2004 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. IN 20 DEGREE TEMPERATURE OR BELOW, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN BE REPLACED, BUT IT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE IS UNSAFE AND AN INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE SHE WORKS AT NIGHT WHILE THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

I HAVE A 04 SATURN ION, IT DOES NOT START IN THE COLD, IT GIVES ME SO MANY HEADACHES, THERE IS OVER 30 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITE WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR AND SAME PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO BE A WHITE WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WHY IT CANT BE FIXED. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK, COLLEGE CLASSES, AND TO BE STUCK OUT ON A COLD NIGHT BY MYSELF DUE TO MY CAR NOT STARTING. YOU HAVE TO TRY TO START IT AND THEN LEAVE IT ALONE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT USUALLY STARTS RIGHT UP. IT HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME BUT IT IS SO RANDOM YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL BE STRANDED. I HAVE SPENT MONEY REPLACING BATTERIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHEN NONE OF THIS CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY SATURN ION 3, 2004 WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY AGAIN TO TRY TO GET THE CAR TO START. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS. I CALLED SATURN TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THEY FIX ABOUT 10 OF THEM EVERY WEEK, B UT SATURN HAS YET TO RECALL THE SWITCH. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY IN THE COLD AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. *TR

MY CAR RAN FINE UNTIL ABOUT 60,000 MILES. THEN THE POWER STEERING GOING. AT FIRST IT WAS SPORADIC. IT WOULD GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON. PRETTY SOON IT GOT TO BE ALL THE TIME. I HAVE YET TO GET FIXED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1,200. *TR

AFTER A FEW STOPS, NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMP IS OUTSIDE/NICE OR COLD... MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT SIMPLY CLICKS AND WILL NOT TURN OVER... FEELS/SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START. I HAVE HAD IT STALL WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT!!! MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO GROSS LEAK EMISSION CONTROL, AND THEY CAN NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE!!!! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, HOWEVER THEY DO NOT MIND CHARGING ME EACH AND EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN, AND EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY HAVE NEGLECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM!!! FRUSTRATED *TR

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY...MOSTLY WHEN I'M ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A WEEK AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. *TR

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD (USUALLY BELOW 40), MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT SIMPLY CLICKS AND SECURITY SENSORS START COMING ON. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START AND PROMPTLY STALL OUT. I HAVE HAD IT STALL WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

I HEARD ABOUT A RECALL FROM A YEAR 2007-2008 OR SO AGO FOR SATURN, TURN SIGNAL. AT THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL WAS WORKING, BUT I TOOK IT TO SATURN AND INQUIRED ABOUT IT BUT THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. LATER ON I TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT ON SIDE. I REPLACED IT BUT NOTICED THAT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I TOOK TO SATURN AND ONE MAN TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED! THEN I TOOK IT BACK TO GET IT FIXED AT ANOTHER MAN SAID THAT THE RECALL HAS NOT EXPIRED, BUT IT IS NOT MY VIN NUMBER. I PAID ABOUT 60 DOLLARS ON SATURN, AND GUESS WHAT THEY DID? THEY CHARGED ME ALL THAT MONEY TO TIGHTEN UP THE BULB AND PUT SOME GREASE ON IT. I DROVE AWAY AND WENT DOWN THE STREET AND IT WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS UPSET, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THEY DID NOTHING. I TOOK IT BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER, THEN THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CLEAN THE AREA AND SAW SOME BURNT WIRE AND THEY PUT ANOTHER BULB ON. THEY ASSURED ME AGAIN THAT IT WAS FIXED. I DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK. THEY CHARGED MY ALL THAT MONEY TO SIMPLY SCREW THE LIGHT BULB. I TOLD THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT WAS NOT THE LIGHT BULB. IT WAS THE WIRING BECAUSE THEY LIGHT BULB WOULD WORK ONE DAY AND NOT THE NEXT. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO NOT HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR A YEAR. THE PUT DOWN I DECLINED MAINTENANCE(S). AS WELL AS THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE. I ONLY DECLINED THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER MAINTENANCE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE NONE WAS OFFERED. SATURN DID NON EVEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO MY CAR. MY CAR HAS DEFECTS IN IT AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A CERTAIN VIN NUMBER THEY DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION DOES NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER! IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 2008. TODAY IS MARCH 3, 2009. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALREADY CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WASN'T THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH! *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WITH A BAD POWER STEERING MODULE. I READ TODAY THAT GM IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVROLET COBALT VEHICLES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE SATURN ION HAS THE SAME POWER STEERING MODULE AS THOSE VEHICLES SO I HOPE IT IS ALSO RECALLED. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE IS AS FOLLOWS: START THE CAR, DRIVE AROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS, AND THE DASH DISPLAYS POWER STEERING AND THERE IS A "CHIME" SOUND INDICATING THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONAL UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THEN STARTED AGAIN, AT WHICH TIME THERE IS ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS BEFORE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT $800 TO REPLACE THE MODULE. SO FAR WE'VE JUST LIVED WITH IT AND STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AND DECIDED TO NEVER BUY GM AGAIN. IF YOU SEARCH GOOGLE FOR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING PROBLEMS" OR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING RECALL" THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

FAILURE OF A WIRING HARNESS IN A FRONT DOOR THAT CONTROLS WINDOWS, MIRRORS AND DOOR LOCK. A 2004 SATURN ION WITH 25, 106 MILES HAD 5 BROKEN WIRES IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HAS NO POWER AT THE WINDOW SWITCH. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW THAT FORCES TINY WIRES TO BEND 2 TIMES AT 90 DEGREES AND BE SLAMMED BY A DOOR!! THINK OF THE SAFETY OF UNLOCKING A DOOR IN A PANIC SITUATION OR DRIVING WITH A WINDOW DOWN IN RAIN, SLEET, COLD, ETC., AND A FUSE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH THANKFULLY HAS A RECALL ON IT BUT I WANT THE POWER STEERING TO BE RECALLED AS WELL BECAUSE IT HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES. *TR

ON COLDER DAYS MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL ROLL OVER A FEW TIMES AND THEN SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT WILL APPEAR. THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15-30 MINS TO START LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED IN THE WINTER WITH NO HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THIS OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE WINTER AND IN THE FALL 3 TIMES A WEEK. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET, THEY THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON I KNOW WITH THE SAME CAR SATURN ION HERS IS 2005 MINE A 2004 AND HERS DID THE SAME THING HERS WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

2004 SATURN ION - POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING! HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. IF THE CAR IS RESTARTED IT COMES BACK ON FOR A SHORT TIME THEN GOES OUT AGAIN. UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY CAUSING THE ISSUE, HAPPENS AT RANDOM. *TR

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2004 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND NOW JUST PAID $630 TO HAVE THE BODY MODULE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS THE WHOLE CAR DOWN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START IT. INITIALLY IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A COLD WEATHER PROBLEM BACK WHEN I FIRST HAD THE CAR IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THIS RECENT INCIDENT IS STILL NOT YET RESOLVED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE BODY MODULE IS STILL NOT REGISTERING THAT THE KEY IS IN OFF POSITION BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STILL FAULTY. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO NEXT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THESE KIND OF REPAIRS ESPECIALLY ONCE EVERY WEEK. *TR

IN 2005 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2004 SATURN ION FRONT HEADLAMPS. I HAD THE RECALLED PARTS REPLACED. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY LEFT BLINKER HAS GONE OUT ABOUT FIVE TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS, HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE SOCKETS, AND AM NOW ABOUT TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME OCCURRENCES ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN OTHER SATURN IONS AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME BLINKER OUT. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVE IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE 2005 RECALL. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT AND IN THE WINTER SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO START. THE STEERING STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HAPPEN ONCE THEN NOT FOR MONTHS. NOW IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. I LIVE 13 MILES FROM MY JOB. I GOES OUT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON THE WAY. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE IF I HAD MORE STOP SIGNS TO RESTART THE CAR AT. I AM A PUNY GIRL AND IS SOMETIMES HARD FOR ME TO STRONG ARM THE STEERING WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING. OF COURSE MY WARRANTY IS PAST. NOW MY PROBLEM IS WINTER IS COMING, I HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD SON THAT I HAVE TO TAKE TO THE COUNTRY AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING TO THE SITTERS. I AM WORRIED TO DEATH ABOUT HIM BEING IN THE CAR WITH ME IF I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND THIS CAR DECIDES TO START SLIDING. I DON'T THINK IT POSSIBLE TO STEER OUT OF A SPIN. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE MADE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER MISTAKE. WILL IT TAKE PEOPLE DIEING? I HOPE TO GOD NOT. SO YOUR ANSWER TO WERE THERE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES? IS....NOT YET. PLEASE HELP!! *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WOULD LOSE COMPLETE POWER TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD NOT GET ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS, IT WOULD JUST LOSE COMPLETE POWER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SATURN OF DANVERS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN IN LOANER CARS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE THEY TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I HAVE LOST POWER AT LOW RATES OF SPEED AND ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008 MY CAR LOST POWER ON I-95 N IN WOBURN, MA WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL VEHICLES HAD TO AVOID HITTING MY VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES. I NOTIFIED THE SATURN CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY HAD JOHN CACHURSKI (SP) CONTACT ME, HE STATED I WOULD NEED TO RETURN THEIR LOANER CAR AND GET MY CAR BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITH MY MODEL/YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION FROM THEIR DEALERSHIPS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP TO TRY TO GET MY VEHICLE UP TO PAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE AND PULLED OVER ON THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT WAS FINE. POWER STEERING WORKED. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $900.00. THIS CAR IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT!! I COMPLAINED TO SATURN AND AM AWAITING TO HEAR FROM THEIR "DISTRICT SPECIALIST". LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND NOBODY WAS HURT BUT HOW CAN THIS NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. TRY GOING AROUND A CURVE OR TURNING A CORNER WHEN YOUR POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *TR

I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I CANNOT RELY ON IT TO START WHEN I NEED IT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN HEADED TO A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS 30 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE IT STARTS. IT IS CRIMINAL FOR SATURN TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY REALIZED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT, BUT I'M ON A FIXED INCOME AND I PUT OUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK! I THOUGHT SATURN WAS A GOOD COMPANY BUT I SEE NOW THAT DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE DETACHING FROM THE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE DOORS ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCESSIBLE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION AND SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PANEL AND THE DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,844.65. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

DRIVERS SIDE WIPER ARM WON'T MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH WINDSHIELD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR WHOLE ARM ASSEMBLY SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION AND START SWITCHES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE COOLANT SWITCH CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,240.

STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN ION 3 - WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING CEASED. THE DASH BOARD STARTS DINGING AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING START TO FLASH. IT IS THEN IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT TURNING THE WHEEL FORCEFULLY. THIS HAS POSED A SERIOUS CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE USUALLY TRYING TO MAKE A TURN IN TRAFFIC. IT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER AND SHE GOT VERY FRIGHTENED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE STEERING WHEEL IS EVEN HARDER TO TURN THAN WHEN CARS DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT YET. THE CAR HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON MY SATURN IS ONLY 25,000 MILES. *TR

SATURN ION 2 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION, THE STEERING WILL GET HARD AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WHEN THE VEH IS TURNED OFF THEN ON, IT WORKS OK THEN WHILE DRIVING A MESSAGE COMES ON (POWER STEERING) THEN THE PUMP DISENGAGES AND IT GET HARD TO STEER. THIS IS HAPPENING ON MY SATURN 2004 ION 2 WITH 36000 MILES. I SEARCHED IN THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CLIENTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI THEFT/PASSLOCK SYSTEM ON MY SATURN ION. TODAY IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPEN AND AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE ISSUE. THE CAR WILL TURNOVER BUT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON THE DISPLAY AS WELL AS A SERVICE VEHICLE INDICATOR. AT FIRST IT WOULD TAKE 5 OR 10 MINUTES TO START AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. TODAY FOR EXAMPLE I WAITED A HALF HOUR FOR THE CAR TO START. I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP HERE IN MY TOWN ONLY TO END UP IN A ARGUMENT WITH THE PERSON THAT SOLD ME THE PIECE OF CRAP. I DON'T KNOW HOW SATURN IS STILL IN BUSINESS. I SPENT A PRETTY PENNY ON THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE WANTS TO HELP. TO KNOW THAT A VEHICLE THAT YOU SELL IS CAUSING SO MANY CUSTOMERS SO MANY PROBLEMS AND DO NOT EVEN WANT TO HELP THEM RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS JUST PATHETIC TO ME. I AM AT THE POINT OF TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKING A VOLUNTARY REPO. I WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM SATURN OR GM AGAIN. *TR

BOUGHT 4 MICHELIN AGILITY TOURING TIRES (P195/60R15 87S) FROM SEARS AUTO ON 1/15/07. ON 6/26/08 REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. ON 7/11/08 REAR DRIVER TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED. ON 7/16/08 FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT WHILE IN ANOTHER DRIVEWAY. EACH TIRE SHOWED NO PUNCTURES AND WAS NOT UNDER-INFLATED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AS WELL AS THE 4TH MICHELIN THAT DID NOT GO FLAT YET WERE REPLACED AS THEY WENT BAD WITH FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING S2 TIRES BECAUSE SEARS DIDN'T CARRY ANY MORE S CLASS TIRES FOR THE SATURN ION. DISCARDED 1ST FLAT TIRE. WILL HOLD LAST 2 DEFECTIVE TIRES AND THE NON-FLAT TIRE UNTIL 12/31/08. IT'S STRANGE THAT 3 TIRES WITH NO SIGNS OF PUNCTURES WENT FLAT OR BLEW OUT WITHIN 3 WEEKS AFTER ONLY A 1.5 YEARS' USE. THEY COULD HAVE CAUSED BAD ACCIDENTS. SEARS DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT SINCE THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER ON THE RIMS. DOT HNDA H5FX 4206, 4306, 4406?, AND 4506. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEG AND NECK. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT. THEY OFFERED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. MINNESOTA STATE POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER E08405161. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SEVERE LEAK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CEILING ON ONE OCCASION YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 545 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

2004 SATURN ION1 WILL NOT START DUE DO PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT PROBLEM. THE POSSIBLE COMPONENTS CAUSING THIS ARE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR THE BCM. THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AS GOOD. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN JANUARY 2008 DURING A WINTER STORM AND HAS HAPPENED DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TIMES SINCE, WITH THE LAST OCCURRENCE TODAY AND IT IS NEARLY 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. IT HAS PREVIOUSLY ONLY DONE THIS IN COLD AND WET CONDITIONS. THE CAR WILL CRANK ONCE OR TWICE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ENGAGED BUT THEN IT WILL DO NOTHING, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH THE PASSLOCK ICON ILLUMINATES. AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND IT WILL START. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY AND NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE ACCORDING TO WHAT OTHERS ARE INDICATING ONLINE. THIS COULD EASILY PUT SOMEBODY IN HARMS WAY GIVEN AN UNSAFE OR HARSH ENVIRONMENT. *TR

ENGINE STARTED A FAINT SQUEALING NOISE ON 24 NORTH DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND MANAGED TO GET OVER AND PULL OUT OF THE LANE, HOWEVER THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SHOULDER AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, MY TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT, HAD TO DRIVE ON THE EDGE OF THE SHOULDER TO THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS APPROX 11 MILES BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE PLACE, TRAFFIC GOING APPROX 80 MILES PER HOUR AND CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 50 MPH, AS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION BYSTANDERS PUSHED CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. HAD IT TOWED HOME, WAS TOLD TENSION ROD SEIZED AND TIMING CHAIN BROKE. HAD TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE FOR 5K, CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND 88K MILES. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR SEIZURE AS CAR HAD PLENTY OF OIL AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. *TR

HAVE TO HAVE MY IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING REPLACED IN MY SATURN ION 3. KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START VEHICLE. A NEW KEY WILL START THE CAR BUT ONLY WORKS FOR 2 WEEKS. I AM ON MY 5TH KEY IN A LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY, HOPE TO GET IT BACK TOMORROW. CHARGE WAS $523, COMPLAINED TO SATURN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY BROUGHT IT DOWN TO $230. SO I AM PAYING $230 TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE STATION FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT MONITORING THE FUEL, AND WAS INDICATING THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPAIRED. WHEN THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS PUMP WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL PUMP, INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC PARTS AND LABOR WAS $900. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V281000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,800. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/16/08

MY MOTHER OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. SHE COMPLAINED THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THAT SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I DROVE THE CAR FROM VIRGINIA TO NEW JERSEY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT APPROX EVERY 50 MILES. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WAS FINE FOR ANOTHER 50 MILES OR LESS. WE CALLED THE DEALER - THEY ASKED IF WE WERE MAKING A LOT OF TURNS - WE WEREN'T. IT WAS A STRAIGHT DRIVE DOWN 95. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME, THE CAR WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALER . BECAUSE MY MOM HAD AN AUTOMATIC STARTER PUT IN, THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE 3RD PARTY HOOKED IT UP THAT WAS INTERFERING WITH THE STEERING. THEY SAID THE FIXED THE PROBLEM. 2 WEEKS LATER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE DRIVING FORWARD OR TURNING, THE STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR IS FAILING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEREFORE, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,337 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14E021000 ( IGNITION SWITCH). THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED A RENTAL VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER SHE DROVE IT TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND BECAME SO BAD THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO MAKE A NORMAL TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL ASSIST SYSTEM WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $600-$800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

ON SEVERAL OCCASSION WHILE IT HAS BEEN COLD OUT, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO ROLL OVER. THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEEM TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION WAS BY "JUMP STARTING" MY SATURN WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES IN THE WINTER THAT I FINALLY GOT SICK OF IT AND PARKED THE SATURN AND DROVE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I AM SO SICK OF MY CAR THAT I AM READY TO SELL IT. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE. AFTER READING THE FIRST 20 SOME RESULTS AND SEEN THAT EVERYONE WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE I WAS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS TOO AND AM GLAD THAT I HAVE NOT RAN INTO THEIR PROBLEM YET. IF SATURN DOES NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM REALLY SOON, I WILL SELL MY CAR AND I WILL NEVER BUY A SATURN AGAIN. THEY ARE REALLY MAKING A BAD PRODUCT THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY NEVER SELL AGAIN. AFTER ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE TO RECALL THE PROBLEM. TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS, NEVER BUY A SATURN. IT IS NOT JUST THE ION. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL. IF UNDER 15 MPH, IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WITHOUT THE ELECTRIC STEERING. WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT MAY HAPPEN 4-5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN 2004 SATURN ION AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (2008). TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $1000. COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND BEGAN LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER ALTERNATIVE. FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED SATURN BY PHONE, MAIL, SIGNED PETITIONS. NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. RECENTLY FOUND OUT GM RECALLED THE SAME PART FOR THE CHEVY COBALT, BUT NOT SATURN. FINALLY SEEN WHERE YOU COULD TAKE THE SATURN IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE, SATURN NEVER SENT ME NOTIFICATION. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID I HAD 2,000 MILES OVER WHAT THE "SPECIAL WARRANTY" WOULD COVER. CONTACTED THEY SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY OPENED AN INVESTIGATION AND CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO THE 2,000 MILES AND WHEN I ASKED FOR SOMEONE HIGHER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOWHERE HIGHER THIS WAS GM'S FINAL DECISION BUT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THIS WAS A HAZARD. I ASKED AGAIN FOR A SUPERVISOR OR ANYONE ELSE HIGHER THAN HER SHE AGAIN SAID THERE WAS NO ONE HIGHER AND THIS WAS GM'S FINAL DECISION AND REMAINED ON THE LINE SILENT THEN FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE CALL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN REFUSE TO LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE HIGHER AND FURTHERMORE REFUSE TO COVER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

IGNITION SWITCH OF ALL SATURN IONS ARE BAD. IT SEEMS THAT THE LUBRICANT USED FOR THE INTERNAL PARTS IS NOT WELL MADE AND STICKS TO THE INTERNAL PARTS IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CAR WILL NOT START AND WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED. IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAPPENS ON EVERY SATURN ION YET SATURN WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED THUS MAKING THIS REPAIR USEFUL ONLY UNTIL THE NEXT WAVE OF COLD TEMPERATURES COMES ALONG. *TR

APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY FRUSTRATED GM OWNER OUT THERE. THIS IS REGARDING MY 2004 SATURN ION WHICH IS MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS... WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO START NOTHING HAPPENS. NO CRANK, NOTHING. AFTER VIEWING SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING, I QUICKLY KNEW IT WAS MY IGNITION. ONE WOULD THINK THAT LIVING IN CALIFORNIA THE WEATHER WOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT ALMOST EVERY DAY NOW FOR THE LAST MONTH MY CAR WILL NOT TURN ON IMMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES I WOULD WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND IT WOULD TURN OVER, SOMETIMES I WOULD WAIT OVER 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO TURN OVER AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN LATE NUMEROUS TIMES TO WORK AND HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED TWICE TO A MECHANIC WHO ULTIMATELY COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON PARTS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT; WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT I BE CORDIAL AND ON TIME ALWAYS. I HAVE BEEN REPRIMANDED SEVERAL TIMES FOR BEING LATE AND I'VE PRETTY MUCH HAD IT WITH THIS CAR. IF SATURN SUPPOSEDLY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY COULD HAVE AT LEAST NOTIFIED THEIR OWNERS AND OFFERED SOME SORT OF RETRIBUTION OR RECONCILIATION FOR COSTS. *TR

POWER STEERING IN 2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND STAYS OFF UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. I AM A SMALL PERSON, I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THIS CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF ROADS TO RESTART CAR, OR I WILL EVEN RESTART THE CAR AT A STOPLIGHT IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE COSTLY REPAIRS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THEIR SATURN ION POWER STEERING. *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILED. DRIVER'S SIDE PIVOT ARM IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE SUDDENLY! CANNOT USE THE WIPERS AT ALL. DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM!!!!!! *TR

CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. MUST WAIT BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MINUTES AFTER EACH START ATTEMPT. POSTED BULLETINS RELATE THE PROBLEM TO A FAULTY PASSLOCK SWITCH/IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION2 WILL NOT START IN VERY COLD WEATHER (SUB-ZERO AIR TEMPERATURES). AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS ARE MADE - WITH APPROX. 10-15 MINUTES BETWEEN EACH ATTEMPT - THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP. THE IGNITION WILL NOT CRANK THE CAR, CAUSING IT TO NOT ROLL OVER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DISPLAY ON THE DASH READS "SERVICE VEHICLE". AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I'VE LEARNED THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I AM TOLD I MUST REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO THAT THIS MAY NOT EVEN BE A PERMANENT FIX. I AM APPALLED BY SUCH FAULTY WORKMANSHIP IN AN AMERICAN-MADE CAR. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN! AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF IT FINALLY QUITS. I AM AFRAID THAT SOME DAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. *TR

2004 SATURN ION I'M HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS. ON COLD DAYS THE CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES, BUT IF YOU WAIT A FEW MINUTES IT WILL START RIGHT UP. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SO LONG THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE IT AND GET A RIDE. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 SATURN ION DOWN A HILL AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE CAR. HE COULD NOT STOP AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULT STEERING THE VEHICLE. WE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I FRACTURED MY C-2 AND MY SHOULDER AND ALSO DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION AND ANYTIME IT IS COLD OUT IT WILL NOT START DO TO THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE IS A DEFECT IN IT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. EVERYTIME IT IS COLD MY CAR WILL NOT START AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR