There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Saturn Ionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that less than a minute after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality, with the power steering failure message was displayed. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P), the contact would wiggle the key around in the ignition before being able to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,350.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY REMAINED SEIZED IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY SEIZED MIDWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER AND TOOK 15 TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLICK BEFORE THE KEY WAS RELEASED. THE BATTERY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT CALLED SATURN OF MEMPHIS (2420 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO JIM KERAS AUTOMOTIVE (2000 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY SEIZED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCKSMITH WHO REMOVED THE KEY AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2014 FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL, FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE, AT THE WESELOH CHEVROLET DEALER LOCATED AT 5335 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER GM RECALL NUMBER: 14632 (SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT-UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: (N/A), IN DECEMBER OF 2013 AT SERRA CHEVROLET SAGINAW LOCATED AT 4200 BAY RD, SAGINAW, MI 48603, (989) 790-0800 HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCDONALD GMC LOCATED AT 5155 STATE ST, SAGINAW, MI 48603, (989) 319-4136, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, HOUSING AND KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HER. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN BY AN AMBULANCE TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AND ALSO SEEK PHYSICAL THERAPY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT MOMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES, WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED AND AN ATTEMPT MAKE TO TURN IGNITION TO OFF POSITION, IT WON'T GO. IT SEEMED TO TAKE 10 - 60 SECONDS FOR IT TO RESET AND THEN KEY COULD BE REMOVED. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 5/12-13/2018. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TRANSMITION IN PARK POSITION, AND AN ATTEMPT MADE TO TURN IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION. THE KEY COULD NOT BE MOVED. IT DID NOT RESET ITSELF. KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, COULD BE TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THEN ALL POWER WAS LOST, AS THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE LOCKED OF UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY FOR, HAD TO USE A SECOND KEY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS IN 2015 AND WAS REPAIRED. THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. GM TELLS ME THE NEW REPAIR IS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED BY THEM. THE REASON, I'M TOLD, IS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD TO CHECKED INTO THE DEALERSHIP NO LATER THAN 5/17/18. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THAT DATE. DUE TO SEVERE STORMS IN THE AREA THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AT THE DEALERS SHIP A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED AND DEPOSITED THE KEY IN THE LOCK BOX. A REP FROM GM WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 5/17/18 BETWEEN 5:45 AND 6:00 TO ALERT THEM THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE WAS AND MIGHT BE A FEW MINUTES LATE AND TO PLEASE ACCEPT THE VEHICLE AND GET IT CHECKED IN. I AM ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY RECEIVED NO SUCH CALL. THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, I DID EVERYTHING THE GM REP ASKED OF ME, I AM 70 YEARS OLD AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED INCOME. I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. PLEASE HELP ME.
TAKATA RECALL, MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS RECALLS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER WHICH IS CAUSING MY CAR TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THIS RECALL IS CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO HAVE A SHORT WITH ALL MY ELECTRICAL. FOR EXAMPLE, WINDOWS DON'T ROLL DOWN/UP, WIPERS DON'T WORK, HEATER DOESN'T WORK, BLINKERS DON'T WORK, DASH LIGHTS STAY ON CAUSING BATTERY TO CONSTANTLY BE DEAD. ALL BECAUSE THERE ARE RECALLS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN MAY OF 2014 PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AT A UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. GENERAL MOTORS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER A TWELVE MONTH WARRANTY, WHICH EXPIRED IN APRIL OF 2015. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,246.
MY IGNITION SWITCH WOULDNT TURN ONCE THE KEY WAS IN SO I OPENED IT UP TOOK A LOOK AND PUT IT BACK IN. NOW IT TURNS BUT IT TURNS ON AND BACK OFF BEFORE AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY A LITTLE IT WOULD TURN ON. NOW IT DOESNT JUST STARTS AND TURNS OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED TO TURN OFF AND PREVENTED THE KEY FROM BEING REMOVED. ALSO, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO START THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TT *AS
TAKATA RECALLS..I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION I WAS DRIVING FINE HIT CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON ONCE I WAS AT 55 AN MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND STARTED JERKING LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS COMING ON...I'VE TURNED CAR OFF HIT BRAKES WHICH SHOULD RESET IT BUT IT STILL HAPPENS..THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS DOWN SHIFTING AN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON THE RPMS HUMP REAL HIGH WEN THIS HAPPENS..YOU BE DRIVING DOING 50 MPH AN ALL THE SUDDEN CAR JERKS LIKE ITS TRYING TO STOP U FEEL I T IN GAS PEDAL ALSO...
2003 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE STARTER SWITCH RECALL. *SMD
IGNITION FAULTY, CAR WILL NOT START OR RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION. HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE KEY FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCHED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES EXPLAINED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER MORE THAN TWICE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE DEALER AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT APPROVE REPLACING THE COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/28/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND, AFTER EVALUATING PICTURES SENT BY THE OWNER, STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE KEY WAS STILL GETTING LODGED INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that occasionally the key failed to turn while in the ignition. The vehicle was slow to start. The contact had to avoid bumps in the roadway while driving. The lock symbol was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V171000 (Electrical System) and 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined to service the recall repairs due to an insurance issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another unknown local dealer, who informed the contact to place the vehicle in park(P) and restart the vehicle, and the symbol turned off. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim and informed the contact that a technician would be sent to the residence, but the technician failed to show up. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TURNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN UPDATED 10/12/2017*CN
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026