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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,720.
THE FUEL LINE STARTED DRIPPING. THE ENTIRE LINE IS RUSTED AND THE CAR CANNOT BE TURNED ON, IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE.
2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST INVOICE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE KEY BINDING IN THE HOUSING. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400 4305 /B12 TIRES (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BUT IT WAS STILL ABLE TO HOLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I STARTED MY CAR, PULLED FORWARD THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, DIDN'T REVERSE. HEADED DOWN WESTHEIMER AT ABOUT APPROX. 35 MPH. I DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE WHEN I HEARD THE WARNING CHIME AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT. LUCKILY I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD BEING IT WAS ABOUT 1 AM. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON SUDDENLY IT WAS BACK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO HOW LOOSE THE WHEEL WAS WHEN IT WAS COMING DOWN FROM THE LIFT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER LEAVING THE SHOP AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AND WOULD BE EXTREMELY EASY TO MAKE A RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,400.
OUT OF THE BLUE, THE CONSOLE MADE ALERT NOISES AND THE "PWR STR" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE STEERING BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, AS THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND NOT THE HIGHWAY, INTERSECTION OR OTHER DANGEROUS AREA. *TR
WHEN STARTING THE SATURN ON A COLD MORNING, THE IGNITION FAILS TO START THE CAR. I GET A SERVICE MESSAGE. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AS IF THE SECURITY WAS RESETTING ITSELF. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. GM WILL NOT OWN UP TO A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT LEAVES SATURN OWNERS COMPLETELY STRANDED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES, EVEN ON WARM DAYS. A RECALL MUST BE APPROVED FOR THIS MASSIVE SAFETY PROBLEM. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY THE CARS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SIT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN MINUTES OR STALL OUT IN UNSAFE AREAS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THIS IGNITION SWITCH INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED BASED ON HUNDREDS OF TESTAMENTS. I HAVE REPLACED MY STATER AND BATTERY BEFORE REALIZING THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE OF DEALING WITH. *TR
TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WE HEARD A TONE INDICATING SOMETHING WAS WRONG, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND WE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON. THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER AND WAS UNABLE TO QUICKLY MANEUVER. WE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER TRAVELING A FEW MILES. WE WERE ABLE TO GET HOME AND NOW THE POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN EVERY FEW MINUTES. CAR IS UNSAFE ON PUBLIC ROADS IN REGARDS TO BEING ABLE TO MAKE QUICK MANEUVERS AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CHEV. & PONT. CARS WITH SAME EQUIPMENT AND COMPLAINTS WERE RECALLED. SATURNS SHOULD BE ALSO. THERE IS AN OPEN ACTION NUMBER OF EA11014. *TR ..UPDATED 12/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SATURN VOLUNTEERED TO REPLACE A PORTION OF THE STEERING THAT CONTROLLED THE POWER STEERING AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 12/12/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO EXIT THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT HOWEVER, EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,755. AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,756.
EXCESSIVE BRAKE CHATTER IN FRONT BRAKES WHEN WET FROM A HARD RAIN OR RAIN PUDDLES. HARD TO STEER CAR, CAR SHUDDERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CHANGED DUE TO A RECALL. PRIOR TO THAT THE IGNITION KEY WOULD STICK AND WOULD NOT COME OUT. I HAD TO MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH AND AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WOULD COME OUT. I THOUGHT THAT THE RECALL WOULD CORRECT BUT IT DID NOT. I STILL HAVE THE SAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ARE THERE MORE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
FOR THE SECOND TIME THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKE. TODAY WE UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. WE HAD TO REMOVE FUSES TO KILL THE ENGINE AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE STUCK IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START. IN BOTH CASES WE HAD TO BREAK THE IGNITION LOCK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE LOCK CYLINDER. WITH THE CYLINDER REMOVED WE CAN USE A SCREW DRIVER TO START THE CAR. THE SCREW IS MUCH MORE RELIABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WRITE ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF [XXX]. [XXX] WERE KILLED ON AUGUST 17, 2012 IN A 2004 SATURN ION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A PICKUP TRUCK AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH EVEN THOUGH REPEATED ATTEMPTS WERE MADE HOWEVER, ONLY AFTER AWAITING A HOUR UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN THE KEY RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 09-03-14 *BF..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER AND PLASTIC. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AT DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS AND POWER LOCKS HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED FOR THE WINDOWS AND THEY BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. A PERSONAL MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE NEW FUSE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED TO ENSURE THAT NO ELECTRICAL FIRES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,500.
TODAY 8/8/12, I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 SATURN ION AT 5PM AFTER WORK & IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT TURN MY WHEEL AS I EXITED THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO SWERVE HARD TO MY RIGHT TO BY AVOID A COLLISION WITH TWO CARS FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I WAS TERRIFIED! MY DISPLAY SHOWED "PWR STR" I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, I LEFT MY CAR DIAGONALLY PARKED, SINCE IT WOULD NOT MOVE WENT FOR ASSISTANCE, A PASSERBY LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD FOR A WHILE THEN TURNED MY CAR ON AND THE DISPLAY WAS BACK TO MILEAGE AND MY WHEEL WAS WORKING FINE!! I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IT COULD BE AND HOW I COULD FIX IT, I FIND OUT THAT THEIR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING! I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTERS AT ALL. MY CAR HAS BEEN RELIABLE UP UNTIL NOW. IT HAS CLOSE TO 150K MIL (MILEAGE IS AN ESTIMATE ON THIS FORM) SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A GM PROBLEM, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AS THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE WARNING CHIME BEGAN TO SOUND. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE MONTH LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
MY POWER ASSIST STEERING WILL GO OUT SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING. AT FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY BUT NOW IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WILL COST OVER $1500 TO REPLACE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH IONS FROM THAT YEAR, BUT THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENT. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
STARTED LEAKING GAS FROM FUEL FILTER AND I CHECKED ON LINE FOR RECALLS AND WAS ONE FOR THAT VEHICLE I CALLED SATURN THEY SAID THERE WASN'T. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE MANUALLY DISCONNECTED SO THE ENGINE COULD SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,750 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,800.
POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND "PWR STR" NOTICE WAS DISPLAYED. CHANGED FUSE BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. I FOUND THE NHTSA RQ10004 INVESTIGATION IN AN INTERNET SEARCH. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS SATURN ION REDLINE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM SATURN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS REPORTED IN VARIOUS INTERNET ARTICLES/ BLOGS. *JS
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVERS SIDE WIPER WENT PAST THE A POST THEN JUMPED BACK TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
I WAS DRIVING IN AN ALLEY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST MY POWER STEERING (I WAS ALERTED WITH A MESSAGE). UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. SINCE THIS INITIAL INCIDENT, MY CAR HAS LOST THE POWER STEERING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, IN MULTIPLE SCENARIOS AND AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SPEEDS. IT HAS FAILED ON THE FREEWAY MULTIPLE TIMES, FORCING ME TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND COMPROMISE MY SAFETY. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED NO LESS THAN 20 TIMES SINCE MAY 17TH (IT IS NOW AUGUST 7TH). THIS DEFECT IS NOT ONLY UNACCEPTABLE, IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 5/20/14*CN UPDATED 06/17/14*MA UPDATED 8/7/17*CN
WENT TO HAVE THE IGNITION RECALL PERFORMED. CAR WAS WITH GM FOR OVER A MONTH. PICKED UP THE CAR. DROVE TO WORK. NEXT DAY DID NOT START. CALLED TO HAVE CAR TOWED BACK TO GM. GM HAD CAR FOR A DAY OR SO. REPLACE THE, IGNITION CYLINDER. HOPEFUL THAT IT IS REPLACED. CONCERN IF THE POWER STEERING HAS AN ISSUE. BEFORE GOING BACK TO WORK AFTER THE CYLINDER WAS REPLACE. TECH, FORGOT TO SET OR REPLACE THE COLUMN. STEERING OUT OF PLACE. I LIFTED THE COLUMN BACK INTO PLACE. UNKNOWINGLY, I DROVE IT FROM THE DEALER WITH IT OUT OF PLACE. *TR
WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON THE PARKING LIGHTS AND FRONT TURN SIGNALS STARTING BLINKING REALLY QUICK LIKE STROBING. I CAN TURN MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND IT WILL BLINK INSIDE HEARING THE NORMAL TICKING. IF I TURN MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ON IT THE ARROW ON THE INSIDE BLINKS SLOWER AND MAKES NO TICKING SOUND.IF I PUSH ON MY BRAKE THE LIGHT WORK PROBABLY AND THE TICKING SOUND ON THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INSIDE STARTS. IF I PUT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ON IT WORKS PROPERLY. THE STROBING OF THE FRONT OUTSIDE PARKING LIGHTS STOP. IF I TURN MY PARKING LIGHT ON AND DRIVE WITH THEM ON EVERYTHING WORKS PROPERLY. I KNOW THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. IT IS EFFECTING MY CAR SO BAD THAT MY RADIO DISPLAY LIGHT BLINKS ALSO. SO IT IS GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I HAVE A WRECK. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 2 CHILDREN. *TR
POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THIS VEHICLE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME POWER STEERING CONTROL FAILED. MANUAL STEERING WAS USED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND UPON RESTARTING, POWER STEERING RETURNED. *JS
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. PROBLEM NOW RECURS WHENEVER I DRIVE THE CAR, BEGINNING SHORTLY AFTER I START DRIVING. *TT
WHILE PARKING POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HOWEVER AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT START. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
I BACKED IN, MY 2004 SATURN ION, IN MY DRIVEWAY, PUT THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DOORS DID NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY AS USUAL, THE KEY WOULD NOT GO PAST ACC POSITION. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND TRIED AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. AFTER MANY TRIES IT SOME HOW VENT TO OFF. COUPLE DAYS LATER I TOOK THE CAR TO SATURN - CHEVROLET DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. THE DEALER CAME BACK WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $615.00 LISTING AS FOLLOWS: CHECK OUT - CODE FEE, IGNITION CYLINDER 15785084, NPC, KEY 22679805, , ADJUST SHIFT CABLE, REPROGRAM, LABOR 3 HR. I DID NOT GET IT FIXED SO THEY CHARGED ME $129.57 FOR THEIR ESTIMATE. WHEN THE RECALL CAME THROUGH I FIGURED THAT MY PROBLEM WAS PART OF THE SWITCH.WRONG. TODAY THE DEALER COMPLETED THE RECALL AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. THIS TIME IT IS BLAMED ON GEAR SHIFTER AND WOULD COST ME $462.76, NO LISTING OF PARTS OR LABOR BUT JUST SCRIBBLED ON BACK OF MY RECALL BILL OF $0.00. ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THOSE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GET THE KEY OUT MANUALLY WITH MY LEFT LAND THUMB THROUGH AN OPENING UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE DATES OF WHEN WE NOTICED THE PROBLEMS. SO FAR I HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 04 ION'S FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CHEAPLY MADE PLASTIC WIPER LINKAGES THAT BREAK EASY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SO FAR BECAUSE THE PART FAILS AND YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR, AND MOST RECENTLY I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO ASK ABOUT A "CLUNKING" NOISE IT MAKES WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN FOR A KNOWN STEERING LINKAGE OR STEERING MOTOR (EPS) PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ON THESE CARS THE STEERING LINKS/MOTOR HAVE TENDANCY TO BREAK! IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD RESULT IN DEATH! I'VE ALSO DONE SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND MANY FORUMS/ARTICLES WITH OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL. ONE COMMENT I READ THE PERSON SAID "THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!" MINE AND MANY OTHER'S 04 SATURN ION'S HAVE ALOT OF KNOWN YET SERIOUS ISSUES BUT SATURN STILL HAS NO RECALLS FOR THIS CAR!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM! -CONCERNED/FRUSTURATED SATURN OWNER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL WAS EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEAT WAS SOAKED WITH FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTER WERE RUSTED, CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE REAR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW FUEL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,100.
BELOW A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE IF THE CAR IS NOT WARM OR THE IGNITION IS NOT WARM WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE; THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM TURNS ON. ONCE THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS ON I CANNOT START THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. USUALLY MAKING ME LATE FOR SOMETHING. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED AND WOULD LIKE COMPENSATION IF POSSIBLE. *JS
POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/25/12. I FELT STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT AND SAW MESSAGE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY. BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE, SATURN WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS UNDER THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY". A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING WOULD RESETS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS AUTOMATIC AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
TRAVELING UP A STEEP HILL IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE POWER CUT OUT. ALL DIALS DROPPED TO ZERO. WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS FLASHED AND THEN TURNED OFF. POWER STEERING CUT OUT. I HAD ENOUGH FORWARD MOMENTUM TOO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. AFTER TURNING THE KEY TO THE FULL OFF POSITION I RESTARTED THE CAR AND CONTINUED TO WORK. I HAVE NOT HAD THAT EXACT PROBLEM REPEAT ITSELF SINCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND GATHERING SPEED, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR REACHED 85MPH. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME (10 MILES) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR
IN DEC. 2011, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AND I PAID $280 FOR A REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY USED ANOTHER FAULTY SWITCH THAT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF THE CURRENT RECALL. IN CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY, I AM USING A SINGLE KEY, AS GM INSTRUCTED, AND WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO GET THE PART TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. SUPPOSEDLY, IT WILL HAPPEN THIS MONTH - APRIL. ALSO IN 2011 (OR MAYBE THE BEGINNING OF 2012) I EXPERIENCED THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THAT WAS PAID FOR BY GM BUT, AGAIN, NOW I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY PUT IN ANOTHER FAULTY POWER STEERING COLUMN THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S RECALL. WHEN I CALLED GM TODAY, THEY SAID THAT LAST POWER STEERING REPLACEMENT WAS NOT A RECALL, IT WAS A SPECIAL SAFETY ISSUE #10187. I ASKED IF THE INCENTIVE TO TRADE IN THE CAR WOULD BE EXTENDED DUE TO ANOTHER RECALL AND THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION BECAUSE THAT IS A SALES ISSUE, NOT A REPAIR ISSUE. I THINK IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THIS CAR, MAYBE WITH A FORD! *TR
MULTIPLE FAILURES OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. GAUGES DROP TO ZERO, THE ENGINE MAY OR MAY NOT STOP RUNNING, THEN THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS ( IE OIL WARNING LIGHT, ECT ) COME ON, AND THEN DASH RETURNS TO NORMAL. IF THE CAR IS MOVING THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING AGAIN. ONE STEERING WARNING MESSAGE DURING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER INTO AND OUT OF THE CORNER. I AM WILLING TO TURN MY CAR OVER TO HAVE THE STEERING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OUT. SATURN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS USED TO CHECK THIS ISSUE OUT AS WELL. *TR