Saturn Ion Complaints (2004)

898 consumer complaints on file.

#10254389January 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I CANNOT RELY ON IT TO START WHEN I NEED IT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN HEADED TO A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS 30 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE IT STARTS. IT IS CRIMINAL FOR SATURN TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY REALIZED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT, BUT I'M ON A FIXED INCOME AND I PUT OUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK! I THOUGHT SATURN WAS A GOOD COMPANY BUT I SEE NOW THAT DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253952January 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION 2. ON COLD MORNINGS THE CAR WILL NOT START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIME. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SATURN NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253636January 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, USUALLY WHEN ITS COLDER OUT. I GO TO START MY CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN A SECURITY FEATURE LIGHTS UP. MY CAR THINKS I'M STEALING IT, APPARENTLY. SOMETIMES MY KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THIS HAPPENS EITHER, AND I'VE HAD TO GET IT TOWED AND REPAIRED. USUALLY AFTER SITTING THERE AND TRYING TO START IT FOR A PERIOD OF TEN TO THIRTY MINUTES, THE CAR STARTS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED, BUT IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE SEEING AS I'VE BEEN OUT OF TOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IT ALSO MAKES ME LATE FOR WORK. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER SATURN OWNERS AND THEY'VE SAID THEY'VE ALSO HAD THIS HAPPEN. I'D SAY THAT THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253035December 29, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252170December 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNLESS SHE WAITED 15 TO 20 MINUTES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND REPLACED IT. ONE YEAR LATER, WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START UNLESS SHE WAITED 15 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON DECEMBER 12, 2008, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE DEALER WOULD ASSUME THE COST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252144December 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. IN 20 DEGREE TEMPERATURE OR BELOW, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN BE REPLACED, BUT IT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE IS UNSAFE AND AN INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE SHE WORKS AT NIGHT WHILE THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251935December 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE RUNNING THE A/C, IT WILL LEAK WATER ALL OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251861December 15, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND BECAME SO BAD THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO MAKE A NORMAL TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL ASSIST SYSTEM WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $600-$800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#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
#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
#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
#10250625December 3, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION 3. I HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR THREE WINTERS IN WHICH I HAVE HAD STARTING PROBLEMS EVERY WINTER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY ALL THREE WINTERS, TO FIND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. AFTER MANY READING MANY BLOGS AND WEBSITES I HAVE FOUND THAT SATURN USES AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT FREEZES IN THE COLD. SATURN ALSO DOES NOT CLAIM TO THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO MECHANIC KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I LIVE IN A PLACE THAT IS KNOWN FOR COLD WINTERS SO I KNOW NOW (ESPECIALLY AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE NET) THAT THE MECHANICS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE CARS. MY HUSBAND HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FIND THAT IT DID NOT HELP (OBVIOUSLY IF WE ARE USING THE SAME FREEZING PART)! THIS IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM SORRY, BUT IF I GET STUCK OUT AT A REST STOP ON SOME HIGHWAY BY MYSELF OR WITH MY YOUNG CHILD IN BELOW 30 DEGREES, THAT BECOMES SAFETY ISSUE TO ME!!! ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS PRESENTED ITSELF IN THE ION IS MY SEAT BELTS. THEY DO NOT LOCK OR RETRACT. THERE HAS BEEN NO TAMPERING OR CHANGING OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249102November 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF TRYING IT WILL START, EVERYTHING SUCH AS STARTER BATTERY FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN CHECKED. MY SECURITY LIGHT IS ON WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248503November 11, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TURN SIGNAL STOPS WORKING FOR A WEEK, THEN WORKS, THEN QUITS AGAIN FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN WORKS AGAIN. SATURN DEALER SAYS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL - IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V657000 - NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04061. THEY SAID ANY REVIEW/REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248232November 10, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AFTER A FEW STOPS, NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMP IS OUTSIDE/NICE OR COLD... MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT SIMPLY CLICKS AND WILL NOT TURN OVER... FEELS/SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START. I HAVE HAD IT STALL WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT!!! MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO GROSS LEAK EMISSION CONTROL, AND THEY CAN NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE!!!! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, HOWEVER THEY DO NOT MIND CHARGING ME EACH AND EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN, AND EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY HAVE NEGLECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM!!! FRUSTRATED *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248307November 10, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE DRIVING FORWARD OR TURNING, THE STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR IS FAILING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEREFORE, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,337 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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