2003 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

MY SATURN ION HAS BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING IN COOLER WEATHER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH EITHER GOES BAD OR THE WRONG SWITCH WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH A KEY CODE AND VOLTAGE. THIS HAS OCCUR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR A MONTH NOW. *TR

CAR HAS STARTING PROBLEMS. INTERMITTENT STARTING IN COLD WEATHER AND NOW STALLS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSTALLED NEW IGNITION SWITCH ONE WEEK AGO FOR $230, BUT STALLING IS ONCE AGAIN A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! *TR

I HAVE 2 2003 SATURN ION'S WHICH HAVE STARTER PROBLEMS WHICH BOTH HAVE HAD STARTERS REPLACE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT GM/SATURN CONTINUE TO IGNORE. WHEN YOU GET A TEMPERATURE CHANGE THE CARS SOMETIMES START AND SOMETIMES DON'T. SATURN SHOULD RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 2 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PASS LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS REPAIRING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

WE HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION THAT WONT START IN COLD WEATHER DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. SATURN DEALER WANTS $100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT ON A COMPUTER BUT MANY FORUMS HAVE INFORMATION STATING THAT THE DEALER ALREADY KNOWS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. SPORADIC LURCHING LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

I DRIVE A 2003 SATURN ION 3 - AND EVERY WINTER I GO THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 10-20 MINUTES OF ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE WILL FINALLY TURN OVER AND START JUST FINE. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE LAST WINTER AND FOUND THIS: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727_6.HTML THIS WEBSITE HAS PAGES AND PAGES OF PEOPLE OWNING THE SAME CAR AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUT AND IT STARTED OFF HAPPENING ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE...UP UNTIL THIS WINTER. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND IT'S COLD FOR A GOOD 4 OR 5 MONTHS. THIS WEEK MY CAR HAS NOT STARTED 5 TIMES RESULTING IN ME BEING LATE FOR WORK AND LATE FOR SCHEDULED EVENTS....5 TIMES. I WORK FOR A HIGHLY RESPECTED COMPANY AND AM AN OFFICE MANAGER. I AM EXPECTED TO BE ON TIME TO OPEN THE OFFICE AND GET THINGS GOING IN THE MORNING. I'M HOPING THAT WITH THE MILLIONS OF SATURN CUSTOMERS WHO ARE NOT SATISFIED THAT A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED AND I CAN HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I CAN NOT JUSTIFY PAYING FOR A PROBLEM THAT A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CAR COMPANY IS AWARE OF AND IS CHOOSING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START IN TEMPERATURES NEAR 32 DEGREES OR LESS. IGNITION SWITCH AND BATTERY HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. CAR STARTS TO CRANK THEN STALLS OUT AND SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. MUST WAIT 10-15 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN. IF LUCKY IT WILL START ON 2ND TRY, OTHERWISE 3RD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR PAST 3 WEEKS WHEN TEMPS DROPPED. *TR

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENT DURING THE LAST 14 MONTHS REGARDING MY SATURN ION III NOT WANTING TO START IN COLD WEATHER & THE IGNITION SWITCH NOT ALLOWING ME TO RELEASE THE KEY. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO TRY TO DIAGNOSE, NEW BATTERY, TOWING ETC. *TR

2003 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD

WHEN BELOW 32 CAR WILL NOT START. THEN SECURITY IS ENABLED AND HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO TRY AGAIN. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION THAT HAS EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE HAD THE STARTER REPLACED BY OUR MECHANIC WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN 2006 BUT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM 12-15 TIMES SINCE THEN. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WILL START IF YOU WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES OR SO BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT TO DO SO. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS SATURN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY SATURN AS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK IGNITION SYSTEM BUT CAN ONLY REPAIR IT FOR A FEE. *TR

I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY SATURN ION 2003 IN HOPES THAT WE CAN RECALL THE CAR. MY CAR IS OUTSIDE UNCOVERED ALL NIGHT. RIGHT NOW IT IS 27.1 DEGREES OUTSIDE. MY SATURN ION 2003 HAS A HARD TIME STARTING WHEN IT IS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I READ ON THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 2 TIMES THIS WEEK, 3 TIMES THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 6 TO 8 TIMES IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE IGNITION REVS, BUT THEN IT DIES AND MY CAR HAS A MESSAGE "SERVICE SOON". IF I GIVE IT A FEW MINUTES TO SIT, THEN I TRY IT AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT DOES THE EXACT SAME THING, SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE BETTER, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER COMPLETELY. THEN, WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS A LITTLE WARMER, IT WILL ACTUALLY START. I USUALLY STAY IN MY CAR FOR AN AVERAGE OF 15 MINUTES. LONGEST I'VE WAITED FOR MY CAR TO START WAS AN HOUR. I HAVE TALKED TO SATURN ONCE ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE BEFORE THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. IF I CAN GET MY CAR TO SATURN, OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SATURN REALLY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE SINCE IT IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED IN THE COLD WITH NO PHONE SERVICE WAITING FOR THE GREASE OR IGNITION SWITCH TO WARM UP. IT'S RIDICULOUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

2003 SATURN ION IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. CAR WON'T START, THEN INTERLOCK PREVENTS CAR FROM BEING STARTED FOR 8-10 MINUTES. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES.*TR

MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START IN THE WINTER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK ALL WINTER LONG. IT CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 10 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR FOR MY CAR TO START AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND CHARGED ME $80 FOR NOTHING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THREE WINTERS AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE EACH WINTER. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO MISS WORK AND BE LATE FOR WORK SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START IN COLD WEATHER. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OR LESS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 020209 *BF UPDATED 02/03/09.*JB

SATURN ION 2003 CAR WOULD NOT START. *TR

2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START. THIS IS LEAVING MY WIFE AND KIDS STRANDED IN THE COLD A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY NOW. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND AT THIS WEBSITE AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. THIS IS THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. *TR

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10-15 MINUTES WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE. BATTERY REPLACED AND IT DID NOT HELP. *TR

FAULTY DESIGN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH LEAKS LUBRICANT ONTO THE WIRES OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. IN COLD TEMPERATURES THIS LUBRICANT FREEZES AND PREVENTS THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL NEEDED BY THE PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FROM BEING RECEIVED BY THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). WHEN THIS SIGNAL ISN'T RECEIVED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM KICKS IN. IT THEN SHUTS OFF THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR A DEFAULT PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES OR SOMETIMES LONGER FOR UP TO AN HOUR. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE DRIVER BEING STRANDED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THERE'S NUMEROUS DOCUMENTATION IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SATURN IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, EXCEPT TO CHARGE UNREASONABLE PRICES TO FIX. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO MANY REVIEWS ONLINE THIS PROBLEM RESURFACES AT A LATER DATE... *TR

IF THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS), THEN WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON.' FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. 'THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON' SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. NOW, YOU MAY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. .HOWEVER, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. A SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY START AFTER THE PRESENT 'LOCK-OUT' WILL BE WHEN THE IGNITION SEEMS TO CRANK A BIT MORE THAN JUST A CLICK, BEFORE LOCKING OUT AGAIN. REMEDY:1. THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER MUST RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE. THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, WHICH CERTAINLY CAN BE CONSTRUED AS AN ADMISSION TO THE FAULTY DESIGN. OF COURSE, THIS TYPE OF REMEDIAL MEASURE CANNOT BE USED IN COURT, BUT IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL TO THOSE OF US CONSUMERS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE FAULTY DESIGN. SATURN MUST OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MISTAKE AND FIX IT, BEFORE SOMEONE IS STRANDED IN THE COLD, IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE. 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. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. MY WIFE WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO START HER CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND STILL NO LUCK. THE PASSLOCK LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SERVICE VEHICLE. SO I TOLD MY WIFE TO GET IN THE CAR AND SHIFT IT TO NEUTRAL SO WE COULD PUSH IT INTO A DIFFERENT SPOT SO SHE COULD TAKE MY TRUCK TO WORK. SHE DECIDED TO TRY AND START IT ONE LAST TIME AND IT THEN STARTED. FRUSTRATED, I WENT ON TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCH FOR ION PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND ABOUT 200 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND TAKE CARE!! *TR

I HAD THE CAR IN MARCH 2008 FROM A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP, AND NEEDED A HEAD GASKET IN LESS THAN A YEAR. IF THE CAR WAS CERTIFIED HOW THE CAR CAN HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM SO MUCH. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENT, OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THEN THE LIGHT BLEW OUT IN THE DASH BOARD. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 1 IN APRIL OF 2006. BEGINNING THIS WINTER (APPROXIMATELY EARLY DECEMBER 2008), MY CAR DID NOT START. INITIALLY, IT WOULD SIMPLY CLICK, BUT ALL ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING PROPERLY, AND THERE WAS NO DRAIN OF POWER UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR. A FEW HOURS LATER, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO START IT, AND IT TURNED OVER AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM PRESENT. SINCE THEN, IT HAS VERY RANDOMLY DONE THE SAME THING - FIRST TRY, NOTHING BUT ELECTRICAL COMES ON, BUT AFTER WAITING ANYWHERE FROM 5 - 30 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START ONLY TO DIE IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN FINALLY, THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER, AND THE CAR WILL RUN PERFECTLY. THIS WINTER HAS BEEN BRUTALLY COLD, AND I HAVE A YOUNG SON. LUCKILY, HE HAS NEVER BEEN WITH ME WHEN I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME - SITTING IN A NON-RUNNING VEHICLE FOR UP TO HALF AN HOUR IN BELOW-ZERO TEMPERATURES IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO ME, BUT *EXTREMELY* DANGEROUS FOR HIM. I HAVE EVEN HAD OCCURRENCES OF THIS WHEN STOPPING AT THE STORE FOR A MERE 10 MINUTES (AFTER MY CAR STARTED PERFECTLY TO GET THERE), ONLY TO COME OUT AND FIND MY CAR COMPLETELY USELESS. THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT THE TEMPERATURE WAS LITERALLY 10-BELOW-ZERO), AND IT TOOK ME A SOLID HALF HOUR TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE DISCOVERED COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS REGARDING DUPLICATE SITUATIONS ONLINE FROM MANY, MANY ION OWNERS, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS OF SATURNS. THE FACT THAT SATURN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR WHAT IS APPARENTLY REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY AND HOUSING APPALL ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADDRESS IT AS "NOT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE." WHEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT I, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER ION OWNERS, COULD BE LEFT STRANDED FAR FROM ANY HELP OR MEANS TO ATTAIN ASSISTANCE, AT ANY RANDOM TIME OF DAY OR LOCATION, IN EVEN THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF WEATHER CONDITIONS MAKES ME DISAGREE COMPLETELY WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE SAFETY OF SATURN OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT DESERVES A RECALL. *TR

STARTING 7 YEARS AGO, THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT, USUALLY WHILE PARALLEL PARKING. IT IS NOT REPRODUCIBLE ON DEMAND, SO TRIPS TO THE MECHANIC YIELDED NOTHING. I NOW SEE THERE IS TALK OF A POWER STEERING RECALL SEPARATE FROM THE IGNITION RECALL -- BUT ONLY STARTING WITH 2004 ION! WHY NOT ALSO THE 2003? THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS YEAR. *TR

ON JULY 5, 2008 I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION FROM CARMAX FOR THE COST OF $10,998. IT APPARENTLY PASSED THE RIGOROUS CARMAX CERTIFIED QUALITY INSPECTION. IN NOVEMBER 2008 (4 MONTHS LATER) THE SATURN WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. I TOOK THIS INTO CARMAX AND THEY REPLACED MY BATTERY AT MY COST. AGAIN IN JANUARY 2009 (1 MONTH LATER) IT STILL WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THIS MORNING NOW FEBRUARY 2009 IT DID NOT START AGAIN IN THE MORNING RESULTING IN A PROBLEM GETTING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SATURN. AFTER READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR NOT STARTING UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS I AM PERPLEXED AS TO WHY SATURN IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A SATURN AND MOST LIKELY MY LAST. *TR

MY 2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT JUST MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. I HAVE HAD A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED LAST YEAR FOR A LOT OF MONEY LAST YEAR. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER, BUT AS SOON AS IT GOT COLD THIS WINTER THE PROBLEM IS BACK. IT WILL OCCUR ABOUT 1/4 OF THE TIMES IT IS PARKED OUTSIDE IN VERY COLD WEATHER (UNDER 25 F). I JUST WAIT 8 MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN. I CAN'T KEEP FIXING THIS WHEN SATURN IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. AT LEAST THE MONEY I SPENT LAST YEAR SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE FOR GOOD. IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING AND IF CAUGHT IN THE SEVERE COLD COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THESE PEOPLE(HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/SATURN/ION/R97727/COMMENTS/) HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS STARTED NOV. 2008 WHEN I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD MAKE NO NOISE WHAT SO EVER OR IT WOULD START AND STALL...AFTER 10 TO 20 MINUTES IT WOULD START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS...THEN IT WAS 2 DAYS...THEN 3 WEEKS...THERE WAS NO PATTERN. IN DEC. 2008 I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THEY REPLACED THE STARTER...I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE MECHANIC AND I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN IT WOULD HAPPEN THEY COULDN'T HELP. THIS STOPPED IN APRIL AND I HAD NO TROUBLE UNTIL NOV. 27, 2009 AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING EVERY FEW DAYS SINCE. I HAVEN'T CALLED SATURN B/C I'M AFRAID THEY WILL BE LIKE MY MECHANIC AND EITHER NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT OR CHARGE ME AN ARM AND A LEG TO GET IT FIX...I WAS LAID OFF TWICE THIS YEAR AND AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED SO PAYING A LOT FOR THIS ISSUE WHEN SATURN SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THE MASS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR!*TR

I OWN A SATURN ION 2 2003 AND IT TAKES SPELLS WHERE IT WON'T START. TODAY I HAD TROUBLE. WHEN IT WON'T START THE LIGHTS AND RADIO, ETC WORK, A LIGHT COMES ON ON THE MESSAGE CENTER THAT SAYS TO SERVICE VEHICLE BUT IT WON'T TURN OVER. TODAY I LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MIN AND IT STARTED.

MY SATURN 2003 ION CONTINUES TO HAVE INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS(NOT RELATED TO THE BATTERY), AND PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER, EVEN AFTER THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THEY CANNOT DETECT A PROBLEM YET IT STILL KEEPS HAPPENING! *TR

MY 18 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING DURING A HEAVY RAIN DOWNPOUR AND ALMOST HAD A WRECK DUE TO THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE WIPER ARM SUDDEN BECAME "POSSESSED" WERE IT WAS MOVING ERRATICALLY CAUSING PRACTICALLY ZERO VISIBILITY ON A BUSY TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. SHE BARELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS A SCHOOL BUS ROUNDED THE CURVE. NEEDLESS TO SAY EVERYONE WAS LUCKY. A GOOD SAMARITAN MECHANIC STOPPED AND QUICKLY ASSESSED THAT A PLASTIC SUPPORT HAD BROKEN ON THE WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. WE HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR IN A STRANGER'S DRIVEWAY UNTIL WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO MOVE IT DURING SAFER CONDITIONS. I GOT ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND WHERE OTHERS HAD SUFFERED THE SAME ISSUE!! I KNOW PARTS WEAR OUT, BUT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT GIVES NO WARNING. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY NOT HAVE WRECKED OR INJURED THE SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT WERE STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AWAITING THE BUS. ANGRY MOTHER *TR

MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, IT WILL NOT START, BUT IF I WAIT 10-15 MINUTES IT WILL START. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING STATING, "WE CAN'T FIX IT IF IT IS NOT DOING IT AT THE TIME WE ARE LOOKING AT IT." NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL. *TR

BEGINNING IN THE FALL OF 2006 I BEGAN TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR REVVING UP WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. AT TIMES THIS PROBLEM WOULD STOP AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT AND HAVE NOT FOUND ANY THING WITH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MOST RECENTLY I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE CAR WAS HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. I AM NO EXPERIENCING A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 5-10 MIN. THE ENGINE REVES UP AND THE CAR IDLES VERY HIGH 3 OR 4 RPMS. WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR FOR WHATEVER REASON THE CAR STOPS FINE BUT CONTINUES TO IDLE HIGH. THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO LUNG FORWARD WHEN THE ENGINE IDLES HIGH. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO GO THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME AND I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WILL GET HURT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY SATURN ION 03 WILL NOT START UP IN EARLY MORNING COLD TEMPERATURE. THE IGNITION SENDS NO SIGNAL TO THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT SHUTS OFF FUEL TO THE CAR. IT TAKES, ON AVERAGE, TWENTY MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY START. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. AT FIRST, I SPECULATED IT WAS THE BATTERY, COOLANT/ANTI-FREEZE FLUID, LOW GAS BUT ALL CHECKED OUT FINE. AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS AND SATURN ION PROBLEMS I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT WAS TRIGGERING THE PROBLEM. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY RECUR DURING COLDER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM WAS RE-WIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS MY VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD. I HAVE HEARD AND READ HUNDRED OF PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR IGNITION SWITCH ON THEIR IONS. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MANY OCCASSIONS IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT. SATURN HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IS JUST BANKING IN THE CASH FOR US TO REPLACE THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES AND GET OUR COMPUTERS REPROGRAMMED. SINCE SATURN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS THEN I FEEL IT IS SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START, DUE TO PASS-LOCK BEING INITIATED. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THERE ARE REPORTS ON-LINE ABOUT MOST PEOPLE ALMOST LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO RECENTLY CRASHED ON THE 405 FREEWAY. *TR

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

THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT ON COLD DAYS (AND SOMETIMES NOT SO COLD) MY CAR WILL JUST CLICK AND NOT START, OR WILL START AND DIE OUT. BUT IF I KEEP TRYING TO START IT AND LET IT SIT FOR AWHILE AND COME BACK, IT WILL START RIGHT UP. WHEN IT DOES THIS, THEY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT USUALLY COMES ON WHEN TRYING TO START IT, BUT WHEN I GET IT STARTED IT IMMEDIATELY GOES OFF. I'VE HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE. IT ONLY HAPPENS USUALLY IN THE MORNINGS OR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN IT'S BEEN COLD. *TR

MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST THING I HAVE EXPERIENCED HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON VERY COLD DAY BELOW 32 DEGREES. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED LAST YEAR AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLD HERE IN INDIANA I HAVE BEGUN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR JUST WILL NOT START ON VERY COLD DAYS AGAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND MAKES STEERING DIFFICULT. THE FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

ENGINE IS OVERHEATING, I HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, AND IT SEEMS THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

FAILED TRANSMISSION. *TR

CAR DOES NOT WANT TO START IN COLD WEATHER & RECENTLY HAS NOT WANTED TO START A FEW TIMES IN WARM WEATHER. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE JANUARY & ON AVERAGE IT DOES THIS 5-10 TIMES A MONTH. IF YOU PUT THE KEY IN TO START THE CAR, IT WILL EITHER MAKE A CLICKING NOISE & WONT START OR IT WILL START THEN THE IGNITION DIES IMMEDIATELY. SERVICE ENGINE SOON SCROLL LIGHT WILL COME ON. IT USUALLY TAKES 10-30 MINUTES TO EVENTUALLY GET THE CAR STARTED. ONE TIME IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER IT WOULD NOT START FOR 4 DAYS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED & IT FAILED TO ACT UP WHILE THEY HAD IT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. *TR

CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF LOCK UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE OCCURS WEEKLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS I NEEDED TO GET A NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER THIS IS THE 2ND IGNITION CYLINDER I HAVE HAD TO GET SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR PARTS ONCE MY CAR RAN WITH OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE DID NOT START, BUT THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY ALSO BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW WIRE HARNESS FOR THE ALARM SYSTEM AND A NEW IGNITION LOCK TUMBLER WITH THE DIELECTRIC GREASE IN IT. THIS FAILURE ACROSS MORE OFTEN WHEN COLD. UPON MAKING SHORT ERRANDS, THE VEHICLE MUST BE LEFT RUNNING IN ORDER TO AVOID SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES. UPDATED 06/3/2013 *JS

PURCHASED AN 03 SATURN ION MAY 17, 2008. MAY 28 IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN PAST THE ACCESSORY SETTING. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND SUDDENLY LOCKS UP PREVENTING THE START OF THE CAR. CANNOT LOCATE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, PEOPLE SEEM TO JUST BE REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. SATURN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN TO ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH SATURN AND I FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED ON CARFAX OR VERBALLY BY THE SATURN DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A CAR WITH A CHRONIC DEFECT THAT WILL LEAVE MY CHILD AND MYSELF STRANDED ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR