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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
2003 SATURN ION. SEPTEMBER 09. DROVE CAR. PARKED. COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WAITED 10 MINUTES. KEY CAME OUT. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AT SATURN DEALER. NEXT WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN.(AT MY EXPENSE). KEY CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY STICK IN THE IGNITION. I CAN NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR UNTIL I GET THE KEY OUT. LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK_P5.HTML NO WONDER GM CLOSED OUT THE SATURN LINE. JUST AS BAD AS TOYOTA. THE MECHANICS AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY OFFERED NO PERMANENT FIX. THIS IS WHY I DON'T TRUST AMERICAN MADE CARS. *TR
IN THE COLDER WEATHER, MY CAR (WHICH IS A 2003 SATURN ION) WILL NOT START. IT OFTEN WILL START AND RUN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN WILL STALL OUT, AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY (MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE WEEK) BEGINNING AROUND THE DATE LISTED BELOW. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR IN GOOD REPAIR AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICING ON A REGULAR BASIS; I AM CONCERNED, NOW THAT I WILL BE OUT SOMEWHERE IN A CITY (OR OTHER DANGEROUS PLACE) AT NIGHT AND MY CAR WON'T START. AS A SINGLE YOUNG WOMAN, THIS PROBLEM IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. I RELY ON MY CAR VERY HEAVILY TO GET ME PLACES, AND KNOWING THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURNS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE IS A SCARY THOUGHT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE HER VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V547000. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.
THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE COMPUTER FOR MY POWER STEERING FOR MY 2003 SATURN ION. I HAVE CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY THEM THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR.I WAS TO IT WILL COST AROUND $700.00 TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MY POWER STEERING WILL GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL BE ON ALL THE TIME IF IM TURNING ALOT BUT IF IM DRIVING STRAIGHT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL TURN OFF MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AROUND CORNERS IN SPEEDS EXCESS OF 65MPH. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS AND INCIDENTS WITH THIS MALFUNCTION BUT THE MAIN OF THAT I CAN THINK OF IS WHEN IM TAKING A CURVE ON A HIGHWAY DOING 65MPH AND THE POWER STEERING IS OFF, AND THEN WILL TURN ON HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN SENDING ME INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE IM PUTTING FOR INTO THE TURN WHEN I SHOULD NEED TO. WHEN IT TURNS BACK ON IT WILL MAKE A CRACKING SOUND WHILE I TURN THE WHEEL AND THEN TURN ON. RIGHT AWAY THIS HAD CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND ALMOST GOT ME IN A COUPLE ACCIDENTS. IAM USE TO IT NOW AND EXPECT IT WHEN IM TAKING CURVES. THE PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES ON MY CAR WHICH ISNT A SMALL AMOUNT AND ISNT A LARGE AMOUNT. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 119,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND IS GETTING MORE DANGEROUS. IT STARTED WITH A SIMPLE CRACKING NOISE EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS TEMPORARY PROBLEM BUT NOW FROM WHAT IVE READ AND EXPERIENCED, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT CAN REALLY BE IGNORED ANYMORE. THIS IS THE UNIT THAT KEEPS ME ON THE ROAD AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IT TURNS ON AND OFF. THAT IS NOT RIGHT OR SAFE.
ON 16 JUNE, 2009, I TOOK MY 2003 SATURN ION IN TO HAVE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP DID A 29 POINT CHECKUP WHICH I DID NOT AUTHORIZE. THE TOTAL OF THE BILL WAS 2424.00. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT I REPLACE MY TIMING CHAIN. I QUESTIONED HOW THEY KNEW MY CHAIN WAS BAD, SINCE THEY COULDN'T EXAMINE IT. THE REPAIR ASSOCIATE STATED BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE AND THAT HE COULD HEAR IT "RATTLE". I ASKED THE ASSOCIATE HOW LONG BEFORE MY CHAIN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THOUGH LATER HE RECANTED HIS STATEMENT, TO SAY THAT I HAVE MAYBE UP TO SIX MONTHS BUT IT CAN GO AT ANYTIME. I HAD MY SWITCH REPLACED. I DIDN'T DRIVE A TOTAL OF NINE MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND MY TIMING CHAIN SNAPS! I REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO REPAIR MY CAR. THE HEAD HAD FOUR BENT VALVES. SATURN WANTED ME TO BUY A NEW HEAD FOR 885.00 AS PART OF THEIR NEW ESTIMATE TO FIX MY DAMAGED ENGINE,WHICH TOTALED 2442.00. THIS FACILITY, SATURN OF YORK, SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. MY SATURN HAD 115796 MILES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. I USE MOBILE ONE. MY FATHER HAD CHANGED THE OIL WITHIN A MONTH OF THIS INCIDENT. MY OIL LEVEL WAS GOOD, CONTRARY TO THEIR 29 POINT INSPECTION SAYING IT WAS LOW AND DIRTY. SUGGESTING I ALSO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION 1, IT HAS CONTINUALLY GOTTEN WORSE WITH THE "POWER STEERING" FAILURE. WITH THE CODE THAT CAME UP ON THE DASH, IT SHOWS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER $835.00 DOLLARS SPENT, IT HAS GOTTEN EVEN WORSE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS THE MOTOR IS THE ISSUE, AT ANOTHER $400.00 PLUS DOLLARS, BUT NO GUARANTEE. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT IS, WITH THE LOSS OF POWER WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, HOWEVER, IT IS MOST OF THE TIME, NOW. IF I NEED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY TURN, AND THE POWER GOES OUT, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED LONG AGO, BUT NOW I AM STUCK WITH THE EXPENSE OF IT..... *TR
IN VERY COLD WEATHER THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
FOR YEARS, AND WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF, THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION FOR A WHILE AS IF THE CAR STILL THINKS IT'S IN DRIVE. (YOU WILL SEE THE SAME BEHAVIOR IF THE SHIFTER BUTTON IS BLOCKED FROM EXTENDING BY A BOTTLE IN THE CUPHOLDER AFTER YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK.) NEVERTHELESS, EVEN WHEN THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK PROPERLY, OFTEN THERE IS A LONG PAUSE AND CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEFORE THE KEY WILL RELEASE. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ON & BACK OFF BEFORE THE CAR REGISTERS THIS. NOW AT 71,000 MILES IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. I HOPE THE IGNITION RECALL CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM, BUT SEE FROM YOUR EXISTING COMPLAINTS THAT IT HASN'T FOR SOME, SO HERE'S DOCUMENTATION OF THIS HAPPENING IN ANOTHER CAR. *TR
MY 2003 SATURN ION KEEPS HAVING IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES. I WAS FIRST TOLD BY SATURN THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY BATTERY. DID THAT BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. THE IGNITION WON'T TURN OVER BUT WILL AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. BEING A WOMAN, THIS MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE JUST YESTERDAY WHEN I STALLED MY CAR WHILE ON ROUTE I HAD TO HAVE MY HUSBAND PUSH ME OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I COULD START IT AGAIN. I COULD HAVE BEEN ALL BY MYSELF AND HAD TO RELY ON TOTAL STRANGERS FOR HELP. :-( *TR
MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT WON'T START. IT IS INTERMITTENT. TODAY THE CAR STARTED, I STARTED DRIVING ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT THE CAR STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE CAR. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, TO NO AVAIL. WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED THE CAR, TURNED AROUND, WENT BACK TO BEG. DESTINATION. TURNED OFF CAR. TRIED TO RESTART - NO RESTART. WAITED 30 MIN. TRIED AGAIN, NO START. WAITED 1 HOUR, STARTED BUT NONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE DASH WOULD WORK. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL THIS JUST STOPPED AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT? *TR
I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL DISCONNECTED FROM ITS SOCKET JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN DRIVING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.
MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS A MAJOR STEERING PROBLEM THAT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT TURN LIKE NORMAL. IT IS SOMETIMES SLOW AND DOES NOT WANT TO TURN, OR WILL KEEP TURNING AND NOT WANT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. THIS IS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY STEERING SYSTEM WHICH HAS AN ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER IONS WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT, NOT JUST THE '03. I AM NOT EVEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AT HOME BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO SCAN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. MY SATURN WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE READ THAT IT COULD COST $1200 TO FIX. PLUS THE PARTS ARE NOT EVEN SOLD AT ANY PARTS STORE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET BUT THE CAR IS NO LONGER A SAFE VEHICLE AND I AM DISCONTINUING USE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *TR
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STARTS. THIS HAS BEEN A SPORADIC EVENT SINCE DECEMBER 2007. IT HAPPENS PERHAPS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH IN THE COLDER WEATHER. CAR WILL START FINE AT ONE STOP, THEN TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENS. COME BACK 10-20 MINUTES LATER AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE OLD BATTERY, BUT THAT HAS BEEN REPLACE AND THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. *TR
THE OTHER DAY WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPER WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND ATTEMPT TO FIX ON HIGHWAY. THE WIPER SINCE THEN WILL NOT WORK. THE WIPER ARM NO SITS LOOSELY ON CAR. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S SATURN ION ALSO WE HAD TO REPAIR IT. THAT TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT MECHANIC THEY NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR
2003 SATURN ION WITH 58,000 MILES HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. AFTER A BRIEF STOP FOR SHOPPING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE ONLY A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT WOULD TURN OVER ONCE AND THEN NOTHING. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED. IT WAS A COOL DAY, BUT THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE ON EVEN COLDER DAYS. ONE DEALER CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ANOTHER LOCATION IDENTIFIED THE BATTERY AS LOW. IT WAS REPLACED. BUT THE REAL CAUSE OF THIS EVENT IS STILL A MYSTERY. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS, I SEE THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EVENT IN A 2003 ION. I AM VERY CONCERNED, NOW, THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND STILL THERE WILL BE NO REMEDY. ARE THERE NO RECALLS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR HOW TO REMEDY IT? *TR
OUR 2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START AT TIMES. TYPICALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT IS A COLD MORNING. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE CITED THE VERY SAME PROBLEM ON CAR DISCUSSION SITES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SATURN ION2 WITH 4 CYL AND VTI TRANSMISSION WITH 71,000 MILES TO WORK AND IT FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SLOWED TO A STOP. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND WAS STRANDED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT TURNS OUT MY VTI TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST GM FOR IT, AND IT IS FOLLOWING THE SETTLEMENT BEFORE IT HAS BEEN RULED UPON BY THE JUDGE. THEY ARE COVERING 75% OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED 100%. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED CAR. I WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION NOISES AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IN REQUESTING THE SERVICE RECORDS, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WORK WAS DONE FOR THEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THEY ALSO DID A REPAIR ON MY TRANSMISSION (THIS WAS PRIOR TO IT HAVING 36,000 MILES AND WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY). I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR SATURN VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL FIND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. THE 75% REPAIR STILL LEAVES ME PAYING $1,150 AND MY CAR IS WORTH VERY LITTLE BECAUSE ALL THE CAR COMPANIES KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS DEVALUED THE CAR. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE VERY SAME DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND AGAIN THE GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS THEY GO BAD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. CAN THE NHTSA PLEASE HELP ME AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM? THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V245000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS) CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
THE CAR JUST SEEMED TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF AND THEN QUIT; AMAZINGLY ENOUGH THE SPEEDOMETER GOT SCREWED UP AND WAS SHOWING 10MPH OVER WHAT IT WAS REALLY GOING; ONLY WAY I COULD TELL WAS BY WHAT THE RPMS NORMALLY RUN WAS WAY TOO SLOW COMPARED TO THE SPEED. *TR
THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS THIS IS A FREQUENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM PROBLEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE THE CAR WON'T START. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND CATCHES, ONLY TO STALL. UPON REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR THERE WILL BE NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH; TWICE CAUSING ME TO BE LATE FOR PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS. UPON REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEIR STAFF HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. THIS HAS BEEN THEIR GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEVERAL ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY CAN'T FIND A THING WRONG WITH IT. SATURN SEEMS TO BE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF A POOR DESIGN SOMEWHERE ON THEIR PART. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 80 000 KM, AND NOW NEED TO REPLACE STRUTS. I AM HESITANT TO DO THIS THOUGH, AS THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG SATURN ION OWNERS IS THAT BUSHINGS AND STRUTS ARE IN PERPETUAL NEED OF REPLACEMENT ON THESE CARS. AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS MOST PEOPLE FIND THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME REPAIRS AGAIN WITHIN 2 YEARS. FURTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR ARE: TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEY, REPLACED WIRES ON BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS AND ONE HEADLIGHT, KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION, ERRATIC TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR (I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT I JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT), SEAT BELT GUIDES BROKEN (FRONT, BOTH SIDES), REAR SEAT BELT "FEMALE" COMPONENT FALLS INTO CREVICE IN SEAT, PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT BUMPER WITHOUT BEING CHIPPED PRIOR, AND A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS HAS TURNED UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE ION OWNERS COMMUNITY. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND THE PROBLEM STARTED YESTERDAY. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR ON JANUARY 31, 2009. I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. IT JUST SAID SERVICE VEHICLE ON THE MESSAGE CENTER SCREEN. I DRIVE 120 MILES PER DAY SOMETIMES AND I HAVE DONE ONLINE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. IT NOT ONLY HAPPENS WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE BUT WITH OTHER MAKES TOO! THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS. THE WEATHER WHERE I LIVE GETS DOWN TO 30 BELOW ZERO SOMETIMES AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT BE ABLE TO START MY CAR. I AM A FULL-TIME STUDENT WITH 3 CHILDREN AND A HUSBAND THAT WORKS OUT OF TOWN. I CANNOT AFFORD THE NUMEROUS CAR REPAIRS THAT PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE DONE ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. WHY HASN'T THEIR BEEN A RECALL?!!! *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. DURING "COLD DAYS" MY CAR DOES NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ION 2003-2007 HAVE, SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING. *TR
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN TEMPERATURE IS 30 OR BELOW MY 2003 SATURN ION IS UNABLE TO START. I MUST WAIT 20 MINUTES AND THEN TRY AGAIN. THERE SEEM TO BE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.*TR
CAR WON'T START WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT.(UNDER 50) IGNITION TURNS AND THEN ENGINE STALLS OUT. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND WAITING A HALF HOUR OR SO, IT STARTS. (USUALLY WITH A FUEL SMELL AND A BACKFIRE)APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND I AM CONCERNED AS THIS MODEL HAS ALREADY HAD FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY RECALL..MECHANICS SAY ITS THE STARTER BUT WHEN REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUES.. I HAVE NOT HAD MINE REPLACED YET BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO GO TO THAT EXPENSE WHEN IT DOESN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. THE FACT THAT I SMELL GAS WHEN IT DOES START UP CONCERNS ME AND I AM FRANKLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP WORKING DISPLAY A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE ON DASHBOARD AND ENTER MANUAL STEERING MODE. I WOULD PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TURN VEHICLE OFF AND ON TO RESET COMPUTER AND STEERING TO BRING IT BACK TO A NORMAL CONDITION. AS TIME PROGRESSED THE FAULT WOULD APPEAR MORE FREQUENTLY BEFORE GETTING IT REPAIRED AT LOCAL SATURN AUTHORIZED REPAIR GM FACILITY. PAID CLOSE TO $1,000 FOR THE REPAIR AND PARTS. NOW THAT VEHICLE HAS LIFETIME WARRANTY ALL PERVIOUS REPAIRS SHOULD BE REFUNDED TO CONSUMERS. *TR
2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO FAULTY PARTS USED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM ACTIVATED. IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BEGAN TO MOVE ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER IS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
2003 SATURN ION. THE CAR RUNS PERFECTLY FINE HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION INVOLVING THE IGNITION SWITCH. MOST OF THE TIME INVOLVES ME BEING LATE FOR WORK BUT TWICE I WAS LEFT IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. ONCE TRYING TO LEAVE A SPORTING EVENT LATE NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND THE CAR WOULDN'T START, TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES FINALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES OF THAT THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. ANOTHER TIME WITH MY 85 YEAR OLD MOM (WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S) AFTER BUYING GAS THE SAME THING AND IT TERRIFIED MY MOM. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND THAT PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE ARE VERY COMMON AND VERY FRUSTRATING TO SATURN OWNERS WHO ARE FORCED TO PAY NEARLY $300.00 FOR A NEW IGNITION SWITCH ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REOCCUR A FEW MOTHS LATER. SATURN ADMITS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. IF PEOPLE ARE STRANDED IN FRIGID WEATHER UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND HAVE HEAT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ELDERLY PERSON OR CHILD IN THE CAR, SERIOUS INJURIES COULD DEFINITELY OCCUR. *TR
STARTING THIS FALL, MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH NOT STARTING SOMETIMES. IT STARTS FINE IN THE MORNING NO MATTER HOW COLD, BUT SOMETIMES AFTER I DRIVE A LITTLE WHILE AND ENGINE IS WARMER, IT WILL NOT START BACK UP IF I RUN INTO THE STORE OR WHATEVER FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT TURNS OVER A FEW STROKES AND DIES COMPLETELY. IF I TRY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENS. I WILL NORMALLY WAIT 15 MINUTES (OR SO) AND IT STARTS PERFECTLY FINE WITH PLENTY OF POWER. *TR
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY SATURN HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DO A RECALL WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION ON IONS NOT WORKING AT CERTAIN TIMES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN ISSUE. I AM OFTEN STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR
ON 3 OCCASIONS THIS WINTER, MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS FAILED TO START. AFTER THE FIRST 2, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. I NOW DOUBT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND THE ENGINE WOULD ROLL OVER, BUT NOT START. THIS MORNING (ABOUT 35 DEGREES), I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT START. I ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE IT AND ENDED UP WALKING MY DAUGHTER 5 BLOCKS TO DAYCARE AND CALLING A RIDE TO WORK. WHEN I RETURNED HOME 3 HOURS LATER, IT STILL DID NOT WANT TO START AND THEN RAN SLUGGISH. ONLINE SEARCHES INDICATE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. THAT WILL BE MY NEXT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS 98000 MILES. WE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1995 SATURN SC2 FOR 10 YEARS WITH 150000 MILES AND NO TROUBLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DUCT PORT, WHERE AIR TRAVELS THROUGH THE VEHICLE, FAILS TO TRANSPORT CORRECTLY AND BECOMES STUCK. THE INSULATION BETWEEN THE VENT LOOSENS AND STOPS SWITCHING BETWEEN HEAT AND DEFROST. THE FAILURE BEGAN AT 36,000 MILES. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS COULD FOG UP AND REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
ON MY 2003 SATURN ION 3 THE LEFT SIDE WIPER WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY AND LOCKED IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TRY TO REPAIR WHILE ON ROAD. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S SATURN ION 2 AND WE PAID TO REPAIR IT. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. I HAVE HAD IT IN 3 TIMES TO BE WORKED ON. SOME DAYS IT WILL START SOME DAYS IT WILL NOT. I HAVE HAD A FUSE REPLACED, MY STARTED, AND A CONNECTION TO THE STARTER. I KNOW 2 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME CAR. NOW I READ THIS ONLINE BLOG AND A TON OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THESE REPAIRS. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER (APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES OR LOWER). INITIAL ATTEMPT AT STARTING PUTS CAR INTO ANTI-THEFT MODE, AND YOU MUST WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN WITH NO GUARANTEE THE SAME THING WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN THAT WILL NOT START WHEN IT GETS COLD, THIS HAS HAPPEN SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING AND COSTLY WHEN I MISS HOURS FROM WORK OR TRYING TO GET MY CHILD TO SCHOOL. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IS THERE ANYONE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO SUFFER FOR TRUSTING A PRODUCT WITH YOUR NAME ON IT FOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*TR KAREN
SATURN WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. STARTS FINE IN THE WARMTH OF MY GARAGE. BARELY TURNS OVER THEN DIES. HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES OR HAVE IT JUMPED. BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND ALTERNATOR IS GOOD. STARTER PROBLEM OR IGNITION PROBLEM. SAME AS MANY OTHERS: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. *TR
THIS FALL I WENT TO START MY 2005 SATURN ION S2 IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCHED REPLACED. NOW IN JANUARY, I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DETERMINED THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE FIXED PERMANENTLY BECAUSE THE PART IS BAD FROM SATURN. I DO NOT WANT TO KEEP SPENDING $200.00 WHENEVER I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION THAT I BOUGHT USED IN 2006. WHEN THE WEATHER IS 32 DEGREES OR LOWER THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY JUST BE MY BATTERY BUT THE BATTERY WAS FINE. AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH I WAS ABLE TO READ THOUGH ABOUT 150 CASES WHERE PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS REASON. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER I FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A FOUR MONTH OLD BABY AND TO BE OUT IN THE COLD WITH A VEHICLE THAT WONT START BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM IS REALLY SAD. I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY LOOK INTO THIS MATTER WITH THIS VEHICLE. EVERY DAY I CANT START MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. ALSO GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM AND YOU WILL SEE MANY CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2003 SATURN ION REFUSES TO START SPORADICALLY ON COLD MORNINGS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE EARLY FALL. MY CAR REPAIR SHOP ASSURES ME THAT THE BATTERY IN MY CAR IS FULLY CHARGED AND CAPABLE OF STARTING. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 5-6 OF THESE ISSUES WITH SATURN IONS IN THE PAST MONTH, AND THAT I MUST TAKE IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. I LIVE IN A FAIRLY SMALL TOWN, THE FACT THAT MY SHOP HAS SEEN THIS MANY ISSUES WITH SATURNS IS ASTOUNDING. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND THE TEMPS IN INDIANA HAVE BEEN BELOW ZERO. I FEAR THAT I WILL HAVE THEM OUT SOMEWHERE AND BE UNABLE TO START MY CAR IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, OR THAT I WILL BE UNABLE TO PICK THEM UP FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE I CANNOT GET MY CAR STARTED. I HAVE READ ON THE WEB THIS MORNING, THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY ISSUES WITH MY SATURN ION. I REALIZE THAT NO ONE HAS DIED OR BEEN INJURED IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION, BUT IF SMALL CHILDREN ARE STRANDED IN MY CAR IN SUB-ZERO TEMPS BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T START, IT SEEMS THAT, AT THE VERY LEAST WE HAVE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE HERE. *TR
FAILURE OF GM TO NOTIFY ME OF 3 RECALLS ON 2003 SATURN ION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, BUT I CANNOT TELL AT THIS TIME AND WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. RECALLS ARE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V547000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V003000 *TR
THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. MY CAR DOES NOT COLD START IN TEMPERATURES UNDER 30 DEGREES. MANY SATURN OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT WHEN IT WAS I BROUGHT IT IN MANY TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND SERVICE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH TWICE AND STARTER ONCE. PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED. ITS WORSE NOW THEN EVER BEFORE IN THESE COLD DAYTON OHIO WINTERS. NOW THEY SAY THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTHER BOARD FOR MY CAR AFTER DOING ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS TEST FOR A TOTAL OF @ $500.00. I FEEL SATURN IS NOT ONLY GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND BUT WILL GLADLY STILL TAKE MY HARD EARNED MONEY. PLEASE HELP. IM ABOUT TO BE A FATHER AND DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED IN THE COLD WITH MY CHILD BY A COMPANY THAT JUST GOT MILLIONS LOANED TO THEM BY OUR GOVERNMENT. NOT FAIR, PLEASE HELP HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR WRONGDOINGS. *TR
CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING UP IN COLD WEATHER, BUT IT'S SPORADIC - SOMETIMES IT WILL START, SOMETIME IT WON'T. BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A "WHITE" WIRE THAT IS IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN ALL COMPONENTS ARE GOOD. FAULTY ANTI THEFT DEVICE. *TR
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. IT IS DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE IGNITION SWITCH/PASSLOCK ERROR. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK, END EVERY MORNING IT IS BELOW 34 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD A NEW BATTERY, FUEL FILTER AND STARTER REPLACED IN THE PAST WEEK. AFTER TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES IT STARTS, BUT TODAY AFTER FORTY FIVE MINUTES IT STILL DID NOT START. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
DURING EVERY COLD SEASON SINCE THE PURCHASE OF 2003 SATURN ION, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER (USUALLY WHEN BELOW 25 DEG F). THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. HOW THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS IS AS FOLLOWS: IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, ENGINE FREQUENTLY (AT LEAST 25% OF THE TIME) WILL NOT "CATCH" AND RUN- JUST TURNS OVER. IF IMMEDIATELY TRYING TO START IT AGAIN AFTER A FIRST FAILED START, ENGINE TURNS OVER SLOWLY AND DIES (SIMILAR TO DEAD BATTERY SYMPTOM, HOWEVER BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OK). AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR 5 MINUTES AFTER A FAILED ATTEMPT, TRYING AGAIN MAY RESULT IN A MOMENT OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE, AND MORE ENGINE TURNING, HOWEVER ENGINE STALLS. AFTER REPEATED WAITING AND START RE-ATTEMPTS (OFTEN 5- 10 TIMES, AND AN ELAPSED PERIOD OF TIME OF 30- 60 MINUTES OF RE-ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE WILL FREQUENTLY START AND REMAIN STARTED. HOWEVER THE INCONVENIENCE OF A 30-60 MINUTE DELAY IS DISCONCERTING, AND ON SOME COLD MORNINGS, REPEATED FAILED ATTEMPTS CAUSES BATTERY TO DRAIN AND NEED FOR "JUMP STARTING" THE CAR, AT OWNER EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON 2003 SATURN ION COLD STARTING PROBLEM INDICATES A PERVASIVE AND SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM IN IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN, HOWEVER SATURN HAS NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DESIGN FLAW IN A FORMAL RECALL. TODAY, REPAIRS HAVE TO BE MADE AT OWNER EXPENSE ($200-300 REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO BE THE FEEDBACK). SEE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML MY REQUEST OF THE NHTSA IS THAT YOU URGE SATURN TO ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE RESPOND WITH YOUR INPUTS AND INTENDED APPROACH ON THIS SITUATION. ALSO, IF YOU ARE AWARE OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE. *TR
THE TEMPERATURES IN FORT WAYNE HAVE BEEN BELOW FREEZING LATELY (WIND-CHILL WAS -35 TODAY), AND MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN I TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A MINUTE, I TRY TO START IT AGAIN, ONLY NOW IT WON'T EVEN TURN OVER; IT JUST CLICKS. I THOUGHT MY BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH HELP TODAY IN DEALING WITH IT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR ADVICE, AND I CAME ACROSS A CAR REVIEW WEBSITE WITH SEVERAL REVIEWS AND COMMENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME 2003 SATURN ION PROBLEM I'M HAVING. FROM THE REVIEWS AND COMMENTS, I FIGURED OUR PROBLEMS ARE ONE IN THE SAME- THE CARS HAVE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. I TRIED TO GET MY CAR FIXED WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. I'M JUST NOW DISCOVERING THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2003 IONS- NOT JUST MINE. AS FAR AS I KNOW, SATURN IS DOING NOTHING TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS IN THEIR GREATEST TIME OF NEED. THANK GOD MY CAR DIED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND NOT IN SOME LOCATION WHERE I WOULD BE STRANDED IN THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES. *TR
RE: 2003 SATURN ION: BUY DATE 5/03. NOV,2003, SATURN SENT BULLETIN # 03-06-123-001, ENTITLED LOSS OF COOLANT/NO EXTERNAL EVIDENT. SENT SOLELY TO ALL PARTS MANAGERS AND TECH'S. CONDITION: SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKS VISIBLE. CAUSE"THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM OF CYLINDER HEAD CASTING. CAR HAS 34000 MI. WARRANTY IS 100,000 MI, OR 5 YEARS. THE LATTER EXPIRED MAY, 2008. I AM POSITIVE NO RECALL TO CUST'S WAS SENT. ASK THAT YOU VERIFY FROM NOV. 2003 TO PRESENT THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT 500 MILES AGO. AFTER REPEATED INCIDENTS, MY LOCAL MECH. WENT ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND THE ABOVE MENTIONED BULLETIN. I AM 86 YRS OLD, HAVE EMPHYSEMA, ON OXYGEN 24/7.NEAREST FAMILY MEMBER IS 400 MI. AWAY. CAR IS ONLY MODE OF TRAVEL DUE TO DISABILITY. BEEN WARNED BY LOCAL MECH. NOT TO TAKE ANY TRIPS DUE TO FIRE DANGER. *TR