NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Saturn Ion. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM: I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 SATURN ION SINCE NEW AND IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WILL TURN OFF RANDOMLY. IT STARTED TO HAPPEN VERY INFREQUENTLY, LESS THAN ONCE A DAY. NOW IT HAPPENS MANY TIMES IN ONE TRIP. IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE CAR, IT WILL WORK AGAIN, NOTWITHSTANDING ANOTHER FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED ME 700 DOLLARS TO DO THE REPAIR WORK. CONSIDERING THE CAR ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT AND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE ION AND OTHER SATURN MODELS (FROM SEARCHES OF VARIOUS SATURN FORUMS), I FIND THIS TO BE UNCONSCIONABLE THAT SATURN WILL NOT RECALL THE ITEM. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON IF IT TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNERING TURN. THE FORCES REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEELS AND THE FAILED STEERING ASSIST MOTOR ARE MORE THAN EXPECTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH KEY WAS ENGAGED REPEATEDLY AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE RELATED TO A MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL). HE REPLACED THE BULBS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID, AND THE ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT IS USUALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO ROLL OVER. IT WILL ACT LIKE THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAVE ATTEMPTED REPLACING THE BATTERY AND THE SAME INCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. FROM WHAT THE MECHANICS TOLD THEM, AND THAT IT WAS AROUND A $500 PART TO REPLACE. *TR
2004 SATURN ION, IN COLD WEATHER FAILING TO START, CRANK OR TURN OVER. BATTERY, STARTER, AND WIRES ALL CHECKED ALL IN WORKING ORDER. FIND OUT THERE WAS A TSB # 040845005 FOR IT AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF IT. HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR PAST TWO YEARS BUT NEVER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THAT BUT DID HAVE IT THERE FOR OTHER SERVICE AND WAS NEVER ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. DUE TO EXPIRED WARRANTY DEALER AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE UNSURE IF THEY WILL COVER ALL OR ANY OF THE CHARGE TO REPAIR IT. COST IS $250 FIRST EXPERIENCED LAST WINTER AND IN THE PAST MONTH THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. *TR
THE 2004 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER, AFTER GETTING IT CHECKED IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER READING REVIEWS IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THIS YEAR AND MAKE. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SOMETIMES MORE. IT HAS MADE ME LATE FOR WORK AND EVEN MISS CLASSES. IF THIS IS SO COMMON WHY ISN'T THIS PART BEING RECALLED!? APPARENTLY A "SECURITY MEASURE" HAS THE CAR NOT STARTING FOR 10 MINS, SOMETIMES 20. PLEASE HELP! *TR
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD TO PUSH THIS SATURN INTO THE STREET TO GET OUR OTHER DRIVERS OFF TO WORK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID MY FLOORMATS WERE TOO THICK AND NOT GENUINE SATURN PARTS AND CAUSED IT NOT TO START(NO KIDDING, THEY SAID THIS). A FEW WEEKS LATER IT ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO TURN OVER. ANOTHER TOW TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY RE-CODED THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH. SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IT HAS FAILED TO START. IF I WAIT 20 MINUTES, THE ANTI THEFT MODULE RE-SETS AND IT WILL START. THIS MORNING I SLIPPED ON ICE WHILE PUSHING IT INTO THE STREET AND FELL. MY BACK IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW AND I'M VERY ANGRY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. NO SELF RESPECTING THIEF WOULD STEAL A SATURN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I SEE NO NEED FOR AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE ON THIS AWFUL CAR. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMP. IS VERY COLD. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO MISS WORK AND TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED THAT WERE IN WORKING CONDITION. RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. AFTER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS THE CAR STARTED. *TR
MY 2004 ION WON'T START. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN NOVEMBER WITH COLD WEATHER, BUT HAS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS NOT COLD OUT AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL I CAN'T START IT AT ALL AND ITS BECAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. I HAVE READ PROBABLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SATURN OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE'S SAFETY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF A CAR PAYMENT WHEN YOU CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR OR LEAVE IN AN EMERGENCY? I USED TO BE ABLE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR THE PASSLOCK TO DEACTIVATE, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF DOING THIS BEFORE I EVER GOT ANYWHERE, BUT NOW NOTHING. THE CAR IS OK OTHERWISE. MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR
CAR DOES NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS STUCK OUT IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH WARMED UP ENOUGH TO START. I WILL HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED, BUT I AM WAITING TO SEE IF IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ANY DAY THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IT WILL NOT START. SOMETIMES AFTER ABOUT HALF AN HOUR OF TRYING IT WILL START, BUT NOT VERY OFTEN. ALSO IT OFTEN IDLES AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RPM. IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE WHEN IT DOES THIS. ALSO WHEN IT IDLES HIGH IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. IT'S VERY TWITCHY AND JERKY. *TR
MY 04 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLDER WEATHER. AFTER INVESTIGATING MANY WEB SITES, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I READ THAT SOMETIME IN 04 THEY STARTED USING A DIFFERENT SWITCH AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
SATURN 1ON 2004 BAD IGNITION SWITCH... *CN
WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS AT 30 DEGREES F OR BELOW MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND COULD LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS STRANDED SITUATION. *TR
THE POWER STEERING WILL RANDOMLY GO OUT ON THE CAR WHILE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH CAUSING THE CAR TO BE TOUGH TO MANEUVER. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING IS RESET AND WILL WORK FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS MAKES THE HANDLING OF THE CAR UNPREDICTABLE. *TR
IT TURNS OUT SATURN ION IGNITION SWITCHES CAME WITH A FLAW FROM THE FACTORY, EXCESSIVE GREASE WITH POOR COLD WEATHER PERFORMANCE.THE PASSLOCK ISSUE PRESENTS ITSELF AS YOUR CAR SUDDENLY NOT STARTING. SUFFICE IT TO SAY IF THERE'S NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR YOUR VEHICLE TO NOT START, IT'S PROBABLY PASSLOCK RELATED. IF YOU'VE NOTICED THAT WAITING A FEW MINUTES SEEMS TO HELP, THAT'S THE CLINCHER. TEN MINUTES IS THE MAGIC NUMBER, THAT'S WHEN THE COMPUTER RESETS. IF YOU WERE CHARGED FOR A NEW BATTERY, STARTER, IGNITION SWITCH OR A TOW I SUGGEST YOU NOT LET THE ISSUE DROP, IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY. GM SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. FORGETTING THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF BEING STRANDED IN 10 MINUTE INCREMENTS (ALSO, THE CAR FAILS TO START SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW, AS LONG AS 40 MINUTES BEFORE) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. CALLING THE PROBLEM A SAFETY ISSUE MIGHT SEEM LIKE A STRETCH BUT LET'S THINK FOR A MOMENT. WHAT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO FLEE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION (STALKER, LANDSLIDE, FIRE, FLOOD, ETC.) AND YOUR CAR FAILS TO START? WHAT IF IT'S -10 OUTSIDE AND YOUR CAR WON'T START? YOU'RE NOW STUCK IN A FREEZING CAR FOR A MINIMUM OF 10 EXTRA MINUTES, GOING INSIDE ISN'T ALWAYS AN OPTION! LEAVING ASIDE THE SAFETY EXAMPLES, THINK OF EVERYDAY LIFE, TODAY IS BIG MEETING DAY, YOU'RE READY TO LEAVE AND... CAR WON'T START. SAFETY & RELIABILITY ARE TWO (2) KEY ITEMS DEFINITELY FAILING IN ORDER FOR DRIVING TO AND FROM ANY DESTINATION. I FEEL GM/SATURN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION FROM GM/SATURN REGARDING THIS DEFECT. WITH THE RECENT FIX, I PAID $550.00 FOR THE REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, NEW BATTERY, STARTER AND PLUGS, WHICH ALL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED DUE TO THE STRESS & STRAIN OF THIS "STARTING" ISSUE. I WOULD APPRECIATE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE AMOUNT STATED. PLEASE REPLY...[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IN TRYING TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, IT FAILS TO START AND MY SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT WILL FLASH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, BUT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I OCCURS 5 OUT OF 7 DAYS A WEEK. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE UNLESS I DISABLE MY SECURITY SYSTEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SPORADICALLY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE, A YEAR AGO; THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 05/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PUT THE GEAR IN DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BECOME STIFF AS IF IT WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB
POWER STEERING TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. COMES BACK ON IF CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. DEALERSHIP CHARGING @ $920.00 TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE OF SAME ISSUE. *TR
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THIS YEAR, MY 2004 ION WOULD NOT START DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED. MY OWN MECHANIC TOLD ME TO HAVE IT SERVICED BY A SATURN DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ANTI THEFT CONTROLLER AND COULD ONLY BE WORKED ON BY THE DEALERSHIP. HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE. THE PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED AND REPAIRED (FOR $214.00).THE PARTS WERE ONLY $40.00.AS YOUR OWN WEBSITE(AND OTHERS)CONFIRM,THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM THAT MANY ION OWNERS EVENTUALLY WILL ENCOUNTER. DESPITE THIS "DEFECT", GENERAL MOTORS TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LOGICAL STRATEGY TO HOLD ON TO AN ALREADY DWINDLING NUMBER OF LOYAL CUSTOMERS. *TR
DURING COLD WEATHER (AROUND 32 DEGREES F AND BELOW), CAR WILL NOT START FOR 8-10 MINUTES. ON INITIAL ATTEMPT TO START CAR, ENGINE BEGINS TO TURN OVER FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND, THEN STOPS. A LOCK SYMBOL FLASHES ON THE DASH AND THE MESSAGE READOUT STATES "SERVICE ENGINE". ANY ADDITION ATTEMPS TO START THE CAR WILL RESULT IN ABSOLUTELY NO TURNOVER OF THE ENGINE. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ATTEMPS TO JUMP START THE CAR WILL ARE NOT SUCESSFUL UNTIL AFTER THE 8-10 MINUTE PERIOD. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AND FOUND TO BE FINE. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED A REPAIR YET. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 AND HAS OCCURRED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. *CN
IT SEEMS THAT WITH THE SATURN IONS, THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS A DEFECT WHEREIN ABOUT EVERY TWO YEARS IT WILL FAIL TO START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING (DUE TO THE "CONNECTION" BETWEEN IT AND THE CARS SAFETY FEATURE). NOT A PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE A HEATED GARAGE, OR EVEN A GARAGE PERIOD, OR LIVE SOMEWHERE WARM. BUT GOD FORBID YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS COLD WEATHER. THE LAST ESTIMATE I GOT FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE IGNITION FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS OVER $200. *TR
POWER STEERING CONTINUOUSLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. FOUND OTHERS ONLINE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. RESTART THE CAR AND IT COMES BACK ON MOST OF THE TIME. *TR
CAR DOES NOT START WHEN BELOW 35 DEGREES. I HAVE TO WAIT EXACTLY 10 MINUTES THEN IT WILL USUALLY START. POWER STEERING WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AROUND 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES AND GRADUALLY WORSENS OVER TIME. MY POWER STEERING IS NOW COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME SEVERAL MINOR TO MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING EITHER BY MYSELF OR WITH MY CHILDREN. I REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FUSES FIRST TO SEE IF THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO REALIZE ITS THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED COSTING ME $1100. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL WITH THE CONSTANT FAILING OF THE POWER STEERING. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. I BOUGHT IN THE WINTER OF 2007. IT IMMEDIATELY PRESENTED WITH THE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING IN REALLY COLD WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BOUGHT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT HE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO WAIT UP TO 30 MINUTES FOR MY CAR TO START IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER. ABOUT 6 OR 8 MONTHS AGO THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN WHEN IT WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH, SOMETIMES THE KEY ALMOST COMING OUT TOTALLY BEFORE IT WILL TURN OVER. TODAY IT TOOK 15 MINUTES TO FINALLY GET IT UNLOCKED AND TURNED OVER TO START. *KB
FOLLOWING SEVERAL WEEKS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO CLEAN OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE CAUSED A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF SALT RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION AND SAID THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY "ICE LOADING" AND CAUTIONED ME TO MAKE SURE AND CLEAR AWAY ICE AND SNOW BEFORE ACTIVATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *TR
2004 SATURN ION 1 THE CAR REVS IT'S ENGINE TO OVER 3000 RPMS WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND IDLE. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR IT IS OK, BUT IF YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR THE CAR THE LURCHES FORWARD UNSAFELY. *TR
PRIOR TO PURCHASING MY '04 SATURN ION I READ ALL THE REVIEWS AND CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I CAME ACROSS WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. I ASSUMED THAT SINCE I LIVED IN FLORIDA AND IT SEEMED MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WHERE FROM OTHER STATES WHERE THEY GET FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HOW WRONG I WAS, I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES NOW WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40 DEGREES. I CONTACTED SATURN AND ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THERE WASN'T A RECALL I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WHERE NOT EVEN THEM ATTEMPTING TO FIX IT HAS RESOLVED IT, I GUESS I'LL JUST LIVE WITH THE HEADACHE OF TRYING TO GET IT STARTED ON THE MORNINGS WHERE IT IS TOO COLD, THANKFULLY I DO LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THAT'S NOT VERY OFTEN. *TR
2004 SATURN ION - WON'T START WHEN COLD. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE, PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_73169.HTML OR SEARCH IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS IS SUCH A PREVALENT PROBLEM AND YET SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. CERTAINLY THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY PROBLEM IF SOMEONE'S CAR WOULD FAIL TO START. I WAS STUCK IN MY CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR IN NEGATIVE TEMPS AND BECAME ILL AFTERWARDS. *TR
NO WARNING ABOUT ISSUE TO COME BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THE FIRST COLD MORNING THIS WINTER MY WIFE'S 2004 SATURN ION-2 FAILED TO START. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR INTERMITTENTLY TRYING TO START IT, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY MORNING WHERE IT FELL BELOW 40DEG THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR NUMEROUS TIME TO MECHANICS TO DIAGNOSE. ORIGINAL ANSWER WAS I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH STRONGER BATTERY (HIGHER CCA RATING) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR HAS NEW BATTERY, FULL TANK OF GAS, AND SITS OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY. CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES DONE AND HAS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS WINTER. MY RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAD PRODUCED NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND NO AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS (I.E. REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH) GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WITH BE FIXED. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION WHICH WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED. ONE MORNING I WENT TO START THE CAR. ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER (NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL). WHEN I RETURNED HOME THAT EVENING, THE CAR STARTED IMMEDIATELY, RULING OUT A DEAD BATTERY. THIS FAILURE RE-OCCURS MOSTLY ON COLD MORNINGS. I DISCOVERED ON THE WEB THAT SATURN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH PASS LOCK SYSTEM WHEN IT IS COLD. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND ASKED HIM TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. HE MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO THE SATURN DEALER (30+ MILES) TO GET A NEW SWITCH, HOWEVER HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SWITCH NEEDS TO BE PROGRAMMED AND ONLY A SATURN DEALER CAN DO THAT. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FAILED TO MENTION THIS TO HIM WHEN HE BOUGHT THE PART. NOW, I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALER TO HAVE THE SWITCH PROGRAMMED, AS WELL AS FOR NEARLY A WEEK OF WASTED TIME, MONEY, AND CONVENIENCE. *TR
CAR DOES NOT START WHEN WEATHER IS VERY COLD. CHANGED BATTERY AND HAD ALTERNATOR CHECKED. TOOK IT IN TO ETNA BATTERY TO HAVE CHECKED OUT. CAR STARTED WHEN IT GETS WARMER OR THE SUN WARMS UP THE CAR. *TR
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSES IMMEDIATELY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 WILL NOT START AT TIMES ON COLD MORNINGS, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND STILL NO START..IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON AN ONLINE FORUM I SEE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD AND YET SATURN DOES NOTHING TO HELP, IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BCM, AND OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTAC STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NO REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL) AND HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
ON 12/03/2007 AT 8:41 AM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON I-240 EAST IN MEMPHIS TN. I WAS TRAILING TRAFFIC IN THE PASSING LANE, WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DIDNT REACT IN TIME AND SUFFERED A FRONTAL COLLISION TO A 2004 SATURN ION THAT I OWN. I WAS TRAVELLING APPROX 30-35 MPH WHEN I STRUCK THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTED IN MY GOING HEADFIRST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO HAVE TESTS AT THE DOCTOR FOR MIGRAINES AND STILL EXPERIENCE THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THIS ACCIDENT. *CN
ON 12/03/2007 AT 8:41 AM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON I-240 EAST IN MEMPHIS TN. I WAS TRAILING TRAFFIC IN THE PASSING LANE, WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DIDNT REACT IN TIME AND SUFFERED A FRONTAL COLLISION TO A 2004 SATURN ION THAT I OWN. I WAS TRAVELLING APPROX 30-35 MPH WHEN I STRUCK THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTED IN MY GOING HEADFIRST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO HAVE TESTS AT THE DOCTOR FOR MIGRAINES AND STILL EXPERIENCE THE AFTEREFFECTS OF THIS ACCIDENT. *CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER, IT FAILS TO START. ON OCCASION, HE MUST ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO REST FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. OTHER TIMES, HE MUST JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO START. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR A REPAIR SHOP. HE FOUND A RECALL ONLINE PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
I PURCHASE A 2004 SATURN ION (6/11/04), BRAND NEW. THE FIRST SIGN OF COLD THAT YEAR, LATE NOVEMBER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. AFTER AWHILE(10-15 MIN.) IT WOULD START UP LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I BROUGHT IT IN 12/28/04, WHICH THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK MODULE; SAYING "THAT WAS THE PROBLEM". I STILL HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR THROUGH THE WINTER, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WAS WHAT WRONG. EVERYTIME I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY WOULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SEND ME ON MY WAY SINCE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. THE NEXT WINTER THAN SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS STUCK IN THE COLD A FEW MORNINGS BEFORE WORK TRYING TO GET THE CAR STARTED. SATURN CLAIMED IT WAS TOO COLD OUTSIDE FOR MY CAR TO START, AND TOLD ME TO WAIT A BIT BEFORE BRINGING IT IN. (IT MAYBE WENT BELOW 0 DEGREES THAT WEEK TWICE) FED UP I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN ON 1/17/05, WHICH THEY REPLACED MY BLOCK ASSEMBLY, WIRE HARNESS, STARTER, BATTERY, AND WIRE CONNECTERS. THEY REALLY WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS WRONG THEY ADMITTED, BUT IT SEEMS TO WORK NOW. THE CAR WOULD WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN THE SAME ISSUE ARISES AGAIN. ON 4/15/05 SATURN HAD TO REPLACE MY RADIO RECEIVER FOR FAULTY ISSUES. THAT SAME WINTER, MY CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE COLD AGAIN. IT WAS BROUGHT IN ON 12/20/05, WHICH THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION SWITCH SAYING THE USUAL "THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM". NOW, JUST UNDER TWO YEARS LATER, I AM BACK TO HAVING THE SAME ISSUES OF MY CAR NOT STARTING IN THE COLD. SATURN IS NOW THROWING THEIR HANDS UP SAYING I MUST PURCHASE ANOTHER IGNITION SWITCH, AND PAY THEM TO PUT IT IN FOR A TOTAL OF $220. UNACCEPTABLE. I MAY HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS SOONER, BUT I WASN'T AWARE THERE WERE MANY MORE SATURN ION DRIVERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES I HAD. *TR
THE SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX MANY POSTS ON LINE OF THIS ISSUE. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS I NEED TO MOVE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE FOR WORK. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START BELOW 35 DEGREES AND WILL ALSO STALL AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO IMOBILIZER ACTIVATING. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AGAIN WHEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS RESET. PROBLEM IS IN THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF MY CAR. IT IS A 2004 SATURN ION. CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS COLD OUT AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNS. VERY DANGEROUS DURING DRIVING IF IT OCCURS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. *TR
WHEN THE WEATHER REACHES FREEZING AND CAR HAS BEEN LEFT OFF FOR ABOUT 6 TO 8 HOURS IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. I HAD THE PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO AND SATURN REPLACED THE STARTER ON THE CAR AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN THIS WINTER. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL SITES AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS. REPLACING THE STARTER EVERY OTHER WINTER IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASH AND POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ONE DAY AND TWICE THE SECOND DAY WHEN I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER. THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1200. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THIS JUST "SOMETIMES HAPPENS" BY THE DEALERSHIP, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SERIOUS DEFECT AND RECALLED. I DECIDED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT HAPPENS TO SATURN IONS AS WELL AS OTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. IN MY OPINION, A 4 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT JUST SUDDENLY LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TRAGEDY. SUPPOSE A DRIVER HAS TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS AT THAT MOMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH I BELIEVE GM IS AWARE OF AND IS CHOOSING NOT TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT. I INTEND TO MAKE MY VOICE HEARD IN AS MANY FORUMS AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I SINCERELY HOPE IT CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE EVEN ONE PERSON LOSES THEIR LIFE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE SUCCESSFULLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
CAR BEGAN FAILING TO TURN OVER BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONTINUING TO TRY WOULD EVENTUALLY SUCCEED. SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (EXCESSIVE MILEAGE) THE FAILURE REQUIRED SERVICE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WAS 'STICKING' AND CAUSING A SECURITY LOCKOUT. *TR
LIKE MANY OTHERS I ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION AND IT WAS REPAIRED THIS PAST WINTER WHILE MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE SAME TIME THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR A STRANGE GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM MY HEATER IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH NO SUCCESS IN SOLVING THE ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER HEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ITEM AGAIN. ALSO I HAD RECENTLY REPLACE THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT SOCKET SINCE IT WAS OVERHEATING AND MELTING, (WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE) WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I AM ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH MY POWER STEERING TURNING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. MOST OF THESE ISSUES I HAVE FOUND ON HERE I HOPE SOMEONE IS REALLY LOOKING INTO THEM CAUSE SATURN CERTAINLY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY DIDN'T CARE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. DURING THE WINTER, IT TAKES A HALF AN HOUR TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER ASSEMBLY SOLENOID IN 2007. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. THE OIL THAT WAS USED AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING PREVENTS THE ELECTRICITY TO CONNECT TO THE STARTER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,200.
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL IS MADE SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH POTENTIAL TO DO HARM (THINK: BEING STRANDED IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES.) . *TR
I AM HAVING A CONSISTENT PROBLEM W/ MY 2004 SATURN ION 4 DOOR 3.3 ENGINE. THE PROBLEM BEING IS NO CRANK WITH POWER ON. AFTER WAITING 10 - 15 MINUTES THE CAR WILL CRANK & START. THIS HAPPENS INTHE MORNING TRYING TO GET TO WORK, AT THE GAS STATION TRYING TO LEAVE AFTER A FILL UP, AT THE RED LIGHT IF I PUMP THE IGNITION JUST SO. AFTER READING SEVERAL ION FORUMS THERE IS A VERY LARGE PROBLEM HERE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AT LEAST INVESTIGATED. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO SATURN MONDAY THE 3.23.09 TO HAVE OIL CHANGE & NO CRANK W/ POWER EVALUATED. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED. *TR