NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Saturn Ion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE INFINITI TIRES, SIZE 195/60R15 (NA). ON THREE ISOLATED EVENTS, WITHIN A FIVE WEEK PERIOD, THE VALVE STEM ON THE TIRES FAILED. THE TIRES LOST PRESSURE OVERNIGHT ON TWO OCCASIONS. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TIRE LOST COMPLETE PRESSURE AND THE CONTACT NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE STILL HAS POSSESSION OF ONE OF THE TIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT THE MANUFACTURERS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED7/15/08. *JB
BRAKES INSTALLED ON MY 2003 SATURN ION BY FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER FAILED A WEEK AFTER INSTALLATION RESULTING IN A AUTO ACCIDENT. I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO 4 FIRESTONE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
POWER/ELECTRIC STEERING ON 2003 SATURN ION IS MALFUNCTIONING MAKING THE WHEEL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD EASILY HAVE LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE FOLLOWED BY THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZING. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,961 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 2003 SATURN ION FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. I STARTED HERE A POPPING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL A FEW WEEKS BACK AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD IT IS MOST LIKELY THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THIS PART, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
IGNITION PROBLEM - ENGINE WON'T START, PASSLOCK PREVENTS IGNITION. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND IT'S RARELY THAT COLD IN THE MORNINGS, EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IT HAS BEEN A COLD WET BLUSTERY DAY BUT NOT FREEZING. CAR ACTS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DEAD, BUT FREQUENT MANIPULATION OF THE PASSLOCK REMOTE WILL EVENTUALLY CLEAR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, AND IF SATURN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THE 5 YEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING, THEN THEY SHOULD BE HELD CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION AND THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, AND REPLACE OR REPAIR THE CONTROL MODULE AT NO COST. MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK, AND IN SPEAKING TO OTHER OWNERS I CAN EXPECT A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE COMING MONTHS. *TR
1) TRY TO START SATURN ION 2) IT FAILED TO START 3) WAITED 10 MIN. IT STARTS. *TR
MY SATURN ION 2003 DOES NOT START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COUPLED WITH IT GETTING A BIT HUMID. IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY ON A COLD, WET MORNING I WILL HAVE TO CALL A TAXI. SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR ITSELF -- IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM INTERFACING WITH THE STARTER/IGNITION IS A GUESS. SATURN WILL NOT ADMIT TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW AND/OR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP! MY CAR IS NOT RELIABLE AT ALL!! I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND THE DEALER. THE DEALER, AFTER THROWING IT ON THE COMPUTER, SAID THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND CHARGED ME $70 FOR ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. PLEASE HELP. SATURN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL AND FIX THEIR DESIGN PROBLEM. MY FIRST TWO SATURNS WERE GEMS THAT DROVE AND DROVE - NEEDING LITTLE CARE. THIS ONE IS SIMPLY ONE BIG DESIGN MISTAKE ... AND MY LAST SATURN. IT SIMPLY WILL NOT START. *TR
WHEN THE OUTSIDE WEATHER IS COLD, MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *TR
OUR 2003 SATURN ION HAS A PERMANENT DEFAULT, IN THAT IT WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. AND THE TERM "COLD" IS RELATIVE. SATURN TOLD US THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. THUS, WE PAID AN EXCESS OF $200 TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS "SOLUTION" LASTED ONLY A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. NOW, SATURN TELLS US THAT THOUGH WE HAVE THE UPDATED IGNITION SWITCH, IT STILL CAUSES THE SAME NO-START PROBLEM, AND WE NEED A $575 (PLUS TAX) BODY CONTROL MODULE. WE HAD TO PAY $104.54 FOR SATURN TO TELL US THIS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER , WHICH IS LEAVING MANY PEOPLE STRANDED MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECTIFIED THROUGH A RECALL. *TR
I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION2. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT FROM THE FIRST DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. RECENTLY (I.E IN THE LAST 2 YEARS) WHEN IT IS PARTICULARLY COLD, THE CAR WILL NOT START. I KEEP TRYING IT THEN WAIT 10 MINUTES AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. I HAVE SPENT $1200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND THE STEERING WHEEL LUBRICANT LEAKING ON THE SYSTEM. IN COLD WEATHER THIS SEEMS TO MAKE THE SECURITY PASSLOCK SYSTEM THINK SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STEAL THE CAR AND MAKES IT UNABLE TO START. THE PASSLOCK TIMES OUT AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN WILL START. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON ALL ION 2'S AND I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF LETTERS ON FORUMS PERTAINING TO THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
2003 SATURN ION III DISENGAGES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AS IF GEARS HAVE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AT SPEEDS FROM BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH, SO THAT THERE IS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT SUDDENLY AND THEN RE-ENGAGES. ALMOST REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO CAR WILL NOT START IF TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND KEY LOCKS IN IGNITION. GEARS WERE RE-CALIBRATED AND IGNITION REPLACED, BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE. *TR
ONLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, MY CAR WON'T START. I'VE REPLACED THE STARTER AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING MY ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS ME. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND EVERYONE THAT REPLACES IT SAYS THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE MONEY ON AN ISSUE THAT CAN'T BE RESOLVED UNLESS YOUR ORGANIZATION PUTS A RECALL ON THAT PART. I'M SURE YOU'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS OF EMAILS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, SO THE ONLY SOLUTION WOULD BE TO RECALL THAT ITEM. SINCE WE HAVE GIVEN YOU BUSINESS BY PURCHASING YOUR VEHICLES, THE ONLY THING TO DO IS TO HELP OUT YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 ION 2 WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN MARCH 2003. STARTING IN DEC 2007, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. 10-15 MIN LATER I WOULD TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD START UP LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAD SATURN LOOK AT IT, THEY STATED THAT THEY "COULD NOT REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IN JANUARY 2008, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS, SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THE BATTERY WAS CHARGING FINE AND COULD NOT PIN POINT A PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED PUTTING IN A NEW STARTER WHICH COST ME $300. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT MY PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, BUT NOW IN FEB 2008 ( ONE MONTH LATER)IT IS NOT STARTING UP IN THE MORNINGS AGAIN ON REAL COLD DAYS (0-20 DEGREES), BUT 10-15 MIN LATER, IT STARTS RIGHT UP. *TR
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IN 2003 SATURN ION. *TR
VEHICLE WILL START SOME DAYS AND NOT START OTHERS. WOULD HAVE TO TRY OVER AND OVER AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. NOT THE BATTERY! *TR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM COMPONENT ON MY 2003 SATURN ION (WHICH CONNECTS THE RIGHT AND LEFT WIPERS) HAS PLASTIC PARTS THAT WILL SNAP IN COLD WEATHER, RENDERING AT LEAST THE LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER INOPERATIVE. THIS COULD HAVE CREATED AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY DURING A SNOW OR ICE STORM. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD US THAT THE COMPONENT ARM HAD TO BE ON BACK ORDER, AND IT WOULD TAKE TWO WEEKS TO GET A REPLACEMENT. IT ACTUALLY TOOK FOUR WEEKS, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED ONE. THE REPLACEMENT, WHICH COST $162.00 WITHOUT LABOR, ALSO HAS PLASTIC COMPONENTS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SIT BELOW THE PART ON THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE DEFROSTER VENTS ARE AIMED, CAUSING THE WIPERS TO STAY FROZEN ON THE WINDSHIELD EVEN AFTER THE DEFROSTER IS TURNED ON. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON, THE STRAIN ON THE ARM COMPONENT (CAUSED WHEN THE FROZEN WIPER BLADES STAY STUCK ON THE WINDSHIELD) CAUSES THE PLASTIC PART TO SNAP, RENDERING AT LEAST THE LEFT WIPER INOPERATIVE. *TR
MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 SATURN ION AND WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN I DO. WILL THIS CAR GET A RECALL. SOME OF THE OWNERS ARE SAYING THAT IT IS THE LUBRICATE THAT SATURN USED ON THE IGNITION THAT IT CAN FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. IS THIS THE CASE. HELP IN COLD WEATHER. *TR
CAR WON'T START ON MORNINGS WHEN TEMP IS BELOW 50 DEGREES. ONCE TEMP WARMS UP, CAR STARTS FINE. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON TO GO TO WORK! I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED WHILE WORKING (I DO HOME NURSING). *TR
ON COLD MORNINGS (35 AND BELOW) MY 03 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. I TURN THE KEY AND THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND IT TELLS ME TO "SERVICE VEHICLE". IF I WAIT ABOUT 10-20 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START. (WHICH CAUSES ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK) I'VE REPLACE THE BATTERY BUT CANNOT AFFORD 200+ TO CHANGE OUT THE STARTER AND/OR OTHER PARTS. I'VE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF OTHER ION OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. (BELOW 32F) THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THE LAST 2 YEARS ON A 2003 SATURN ION 3. AFTER READING ALL THE COMMENTS HERE... HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML IT WOULD SEEM THERE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GREASE FREEZING AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
WHEN IT IS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE, MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS ISSUES STARTING UP. I HAVE READ MANY POSTS (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727_1.HTML IS ON SUCH SPOT) WHERE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH VARIOUS RESULTS FROM THEIR DEALERS. IT IS APPARENTLY A KNOW ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE CUSTOMERS, POTENTIALLY LEAVING THEM OUT IN THE COLD! *TR
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN BELOW FREEZING..... *TR
WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, AND I GO TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING, IT STARTS TO TURN OVER BUT THEN STALLS AND DIES. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLINKS "SERVICE VEHICLE". I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO START MY VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE SECURITY FEATURE OF THE IGNITION. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. *TR
I REGRETTABLY OWN A 2003 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING, THE CAR FAILS TO START. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DOING EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT IT STEMS FROM A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH LEAKS LUBRICANT ONTO THE WIRES IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. WHEN IT IS COLD ENOUGH FOR THE LUBRICANT TO FREEZE, IT IMPEDES THE SIGNAL REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM (STANDARD ON MY CAR) AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH (AT THE COST OF THE OWNER IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, ABOUT $300 TO $400). THE NEW SWITCHES WILL INEVITABLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AFTER THEY LEAK THE LUBRICANT. SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS PUBLISHED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #040845005. THEY, HOWEVER, REFUSE TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY AND DEVISE A RELIABLE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, WE ARE ALL FREEZING IN THE COLD WEATHER WHILE WE WAIT FOR OUR CARS TO START. I BELIEVE SATURN IS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT IN THIS RESPECT. *TR
DURING COLD WEATHER, MY 2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. REPLACED THE BATTERY 12/07, AND A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK OF THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR WAS FINE. IT APPEARS TO BE AN IGNITION SWITCH ITEM FROM READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. *TR
MY 2003 SATURN ION WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING OUT IN COLD WEATHER. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND I AM TIRED OF IT. BASED ON RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THE NET, IT APPEARS SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS AND DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. *TR
WHEN TEMPERATURE GETS LOW, MY 2003 SATURN ION WON'T START. IT MUST SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START UP. *TR
OIL STARTED LEAKING ON SATURDAY, TOOK TO SHOP ON SUNDAY, THEY THOUGHT CRACKED HEAD GASKET. WENT TO SATURN DEALER ON MONDAY, THEY COULD NOT ID LEAK, DIRECTED ME TO BRING BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS. TODAY THEY IDENTIFIED CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. CAR HAS ONLY 67,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER OVERHEATED TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. BLOCK IS CAST IRON, CYL HEAD IS ALUMINUM. QUOTED COST TO REPAIR: $2600, NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT COVERED BY DEALER. *TR
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
2003 SATURN ION. THIS CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR WILL STALL. THIS WILL BE A RECALL ITEM ONCE WE GET TOGETHER AND SUE SATURN FOR THIS OBVIOUS NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND IS CONTINUAL. PERHAPS WHEN SOME UNFORTUNATE SOUL IS STRANDED IN THE WILDERNESS AND DIES, THEN THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS COLD WEATHER START PROBLEM. THE PUBLIC IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SO IS SATURN. IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH IT FOR THE CORPORATE OFFICE TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND DECIDE TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT THE DIFFICULTLY MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A TYPE OF LUBRICANT ON THE STARTER, WHICH HARDENS IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE CAR STALLS AS A RESULT, AND THEN THE PASS-LOCK KICKS IN. AFTER 8 MINUTES, THE CAR MAY START, OR ONE MAY HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 8 MINUTES (OR MORE) FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOOSEN UP ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR MAY STALL YET AGAIN---AND SET OFF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM YET AGAIN. SATURN IS NEGLIGENT AT THE VERY LEAST--AND CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT IF THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM---THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF IT---AND DO NOTHING. 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. *CN
WONT START IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER THE VEHICLE OFF. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD INTERMITTENTLY BE REMOVED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN POWERED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I WAS DROVE MY CAR HOME ONE NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE. I WENT IN THE HOUSE CHANGED AND GOT READY TO LEAVE AGAIN WHEN I TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS THEY DID NOT COME ON. THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THE BULBS THAT WENT OUT BUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WORKED. HAD THE BULBS CHECK THEY WERE FINE, I ALSO CHECKED THE FUSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS BURNT OUT. AFTER A WEEK THE LIGHTS STILL WERE NOT WORKING TOOK IT TO A CAR MECHANIC AND THE ANALYSIS SHOWED SOME SENSOR. HE REPLACED THE SENSOR AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL NOT WORKING. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. THE FIRST ISSUE BEGAN WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND THE PASSLOCK SYMBOL WAS FLASHING ALL THE WAY HOME FROM THE STORE. WHEN I GOT HOME AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED RESTARTING IT, IT WOULDN'T START. AFTER LOOKING AT MY OWNERS MANUAL AND READING ABOUT PASSLOCK I WENT OUTSIDE AND TRIED STARTING IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. A LITTLE LESS THAN A WEEK LATER I WAS OUT RUNNING AN ERRAND AND MADE A QUICK STOP FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES, WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES AND WAS STARTING TO PANIC WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT RECOMMENDED FINDING MY OTHER KEY FOR THE CAR AND START USING THAT. THE CAR WAS FINE FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND WHILE I WAS PICKING UP MY KIDS FROM SCHOOL THE PASSLOCK LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND BLINKED ALL THE WAY HOME. ONCE AGAIN, I TRIED TO START AFTER WE GOT HOME AND NOTHING, I WENT OUT ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AND IT WAS FINE. YESTERDAY I NEEDED TO RUN AN ERRAND AND SURE ENOUGH I WENT OUTSIDE TO LEAVE AND THE STUPID CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN. I WENT INSIDE AND WAITED 10 MINUTES, CAME BACK OUTSIDE AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I AM A MOTHER WITH 3 KIDS AND I HAVE A HUSBAND WHO DOES NOT DRIVE. I HAVE ONLY ONE CAR AND I CANNOT HAVE IT BE UNRELIABLE. I GET NERVOUS EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE MANY SATURN OWNERS WHO ARE JUST AS FRUSTRATED AS ME AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT, AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. THIS IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR!!! *TR
I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, AND AS SOON AS IT BECAME COLD HERE IN COLORADO MY CAR STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM STARTING. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO CELL PHONE COVERAGE IN THE FREEZING COLD. I HAVE NOW COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2003 SATURNS AND THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE GREASE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE IN THE FREEZING COLD WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER. I WANT THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED BY SATURN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THEM TO NOT RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR
MY WIFE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER SATURN JUST BEFORE THE DATE OF 12/24/07, THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON OR SHE WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME STARTING IT. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH, AT THE TIME, SATURN OF EATONTOWN, NJ, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT COST $324.30 TO REPLACE THE PART. THERE WAS A RECENT DELAYED RECALL ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH FROM GM, 13 PEOPLE WERE KILLED DUE TO THIS DEFECT, I FEEL GM SHOULD REFUND THIS MONEY TO ME SINCE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT BACK THEN. I HAVE THE RECEIPT FOR THIS REPAIR IF YOU NEED COPY. *TR
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN ION 2003. IT WON'T START WHEN IT'S COLD AND IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BY THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS THAT I SEE FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT GETS VERY COLD HERE IN COLORADO AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED AGAIN. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE "FIXED" THE PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL OCCURRING. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I WILL NOT BE BUYING A SATURN AGAIN. *TR
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF IGNITION TROUBLE WITH MY SATURN ION. IT SEEMS IN COLD WEATHER (FROM 60 DEGREES F AND BELOW) THAT IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START RIGHT AWAY, THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM SWITCHES ON AND WILL NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO BE STARTED FOR 8-10 MINUTES. THIS HAS CAUSED ME SEVERAL TIMES TO BE STUCK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ALONE, IN <30 DEG WEATHER WITH A CAR THAT WILL NOT START. THIS PLACES ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
MY CAR HAS FAILED TO START SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE TYPE OF LUBRICANT USED IN IT AND IT'S REACTION IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER DOING A TON OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR
HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ACTUATE, REQUIRING HARD PRESSING ONE OF TWO SPECIFIC SMALL HORN LOGOS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG COVER. THESE ARE HARD TO FIND IN AN EMERGENCY, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO QUICKLY FIND WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A FEW NEAR MISSES, BECAUSE THE HORN COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ALERT ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THEY WERE LEAVING THEIR LANE. I HAD TO SWERVE EVASIVELY TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT. SATURN DEALER IN PAST HAS SAID THAT HORN WORKS NORMALLY. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT MY WIFE OR I HAVE DRIVEN IN THIRTY YEARS THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE A POOR DESIGN, AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY IT. THE HORN IS USELESS IN A SUDDENLY DEVELOPING EMERGENCY SITUATION. DATE IS NOT SPECIFIC; AS FORM WOULD NOT ALLOW SUBMISSION WITHOUT A DATE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT THIS SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. USUALLY AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WILL START. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, I STOPPED AT A BLOCKBUSTER TO DROP OFF SOME MOVIES. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND CALLED A FRIEND TO COME AND GIVE ME A JUMP. I TRIED TO JUMP IT, AND THAT DID NOT WORK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT IS NEARBY WHERE I LIVE. I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I COULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I SAID THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START, WHEN I TRIED TO JUMP IT THAT DIDN'T WORK, AND THAT MY KEY IS NOW STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS, "I BET IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THOSE NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS COLD. DID YOU SAY YOU JUMPED IT? YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. THAT CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO HAVE A SHORTAGE". TODAY, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AND A DEAD BATTERY. I HAD THEM REPLACE BOTH, AND I ALSO KEPT BOTH OF MY OLD PARTS. *TR
SATURN ION 2003 PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE CAR AROUND/BELOW 32`F, THIS IS SECOND COLD SEASON I AM HAVING OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WITH START THE ENGINE PROCESS, AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I AM FINDING "THE BIG FAMILY" OF SATURN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH/PASSLOCK SENSOR. *TR
SATURN 2003 ION WILL NOT START IN THE WINTER, WHEN TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREE'S OR LOWER. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. I READ THROUGH MESSAGE BOARDS AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO READ SOME PEOPLES CAR ACTUALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, WHICH SOUNDS RELATED TO ME. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE ALSO POPULAR COMPLAINTS. THESE CARS ARE OBVIOUSLY RIDDLED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND ARE ROLLING DEATH TRAPS. I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING LOSS ONCE, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE UNTIL READING OTHERS POSTS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND HAVE FOUND NO RESOLUTION. I FOUND A TSB STATING THAT A FAULTY IGNITION IS THE CAUSE OF THE COLD STARTING PROBLEM, SO I WILL LIKELY REPLACE IT. *TR
SATURN ION 2003 FAILS TO START WHEN COLD OUT. REFERENCE NHTSA #10007431. SATURN DOES NOT ADMIT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. BUT WILL CHARGE YOU AND ARM AND A LEG TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO ALLDATA WEB SITE AND THE SHOW NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 SATURN ION BUT GM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A PROBLEM. *TR
I CAN NOT PROVIDE EXACT DATES AS THIS HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006. IT STARTED OUT, IN FREEZING TEMPS, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WOULD HAVE TO TRY JUMPING IT OR WAIT TILL 10 MINUTES HAD PASSED AND TRY AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED A LOT THROUGH WINTER MONTHS. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO CHANGE OUT MY STARTER AND IGNITION SWITCH BACK IN 2012. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO OFF COMPLETELY SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES THE KEY WONT TURN AT ALL. THIS IS ALSO AFTER CHANGING OUT THE SWITCH. I AM A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND AFTER SEEING THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SWITCH I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY FAMILY DOWN THE STREET A BLOCK. THE RECALL SAYS TO NOT DRIVE ON JARRING ROADS, BUT I LIVE IN A TINY TOWN OF NOTHING BUT JARRING ROADS. SIGH. I FEEL THE NOT STARTING IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED IN BAD WEATHER AND UNABLE TO GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO IN EMERGENCIES. ALL ANYONE NEEDS TO DO IS SEARCH THE INTERNET ABOUT SATURN'S NOT STARTING AND THERE IS HOURS OF READING ON THE SUBJECT. THE COMPANY KNEW ALL ALONG. THANK YOU *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026