN ION-3 POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL WORK AGAIN, FOR A WHILE, AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RESTARTED. THIS CAR HAS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT ENCLOSED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SATURN HAS ADVISED ME THIS IS A $1000.00 REPAIR ON A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WITH 55,000 MILES. I SEE THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON PONTIAC G6 AUTOS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD RECOMMEND EXPANDING THAT INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL GM CARS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201948September 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAUSES HER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 TIMES TO RELEASE THE KEY. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WILL OPERATE NORMALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT THEN THE FAILURE RECURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199262August 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 SATURN ION WITH CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE CASTING OF CYLINDER HEAD**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD IN MAY OF 2007 BUT THE CORPORATION DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MATTER. THE CONSUMER STATED SATURN STATES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INSURANCE WARRANTY NOR THE DEFECT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194848June 28, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DURING RAINY CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TRAVELED BEYOND THE NORMAL RADIUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC LINKAGE ON THE WIPER MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN (NHTSA ACTION # PE07011) FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191129May 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME THE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE SERVICE ENGINE DISPLAY CAME ON AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED OFF THE KEY, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR SMOKE, AND CALLED DAD BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK WITH THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION, AND THE WINDOWS LOCKED IN THE DOWN POSITION. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ,THE EXTENDED WARRANTY - NO PROBLEM, THEY WILL TOW IT TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALER, 180+ MILES AWAY THROUGH A RAIN STORM. SEVERAL DAYS LATER HAD TO DRIVE ROUND TRIP TO RETRIEVE CAR FROM SATURN DEALER, WHO HAS REPLACED 7.5 AMP BODY CONTROL MODULE FUSE, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT BLEW OUT. GOT BACK HOME , 180+ MILES AND NO PROBLEMS. DAUGHTER ENTERED THE CAR, WENT 8 MILES, BANG SAME THING. TO REPLACE FUSE CALLED SATURN TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. DROVE CAR BACK TO SATURN 180+ MILES TO GET FUSE TO BLOW 3 TIMES ON WAY BACK BY ADJUSTING THE LH RV MIRROR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK AND REPLACED LH MIRROR SWITCH. PICKED UP CAR FROM SATURN. DEALER NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TODAY SHE WAS HEADING TO WORK, ADJUSTED LH RV MIRROR AND BCM FUSE BLEW OUT, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. CALLED SATURN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX WHAT I JUST PAID TO HAVE FIXED , $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE, AND WHAT WAS THE REAL ROOT OF THE PROBLEM? WHEN WAS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? CHECKED THIS SITE FOR OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FOUND ODI #10152158 NOTICED THAT THE VINS WERE VERY SIMILAR - 9TH DIGIT WAS DIFFERENT. MINE WAS 0, AND THEIRS WAS X. DID NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT. IT HAPPENED TWICE 13 MONTHS APART. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. 1 ORIGINAL FAILURE, 3 DUPLICATED BY MYSELF, AND NOW ANOTHER FAILURE. DON'T THINK IT WAS THE MIRROR SWITCH. IT WAS THE BCM? OWNER LOVED SATURNS. HE OWNED 3. 2006 VUE, 2006 ION QUAD COUPE, AND 2003 ION SEDAN. THIS WAS A LEMON. SATURNS WERE NOT LEMONS. THIS WAS A LITTLE ELCTRONIC GLITCH IS., AND A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190561May 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. FAULTY IGINITION SWITCH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188148April 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
SATURN 2003 ION THE CAR WILL NOT START, PASSLOCK LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE MESSAGE DISPLAYED. CAR WILL START AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. HAPPENS IN HUMID COOL WEATHER (RAIN, 30-40'S F). A VOLTAGE SIGNAL IS SENT THROUGH THE PASSLOCK RESISTOR IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM INTERPRETS IT AS A FAILURE AND THE STARTING CIRCUIT IS DISABLED. THIS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CASES WHERE THE CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED QUICKLY TO AVOID A HAZARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186061March 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 SATURN ION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR ON COLD MORNINGS PASS LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES AND LOCKS CAR FROM BEING ABLE TO START FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN COLD WEATHER SEVERAL TIMES, LATEST BEING DATE JUST BELOW. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER ISSUE. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN WITH THE STARTER SWITCH, AND IS IS APPARENTLY KNOWN TO SATURN CORP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185383March 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION AND HAVE EXPERIENCED STARTING PROBLEMS THE PAST TWO WINTERS. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE BATTERY,FUEL,AND CLUTCH BUTTON, BUT DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT HAPPENINGS, NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. MY BATTERY WAS RECHECKED AND CORDS WERE CLEANED, FUEL LINE WAS CLEANED, ETC. THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AND THEN HAPPEN AGAIN. I FINALLY NOTICED THE PATTERN OF NOT STARTING WHEN IT WAS COLD. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT WOULD RESTART ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK DURING MY INSPECTION THIS YEAR BUT AGAIN HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP DUE TO IT NOT ACTUALLY HAPPENING. ON 3/15/07 I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT, BUT BEING THAT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR A PROBLEM I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER. (EXCEPT THAT I TRUSTED SATURN WHEN I PURCHASED MY 2 CAR FROM THEM). SATURN SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND SHOW THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE AND CAN BE TRUSTED TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185330March 16, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN THE RAIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHIELD AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,990. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE REPAIRING THE LINKAGE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE THAT OF INVESTIGATION# PE 07011 ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THE DUPLICATE FAILURE. ALSO, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPAIRED, IT WAS RELATED TO INVESTIGATION #DP 05008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185224March 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I DRIVE A '03 SATURN ION AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR WHERE THE CAR WOULDN'T START, MOSTLY ON COLD MORNINGS, AND WOULD LEAVE ME STUCK IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN. MOST OF THE TIME IF I WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES IT WOULD START UP WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS PAST SUNDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF OR TURN THE KEY. SO NOW I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH MY KEY IN MY IGNITION AND MY STEERING COLUMN OFF SO IT LOOKS LIKE I STOLE MY CAR, THE ONLY WAY I CAN START AND STOP THE CAR IS BY PLUGGING AND UNPLUGGING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IT HAS ENDED UP COSTING THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I JUST PAID $200 FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER ALONG WITH THE HOUSING UNIT AND I COME TO REALIZE THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AT ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183031February 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION,IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T START. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE MECHANIC ON TWO OCCASIONS STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH/ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMWAS READING THAT SOMEONE WASTRYING TO BREAK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182989February 19, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 2 BRAND NEW FOR SATURN OF LA CROSSE. APPROXIMENTLY 25 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL NOT START, AND I HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMENTLY 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED ANY DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT, BUT DID FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERINCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM UPSET THAT SATURN IS NOT TAKING THIS MATTER MORE SERIOUSLY AND MAKING A RECALL NOTICE. DOES IT HAVE TO START ON FIRE OR SOMEONE DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182871February 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING MY CAR ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT EACH TIME IT WOULDN'T START. I WOULD WAIT ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES TO RESTART IT, AND LUCKILY IT STARTED. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE ON EVERY OCCASION, ALL THE WHILE BRAVING THE FREEZING COLD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182762February 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2003 SATURN ION COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH NO CRANK, NO START WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IS COLD - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) B2960 AND OR B3033 ARE SET. *TT. WENT TO START IT IN COLD WEATHER, HEARD A CLICK AND NOTICED SERVICE VEHICLE ON THE DASHBOARD. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. I LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO AND IT FINALLY STARTED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AS ADVISED BY AN AUTO MECHANIC AND IT STILL DID THE SAME THING A COUPLE DAYS LATER. I ALSO FOUND A MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE AT: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182790February 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP EARLIER IN 2006. IT WORKED GREAT UNTIL THE COLD WINTER CAME. EVER SINCE THE WEATHER HAS BECOME COLD I HAVE HAD ISSUES STARTING MY CAR ALMOST DAILY. I WILL GET IN THE CAR AND TRY TO START THE ENGINE. MOST TIMES NOTHING HAPPENS...NO NOISE AT ALL. OTHER TIMES IT WILL SOUND LIKE IT'S TURNING OVER BUT WILL THEN STOP. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN THE CAR STARTS FINE. I WILL DRIVE TO MY LOCATION AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. IF I GET BACK IN AGAIN WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE...BUT STILL NO RECALL BY SATURN. IF THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS WITHOUT A RECALL I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE SATURN VEHICLES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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