2004 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

'04 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER. SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING. MUST WARM KEY/IGNITION, AND AFTER 15 MINUTES CAR MAY START. *TR

CAR WON'T START IN COLD WEATHER. WON'T EVEN TURN ON, THEN WILL AND SHUTS RIGHT OFF. *NM

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION 3. I HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR THREE WINTERS IN WHICH I HAVE HAD STARTING PROBLEMS EVERY WINTER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY ALL THREE WINTERS, TO FIND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. AFTER MANY READING MANY BLOGS AND WEBSITES I HAVE FOUND THAT SATURN USES AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT FREEZES IN THE COLD. SATURN ALSO DOES NOT CLAIM TO THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO MECHANIC KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I LIVE IN A PLACE THAT IS KNOWN FOR COLD WINTERS SO I KNOW NOW (ESPECIALLY AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE NET) THAT THE MECHANICS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE CARS. MY HUSBAND HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FIND THAT IT DID NOT HELP (OBVIOUSLY IF WE ARE USING THE SAME FREEZING PART)! THIS IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM SORRY, BUT IF I GET STUCK OUT AT A REST STOP ON SOME HIGHWAY BY MYSELF OR WITH MY YOUNG CHILD IN BELOW 30 DEGREES, THAT BECOMES SAFETY ISSUE TO ME!!! ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS PRESENTED ITSELF IN THE ION IS MY SEAT BELTS. THEY DO NOT LOCK OR RETRACT. THERE HAS BEEN NO TAMPERING OR CHANGING OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

2004 SATURN ION, REFUSES TO START IN COLD WEATHER - MAINLY AFTER AN OVERNIGHT PARK IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES...WAIT 10 MINUTES, AND IT STARTS. *JB

CAR WILL SPORADICALLY NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. STARTS FINE IN WARM SEASON. WAITING 10 MINUTES AFTER INITIAL TRY WILL USUALLY REMEDY THIS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS 5 TIMES A WEEK AND NORMALLY IN THE MORNING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STARTER AND BATTER HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASS-LOCK SYSTEM BEING TEMPERAMENTAL. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND CONDENSATION. THE COLD START TRIGGERS AN APPROXIMATE 10 MINUTE WAIT TIME BEFORE THE SYSTEM IS RESET AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER UNTIL AFTER THAT PERIOD. I HAVE READ WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DISABLED THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM TO REMEDY THIS WITH GOOD RESULTS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH PAYING A MECHANIC TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM OR DOING THIS MYSELF AND FEEL THAT SATURN SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A SPORADIC AND TEMPERAMENTAL PROBLEM IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE.... HENCE THE DOZENS OF ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE REPLACING STARTERS AND BATTERIES WITH NO LASTING RESULTS. I HAVE, WITH MIXED RESULTS, THAT HEATING THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE THE INITIAL START WILL CAUSE A BETTER CONNECTION. I AM GOING TO TRY THIS METHOD. OVERALL THIS IS JUST A RIDICULOUS ISSUE AND I'M TIRED OF BEING LATE FOR WORK AND STARTING MY CAR 10 TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING MY CAR UNATTENDED WHILE GETTING READY. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP FIX THE PROBLEM FOR ME AND THE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SUCH STRONG DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR SATURN VEHICLES. *TR

WE OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS INTO THE BELOW 30 F, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY IS GOOD. SATURN HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS SO WIDESPREAD AND PERVASIVE OF A PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF SATURN/GM, AND THE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF SATURN/GM. IN ADDITION, PUTTING A SMALL ELECTRIC HEATER IN THE COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR TO KEEP THE CAR WARM, SO THE CAR WILL START WHEN IT IS COLD, PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION (FIRE, PROPERTY DAMAGE, ETC) OWNERS OF AFFECTED SATURN'S SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ENDURE. *NM

I HAVE HAD MY 04 ION FOR ONE AND HALF YEARS NOW, AND LAST YEAR WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COLD, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE GREASE AROUND THE IGNITION COULD NOT TOLERATE THE COLD WEATHER HERE IN NEVADA. SO I HAD IT REPLACED. PROBLEM SOLVED, UNTIL THIS YEAR. JUST TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, IT DIDN'T START. NOW THE WEATHER HERE HAS BEEN IN THE TEENS FOR THE PAST WEEK, THIS TELLS ME THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE TEMPERATURE, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHAT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *JB

TRIED TO START CAR NOTHING, SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT COMES ON. REPLACED BATTERY AND NEXT DAY SAME THING NO START. AFTER WAITING 10-15 MINUTES CAR STARTS LIKE NOTHING EVER WRONG . CALLED DEALER TOLD ITS GOING TO COST $175 FOR NEW SWITCH. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. I PURCHASED IT IN JULY OF 04. IT NOW HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT & JUST STARTEDTO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ON VERY COLD MORNINGS (15-25 DGREES) IT WILL NOT START. AFTER TRYING TO START IT AFTER 15-30 MINUTES (OR TRYIN TO JUMP IT OFF) IT FINALLY CRANKS. NOW I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB (WHERE I GOT THIS WEBSITE) & NUMEROUS SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT IS THE BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). IT IS AROUND $600 TO REPLACE THIS. WHY SHOULD THE OWNERS HAVE TO PAY THIS IF ITS A PART THAT SHOULD BE CLEARLY RECALLED! ITS SATURNS FAULT, MAKE THEM PAY THE MONEY. NOT SINGLE MOTHERS SUCH AS MYSELF! *JB

CAR WOULDN'T START WHENEVER TEMP GOT BELOW 35 DEGREES. THIS HAPPENED TWICE.........THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE STARTER SWITCH NEEDED REPLACED! THIS ON A CAR THAT HAS FEWER THAN 60K ON IT. THEY ALSO HAD TO REPROGRAM THE BCM. APPARENTLY, I'M ONE OF 100'S THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM! SATURN DEALER WAS VERY NICE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING............BUT IS THIS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE TEMP IS REALLY FRIGID AND YOUR CAR NEEDS TO START TO KEEP WARM?? *NM

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 SATURN ION NOT STARTING A FEW TIMES LAST WINTER I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO WATER IN THE FUEL OR A BATTERY PROBLEM AND AFTER TAKING STEPS TO FIX ANY DEFECTS WITH EITHER I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEM WITH MY CAR UNTIL THE FIRST COLD DAY THIS WINTER. IT HAS IN THE LAST MONTH FAILED TO START AT LEAST 6 TIMES, ALL ON COLD MORNINGS. IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO I DID SOME RESEARCH BEFORE CALLING THE DEALER AND FOUND OTHER OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM, THEY WERE STILL GOING TO CHARGE ME DIAGNOSTIC FEES IF I BROUGHT IN MY CAR. I CONTACTED THE SATURN CORPORATION TO FIND OUT WHY THAT HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND DID NOT GET AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. I AM PRESENTING THIS AS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR A FEW REASONS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE SITTING IN YOUR CAR IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO EVENTUALLY START. YOU CAN'T PLAN AHEAD FOR EMERGENCIES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE AUTOMATIC LOCKS THAT UNLOCK EVERYTIME YOU REMOVE THE KEY AND THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER IF I DON'T REMOVE THE KEY IN BETWEEN EACH ATTEMPT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SITTING IN MY CAR FOR 10-15 MINUTES, LATE AT NIGHT, AFTER WORK IN A DARK PARKING LOT WITHOUT LOCKED DOORS, AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO MY FAMILY OR ANYONE ELSE'S JUST BECAUSE THEIR CAR WASN'T BUILT PROPERLY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS DEVELOPED DUST AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR DOOR CAME OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED A BUNGY CORD WAS USED TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM OPENING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT THEN CLEANED OFF HEAVY DUST FROM THE LOCKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR SEALS BUT THAT DID NOT HELP*NM

2004 SATURN ION III LOST 4 OF 5 QUARTS OF OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,000. THE DEALER SAID, TOO BAD". *NM

DRIVING CAR IN FRONT STOPS FAST. I TURN TO MISS BUT NOT ENOUGH, SO WE CRASHED. NO AIR BAG COME ON, NO MOTOR KILL, NO FUEL KILL. AND WE WHERE GOING 35 AT THE MAX. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BULB AND FUSES SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. A RECALL WAS DISCOVERED FOR THIS COMPONENT, HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 35 MPH ON A STREET, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE. DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START CONSISTENTLY DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY ALREADY WHICH ENDED UP NOT BEING THE PROBLEM. THEN I FOUND INFORMATION ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MY HARD EARNED MONEY ON PROBLEM THAT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SATURN/GM TO HAVE SOME INTEGRITY ON THIS ISSUE, DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE THEIR OWN RECALL, BUT SO FOR THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2004 SATURN ION 2 COUPE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS, THEY WERE WORN DOWN TO THE IRON. I BOUGHT AMERICAN STEEL ROTORS FROM MIDAS. I'M STILL USING THE NEW ROTORS AND EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE BRAKES, ARE STILL LIKE NEW. MY CAR IS IN A GARAGE AND I DON'T DO MUCH DRIVING. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I HAD MY NEW 1992 SATURN SL1. NOW I'M TOLD MY SWAY BAR IS GOING AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES AND THE SWAY BAR BECAUSE IT'S A SATURN AND I NEEDED TO DRIVE IT AND APPLY THE BRAKES HARDER AND PARTS FOR THE SWAY BAR ON THE 2004 HAD TO BE IMPORTED AND WERE POORLY MADE. I FIND THIS SUSPICIOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN A FENDER BENDER. I NOTED 2006 ON MY SATURN 2010 FROM IT'S FIRST PROBLEM, A YEAR LATER ON THE SWAY BAR AND A COUPLE MORE YEARS ON THE 2ND SWAY BAR. THE 1992 SATURN WAS AN ONGOING SITUATION WITH THE ROTORS TILL I JUNKED IT AROUND 2011.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND SHE HAD TO HOLD ON TO THE SHIFTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUAL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE LOCAL MECHANICS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HAS REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT SHE NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO LOCKED IN GEAR AND SHE COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT 9,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THIRTY SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS NEVER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CONTACT WOULD NOT PAY $500.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID PUMP! I LIVE IN LAS VEGAS, SO YOU WOULD NOT THINK THAT THE PUMP MOTOR WOULD GO OUT AFTER ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OF USE BUT IT DID!! CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP SAID TO BRING IT IN. AFTER UPON GETTING THE ITEM LOOKED AT TOLD ME THAT HEAVY USE OF THE ITEM LEADS TO PUMP MAL-FUNCTION. I THEN TOLD THEM WE LIVE IN THE DESERT! NO RAIN OR SNOW, HOW COULD I HEAVILY USE THIS ITEM. SO THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AT A WHOPPING 250.00 DOLLARS. SIX MONTHS LATER... YOU GUESSED IT PUMP OUT AGAIN. THEY THEN GIVE ME THE SAME LINES FROM ABOVE. THEY THEN WANT ME TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AGAIN! I TOLD THEM THAT MAYBE THEY GAVE ME A FAULTY PRODUCT OR THAT IT WAS REMANUFACTURED. THEY TOLD ME NO THAT IT IS A BRAND NEW PART NEVER USED. SO I CANT JUST HAVE NO FLUID ON A LONG ROAD TRIP DURING THE WINTER MONTHS SO I PAID FOR IT AGAIN! THIS SHOULD GO UNDER A RECALL!! THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS PART!!!!!!!*JB

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2004 SATURN ION COUPE. SHE IS A NEW DRIVER AND HAS TOLD ME AN SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE HOOD ON HER VEHICLE KEEPS OPENING BY ACCIDENT. I ASKED IF IT WAS OPENING ALL THE OR JUST PART OF THE WAY. SHE SAID JUST POPPING UP PART OF THE WAY AND SHE HAS TO OPEN IT FROM THE FRONT AND CLOSE IT COMPLETELY. I ASKED HER TO LET ME KNOW THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED AND SHE DID. I TOOK A LOOK AND SAW IT HAD RELEASED AND WAS ONLY BEING HELD SHUT BY THE SECONDARY SAFETY LATCH. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE LOCATION OF THE HOOD RELEASE I NOTED IT WAS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S LEFT. WHEN I TESTED IT, THE RELEASE ACTIVATE VERY EASILY. THE POSITION OF THE RELEASE IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE DRIVER'S FOOT AND IS LIKELY BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE FOOT MOVES AROUND OR WHEN THE DRIVER IS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. IN FACT, I DROVE HER CAR LAST WEEK AND HAD THE HOOD ACCIDENTALLY RELEASE 3 TIMES. ONE TIME I NOTICED WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION COULD EASILY LEAD TO A HOOD BLOWING UP AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IF THE SECONDARY SAFETY LATCH FAILS. THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT. I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, EXPLAINED MY CONCERN, AND WAS BASICALLY TREATED AS IF I WAS CRAZY. I ASKED FOR MY CONCERN TO BE SENT TO THE PRODUCT DESIGN AND SAFETY GROUP FOR REVIEW AND ASKED FOR A FOLLOW UP CALL. THEY TOLD ME "THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED AND NO ONE WOULD BE GETTING BACK WITH ME." *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNLESS SHE WAITED 15 TO 20 MINUTES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND REPLACED IT. ONE YEAR LATER, WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START UNLESS SHE WAITED 15 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON DECEMBER 12, 2008, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE DEALER WOULD ASSUME THE COST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

2004 SATURN ION RIGHT FRONT TIRE WORN DOWN TO METAL. THEN RIGHT FRONT LOWER ARM BROKE INTO CAUSING A CRASH. NO CORRECTIONS WERE DONE. SATURN CO. SAID IT WASN'T A FAULTY PART. SAID PART BROKE WHEN HITTING A THE CURB. CURB WAS HIT BECAUSE NO CONTROL OF STEERING. *NM

WHILE RUNNING THE A/C, IT WILL LEAK WATER ALL OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *TR

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IN THE STREET OR A CAR WASH, THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON, IT WON'T START. YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO START IT UNTIL THERE IS NO NOISE AT ALL EXCEPT FROM THE DASH BOARD. LET IT SIT FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES AND THEN IT WILL START AGAIN, AT LEAST UNTIL ANOTHER RAIN STORM OR CAR WASH. HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS, AT HOME BEFORE WORK, AND MANY OTHER TIMES. I JUST HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS IN AN EMERGENCY. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THREE OF THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS NOT OPENING OR CLOSING, INCLUDING THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE DRIVER WINDOW BEING STUCK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AT THE BANK, DRIVE THRUS, AND COULDN'T ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO COOL THE CAR OFF. ALL THREE WINDOWS WERE NOT WORKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WINDOW'S START WORKING AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING WHICH IS POWERED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD HEAR A ?DING,? THE DASH BOARD WOULD READ ?POWER STEERING? AND THEN IT WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. COOLANT LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL, THE TEMP IS RIGHT, AND FLOAT IS WORKING. THE DEALER WANTED $350 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK. I SAID FORGET IT AND PUT UP THE CONSTANT ?DING? FROM THE DASH BOARD EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. IF SOMETHING SHOULD EVER REALLY GO WRONG WITH IT, I WOULDN'T KNOW. THERE APPEARS TO BE A HUGE NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SATURN IONS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. DID THEY SET THE COMPUTERS OR ELECTRONIC PATS TO MALFUNCTION ON PURPOSE RIGHT AFTER WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED? *TR

CAR WILL RANDOMLY NOT START AND WILL ONLY START AGAIN WITH NEW SPARK PLUGS. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN GOING OUT AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. IN ORDER TO RESET IT I NEED TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE FIXED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT SAID TO FIX IT PERMANENTLY I NEED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. I RESEARCH OVER 20 CASES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR ON THIS SITE AND CARSTATS.COM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAN'T TURN THE WHILE QUICKLY YOU CAN'T AVOID ACCIDENTS. IT CAUSES STRAIN IN THE MUSCLES OF MY SHOULDER AND BACK. *TR

NO SPECIFIC ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WHAT APPARENTLY IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE DRIVER-SIDE OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR CANNOT BE ADJUSTED (ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY) OVER THE ANGLE RANGES NEEDED FOR SAFE DRIVING AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. THE MIRROR CAN BE ADJUSTED SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN SEE WELL BACK INTO THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS WORTHLESS) AND ONLY OUTWARDLY TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR IS STILL VISIBLE. ADJUSTMENT TO ALLOW VISIBILITY OTHER THAN STRAIGHT BACK IS NOT POSSIBLE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT A PHYSICAL STOP INSIDE THE HOUSING PREVENTED ANY MOVEMENT FURTHER OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. ENTERING A FREEWAY THIS WAY IS VERY HAZARDOUS SINCE THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC IN THE NEAR LANE CANNOT BE SEEN. IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW THE SERVICE PERSON HOW IT SHOULD WORK WE WENT TO ANOTHER MODEL OF SATURN AND THE RESULTS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME INDICATING THAT (AT LEAST) MORE THAN ONE MODEL OF SATURN HAS THIS SAME VISIBILITY PROBLEM. *NM

STARTER FAILURE SATURN ION IN COLD WEATHER. HALF HOUR TO 45 MINUTES TO CRANK - BACKFIRING IN A CLOSED SYSTEM WITH FUEL INJECTION OCCASIONALLY, TWICE BLOWING LID OFF OF AIR-FILTER COMPARTMENT - NOT A JOY. "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT GOES ON - LATE TO WORK - COMMON PROBLEM - LOTS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS. REPLACED BATTERIES BELIEVING THIS TO BE PROBLEM. NEW BATTERIES WITH HIGHER CRANKING AMPS DOES NOT SOLVE. NOT A BATTERY PROBLEM. DATE GIVEN IS MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, WITH ONLY ONE EVENT ON THAT DATE. IT ALSO OCCURRED ON 2/19/06, MANY TIMES IN 01/06, A FEW TIMES IN 12/05, AND SEVERAL TIMES IN 12/04, 01/05, AND 02/05. IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 02/04 - BUT THAT WAS A MUCH MILDER WINTER THAN YEARS THAT FOLLOWED. TREATMENT OF GASOLINE WITH "HEAT" DOES NOT SOLVE. CAR RUNS LIKE A DREAM WHEN WARMER WEATHER - UTTERLY INCONVENIENT AND EMBARRASSING ("WHAT? THIS IS A SATURN? NEW AND WON'T START? LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT?") WHEN COLD. BAD ADVERTISING FOR THE COMPANY TOO. *JB

2004 SATURN ION NO CRANK AND NO START WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS COLD. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. LOTS OF IONS HAVE THIS ISSUE. *JB

SINCE NOV. 2,2005 MY SATURN ION OF 20,000 MI. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP 5 TIMES,TOWED TWICE. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF NO ACCELERATION OR DROP OF SPEED FROM 60 MPH TO 10 OR 30 MPH WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LAST VISIT TO THE SHOP THEY FOUND "POWDER" IN MY FUEL TANK AND CLAIMS IT TO BE TALCUM POWDER. COULD THIS BE SUCH A THING OR HAS MY CAR BEEN TAMPERED WITH? OVERALL I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE LOST FAITH IN SATURN CARS. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE PREVIOUS DAY THE VEHICLE WAS USED TO JUMP START ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

MY 2004 SATURN ION COUPE NEVER STARTS IN THE COLD. IT HAS BECOME SUCH A HEADACHE I WARM A TOWEL IN THE MORNING PUT IT ON THE ENGINE BEFORE I START IT. I GET SUCH A MIGRAINE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR. I CALLED SATURN THEY SAID IT WAS A THEFT DEVICE AND MAYBE SOMEONE TRIED TO STEAL MY CAR OR GAS. CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! *NM

I HAVE TAKEN MY SATURN ION3 IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES NOW FOR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS 2005, THE SECOND WAS EXACTLY A MONTH LATER AND THE THIRD TIME WAS O WEEK AFTER THAT. ON THE FIRST VISIT THEY SAY THAT THEY REPLACED THE (BCM), ON THE SECOND VISIT THEY JUST REPLACED THE FUSE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY AND THE THIRD VISIT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER A WEEK. I PICKED MY CAR UP ON THURSDAY EVENING AND NOT 3 DAYS LATER AND THE FUSE IS BLOWN AGAIN. THEIR ONLY ANSWER WAS TO GIVE ME A COUPLE EXTRA FUSES IN THE PANEL AREA SO THAT I COULD CHANGE THEM MYSELF. *NM

I HAD MY 2004 ION 3 IN TO REPLACE A TIRE ON 11/19, THEN ON 11/30 HAD TIRES ROTATED COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT A RATTLE. PER DEALER THE HEAT SHIELDS WERE CRACKED AND THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER ON THAT DAY THE RATTLE IN THE FRONT SOUNDED WORSE, BUT I WAS TOLD HEAT SHIELDS WERE THE PROBLEM AND I KNEW THEY WOULD BE FIXED SOON. RATTLE PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE, CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT PART INFORMED THEM OF RATTLE GETTING WORSE, GOT APPOINTMENT TO BRING BACK SINCE PART WAS IN (APPT WOULD HAVE BEEN 12/26). DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EVENING OF 12/20, I WAS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED JERKING TO THE RIGHT, HEARD HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END. PULLED INTO GAS STATION, DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING, SOUND QUIETED. WHILE LEAVING GAS STATION I HEARD A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND PULLED OVER IN PARKING LOT, THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD A BLOWOUT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, THERE WAS ONE LUG NUT LEFT IN IT AND ONE LUG NUT HANGING OFF. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE SCREWS HAD SNAPPED OFF THE WHEELS, FORTUNATELY THERE WERE TWO SCREWS LEFT OTHERWISE I DON'T THINK THE TOW TRUCK COULD HAVE TOWED IT. WHEN I ADDRESSED CONCERNS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE WAS VERY HELPFUL AND FIXED THE CAR FOR FREE, SAID THE STUDS(SCREWS) WERE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE. WAS ADVISED BY HIM THIS IS MOST LIKELY SCENARIO AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE NOT TIGHTENING THE LUG NUTS ON THE 11/30 TIRE ROTATION (BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIM I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE 900 MILES IF THAT WERE THE CASE). THE DEALERSHIP WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP, BUT WORRIED IF ITS A DEFECT THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY POINT TO THE OTHER 3 TIRES. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE AT THE COST OF $300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, OBSERVED A SOFT FLAPPING SOUND THAT CAUSED CONCERN. BEFORE I COULD SLOW DOWN OR TAKE ANY ACTION THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND THEN THE COMPLETE TIRE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE ROADWAY AND CALLED THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND REQUEST ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. *JB

I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY OTHERS WITH THE ANTI-THEFT/ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR THEIR SHODDY WORK. I AM ABOUT TO GET A LAWYER AND SEE IF HE CAN GET MY CAR ISSUE RESOLVED WITH GM. WHEN IT IS COLD/WET THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL CRANK 1 TIME AND THEN NOTHING FOR 10 MINUTES. AFTER WAITING INSIDE THE CAR ON A VERY COLD MORNING I CAN ATTEMPT TO TRY MY CAR YET AGAIN. IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK AND THE CYCLE MAY NEED TO BE REPEATED. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED AND HAVE OFFERED TO GM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND WAS MET WITH UTTER INDIFFERENCE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THEIR BAD WORK AND I WILL NOT. *TR

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING SATURN ION ALUMINUM WHEELS. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL WHEELS DO TO THEM BENDING. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITION LEAKING WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

INSIDE OF RIM ON 2004 ION 3 BROKE OFF BREAKING SEAL TO TIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CAUSING A FLAT TIRE. RIM WAS CAST BY DESIGN. *JB

2004 ION 3 QUAD PURCHASED NEW IN 2004 CURRENTLY HAVE 18K MILES ON IT. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT STABILIZER BUSHING, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ALL HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THE ELECTRIC STEERING STILL DOESN'T SEEM CORRECT. SOMETIMES THE CAR PULLS WHEN YOU RAPIDLY ACCELERATE AND IS VERY TOUCHY. I DID READ THAT GM MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE ELECTRIC STEERING FOR 2005 ION, BUT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT (SAYS CAN NOT) MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE 2004. NOW WE HAVE THE LOSS OF POWER PROBLEM. HAS DONE IT WHEN CAR IS COLD AND HOT, USUALLY WHEN ACCELERATING, BUT ONCE JUST DRIVING 35 MPH. IT'S NOT A STALL JUST LIKE A LOSS OF POWER. CAR DOESN'T SHAKE OR JERK. ALMOST LIKE YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR THIS AND THE DEALER RESPONSE IS THE SAME AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED "NO COMPUTER CODES, COULD NOT REPRODUCE, NO PROBLEM FOUND". IT'S AT THE SHOP NOW BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 12/2 AND WE AGAIN COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR LOST POWER AFTER PICKING IT UP THE LAST TIME. THE LAST TIME IT FAILED MY WIFE WAS TAKING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT AND THE GUY BEHIND ALMOST HIT HER WHEN THE SATURN LOST POWER. LOOSING FAITH IN SATURN'S ENGINEERING. *NM

OEM TIRES ON 2004 SATURN ION RED LINE UNSAFE TO USE ON WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. HAD TO REPLACE TIRES WITH WINTER RATED ONES. *JB THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE ON SLIPPERY SURFACE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WENT A HALF A BLOCK PAST THE CONSUMER'S TURN WHEN THE ABS ACTIVATED BUT COULDN'T FIND A TIRE WITH ENOUGH TRACTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE OEM TIRES, DUNLOP SP9000, WERE THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V547000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL. SHE HAD THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THREE SEPARATE TIMES. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR, SHE BELIEVED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE COSTS FOR THIS REPAIR. *AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/29/05. **JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEY AND THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 9/8/2017*CN

SATURN ION 2004. TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 2004. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. SATURN STATED THERE HAD BEEN MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, SO REPLACED IT FOR FREE. (MINUS MY INCURRED COSTS OF TRAVEL). SECOND MAJOR DEFECT: MAY 2006, A CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. SATURN HAS AGREED TO "REPLACE" THE CYLINDER HEAD, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR $800.00 OF THE REPAIRS. A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 79K MILES. I KNOW THAT "REPLACING" THE CYLINDER HEAD WILL GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...AND I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE AND WEATHER ARE TOO COLD, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO START OR WILL NOT START AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DOES NOT HEAT UP NORMALLY. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MUST BE DONE MANUALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE STEERING COLUMN TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,899.

AS I WAS GOING TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION THIS MORNING, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAITED 15 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WAS ON AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING WAS ON. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LATE FOR WORK DUE TO THIS. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR STARTED. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED RECENTLY, SO I KNOW IT IS NOT MY FAULT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AT 9 AM AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN AT 4:00 PM , IF IT WOULD START. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE TOWED AND I WILL RECEIVE A RENTAL. *JB

2004 SATURN ION 2, CAR STALLS AND DOORS LOCK THE PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THESE 2 ISSUES AND HAS YET TO BE FIXED, CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING AT ANYTIME, SOMETIMES AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY OR TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT OR TURNING A CORNER. *NM

DEAR NHTSA ASSOCIATE, I HAD A 100% PARALLEL, FULL FRONTAL IMPACT, NO ANGLE, AS MY NEW CAR TRAVELING 35 MPH HIT A LARGE DELIVERY VAN TWICE THE WEIGHT OF MY VEHICLE WITH A SQUARE AND STEEL BUMPER THAT WAS STOPPED ( 1 MPH ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT ). THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY NECK AND HEAD WERE IMPACTED ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH I WAS USING MY SEATBELT PROPERLY. THE FORCE WAS SUFFICIENT TO STRAIN THE BELT AND INJURE MY HEAD. I HAD A CUT ON THE TOP OF MY FOREHEAD IN THE MIDDLE, A CONCUSSION, AND I AM CURRENTLY BEING TREATED FOR MIGRAINE TYPE HEADACHES BY A DOCTOR THAT HAVE OCCURRED DAILY SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I PLACED THE CAR INTO THE CARE OF A SATURN OWNED BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR AND ASKED THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM BE TESTED FOR FUNCTIONALITY. INSTEAD, I WAS GIVEN A 1-800 NUMBER FOR SATURN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO CALL. THEY SAID THE FIRST STEP WAS TO SEND ME THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURING INFORMATION BOOKLET AND TO CALL BACK AFTER READING IT. I DID SO AND ASKED THAT THE AIRBAGS BE TESTED WHILE IN THE CARE OF THE SATURN BODY SHOP, AS THE TYPE OF IMPACT AND MILES PER HOUR EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CONTAINED IN THE MANUAL THEY SENT TO ME. INSTEAD OF GRANTING CLEARANCE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TEST THE AIRBAGS, IN LIGHT OF MY VALID ARGUMENT OF THEIR DOCUMENTATION CONTRADICTIONS, SATURN CORPORATE INSTEAD ISSUED ME AN INTERNAL "CASE NUMBER" 1-17876541 AND TOLD ME SOMEONE IN THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 6 TO 8 WEEKS. I MENTIONED I WOULD HAVE THE CAR BACK BEFORE THEN AND WOULD BE AFRAID AND NERVOUS DRIVING IT AS I AM SURE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN THE FRONT IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL. THEY ACTUALLY SAID THEY COULD DENY TESTING THE SYSTEM AT ALL. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE, THE BODY DAMAGE WAS FIXED, AT A COST OF ALMOST 7 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE FRONT END, INCLUDING CUTTING OUT A PIECE OF THE FRAME AND WELDING A NEW SECTION IN.*JB