2003 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

2003 SATURN ION-3, PURCHASED JUNE 2003. REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE REVVING, CAR ALMOST DRIVES ITSELF; I HAVE ALMOST CREATED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH CAR STALLING OUT AND TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, BOTH AT LOWER SPEEDS ON SURFACE STREETS AND HIGHER SPEEDS ON INTERSTATES. EXTREMELY UNSAFE, I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS. HAVE TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND REPAIR SHOPS THROUGHOUT GEORGIA AND MICHIGAN. NO ONE IS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT PROBLEM, SATURN SERVICE STATED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT SHOWING PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, WE ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AT HAND.

I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 3 ON JULY 11, 2003. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR HAS BASICALLY NOT WORKED AND MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED ON THREE OCCASIONS -- ONE OF THEM ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO REPAIRS THREE TIMES TO SATURN PENSACOLA AND SATURN HAS FAILED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" MY CONCERN. I AM MAINLY CONCERNED WITH GETTING THIS CAR FIXED OR IF IT IS NOT FIXABLE FOR ME TO GET A REPLACEMENT CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS AROUND ME! THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR TERMS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SATURN CORP REP DIANE WANTS ME TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SATURN FACILITY MYSELF TO GET THIS CAR FIXED. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE THE NEXT NEAREST FACILITY IS OVER 60 MILES AWAY! THEY REFUSE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO MOBILE OR MONTGOMERY. AND, THEY REFUSED TO LOAN ME A CAR OR TOW MY CAR TO THE PENSACOLA SERVICE CENTER WHEN MY CAR DIED THE SECOND TIME ON SEPT. 13. THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" AND TREATMENT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY SATURN CORP AND THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY POOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS A LEMON AS WELL AS THE BETTTER BUSINESS BUREAU, NHTSA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, GENERAL MOTORS (WHO OWNS SATURN), ETC. I FEEL EXTREMELY LET DOWN BY SATURN BECAUSE I OWNED A SATURN PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS EXTREMELY LOYAL TO THE VEHICLE. A CO-WORKER AT MY JOB IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HER 2003 ION. IN FACT, I WANTED SATURN TO COMPARE MY SATURN ISSUE TO MY CO-WORKER'S ISSUE (WHO IS BRINGING HER CAR IN TODAY) AND SATURN BASICALLY THREATENED ME THAT IF I DID NOT PICK UP MY CAR (WHICH WAS STILL IN THE SHOP) AND RETURN THEIR LOANER (WHICH I STILL HAD) THAT THEY WOULD REPORT THE LOANER AS STOLEN. DO NOT BUY A SATURN ION. SATURN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IS A BIG JOKE.

IT DON'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IT WON'T START YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPEN AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES AND TRY TO START IT MOST THE TIME IT WILL START BUT THERE WERE AFEW THAT IT TOOK A HALF HOUR SITTING AND WAITING FOR IT TO RESET HAD MY CAR IN THE DEALER WANT TIME AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THEY SAID NOTHING CAN BEEN DONE ABOUT IT INTIL IT HAPPEN TO THEM EVEN WHOSE THE DASHBOARD COMPUTER SAY SERVICE ENGINES AND IT COULD HAPPEN EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK THAN IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE IT DOSE IT AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND WAS NOT TURNING SMOOTHLY, IT WAS HARD TO HANDLE THE WHEEL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND MIS-ALIGNED AND WAS REPAIRED. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

I OWN A ION 2003, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR WE ALSO PURCHASE THE PLASTIC WINDOW GUARDS FROM THE DEALER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOOR, THE TWO PARTS MAKING UP THE DOOR WERE SEPARATING AT TOP OF WINDOW. THEY TRY TO GLUING, IT DIDN'T WORK, THEN THEY TRY SOMETHING ELSE AND IT DID WORK, AND FINNALLY THEY ORDER A NEW PART. WHEN THEY INSTALL THE NEW PART, THEY REMOVED THE PLASTIC GUARD FRON THE WINDOW AND SAID THEY WILL REPLACE IT AT THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. WELL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE CAME A THEY NOT ONLY DID NOT REPLACE THE WINDOW GUARD BUT THEY REMOVED THE GUARD FROM THE OTHER WINDOW!!!!THEY STATED THE GUARD WAS THE CAUSED OF THE PROBLEM. NOW I WANT TO KNOW ARE THE DOORS SAFE. MY WIFE PLACE MY GRAND CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. IS THERE A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS ????*AK

WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND CAR WOULD SHAKE. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG. WITHIN 2 DAYS ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, SOMETIMES STAYING ON STEADY AND SOMETIMES BLINKING. VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS (EVEN SMALL ONES) VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY FEEL LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUT ON AND VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO STALL OUT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN OPENING THE TRUNK IT WAS VERY HOT AND YOU COULD NOT PUT YOUR HAND DOWN IN IT. CALLED DEALER TO MAKE ANOTHER SERVICE APPT. THIS WEEK.*AK

WHILE TRYING TO FIND A SPOT IN A PARKING LOT, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VAN BACKING OUT AND ABOUT TO HID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY HORN TO WARN BOTH DRIVERS. WHEN I HIT THE HORN, THE CENTER SATURN EMBLEM WENT THROUGH THE PLASTIC AIR BAG COVER. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD TO BE RELPACED. WHILE THIS INCADENT DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURIES, IT CONSERNS ME THAT ANOTHER EMBLEM COULD FALL INTO THEE AIRBAG MODULE AND CREATE A FLYING OBJECT IN A CRASH.*AK

MY 2003 SATURN ION DOWN SHIFTS ON ME WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. IT IS GETTING CONSISTENTLY WORSE AND HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A SECOND AND THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A TECH HAS TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND SEEN IT HAPPEN FIRST HAND. STILL ON RESOLVED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LEMON LAW IT.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, THEY STATED COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED ONCE, AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS GONE THROUGH 1-800- MY- LEMON, AND SINCE THAT, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP HER ANYMORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY ALSO CLAIM ED IT COULD NOT BE T BE DUPLICATED, SO THEY COULD NOT HELP. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE; THE GAS GAUGE AND OTHER THINGS. THE CONSUMER DID HAVE THE WORK ORDERS AND COULD SEND IN THAT INFORMATION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO UP TO HIGH RPMS. IT WOULD JERK, AND ALMOST SHUT OFF. IT HAPPED ON STRAIGHT ROADS AS WELL AS HILLS. *AK

ELECTRICAL; DOOR SEALS LOOSE; CAR RETURNED UP TO 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE ON 7/13/03. SATURN ION 3 COUPE--TURN SIGNALS BURNED OUT W/IN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER; REQUESTED CHECK OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. JULY 26, 2003 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED. COMPLAINED ABOUT DOOR SEAL AT SAME TIME & SERVICE DEPT DID NOT CHECK IT OUT UNTIL THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX ON JULY 31. REQUESTED TO RETURN VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD "IT WOULD BE FIXED TO MY SATISFACTION". DOOR SEAL WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY & I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR A FOURTH TIME TO GET THIS REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. *PH

TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE FROZE. CONSUMER COULD NOT GO BACKWARD OR FORWARD. SHE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND THE HOOD OPENED. *AK *JB

MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT A SATURN ION III. SHE HAS RECENTLY HAD TROUBLE WITH HER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SATURN HAS ACKNOWELDGED A HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM FROM 2ND TO 3RD, BUT SINCE A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT, IT IS BEING CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOW BEGUN TO BE A WAY MORE SERIOUS CONCERN BECAUSE IT WILL COMPLETELY SLIP, (LOSE ALL POWER), FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN EVER INCREASING LONGER INTERVAL AND MORE FREQUENTLY. SHE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE NOW TRIES TO AVOID ANY SITUATION AT LOW SPEEDS THAT MIGHT CAUSE HER INJURY, (SHE TRIES TO MAKE AS MANY RIGHT HAND TURNS TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AS POSSIBLE). SATURN HAS HAD TWO SERVICE EMPLOYEES WITNESS THE PROBLEM, ALBEIT IN A STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING SITUATION. THEY STILL REFUSE TO REPAIR/REPLACE OR ADMIT A PROBLEM BEYOND THE HARD SHIFTING. MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN MESA, AZ. HER PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX], AND NAME IS [XXX]. I MENTION MESA BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL STREETS THERE. THE MAJORITY OF MAIN CITY STREETS ARE SIX LANES WIDE WITH 45MPH SPEED LIMITS. THAT IS A VERY SCARY SCENARIO TO BE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN AND LOSE POWER.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS *JB

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT STEERING WHEEL IS NOT TURNING SMOOTHLY, IT IS HARD TO HANDLE THE WHEEL. DEALER HAS INSPECTED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FOLLOWING DAY MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONSUMER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS. *AK

ALMOST FROM DAY ONE, THE TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HOOKED UP A COMPUTER TO SEE IF IT TURNED OFF AND THEY SAID IT DOES, BUT, AS SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALER, I HIT THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND I SPUN THE TIRES AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED ON AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. YET THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *NM

MARCH 22, 2003 I PURCHASED AN SATURN ION 3. WITHIN THE 1ST THE WEEK THERE WAS PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE 2 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING (3RD TIME). SUPPOSEDLY THE CAR WAS FIXED. 3 DAYS LATER THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED ME AT SATURN CORP.'S REQUEST TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN THE CAR AS THE ENGINE COULD BLOW UP. THE ENGINE HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE WITH ABOUT 650 MILES. ALSO, ANOTHER SATURN ION WITH 2500 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DEALER'S LOT WITH A CRACKED CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE. I WAS RELEASED FROM THE SALE ON APRIL 17, 2003. I TOOK A 2ND SATURN ION 3 ON APRIL 17, 2003. THIS CAR HAS JERKY STEERING PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF TURNS AND SEVER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR KICKS WHEN TURNING ON THE IGNITION, ENGINE GETS RACKETING WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, WHEN CHANGING GEARS - KICKS, SLIDES, AND WILL SURGE, AND BOUNCE THROUGH GEARS BETWEEN 30 MPH TO ABOVE 70 MPH. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID, "ALL THE IONS DRIVE THIS WAY. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR". THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES. EACH TIME THE CAR IS RETURNED WORSE THAN THE TIME BEFORE.*AK

I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 3 MARCH 17, 2003. WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE CAR HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER WITH COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. SATURN CORP. RECALLED THE CAR. THE PURCHASE OF [XXX] WAS CANCELED 4/17/03 AND I PURCHASED A 2ND 2003 SATURN ION 3, [XXX], ON 4/17/03. THE 2ND CAR FROM THE BEGINNING HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, JERKING UP AND DOWN FROM 30 MPH TO 70 MPH, KICKS WHEN STARTED, RATTLES LOUDLY IN REVERSE, AND STEERING PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF TURNS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 4 TIMES (BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD 3 ON 6-12-2003. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE BEGINNING. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. A TECH FROM SPRING HILL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. TRYING TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS A NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL IS CRACKED AND BEING REPLACED. THE REAR BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF SCRATCHES FROM THE TRUNK RUBBING. THE FRONT BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF RUNS IN THE PAINT. NONE OF THE BODY PANELS SEEM TO MATCH UP. THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO FIX A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THEY'RE REPLACING THE DR SIDE GLASS BECAUSE IT IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED. IT SOMETIMES RUNS ROUGH AT FIRST CRANK.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FELL APART. *AK THE BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE WEBBING TO THE FLOOR WAS NOT FULLY SCREWED IN AT THE PLANT. THE BOLT BACKED OUT AND THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SEATBELT WEBBING BECAME UNATTACHED. THIS IS NOT A BUCKLE ISSUE OR A RETRACTOR ISSUE. MANUFACTURING DEFECT FROM THE PLANT BECAUSE THE BOLT WAS NOT FULLY TORQUED. DEALER FIXED BY TIGHTENING THE BOLT. CW

MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR DUE TO A SHORTAGE OR SOMETHING AND ALSO MY CAR SHAKES AND LOOSES POWER WHEN I HAVE MY AIR CONDITIONER ON. *AK

WHILE PLACING SEAT BELT ON THE BOLT BROKE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. *AK

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2003. *AK

WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING KNUCKLE SHEARED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK DEALER REPAIRED AT NO COST. REPLACED RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLED AND ASSOCIATED SUSPENSION PARTS. FRONT RIGHT WHEEL,TIRE, SPOILER AND UNDER SKIRTING. SATURN'S ENGINEER'S OF DETROIT SENT THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT DAMAGED PARTS FOR INVESTIGATION. CONSUMER HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. *PH *JB

KEY ALWAYS STUCK IN IGNITION, CAR DOESN'T START CAR DOOR LOCK BROKEN. *JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER PLUGGED DEVICES INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT WORK. *NLM

HEADLIGH MOVEMENT, DISTRACTING TO DIRVER AS LIGHT BEAMS HIT OBJECT THE BEAM APPEARS TO BE GITTERING. DISTRACTING ALSO TO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF YOU AS DRIVERS CONTINUE TO LOOK IN MIRROR. SATURN DEALERSHIP STATED THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX, THAT IS IS THIS WAY BY DESIGN. HEADLIGHT MOUNTS TO MOUNTING PANEL WITH (2) PINS GOING THROUGH UPPER EAR IN MOUNTING PANEL AND THEN UPPER AND LOWER EARS ON HEADLIGHT ASSY. AND INTO LOWER EAR OF MOUNTING PANEL. APPEARS TO MUCH PLAY IN THE PIN TO MOUNT AREA, THIS WILL WORSEN OVER TIME AS METAL PIN IN PLASTIC EARS WILL BECOME LARGER FROM THE SHAKING. THIS OCCURS EVEN OF SMOOTH ROAD BEDS.

I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION IN JANUARY 2003. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES AND A GRAND TOTAL OF 18 DAYS IN SERVICE. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHEN I TRY TO ACCERLERATE. THE SERVICE TECHS AT SATURN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE RECALIRBERATED AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS STILL DOWN SHIFTING WHEN ACCERLERATING. I AM TERRIFIED THAT I WILL BE HIT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS AND THEN TAKE OFF AGIAN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLIANT WITH THE BBB AND CURRENTLY HAVE A CASE PENDING. I WANT TO BE REFUNDED IN FULL FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

MY 2003 SATURN ION, WAS DELIVERED ON DECEMBER 3,2002. THIS WAS MY SECOND SATURN. AFTER ABOUT A 1000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THAT TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER 1000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH 4 TIMES SINCE THEN AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT.*AK

PURCHASE SATURN ION III IN MARCH. TRANSMSSION HAD HARD SHIFT THEN SLIP PROBLEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *LA

NEW SATURN ION 2003 STALLS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP, MUST STOP SUDDENLY TO RESTART AND GAIN CONTROL OF CAR. *NLM

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK UP AS IF IT WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVED BACK FROM REPAIR, IT HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO GAIN SPEED, AND SHIFT GEARS AUTOMATICALLY(ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC WHEN IN LOWER SPEEDS), AND WOULD RANDOMLY BEGIN TO SHAKE. *SCC *JB

THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS BLEW OUT 11 TIMES. FIRST THE DEALER TOLD ME THE BULBS WERE BAD, THEN TOO MANY AMPS FOR THE TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT. THEY DID SOME "CONVERSION" 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE BULBS BLEW OUT LESS FREQUENT BUT STILL OCCURRING. THE DRIVER FRONT BULBS BLEW 3 WEEKS AGO. THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO MALFUNCTION WHENEVER I PLUG THE CELL PHONE CHARGER INTO THE POWER OUTLET. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE TURN SIGNAL.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK OPENED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. *TC *JB

TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED 4 TIMES WITHIN FIRST 7,000 MILES OF USAGE. *AK

DEAR ADMINISTRATOR: I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION 2 ON DECEMBER 28, 2002. I REPORTED TO BOTH THE SATURN CORPORATION AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T SAFE AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 80 MILES. THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX THE VEHICLE, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 SEPERATE OCCASIONS , TWO OF WHICH THE DEALER REFUSED TO ACCEPT MY VEHICLE. ON JANUARY 10, NOT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, SATURN KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR NEARLY ONE WEEK. AFTER THE LOAN WAS APPROVED ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS FREE OF DEFECTS. AFTER NEARLY BEING KILLED IN THE VEHICLE TWICE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE REFUSED TO HONOR MY WARRANTY, REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE VEHICLE. I HAD 1,200 MILES ON CAR AND I HAD NOT HAD THE VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION FOR 30 DAY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THIS DEALERSHIP'S AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR 5 DAYS. WHEN I WAS NEARLY KILLED IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE LAST TIME, I WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE TOWED AND LEFT AT THE DEALERSHIP. SATURN REFUSED ME TOW SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE PURCHASED TOW SERVICE. SATURN IS NOW IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN SINCE FEBRUARY 1, 2003. THE SATURN OF CERRITOS, MANAGER, MR. VANCE THREATENED ME ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003, AND TOLD ME THAT I RETURNED THE VEHICLE THAT SATURN WOULD RETURN THE VEHICLE TO AMERICREDIT, THE COMPANY THAT FINANCED THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE MY CREDIT RUINED - IF I DID NOT KEEP THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE SATURN CORPORATION MANAGER, DONNA LANSFIELD, ALSO THREATENED ME AND IN AN UNPROFESSIONAL, THREATENING MANNER ATTEMPTED TO FORCE ME TO RETRIEVE SATURN'S DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT NEARLY KILLED ME TWICE NOW. *JB

2003 ION SATURN WILL NOT START ON COLD MORNINGS. THIS STARTED 2010 IN JANUARY. I HAVE TAKEN TO FIRESTONE TO FIX. WASN'T COLD ENOUGH. CAR STARTED. NOW WEATHER IS COLDER AND CAR WILL NOT START. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN NOTHING. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME TYPE THAT I AM HAVING. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. NEW BATTERY PUT IN JAN 2010. CAR MECHANIC SAID CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM UNTIL CAR WON'T START FOR THEM. VERY FRUSTRATING. THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION. WANTED TO KEEP CAR FOR A LONG TIME. AFTER THE WEATHER GETS WARMER DURING THE DAY, CAR WILL START RIGHT UP. RECALL??? *TR

THE HORN DID NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THE DESIGN FOR THE HORN, ONLY ALLOWED IT TO BE USED WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FINGERS WERE DIRECTLY ON THE HORN INDICATOR SYMBOL. *AK THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE HORN WORKED AS DESIGNED. *SC

THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS A SENSOR IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO LOCK UP BECAUSE IT IS GETTING A FALSE SIGNAL THAT THE CAR IS BEING STOLEN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE CAR'S "PASSLOCK" SYSTEM AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN (1) THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 0 DEGREES C OVER NIGHT OR AN EXTENDED TIME PERIOD. (2) THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS TO KEEP REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN IT GOES BAD. ATTACHED BELOW IS TAKEN FROM ANOTHER OWNER OF THE SATURN ION. "THE PROBLEM WITH THE ION NOT STARTING IN MANY CASES IS DUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM LOOKS FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE KEY IN THE LOCK WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED. THE SYSTEM LOOKS FOR A LOW RESISTANCE, BUT NOT ZERO OHMS, AND CAN BE TRAINED TO LOOK FOR A SPECIFIC VALUE. IF IT DOES NOT FIND WHAT IT IS LOOKING FOR, THE CAR WILL NOT START. ONE SOLUTION IS TO CHANGE THE SWITCH. ANYONE THAT CAN USE A WRENCH AND SCREW DRIVER CAN DO THIS. THE SWITCH COSTS ABOUT $30. THE PROBLEM, IS THAT THEY DON'T LAST TOO LONG, SOMETIMES LESS THAN A YEAR. A SIMPLE SOLUTION I FOUND ELSEWHERE, IS TO CUT THE WHITE WIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. LEAVE ENOUGH LENGTH AFTER THE SWITCH SO IT CAN BE SPLICED BACK TOGETHER. I DID THIS TODAY, IT WAS EASY, AND SEEMS TO WORK. IT DOES GIVE YOU A SERVICE WARNING. ANOTHER OPTION, IS TO INSTALL A BYPASS DEVICE THAT IS DESIGNED FOR REMOTE STARTERS. ANOTHER OPTION, WHICH IS SIMPLER, AND DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE (I HAVEN'T TESTED THIS) IS TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ALL THE TIME. USE A SECOND KEY TO LOCK THE DOORS" A SHORT SEARCH OF SATURN IONS NOT STARTING IN COLD WEATHER WILL SHOW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH IS A MYSTERY. *TR

SATURN HORN IS HARD TO ACTIVATE (ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN WINTER CLIMATES) DUE TO A POOR HORN BUTTON DESIGN. IN A PANIC SITUATION YOU HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AND HUNT FOR THE "G" SPOT ON THE HORN BUTTON IN ORDER TO SOUND THE HORN WITHIN SUFFICIENT TIME TO BE USEFUL IN WARNING OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE EXPERINCED THIS MANY TIMES IN A PARKING LOT SITUATION, AND ALSO DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE HORN FAILS TO SOUND AT ALL. SATURN CORP. REFERRED ME TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DESIGN WITH THE AIR BAG. OTHER IONS THAT I TEST DROVE ALSO DISPLAYED THIS BEHAVIOR AND SATURN CORP. SHOULD BE WORKING ON A SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

HORN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK *MR

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY LEAVING CONSUMER VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENT. *LA DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

THE HORN ASSEMBLY REQUIRED EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO ACTIVATE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HORN WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *AK *NM

2003 SATURN ION HAS PROBLEMS WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.*MR *NM

SATURN ION COLD START PROBLEM**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE, AND A SECURITY LIGHT WOULD BLINK AND THE ODOMETER SCREENS WOULD READ SERVICE ENGINE SOON. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START FOR 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT ENGAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

VEHICLE TIRES ARE BLOWING OUT AT THE SIDE WALLS AND DEFLATING. THE ALUMINUM RIMS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT TIRE DEVELOP A BUBBLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE DRIVER PULLED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING AND OBJECT IN THE ROAD, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE IMPACTED A TREE, AND DAMAGED THE A FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

IN A PANIC SITUATION, THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON DUE TO THE SIZE AND LOCATION. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION, DUE TO THE CONSUMER HAVING TO TAKE HER EYES OFF THE ROAD AND LOOK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTED THE DRIVER'S HEAD REST WAS TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD, THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY CORRECTED. *JB *NM