2004 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

THE POWER STEERING FAILS IN MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, WITHOUT WARNING. ODDLY, IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN DURING WARMER WEATHER. THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 AND THAT IT WOULD BE A USED COLUMN. *TR

I COULDN'T START MY CAR. I HAD IT JUMPED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I GOT A NEW BATTERY THINKING THIS WOULD FIX EVERYTHING, WHICH IT DID NOT. I CAME TO LEARN IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY, BUT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON: WHEN THIS HAPPENS I'M REQUIRED TO SIT FOR TEN MINUTES TO WAIT FOR IT TO CLEAR OUT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENED THE OTHER NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO ONE ELSE AROUND. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. SEEMS UNFAIR THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS COSTLY ISSUE AND IS NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF FIXING IT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AFTER THEY'VE SPENT $300+ TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. MY CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER STEERING RANDOMLY. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD STOP. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WOULD WORK. THIS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 MONTHS. THEN, ON A LONG CAR TRIP, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN GOING OUT EVERY MILE OR SO. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. *TR

2004 SATURN ION- IGNITION FAILS TO RELEASE THE KEY, CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT STRUGGLING. HAVE RESEARCHED THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OCCURRING, THAT IS UNREAL. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING YET... AS SO MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS AND SOME HAVE HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF. SATURN NEEDS TO DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THIS AND REPLACE ALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCHES BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS. *TR

POWER STEERING DISABLES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 SATURN ION. CYCLING IGNITION ENABLES POWER STEERING AGAIN, BUT THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 30 DEGREES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE PASS LOCK CIRCUIT THAT WAS INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE RESISTANCE VALUE WITHIN THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 36 DEGREES THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE IGNITION LOCKS ME OUT UNTIL THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE RESETS AND I CAN TRY AGAIN. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY OTHERS EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLVE OR RECALL BY GM, I HAVE BOUGHT A SMALL ELECTRICAL HEATER TO SET ON MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WARMS UP THE IGNITION INSIDE THE CAR AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. UNTIL I FOUND THIS SOLUTION I WAS LATE TO WORK, LATE FOR APPOINTMENTS AND ONCE STRANDED IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. *TR

I TRIED TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION AT ABOUT 11 PM LAST NIGHT AND IT TOOK FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR IT TO TURN OVER. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 28 DEGREES (F). THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, ALWAYS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. I KNOW THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. I HAVE FOUND REPORTS OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER ION OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY SATURN AS SITTING FOR 10-20 MINUTES OR MORE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES WAITING FOR ONE'S CAR TO START IS NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE!! *TR

I WAS ONCE A LOYAL GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ' THAT IS UNTIL GM NEARLY KILLED ME. I'M THE UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION WITH AN AILING TRANSMISSION THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR, AND I AM NOT ALONE. IN MY CASE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE. THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE FROM 315 N ONTO INTERSTATE 270 E. EXITING THE ENTRANCE RAMP AT THAT INTERCHANGE IS OFTEN A HAZARD UNDER THE BEST CONDITIONS. AS I ACCELERATED INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC, MY CAR SHUTTERED VIOLENTLY AND LOST ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM. I SWERVED BACK TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED BY THE CLOSING TRAFFIC ON 270 E, NEARLY SIDESWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE STILL IN THE EXIT LANE. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR REST FOR A FEW MINUTES I TRIED AGAIN TO GET IT INTO GEAR, ULTIMATELY HAVING TO LEAVE IT IN A PARKING LOT. DESPITE GM AGREEING TO A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ON APRIL 16, 2009, SATURN DEALERSHIPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADVISED TO SUSPEND ALL EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIRS UNDER THE AGREEMENT. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, UNDER DIRECT INSTRUCTION FROM GM, HAS TAKE THE POSITION THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE BY GM PRIOR TO THE DECLARATION OF BANKRUPTCY ON JUNE 1, 2009 AND NOW HAS NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. GM ALSO FAILED TO NOTIFY THE 150,000 OWNERS OF AFFECTED VUE AND ION MODELS THAT DUE TO AN ACKNOWLEDGED DESIGN FLAW, THEIR CARS MIGHT DROP IN OR OUT OF GEAR, EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS, POSING SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO OPERATORS, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES HAVE AND WILL OCCUR DUE TO GM'S LACK OF ACTION? LIVES LIKELY HAVE AND WILL BE LOST DUE TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT. GM IS PAYING ROULETTE WITH THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE DRIVERS WHO SHARE THE ROADS WITH THEM. GM HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGAL TERMS OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FAILED TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF A POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT AND FAILED TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIRS THEY AGREED IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT. *TR

CAR WON'T START IN COLD WEATHER. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FINE. HAD REMOTE STARTER REMOVED, AS SUGGESTED BY SERVICE CENTER ; NOW HAVE NO RUNNING LIGHTS OR KEYLESS ENTRY. HAVE HAD THE SATURN ION 2004 SINCE OCT. 5TH, 2009. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR JUMP STARTED 5 TIMES SINCE. SINCE THIS IS UNDER WARRANTY IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERS FOR GOOD. I HOPE NO ONE ELSE DECIDES TO BUY IT UNTIL SATURN OWNS UP AND FIXES THIS DEFECT. UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER. 11-21-09. *TR

ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN ION ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER HITTING AN UNUSUAL BUMP OR DIPS IN THE ROAD, I?VE EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE CAR?S SYSTEMS, INCLUDING LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF STEERING AND ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, BRAKE OR NAVIGATE THE CAR. THE CAR SLOWS TO A COMPLETE STOP. FROM MY PAST EXPERIENCE I'VE LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL NEED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CAR KEY WILL THEN PHYSICALLY NEED TP BE REMOVED AND REINSERT THE KEY TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. (TRYING TO START THE CAR WITHOUT REMOVING THE KEY WILL NOT WORK.) ON ALL OCCASIONS THIS HAS PRESENTED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS OTHER CARS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-75 MPH ARE FORCED TO MANEUVER AROUND MY STALLED VEHICLE, WHICH DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THE POWER OR CONTROL TO BE PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP ON OCTOBER 17, 2007 AFTER THE FIRST 3 INCIDENTS, HOWEVER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS COULD NOT IDENTIFY OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED A FUSE BOX IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE CAR. BUT COULD NOT NEITHER ASSURE ME THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, OR WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SITUATION RECURRED RECENTLY ON OCT 4, 2009 WHILE ON INTERSTATE 95. THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT AS I SAT STRANDED IN THE FAST-LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY AT ANOTHER SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY AGAIN SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM NO LONGER CONFIDENT IN THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND SEEK THE NHTSA ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THE MATTER. *TR

SATURN ION 2004 WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THE SYMPTOMS IS SPORADIC AND UNPREDICTABLE AND LINKED TO FAULTY SECURITY MODULE (ANTI-THEFT) WHICH DISABLES THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM DOCUMENTED IN VARIOUS FORUMS AS WELL AS WELL KNOWN TO SATURN DEALERS. YET GM DID NOT MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2005 AND ADVISED THE DEALERS AND SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77042. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF THE STEERING CONTROLLER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1000 TO REPLACE THE MAIN COMPUTER. UPDATED 02/19/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME STIFF. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS RESET TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,817.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO ALLOW THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES, HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WOULD BE FINE. I DID BRING IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. HE FOUND NO ERROR CODES AND NO DUPLICATE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS AT RANDOM TIMES. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IT STARTED TO TURN OFF A COUPLE TIMES A DAY. I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN WHEN IT TURNED OFF ON ME ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST CRASHED WHEN A BIG RIG SWERVED. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN & MODULAR. THAT PART WAS $560.53 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS PART ON MY CAR WITH THE HELP OF MY MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY SATURN MAKE. HOWEVER, THE STORY DOES NOT END HERE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CAUSE FOR THE STEERING BREAKING. THE MOTOR IN THIS COLUMN PIECE FRIES THE WHOLE MODULAR. THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS WAS ANOTHER $175.00. THE SATURN FACTORY HAS PLENTY OF STEERING COLUMNS IN STOCK HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR, THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YES THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS FRUSTRATING AND EXPENSIVE BUT HAVING POWER STEERING GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIE OR BE INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE A SAFETY RECALL IS FORCED UPON SATURN. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION KEEPS GOING OUT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AFTER IT HAS RAINED, AND IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. IT APPEARS THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING MOTOR KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. IT GOES OUT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR- SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR ABOUT $1000 BUT AFTER READING MANY MANY PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! *TR

THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A LONG ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ME, WITH THIS CAR. I DO NOT KNOW THE ACTUAL DATES OF THE OCCURRENCES BUT IT HAS BEEN FREQUENT ENOUGH THAT I HAVE DEVELOPED A METHOD FOR STARTING MY CAR THAT IF I DO NOT FEEL RUSHED, I CAN GET THE CAR TO START MOST EVERY TIME. IF THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO THE FULL ON POSITING IN AN ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, IT WILL, ON OCCASION, TURN OVER ONCE AND THEN GO COMPLETELY DEAD. IF THE ATTEMPT IS REPEATED, THE AUXILIARY LIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE AND REPLACED THE BATTERY, TWO DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE READING ABOUT A POTENTIAL PASSLOCK ISSUE WITH SATURNS. WHEN I DO HAVE THE PROBLEM NOW, I HAVE FOUND THAT WAITING ROUGHLY 8 MINUTES(10 MINUTES TO BE SAFE), FOR THE CAR TO RESET ITSELF, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLY LONG WAIT, WILL GENERALLY ALLOW YOU TO START THE CAR WITHOUT FURTHER IGNITION DIFFICULTY. I HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED MORE RECENTLY THAT IF I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN IT TO THE AUXILIARY MODE, PAUSE IN THIS POSITION FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS(UNTIL THE INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE SHAPE OF A PADLOCK TURNS OFF), THEN ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WILL START WITHOUT ISSUE EVERY TIME. *TR

THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY STOPS WHILE DRIVING. INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES IT'LL STOP 5 SECONDS AFTER DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT'LL WORK FOR A FULL HOUR DRIVE. I ALMOST GOT INTO A COUPLE BAD INCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP GAVE OUT. IT STARTED IN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS WORKING ON AND OFF AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FINALLY GAVE OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

TRANSAXLE GRINDING/WHINING NOISE IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, EXCESSIVE ENGAGEMENT OR DISENGAGEMENT EFFORT WHILE SHIFTING INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO EITHER 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. *TR

2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE. 2.2L MAN. POWER STEERING FAILS SEEMS TO BE RANDOM AS TO WHEN IT FAILS. REPEATED FAILS, USUALLY MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY. MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT AND IF NOT EXPECTING IT CAN MAKE FOR A CLOSE CALL. FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECT AS OF THIS TIME. OLD PART CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE ONCE REPAIR IS COMPLETED. *TR

POWER STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY ON 2004 SATURN ION. CHECKED FUSES, NO PROBLEMS WITH FUSES. SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE $100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CAN TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART - THIS RESETS THE POWER STEERING BUT ONLY FOR A LITTLE BIT. SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT CONSTANTLY, SOMETIMES NOT FOR A FEW HOURS OR DAYS. *TR

POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON,STEERING BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE,. TROUBLE BEGAN AROUND 2 MONTHS AGO, NOW HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES DAILY, VERY SCARY, AS I TRAVEL A GREAT DEAL ON THE HIGHWAY. VIA INTERNET SEARCHES, NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP QUOTES 800.00 TO 1065.00 TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE BEEN ADVISED, DEALERSHIP CHARGES THIS AMOUNT,TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, REMOVES THE BAD COMPONENT, THEN RESELLS REMAINDER OF COLUMN FOR PROFIT. THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, AND THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. BROUGHT MY ION BRAND NEW IN 2005(YEAR END SALE),SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT 4 YEARS LATER,,ROUTINE MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED AND 39,000 MILES, THIS IS HAPPENING. WE(CONSUMERS THAT TRUSTED SATURN) NEED HELP IN REMEDYING THIS SITUATION AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO!!! *TR

THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE COME ON THE FIRST TIME. BEING A CAUTIOUS DRIVER, I PULLED OVER ON A FAIRLY BUSY ROADWAY, AND BEGAN CALLING MY AAA NUMBER TO GETMY CAR TOWED. I DECIDED TO START THE CAR TO SEE IF WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND SLOWLY PROCEEDED FORWARD TO SEE IF THE STEERING RESUMED OPERATING, WHICH IT DID. I DROVE IT TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND SAID I SHOULD TRY AND ENCOURAGE A RECALL. SO YOU CAN REALIZE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TIME CONSUMING AND HAS HAPPENNED TO ME ABOUT 5 MORE TIMES. MY FRIENDS WILL NOT RIDE IN MY CAR AND I GET PARANOID TO DRIVE IN THE CITY AND IT IS VERY NERVEWRACKING TO THINK YOU MAY NEED TO STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HOPEFULLY NOT GET REARENDED! I FEEL PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE DESERVE SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION . IT IS ALSO EMBARASSING TO HAVE TO BE SEEN IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I CANNNOT AFFORD ANOTHER PRESENTLY AND REFUSE TO BURDEN SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS VERY UNSAFE ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE A CONSCIENCE. I FEEL I SHOULD BE ON A PRIORITY LIST??? *TR

MY POWER-STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MESSAGE CENTER BEEPS AND THEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND STEERING WORKS. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. AFTER CAR IS STOPPED AND KEY TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES ONCE A DAY OR TEN TIMES A DAY. CANNOT PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. WHEN IT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL CAR. HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE SIMILAR TO MINE AND WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT RECALL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION THAT OCCASIONALLY LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHICH HAD KNOWN ISSUES WHILE STARTING IN THE COLD. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PWR STR LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES APPEAR AND THAT IS WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS OUT THERE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION 3'S POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. OFTEN DRIVING IT FOR 10-15 MILES, THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY ON THE MESSAGE CENTER AND THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE AT ANY TIME IT WILL GO OUT. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL COST 1600 DOLLARS TO GET A NEW STEERING COLUMN FROM GM. IF I DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS, AN ACCIDENT WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, WITH 55,000 MILES AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET BY THIS WHICH SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT MANY 2004 IONS HAVE. *TR

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THE LOCK ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO REMOVE BUT THE PROCEDURE REQUIRES THAT THE KEY BE TURNED TO THE RUN POSITION. WITH A BROKEN LOCK THAT CANNOT BE DONE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE LOCK OUT BE USING BRUTE FORCE AND COMPLETELY BREAKING THE LOCK MECHANISM. I AM HAPPY THAT THIS HAPPENED AT A STORE CLOSE TO HOME AND WE ABLE TO GET A RIDE HOME. I GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL WE WERE NOT ONE OF THE POOR SOULS WHO GOT STUCK IN AN ION THAT COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH EXITING A RAMP OR ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND WOULD OCCUR ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ON A LATER DATE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC BASE AND IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER NOR WERE THERE ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30, 000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGES COMES ON THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. SHUT OFF THE CAR THEN RESTART THE POWER STEERING IS BACK UNTIL IT GOES OUT AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF MILES. *TR

KNOB FOR THE DEFROSTER/AIR/HEATING FAILED TO WORK. SWITCH DOESN'T CHANGE IT TO DEFROST/FRONT/FLOOR LIKE ITS SUPPOSE TO. IT JUST COMES OUT FRONT,CAN'T SWITCH. DOESN'T CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FROST,ICE,FOG,ETC. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND HEARD A CHIME SOUND. THIS WAS AROUND 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE AFTER THAT. NOW I HAVE ABOUT 123,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MY SATURN ION BUT NO RECALL. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHEVY COBALTS HAVE THE SAME PART , BUT THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER ANOTHER RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE SUDDENLY RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,752.

AT ANY SPEED THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING IT HARD TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS. MY CAR IS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. THIS IS A GM CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECENTLY RECALLED CHEVY'S AND PONTIACS. THE PROBLEM STARTED A YEAR AGO. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AUGUST 2009. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AN WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GM DOES KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IN AN EMAIL TO ITS SERVICE AGENTS SAID SATURN IONS WERE NOT INCLUDED. WHY? THIS COULD HAVE AND MAY HAVE ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON APRIL 14, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND TRUNK FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRUNK STOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

I HAVE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH MY 2004 SATURN OF COURSE I HAVE THE COLD START PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE HAD SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR(WITH ONLY 7 MILES ON IT). ANYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR OVER 30 MILES AN HOUR IT SHAKES HAD THAT PROBLEM FIX 2 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SEAL LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. NEW PROBLEM DON'T THINK I'VE SINCE THIS ONE YET THE TRANSMISSION IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER GOES OUT ND GUESS WHAT FOR ONLY $275 SATURN WILL REPLACE THAT FOR YOU. THIS CAR IS SUCH A LEMON. CLEARLY AS I READ OVER COMPLAINTS OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS LIKE MYSELF, THE TEACHER OR JUST SOMEONE WHO WANT A RELIABLE CAR. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME NEVER BY AMERICAN AGAIN AND DO MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER CAR. THE THING I HATE THE MOST IS THAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER ON THE INTERNET SHE DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 . THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES , AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS AFTER CRANKING THE KEY A FEW TIMES, IT WILL START RIGHT UP. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, SOMETHING TO DO WITH A WHITE WIRE THAT IS PART OF A PLUG CONTAINING A BUNCH OF WIRES THAT PLUG IN UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN ITS DAMP OR RAINING OUTSIDE. AND WILL ALWAYS FIX ITSELF IF YOU LET THE CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS BEFORE TRYING TO CRANK IT AGAIN. CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON BULLETIN BOARDS ON LINE. SEEMS LIKE CUTTING THE WHITE WIRE SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE EVERY TIME. *TR

I OWE A 2004 SATURN ION AND LIKE MANY OTHERS, I HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE POWER STEERING ALSO GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2006 AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS 3 MONTHS AFTERWARDS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY MY VEHICLE UNTIL I WAS LOOKING FOR A PART VIA THE INTERNET AND RAN ACROSS OTHER COMPLAINTS. IT'S A SHAME THAT GM HASN'T DONE A RECALL. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSUMERS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 04 SATURN ION. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A CONSTANT PROBLEM STARTING THE CAR. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 40 DEGREES, THE CAR WON'T START. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. SO I KNOW THE BATTERY ISN'T THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STARTS UP. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS THE STARTER SWITCH. THE GREASE HARDENS UP IN THE COLD, THEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKS OUT THE STARTER SWITCH. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW GM AND SATURN KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THEY ARE SAYING THIS ISN'T A SAFETY PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO SIT IN THEIR CARS WHEN IT'S BELOW FREEZING, WAITING TWENTY MINUTES TO START THEIR ION'S. WHAT ABOUT PARENTS WITH KIDS? WHAT ABOUT IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CARJACK MYSELF? I DON'T HAVE AWAY TO ESCAPE BY DRIVING OFF. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR SATURN ION (USED- FROM A DEALERSHIP) AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT BEGAN NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST TRY WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES TO START IT. THEN WHEN THE MORNING WEATHER TURNED COLD IT WOULD NOT START. AT ALL. IN THE AFTERNOONS WHEN IT WOULD WARM UP SOME IT WOULD START AGAIN. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO REPLACED THE BATTERY. NEXT MORNING IT WOULDN'T START. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THERE WAS NONE. BUT, I DID FIND HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. I EVEN FOUND VIDEOS POSTED TO YOUTUBE.COM ON HOW IT MIGHT BE FIXED. SCARY!! ALSO I FOUND POSTS WHERE PEOPLE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS FOR FIXES AND THE DEALERSHIPS FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY FOR IT TO CROP UP AGAIN WITHIN A SHORT TIME. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP? I FOUND YOU BY ACCIDENT OTHERS WOULD MAKE COMPLAINTS BUT THEY DON'T KNOW YOU EXIST TO HELP. OUR CAR IS BASICALLY USELESS BECAUSE WE CANNOT COUNT ON IT TO START WHEN WE NEED IT. THE DATE I GAVE YOU WAS A GUESSTIMATE OF THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS POST WHERE FOLKS TOOK THEIR CARS IN, HAD REPAIRS , ONLY TO HAVE THE TREND START OVER AGAIN. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION LAST JUNE AND THE WEEKEND AFTER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY STEPFATHER LOOKED AT IT AND REPLACED THE FUSE FOR THE POWER STEERING. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 5 MONTHS AGO. AT THIS POINT MY WARRANTY WAS OVER AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT. THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVERYTIME I GO OVER 35MPH, OR IT JUST FAILS FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS TOLD ME IT WILL BE $1,000.00 TO FIX AND THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE YET TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND LIKE OTHERS, IT HAS THE COLD WEATHER FAIL TO START PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. I STOPPED BY THE LOCAL SATURN GARAGE TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF REPAIR IS RECOMMEND FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE QUITE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH NO WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THEIR SUGGESTION, IF I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE BUNDLE OF MONEY TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED WAS TO CARRY BIC LIGHTER TO WARM THE KEY. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID THAT SATURN ENGINEERING SPECED THE WRONG TEMPERATURE GREASE TO LUBE THE SWITCH. NOW, I THE CUSTOMER, HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ANOTHER GM GENERATED ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN NOT RELY ON AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY GOOD RUNNING CAR AND CAN'T COUNT ON IT FOR AN EMERGENCY. *TR

CAR REFUSES TO START WHEN TURNING KEY IN IGNITION. PASSLOCK ICON FLASHES ON DASHBOARD AND "SERVICE VEHICLE" COMES UP ON MESSAGE PANEL. THIS IS A COLD WEATHER STARTING PROBLEM DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF THE PASSLOCK CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION (KEY) SWITCH. PASSLOCK MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACE 3 TIMES BY DEALER. LAST TIME 2006. SATURN HAS A COMPLAINT FILE UNDER MY NAME, VIN, AND PHONE NUMBER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS EVERY WINTER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. IT IS ALSO A KNOWN PROBLEM, YET GM REFUSES TO RECALL THE CARS AFFECTED. OUT OF WARRANTY DEALER REPAIR RUNS OVER $ 500. RECENT FAILURE TO START HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER OF 2008. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START ON COLD DAYS. I LIVE IN VERMONT SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF COLD DAYS. IT USUALLY TAKES ME ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO1/2 HOUR TO GET IT STARTED, IF IT STARTS. WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS I HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUNNING SO THE ENGINE WILL WARM UP BECAUSE IF I DON'T I HAVE TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE! EVERYONE I'VE BROUGHT IT TO DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT COULD DEFINITELY DO WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM! *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT WHEN IT COLDS DOES NOT START. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT THE BATTERY IS FINE. THEN WE NOTICED THAT IT ONLY HAPPENED ON COLD DAYS. IF THE TEMP WAS BELOW 40 DEGREES F. AND THE CAR SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS (MOSTLY MORNINGS), WHEN YOU ATTEMPTED TO CRANK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IF SEEMS IF YOU HAVE A DEAD BATTERY. MOST OF THE TIME IT WOULD START AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, BEING STRANDED DUE TO MILDLY COLD WEATHER. THANK GOD NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED WHILE WAITING FOR CAR TO CRANK. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL SATURN OWNERS, AND THEY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AT LEAST I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND IT DOES NOT STAY COLD LONG. SATURN NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE PERSON AT SATURN TO TAKE A BLOW DRYER TO WARM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. *TR