2004 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY LOCK UP AND LIGHT WILL FLASH POWER STRING ON DASH. THIS OCCURS AT 5 MILES PER HOUR UP TO 70 PLUS MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. EXTREMELY EXTREMELY HARD TO GET OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. THEN IF YOU PUT IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR ANOTHER 5 TO 10 MILES OR SO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 10 MPH, CAUSING LIMITED ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD RESET ITSELF AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MOMENTS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD OPERABLE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

DRIVING ON FREEWAY THROUGH A BENDING TUNNEL AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED. VERY NEAR COLLISION WITH THE TUNNEL WALL. DROVE REST OF THE JOURNEY WITH NO POWER STEERING. POWER STEERING RETURNED ON START-UP. BUT THEN FAILED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND IS NOW, EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST 10 SECONDS AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION, DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. $1200 REPAIR ESTIMATE TO REPLACE POWER MODULE. 2004 SATURN ION WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN LOOSING ITS POWER STEERING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN DURING THE TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT OR WHEN I TRY TO DO A 3 POINT TURN. I HAVE BROUGHT IT 2 TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT AND WHY ITS HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR ISSUES. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT RANDOM SPEEDS NOT USUALLY THE SAME TIME AT ANY TIME. *TR

1. POWER-STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 2. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES 2-3 TIMES A DAY AND OTHER DAYS, ONLY ONCE. 3. IF YOU TURN IGNITION OFF AN RESTART POWER-STEERING WORKS UNTIL THE POWER-STEERING FAILS AGAIN. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP BEING FIXED AT THIS MOMENT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. TEN MINUTES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

MY GM 2004 SATURN ION THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ! IF I TURN MY CAR OFF , IT RESETS AND WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES AND GOES BACK OUT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION, THAT ON RANDOM OCCASIONS DOES NOT START. WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEN IT DOES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US IN BOTH WARM AND COLD DAYS. IT'S BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND SERVICE TECH'S CAN'T SEEM TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, WITH ONLY ABOUT 10 000 KL, THE CAR DID NOTHING, NO LIGHTS, RADIO ETC., COMPLETELY DEAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY BECAME WEDGED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITENT POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76112.

OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RUNS AT BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DROPS BACK TO AN IDLE (~800RPM). AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR AGAIN, THE CAR LUNGES ONCE AGAIN - THROW IT IN NEUTRAL - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, SLOWLY RECOVERS. AFTER TWO - THREE MINUTES THE ENGINE STABILIZES AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR - EVER! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND USUALLY DURING HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAINY CONDITIONS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT I HAVE NEVER SOUGHT HELP FROM A DEALER. IT IS NOT REPEATABLE IN A WAY THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT HAPPENS FAIRLY RARELY (SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK - SOMETIMES ONCE A MONTH) AND INCONSISTENTLY. IF I WAS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND IF THIS WAS A MORE POWERFUL CAR, I WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY NOW. I HAVE LEARNED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOTOR WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IDLING A BIT FAST THEN I KNOW IT WILL TRY TO RUN AWAY WITH ME WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR SO I JUST WAIT FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT IN GEAR. *TR

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2004 SATURN ION SUDDENLY FAILED. AS WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD, WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THAT LIKELY COULD HAVE OCCURED IF WE HAD BEEN TURNING. UPON RETURNING HOME, I PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE 3 FUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT ALL WERE FINE. IT APPERAS TO BE THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR ITSELF THAT FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AT THE TIME OUR STEERING FAILED, MY 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE GM IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE? PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL SO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED. IT MAY BE A "NUMBERS" GAME TO SOME, BUT TO THE REST OF US IT IS OUR SAFETY! *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THESE VEHICLES. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD AND DAMP OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL GET THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LIVE IN MO WHERE IT GETS VERY COLD AND NOT ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP WHEN THE CAR DIES. SO I AM LEFT STRANDED IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES. SATURN KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THIS. PLEASE SEE THAT A RECALL TAKES PLACE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR

MY WIFE OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION, ONLY 50,000 MILES. FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN OFF AND ON PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMING ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING- ONCE YOU TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN MOMENTARILY- THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE REPLACED THE FUSES AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE POWER STEERING WILL CUT OUT AT LEAST A FEW TIMES A WEEK IF NOT A FEW TIMES A DRIVING TRIP AND IT IS GETTING TO BE VERY UNSAFE. IF THE POWER STEERING WERE TO CUT OUT ON THE FREE WAY DURING A SHARP TURN, I'M VERY CONCERNED MY 105 LB. WIFE COULD LOSE CONTROL AND SERIOUSLY HURT HERSELF OR OTHERS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF AND IS UNWILLING TO DO A RECALL- THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE MORE $$ BUY CHARGING OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IN A LOT OF CASES IT SOUNDS AS IF IT COULD BE A CHEAPER FIX THAN WHAT SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER FOR. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT A CAR WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND SATURN SHOULD BE LIABLE AND CORRECT THESE SAFETY ISSUES. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM A FEW DEATHS BEFORE THEY REALIZE THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED? *TR

SATURN ION 2004- SPONTANEOUS POWER STEERING OUTAGES. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC IN THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL MOTOR IS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1100.00. AFTER RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT EXISTS AMONG THESE MODELS AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HARM OR DEATH DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. A LOCAL NEWS STATION ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING THAT THE FEDS ARE INVESTIGATING THE CHEVROLET COBALT FOR THE SAME ISSUE- POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE SAME THING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED RELATED TO THE SATURN ION BEFORE PEOPLE START DYING. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER(TEMP UNDER 32F), MY WIFE'S SATURN WILL NOT START. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS. SHE HAS LIGHT, RADIO BUT TURNING THE KEY EVERYTHING GOES DARK AND NO TURN OVER OF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE EVEN SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TW

I JUST BROUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION 2 A COUPLE DAYS AGO. TODAY I GOT UP AND READY FOR WORK AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR AND STILL NOTHING BUT THE LIGHTS AND RADIO ETC COME ON. I WAS LOOKIN FOR A RELIABLE CAR TO GET ME AND MY SON BACK AND FORTH BEING AS THOUGH WE HAVE NO FAMILY THAT LIVES CLOSE BY;;; TURNS OUT I THINK I MIGHT HAVE MADE A WRONG DECISION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 WEEKS NOW AND IT ALREADY IS TURNING INTO A NIGHTMARE. I AM HESITANT ON PUTTING MY SON IN THIS CAR BECAUSE IF I DO GET IT TO TURN ON AND THIS HAPPENS AGAIN WHAT ARE WE TO DO? IT IS FREEZING OUTSIDE! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND NOTIFIED A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN SHE TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER INSPECTING IT. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHE LOST POWER STEERING AND CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. SHE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,318. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,250.

MY DRIVER WIPER IS INOPERABLE. THE ENTIRE ARM PIVOTED 180 OPPOSITE OF ITS RESTING POSITION WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING 50MPH TO CLEAN MY WINDOW. INITIALLY MY PASSENGER SIDE WASN'T WORKING AT NORMAL SPEED. IT SEEMED 'SLUGGISH'. SO I INCREASED THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS UNTIL IT REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL. THIS OCCURRED 1 DAY AFTER ABOUT 8 INCHES OF SNOW FELL INCLUDING ICE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY. AFTER I REACHED MY DESTINATION I REMOVED THE BLADE FROM THE ARM SO THE ENTIRE WIPER WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH TRAFFIC. AN AUTO MECHANIC STATED THE PIECE IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I AM FIGHTING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO REPLACE THE PIECE AT NO CHARGE. THEY STATED THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE WIPER MOTOR, BUT NOT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. READING OTHER REVIEWS, OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER DOING A RECALL OR FIX FOR FREE. OCCURRED AT 54K MILES ON CAR. JAN 16, 2010. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD ONLY BE LIABLE FOR ONE HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FULL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND CHANGED. THEN ON JANUARY 13, 2010, MY CAR STALLED ON ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND CALLED THE NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A GENEROUS OFFER TO ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPORTS FOR ABOUT 15 SATURN VEHICLES ON RECALL LISTS, THE ION WAS NOT ONE OF WHICH I COULD READ ABOUT. IN SOME CASES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THE SATURN VUE CAN BE A RECURRING PROBLEM; FOR THE SAME CUSTOMER. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND LAST YEAR, THE WINTER OF 2008 WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 40, WHICH WAS ONCE OR TWICE, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THIS YEAR, 2009, THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN BELOW 40 FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND OUT OF THE 5 WORK DAYS OF THIS WEEK MY CAR STARTED ONCE ON THE FIRST TRY. WHEN I TRY TO START IT, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO START AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK THE SECOND TIME, USUALLY I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE THIRD TRY. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION CONTINUOUSLY FAILS. IT USED TO RESET AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, BUT NOW IT JUST FAILS AFTER A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THAT THERE A ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED THAT THIS TYPE OF REPAIR WOULD BE AROUND $500. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE STARTED. *TR

QUITE OFTEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING FAILS ON MY WIFE'S 2004 SATURN ION. SURPRISED AT FIRST BY THIS FAILURE, SHE HAS LEARNED NOT TO PANIC AND TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS TOLD US THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. IT IS APPARENTLY AN EXPENSIVE FIX. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT HAS POWER STEERING ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENS IS A TONE WILL SOUND AND A POWER STEERING WARNING WILL APPEAR ON THE MESSAGE WINDOW AND THEN I LOSE THE POWER STEERING. IT THEN BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, IN TOWN AND AT STOP LIGHTS. IT IS BUILDING IN FREQUENCY GOING FROM ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS TO EVERY FEW DAYS. I HAVE HAD TO PUT MY FOUR WAYS ON AND BLOCK TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN WAIT AT LEAST 30 SECONDS AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. *TR

I PURCHASES A 2004 SATURN ION IN 2006. IN OCTOBER OF 2007, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, MY VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER WHILE I WAS VISITING RELATIVES 2 HOURS FROM MY HOME WHICH DETAINED ME ON MY TRIP BACK HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN HARRISBURG, PA TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (THEY REPLACED IT). TWO YEARS LATER IN DECEMBER, 2009 THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME ON MY WAY TO WORK ON AN EXTREMELY COLD WINTER MORNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED ANOTHER IGNITION SWITCH TO REPLACE THE ONE THEY HAD REPLACED 2 YEARS EARLIER. AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT SATURN OWNERS HAVE GOTTEN INTO BECAUSE OF FAILING IGNITION SWITCHES, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THESE PARTS. I HAVE READ ABOUT COUNTLESS SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO TURN THEIR CARS OFF! AN IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD NOT GO BAD EVERY 2 YEARS. THIS IS NOT A HIGH WEAR AND TEAR PART. A CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN ON AND OFF A LARGE NUMBER OF TIMES WITHOUT FAIL. A CAR THAT FAILS TO TURN OFF IS AN ENORMOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU LEAVE THE CAR UNATTENDED AND TURNED ON, SOMEONE COULD BE HURT OR KILLED. NOT BEING ABLE TO START A CAR IS ALSO A DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS IN BITTERLY COLD WEATHER. SATURN/GM IS DOING NOTHING TO GET THESE UNSAFE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADS TO BE FIXED. THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS THAT SATURN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. GM HAS A HISTORY OF IGNITION SWITCH FAILURES AND SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT BY OFFERING A RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPLACING IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,201. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY 2004 SATURN ION WONT START IN COLD TEMPERATURES LEAVING ME STRANDED. IF I LIVED IN GUAM THIS WOULD BE NO PROBLEM, BUT I LIVE IN CALGARY ALBERTA CANADA AND ITS GETS TO -40 CELSIUS AND ONLY TAKES MINUTES FOR FROST BITE TO SETTLE IN. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 SATURN ION. NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL WINTER. MY CAR WON'T START IN THE COLD. I HAVE BEEN AT STORES AND CAME OUT AND IT WON'T START. I GIVE IT 10 MINUTES EXACTLY NOT A MINUTE SOONER NOT A MINUTE LATER, IT THEN STARTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF FOR SOME REASON I AM OUT LATE AND MY CAR WON'T START AND ITS SUBZERO TEMP I CAN DIE FROM IT. I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY IT WON'T START AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING A BIG DEAL TO ME AND OTHER OWNERS. PLEASE FIX THE ISSUE, PUT OUT A RECALL!! *TR

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 20F), THE CAR REFUSES TO START, OR EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. *TR

ON COLD DAYS MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL ROLL OVER A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT WILL APPEAR. THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15-30 MINUTES TO START LEAVING ME STRANDED WITH NO HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THIS OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS ON COLD DAYS IN THE SPRING, WINTER AND FALL.. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A SNOW STORM, MY WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE BEGAN ACTING FUNNY. THEN WENT UP PAST MY WINDSHIELD KICKING THE WIPER COMPLETELY OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE ANYTHING. I FOUND IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR ASSEMBLY. WHICH I AM NOW TRYING TO GET A NEW ONE. EVERY JUNK YARD I HAVE GONE TO SAYS THE SAME THING...EVERY PART THAT I NEED THEY PULL OUT AND IT IS ALSO BROKEN ON THE SAME MODELS. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL IF IT IS BROKEN IN EVERY SATURN!? *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LOWER MY CAR WILL NOT START IF IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN 4 OR 5 HOURS. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THIS WILL HAPPEN EVERY MORNING AND OCCASIONALLY AFTER WORK IF THE TEMPERATURE IS TOO COLD. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL COST AROUND $200.00 TO FIX. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY IN THE WINTER. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR IONS AND MOST OF THEM SAY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I THINK I WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

1) MY SON DROVE OUR 2004 SATURN ION3 OFF THE ROAD WHEREIN THE FRONT OF THE CAR HIT A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH (ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTICS FROM THE ON BOARD COMPUTER). 2) THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. 3) GM WAS QUERIED AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. GM PROVIDED THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS OF THE INCIDENT BUT DID NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER/EXPLANATION DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO REPORTED FAILURES OF POWER STEERING LOSS IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT AND THE CAR WAS FINE, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD AAA COME OUT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD AS ALL THE LIGHTS WORK FOR THE CAR BUT THE KEY IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR SIMPLY STARTED. NOW MY CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE, TO BE FIXED. I LOOKED ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER 2004 SATURN ION OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TURNING THEIR CAR ON IN THE COLD. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 SATURN ION 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING COLD. NOW, MOST MORNINGS I HAVE THE COMMON IGNITION PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS. I TURN THE KEY, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE CRANKS ONCE, THEN NOTHING. I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY ALL THE WAY OFF, WAIT 10 SECONDS, AND TRY AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, AFTER 10-30 MINUTES OF DOING THIS REPEATEDLY, THE CAR STARTS. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THE CAR DOES START AFTER ONLY A FEW TRIES. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS, AND I AM ANGERED AND DISMAYED THAT GM WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. GOOD THING MY EMPLOYER IS UNDERSTANDING, AND HAS NOT FIRED ME YET FOR BEING LATE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. *TR

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED OFF AND ON AND IT RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HE HAD TO PAY $2000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND TOLD AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR AND COST WERE THE SAME THAT THE DEALER STATED. HE THEN FILED CLAIM# 71-808240519 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE WERE LOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63270.

MY CAR STARTED NOT STARTING UP AT ALL. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO START MY CAR AND THE IGNITION WOULD BE HARD TO TURN, AND A JUMP WOULD NOT WORK. I WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT AND START MY CAR 30 MINUTES BEFORE I HAD TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND LET IT RUN. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC TO CHANGE MY OIL AND IT WOULD NOT START. THEY TRIED TO GIVE ME A JUMP AND I TOLD THEM THAT DO NOT WORK AND EXPLAIN WHAT IT DOES ALL THE TIME AND THE OWNER CHECK HIS COMPUTER UNDER THE SAFETY RECALLS AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON MY IGNITION, SO I TOOK MY CAR TO A SATURN DEALER "THIS WAS IN 2010" AND I TOLD THEM WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. I WROTE A LETTER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. NOW IN 2013 MY CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET FOR NO REASON. I WAS JUST GOING TO GET MY IGNITION FIXED WHEN I GOT THIS LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL. THIS CAR WAS GIVEN TO MY SON FOR A GRADUATION PRESENT AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED SOON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTATED. THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN THE CAR STALLED OUT AND WE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION AND IT CAUGHT BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE OUR SATURN DEALERSHIP WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, WE HAD A TRUSTED MECHANIC TAKE CARE OF IT NOT KNOWING THERE WERE ISSUES. I RESEARCHED THREE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FROM SATURN. ONE INVOLVED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WHICH WE HAD TO HAVE FIXED TWICE WITH A HARNESS AND BULB REPLACEMENT IN ON 2/5/05 AND AGAIN ON 10/24/05. ANOTHER WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT ALSO ON 10/24/05. AND THEN THE THIRD WAS THE FAULTY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WHICH AS YOU KNOW WE HAD REPAIRED ON 10/4/12. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT A REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY SAID NO BECAUSE WE WERE PAST 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, AND THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM MUST BE RECEIVED BY 8/31/11. MY QUESTION TO GM IS, HOW CAN YOU PUT A LIMIT ON SOMETHING THAT WAS FAULTY FROM THE BEGINNING? THE NEW IGNITION AND INJECTORS IN MARCH 2010 ($758.94) AND THE NEW STARTER IN AUGUST 2011 ($324) AFTER HAVING RELATED PROBLEMS/REPAIRS DUE TO THE RECALL IN OCT 2005 SHOW THAT SOMETHING JUST WASN'T RIGHT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS MODEL. AND THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACEMENT ($177) IN OCT 2012 SHOULD ALSO BE REIMBURSED BECAUSE GM ALREADY ADMITTED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL YEAR SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE HAD 10,000 MILES OR 160,000 MILES, IT WAS FAULTY. NOW WE LEARN THAT THEY KNEW THESE WERE PROBLEMS ALL ALONG AND DID NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEM. WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS THAT I INQUIRED ABOUT ALL OF THIS WITH THEM IN DECEMBER 2012 - THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE "A NEW GM" DIFFERENT FROM THE COMPANY BACK IN 2001? IF THEY WERE DIFFERENT WHY DID THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME THE $2,177 WE SPENT IN REPAIRS, OR ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL? IS IT BECAUSE WE DID NOT DIE IN AN ACCIDENT? *TR

2004 SATURN ION 4 CYLINDER STRAIGHT DRIVE TRANSMISSION-MILEAGE 20,800. POWER STEERING MESSAGE KEEPS COMING ON. IN DAILY 62 MILE DRIVE, COMES ON A MIN OF 6 TIMES. HAVE TO PULL OFF ROAD, TURN CAR OFF, WAIT FOR ELECTRONIC STEERING TO RESET AND TURN CAR BACK ON. WHEN MESSAGE FLASHES, STEERING IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. IF YOU ARE IN A CURVE OR TURN CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE NOV 2009. CALL SATURN OF CONCORD, TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGER. SAID THERE WAS RECALL BUT MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. COST TO REPAIR - $50 DIAGNOSTIC TEST - $800 FOR PART. CALLED GM CUST SERVICE WAS BASICALLY TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT WAS FOR CHEV. COBALT, NOT SATURN ION. GOOGLED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SATURN ION 2003, 2004, ETC. GM CUST SERVICE WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED WITH GM USING HIPPA LAW TO JUSTIFY NOT TELLING ME IF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. WANT GM TO REPAIR MY CAR PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. OBVIOUSLY MANUF DEFECT IN THIS MODEL OF SATURN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE SEAT BELT ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BROKE CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO LIE ON THE NECK INSTEAD OF ACROSS THE CHEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A SATURN ION 2004 CAR. AFTER 2 MONTHS, ONE DAY IT JUST DIDN'T TURN ON WHEN I STARTED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. I, HOWEVER, REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE, SINCE IT WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM OF "NOT STARTING" HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES....I WENT ON THE SATURN WEBSITE AND TO MY AMAZEMENT, THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME CAR, SATURN ION 2004, 2005, 2003. THIS IS A REAL INCONVENIENCE NOT KNOWING IF WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF IT WILL START OR NOT. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME THING. SATURN TELLS US WHEN WE CALL TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE STATION. WE THEN GET A BILL FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE ARE WASTING MONEY. I BELIEVE SATURN SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST IGNORING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 65MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER AND ADVISED THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 45-55 MPH THE POWER STEERING LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LIMITED CONTROL IN THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMAL FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.