2003 Saturn Ion Air Bags & Restraints Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DROVE HEAD FIRST INTO HIS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT AND HIS SON WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES AT THE SCENE AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR CHEST, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT 'S SON SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND HIS BACK. THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE OTHER DRIVER WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

MY HORN STOPPED WORKING. IT NEVER WORKED WELL, EXCEPT FROM THE BUTTON ON THE KEY HOLDER. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE WHEN SATURN WAS STILL IN BUSINESS. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT MY HANDS WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE THE HORN WORK. ONE SERVICE PERSON EVEN TOLD ME TO TRY IT BY WRAPPING BOTH HANDS AROUND WHERE THE HORN IS LOCATED AND PRESSING AS HARD AS I COULD. I WENT TO A GM DEALER YESTERDAY TO FIND OUT WHY THE HORN QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER AND ALSO BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION TWICE - ONCE AT MY EXPENSE AND ONCE AFTER THE RECALL. GM WILL PROVIDE THE COST OF REPLACING THE GEAR SHIFT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THAT IS WHY THE KEY WON'T RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THEY WANT $1,000 TO FIX THE HORN BECAUSE THEY SAID IT IS PART OF THE AIRBAG SO THE AIRBAG HAS TO BE REPLACED TOO. I HAVE DONE SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THERE ARE OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE THE HORN PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT TO ME. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS MORE GOING ON WITH THE DEFECTS THAN JUST A FAULTY IGNITION. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. I CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THE $1,000 BUT AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT NOT HAVING A WORKING HORN AND AM MORE CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL) THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE CRASH WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER RECEIVED AN INJURY TO THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FULLY REPAIRED. UPDATED 3/6/2015 *JS

WENT THROUGH A LIGHT, THAT MUST OF CHANGED COLORS, AS I WAS UNDERNEATH IT AND THE OTHER CAR GOT A GOOD HEAD START AND HIT ME. SPINNING ME OUT AND ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK, WITH THE UTILITY POLE UNDERNEATH ME. THE OTHER DRIVER GOT CITED, I W AS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD NUMEROUS TESTS TAKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CRASH WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN A SECOND CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNFASTEN THE SEAT BELT, SOMEONE HAD TO CUT IT IN ORDER TO FREE THE CONTACT FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET REPAIRED AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SHE FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT; THEREFORE, THE REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000. UPDATED 12/1/08 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE SET BELT AND BUCKLE. UPDATED 12/05/08. *JB

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

AFTER CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

DROVE TO WORK; USED SEATBELT GUIDE; GOT BACK IN CAR TO GO HOME GUIDE NOT THERE. SEAT BELT GUIDE ATTACHED TO HEADREST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF; CANNOT REACH TO WHERE SEATBELT ATTACHED TO CAR FRAME. CAR DEALERSHIP EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN WHO DETERMINED THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER MUST HAVE DAMAGED THE MODULE. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THE MODULE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED AND AGREED WITH THE TECHNICIAN'S ANALYSIS.

MY DAUGHTER (17 YEARS OLD) HAD AN ACCIDENT FOUR DAYS AGO. SHE HIT A TREE - HEAD ON GOING SOMEWHERE AROUND 40 MPH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL - AGAIN - WERE IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND AWE. THIS IS OUR FOURTH (4TH) GM VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A "TOTAL LOSS" ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

THE AIR BAGS OF THE CONSUMER'S 2003 SATURN ION 3 DID NOT INFLATE DURING ACCIDENT. *BF *NM

I HIT ANOTHER CAR IN ITS LEFT SIDE HARD, IT SMASHED MY FRONT END COMPLETLY TO THE WINDSHIELD, THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED SO BADLY THAT IT WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE CO. YET NO AIR BAGS WAS ACTIVATED.*AK

I CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR HEAD-ON IN MY SATURN IN (2003). THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED UP TO THE WINDSHIELD, YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. IT WAS CRUSHED SO BAD THAT THE INSURANCE CO. TOTALLED MY CAR,YET WITH A WRECK SO BAD THE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE??*AK

SATURN ION CONTAINED SIDE AND FRONT AIR BAGS, AND NEITHER DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *BF *SC (LAWYER ILIANA RUIZ REPRESENTING MARCIAL GARCIA, CONSUMER) WHEN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE THAT RAN A STOP SIGN, THE CONSUMER SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND ENDED UP STRIKING A FENCE. *JB

I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT MY AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS ON AND I HAPPEN TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES AND THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW. I EVEN CALLED SATURN AND THEY HAVE MY COMPLAINT ON FILE. *AK

SUBJECT: LOOSE SATURN SEATBELT BOLT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION 3: I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT CHANGED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN MARCH 2003. THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS PUTTING MY SON IN HIS CARSEAT IN THE BACKSEAT AND NOTICED MY FOOT JIGGLING SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER I REALIZED IT WAS THE RESTRAINING BOLT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT, AND THE BOLT WAS SO LOOSE THAT IT CAME OUT OF THE HOLE INTO MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. I WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED. TO THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT HAD BEEN KEEPING MY HUSBAND AND I "SAFE" WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD!!! I TOOK MY CAR INTO SATURN OF SALEM TODAY AND HAD THEM COMPLETELY GO OVER THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THAT LOCK-TIGHT HAD BEEN PUT ON THE BOLT WHEN THE NEW SEATBELT HAD BEEN INSTALLED BUT THE BOLT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED ENOUGH (TO SATURN'S SPECS). AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT! I AM TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY HUSBAND, MYSELF AND MY CHILD, AND THE SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO ACT AS IF THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS NO BIG DEAL. I AM APPALLED. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS RAISED THIS CONCERN, BUT I WISHED TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. SINCERELY, DAWN YOUNG 503-485-8642 (WORK)

AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK