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
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HER POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER 2004 SATURN ION. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. APPARENTLY MY WIFE'S CAR HAS THE SAME STEERING AS THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE VERY SAME THING. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CONSUMERS THAT DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING THIS CAR AND THAT THEIR STEERING CAN GO OUT ON THEM AT ANY MOMENT? THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN REVVING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE WENT UNDER HIS HOOD AND PLACED THE THROTTLE BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. IT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.
THIS COMPLAIN HAS TO DO WITH A SATURN 2004 ION, MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL, IT WAS HARD TO MAKE LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, AS DRIVING WITH A STEERING WHEEL THAT IS HARD TO MOVE IS REALLY DANGEROUS. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING TO A FAR PLACE, BUT I HAVE BEEN ONLINE CHECKING THE RECALLS ON THE SATURN ION 2004, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY WILL NOT RECALL THESE CARS, I KNOW THAT IS A LOSS ON MONEY BUT HONESTLY IS GOING TO BE YOUR FAULT IF SOMEONE GETS HURTS WHILE DRIVING WITH DEFECTS ON THE SATURNS, THEY WILL BE SUED . SO DON'T THINK ABOUT THE MONEY , THINK ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE, SO IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPENED TO ME, I WILL SUED THIS COMPANY . *TR
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND KEEP UP ON THE MAINTENANCE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS MISINTERPRETING A THEFT AND LOCKING UP THE FUEL . I READ THAT CHANGING THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT SATURN (GM) HAS KNOWN OF THIS COMPLAINT FOR SOME TIME NOW. THEY HAVE A NEW IMPROVED PART TO REPLACE THIS BAD ONE BUT I DON'T FEEL IT IS WORTH $400.00+ TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT WHEN IT IS A QUICK FIX AND IT IS THEIR FAULT TO START WITH. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE COLD WAITING AND PRAYING FOR THE CAR TO START SO THAT I CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME AND BACK HOME. IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 42,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
WITHOUT NOTICE, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL START AND RUN LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED TOO, BUT AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANTS WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD, ALL THE LIGHTS, GAUGES AND HORN WILL WORK, BUT NO POWER GOES TO THE STARTER. AFTER A EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, TEN MINUTES OR MORE, THE CAR WILL START. THIS IS A RANDOM CONDITION, THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS OF WHEN IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS EITHER A GLITCH IN THE SECURITY PROGRAM OR THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GREASE IN THE STARTED SWITCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD MOMENTARILY INCREASE AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A WIRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS, STOPPED TO GET GAS (CAR WAS WORKING FINE), WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE GAS STATION I HEARD THE WARNING CHIMES AND THE DASH FLASHED "PWR STR". IMMEDIATELY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY TURNS, BUT STILL POSSIBLE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A MINUTE, TURNED IT BACK ON. FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE STEERING FELT FINE AND I HAD NO WARNING CHIMES OR LIGHTS, THEN AS I PULLED OUT INTO THE STREET, THE CHIMES AND THE PWR STR WARNING CAME BACK AND I WAS ON MY OWN AGAIN. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND LATER IN THE EVENING TRIED TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST A FLUKE, BUT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED I IMMEDIATELY HAD THE WARNING. THIS JUST HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY SO I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. *TR
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION2. AT FIRST, I ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING. IF I WOULD WAIT FOR ANY UNGIVEN LENGTH OF TIME, IT WOULD MAGICALLY START. NOW, MY KEY HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION FOR TWO WEEKS. (STILL STUCK) I WENT TO A SATURN DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE SOLENOID, THE HOUSING UNIT, OR EVEN BOTH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY MAY HAVE WORN DOWN, OR A PART IN THE HOUSING MAY HAVE SCRATCHED THE INNER SURFACE OF THE HOUSING CAUSING THE KEY TO BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO THE "COLD" WEATHER ISN'T A FACTOR HERE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS WHO RIDE WITH ME EVERYDAY, AND I FEAR THAT WE WILL GET STRANDED IN GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE. IF MY CAR IS STOLEN BECAUSE THE KEY IS ALWAYS IN THE IGNITION, IF IT GETS STOLEN, WILL MY INSURANCE EVEN PAY FOR MY LOSS??? I THOUGHT SATURN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY GOOD WITH PROBLEMS INVOLVING THEIR AUTOMOBILES. I GUESS THAT IDEA ONLY APPLIED TO THEIR COMMERCIALS. *TR
ON MORNINGS WHEN IT IS COLD AND HAS BEEN DURING THE NIGHT AS WELL, MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP IN ORDER FOR IT TO DIAGNOSE THE REASON IT IS NOT STARTING. THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE TBS THAT IS OUT ON THE NO CRANK, NO START FOR THE IGNITION. THE OLD PART IS STILL CURRENTLY IN MY CAR. *TR
MY 2004 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START ON MANY COLD MORNINGS. IT STARTED INITIALLY, I DROVE IT TO THE GAS STATION, THEN IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE BATTERY WAS FINE, BUT I REPLACED IT ANYWAY. THIS ISSUE PRESENTS IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS: TURN KEY AND GET NOTHING, OR TURN KEY AND HEAR AN INITIAL CRANK AND THEN IT SHUTS OFF. LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK. CAR WILL EVENTUALLY CRANK AND TURN OVER AFTER 10-20 MINUTES. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. GM CLAIMS THAT THE CAR CAN STILL BE DRIVEN WITH EXTRA EFFORT. THAT'S BULL!!!! I AM A 200 POUND 6FT TALL MAN. AND I CANNOT STEER THE CAR INTO INTO A DRIVE WAY TO EXIT THE ROADWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 96000 MILES ON IT. HOW DOES THE SORRY EXCUSE FOR A RECALL FROM GM HELP ME?!!!!! 10 YEAR OR 100K MILE. MY CAR NOW HAS 150K MILES ON IT. PLEASE MAKE GM DO A FULL RECALL ON THESE VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY; THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
I LIVE IN MINNESOTA WHEN THE TEMP DROPS BELOW 30 DEGREES MY 2004 SATURN ION2 WON"T START. THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING LAST WINTER, I HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THAT. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY LAST WINTER. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. USUALLY IT TAKES FROM 15MINUTES TO HALF A HOUR FOR CAR TO START. BUT TODAY WAS DIFFERENT WENT OUT TO START MY CAR BECAUSE THE TEMP WAS 28DEGREES THIS MORNING I TRIED TO START MY CAR FOR OVER A HOUR I WAS ALMOST LATE FOR WORK STILL NO START. THEN I TRIED STARTING MY CAR WHEN I GOT OFF WORK STILL NO START. I SPOKE WITH A COWORKER SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SHE REPLACED BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR AND HER DOES NOT START WHEN IT RAINS. WHY IS THERE NOTHING BEING DONE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS SOLD BY SATURN IT HAS GM PARTS. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ALARM SHUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN ION VIN# [XXX]. AND THE POWERSTEERING GAVE OUT 2 YEARS AGO A COUPLE TIMES BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL CAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND IT IS NOW IT DOES INTERMITTENTLY . I KNOW THE POWER STEERING FOR THE ION IS ALL ELECTRIC SO I LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT AND IN MY OPINION A DEFECT. IF YOU COULD PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CHECK INTO THIS ISSUE. 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 3 COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE HARD AND DISPLAYED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. HE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,640.
2004 SATURN ION VTI TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PULLING OUT OF A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS A POORLY MADE GM PRODUCT; SATURN WAS AWARE OF IT, GM HAS BEEN AWARE. RECALLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RIP OFF THE BUYER WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT FAIL WITHIN 66,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY. THERE WILL BE NO MORE GM PURCHASES WITH MY DOLLARS. MY WORK IS WORTH A BETTER PRODUCT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER BECAME EXTREMELY COLD SHE WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. SHE STARTED TO NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WAS TO PLACE A HOT TOWEL AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 162,000.
2004 SATURN ION WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING IN DRIVE WHILE TURNING ONTO THE FREEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD. NOTHING WAS DONE BECAUSE THEY WANT $5,000 TO FIX THE CAR. FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET NHTSA#10032327, STATES THAT SATURN GM WILL PAY 50% OF COST OF REPLACEMENT, SATURN DEALER WILL NOT HONOR SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OFF IN MY CAR. THE CAR WILL DING AND A MESSAGE WILL FLASH THEN ALL THE SUDDEN YOU CANT TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. *TR
I HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND MY STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD AFTER DRIVING FOR SO LONG AND IN THE MESSAGE CENTER PWR STR COMES ON. IN THE MORNING DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER MY CAR WILL NOT START AND WILL SAY SERVICE VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
CAN'T REMOVE KEY FROM SWITCH SATURN ION 04 CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF NOR CAN YOU REMOVE THE KEY HAD TO PULL THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT CAR OFF. *TR
THE CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OR MOIST OUT. THIS IS WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY. BUT, IF YOU WAIT 15 TO 20 MINUTES IT WILL START WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MY 2004 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME APPEARED. I LOST POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN MY VEHICLE AROUND AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. I IMMEDIATELY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY IN PLACE FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE REPAIRED BUT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES (118,000) IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHEET METAL PART FORMED INTO A RECTANGLE SHAPE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL AND THE FRAME WORKING AS A TYPE OF ARM TO CONNECT THE WHEEL TO THE FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART CORRODED AND THAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE PART AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE DEALER AND THE POLICE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 45000.
CAR PARKED BESIDE BUSY THOROUGHARE OVERNIGHT. *TR
CAR HAS 70000 MILES, POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF, INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. FUSES WERE REPLACED, THE MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BAD, AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER SATURN CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,020.
WHILE DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES, THE CAR DINGED AND THE PWR STR LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE WHEEL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL AND WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY! *TR
MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. IT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE LAKE ONE DAY AND WAS DRIVING DOWN A CURVY ROAD AN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT! IT TOOK ALL THAT I HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL SO I WOULD NOT GO OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN THE HILLS SIDE! THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AFTER A LOT OF TURNING. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF THAT IT WILL RESET IT'S SELF, BUT THIS IS STILL VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. A WEEK AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING THAT IF I HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT IT COULD BE FIXED AT ANY GM DEALER, BUT WHEN I MADE MY APPOINTMENT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE MY CAR IS PRIOR SALVAGED AND THIS IS NOT A RECALL! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS IT WILL COST $600 TO $1000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ECONOMY IS BAD ENOUGH WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY OR NEED TO BE PAYING FOR GM'S MISTAKES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AN IT NEEDS TO BE TAKING CARE OF! *TR
THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF THE SATURN ION 2004 WILL NOT COME OUT AND THE CAR CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF . JUST LAST MONTH THE KEY WOULD NOT FO INTO THE IGNITION OR START THE CAR. BROUGHT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP HAD TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER PUT IN A MONTH AGO. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION HOUSING. THIS IS NOT JUST MY CAR. 90 % OF THE 2004 AND 2006 HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IF NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY THE CAR COULD OVERHEAT .AND EVEN CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION . WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING CHIME SOUND ALERTED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A USED STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHEN THE CHIME ALERTED HIM AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THERE WERE FRONT END DAMAGES AND NO INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67000.
SATURN NOTIFIED ME IN AUGUST OF 2010 THAT THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TO 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PART WENT OUT A FEW YEARS AGO AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO. MY CAR IS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES. HAD I BEEN INFORMED BEFORE THE INTITIAL WARRANTY RAN OUT, I WOULD'VE HAD IT FIXED. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
MY 2004 SATURN ION IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT RESETS IT, AS IT IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND KEEPS GETTING WORSE. IT WILL TURN OFF ABOUT 10 TIMES IN A MILE ON AVERAGE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND IT HAS CAUSED 14 DEATHS IN OTHER INSTANCES. AFTER CALLING THE DEALER, THEY SAY IT IS NOT A RECALL, AND WILL NOT HELP ME OUT. A FEW GM CARS LIKE THE COBALT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN. I AM IN THE PROCESS TO FIND THE PARTSAND REPLACED THEM, BUT THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. HERE IS A LINK ON A DISCUSSION FORUM FOR THIS TOPIC. HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/1695/SATURN-ION-POWER-STEERING-ISSUES. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE RENDERS VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND JUST PLAIN DANGEROUS. MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON 3 OCCASIONS THIS WEEK AND WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS NOT FAVORABLE AND I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE TRANNY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED TO BE THE TRANNY AND THEY TRIED TO PUT A BANDAIDE ON IT BY FLUSHING IT AND CHANGING THE FLUIDS. ONE WEEK LATER SAME NOISE ONLY LOUDER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANNY. 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR; THE NOISE RETURNED, THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS, IN THE TRANNY THEY JUST PUT IN IT. JUST OVER 12,0000 MILES LATER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANNY WAS AGAIN REPLACED, THAT WAS JUST UNDER 12,0000 MILES AGO AND THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING AGAIN, ONLY NOW THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE SAY I AM OUT OF FUNDS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A VEHICLE BEYOND IT'S WORTH. I HAVE HAD THE AXLE REPLACED TWICE AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN, EXTENDED WARRANTY AGAIN SAY'S THEY ARE DONE PAYING OUT ON THIS CAR EVEN THOUGH MY TIME OR MILEAGE IS NOT EXPIRED ON THE WARRANTY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FAILED TO START AND BECAUSE I HAD READ THIS WEB SITE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS CAR I KNEW TO WAIT 5-15 MIN AND TRY AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT SO FAR IT EVENTUALLY STARTS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON CREDIT JUST OVER A YEAR AGO TO GET A RELIABLE VEHICLE BECAUSE I WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK OUT OF MY CAR AND IT IS BECOMING A NIGHTMARE NO-ONE WILL WAKE ME UP FROM. AND BECAUSE I AM UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LOAN I CANNOT EVEN TRADE IT IN FOR SOMETHING THAT IS RELIABLE. FOR THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECOURSE TO THE CONSUMER. I HAVE HAD THE TRANNY REPLACED TWICE AND FIXED TWICE, THE AXLE HAS BEEN DONE TWICE AND NEED IT AGAIN. CHEVY BOUGHT THIS COMPANY OUT AND SHOULD HAVE TO HONOR THE STANDARDS FOR A SAFE VEHICLE OR STOP SELLING THEM TO UNSUSPECTING BUYERS. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT AND SOUND POPS UP ON DASH. POWER STEERING GOES OUT. VERY SCARY. AT HIGHWAY SPEED NOT TOO BAD UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO EVADE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. AT LOW SPEED VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER TURNS OR AROUND OBJECTS IN THE ROAD INCLUDING CHILDREN AND PETS. TURN CAR OFF, TURN BACK ON AND STEERING RETURNS FOR A WHILE AND THEN HAPPEN AGAIN, AND AGAIN. *TR
MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 POWER STEERING KEEPS ON FAILING. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON IT AGAIN AND IT WORKS AGAIN. IT APPEARS FROM THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND THAT THE COBALT WITH THE EXACT SAME STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS RECALLED BUT THE ION WAS NOT. THIS IS SCARY WHEN DRIVING AND YOUR POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT. IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE ON ME AND IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AND THEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FUSES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
SATURN ION 2004 2.2LTR L4 WITH 28K MILES. AFTER DRVING 3 OR 4 BLOCKS ONLY, "PWR STR" INDICATOR LIGHTED UP ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE STEERING GOT REALLY HARD, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAD HAPPENED LIKE 1 OR 2 YEARS BEFORE WHILE DRIVING IN MY PARKING, BUT IT WAS GONE THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. MY VEHICLE'S 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT APPEARS QUITE FREQUENTLY. I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECK OUT OVER A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. FOR A YEAR, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP. LAST NIGHT, MIDWAY AROUND A BEND, MY VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND STRAIGHTENED MY WHEEL- PUTTING ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I COULD HAVE DIED AND KILLED ANOTHER DRIVER. THIS MORNING, AFTER CALLING AROUND TO DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS AND DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL IS UNDER EVALUATION FOR A RECALL CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING. THIS "EVALUATION" WAS ONLY RECENTLY STARTED THIS PAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PUBLIC WARNINGS AND GM IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. MANY DRIVERS ARE DRIVING WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING FIXED BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TAG OF THE REPAIR AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR A RECALL REGARDING SATURN IONS?! THE DEATH OF A SATURN DRIVER? THIS IS BECOMING ABSURD AND I BELIEVE WORSE THAN THE TOYOTA ORDEAL. THEY ARE SWEEPING THE ISSUE UNDER A RUG, ALONG WITH OUR MONEY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SAFETY OF SATURN DRIVERS' LIVES. I HAVE BEEN CONVERSING WITH OTHER SATURN DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, WE ARE FURIOUS AND PARANOID THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME WE MAY DIE. *TR
THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, MAKING THE EFFORT OF STEERING THE VEHICLE INCREASE GREATLY. UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY WENT AWAY, BUT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AT AN EVER-INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL THIS DATE. FOR THE PAST YEAR, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WITHIN DRIVING THE FIRST 200 FEET EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE OPERATED THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH SATURN IONS AND RELATED GM VEHICLES, CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, AND THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER DUE TO THE EXTREME PHYSICAL EXERTION REQUIRED TO STEER THESE VEHICLES AFTER THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS.
POWER STEERING FAILED ON ITS OWN WHILE TRAVELING 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE THE STEERING HAS FAILED EVER TIME THE VEHICLE IS USED. I HAVE HAD NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER, INCLUDING THE SAFETY RISK, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
POWER STEERING ON 2004 SATURN ION IS DEFECTIVE AND GM WON'T PAY FOR IT. *TR
ESCONDIDO, CA. -- I AM A LONGTIME OWNER OF SATURNS -- I OWN A 2009 VUE NOW AND HAVE OWNED FOUR OTHER SEDANS -- AND HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE RELIABLE AND SAFE CARS. MY DAUGHTER DROVE AN SL FOR YEARS. NOW I AM NOT SO SURE. I JUST PURCHASED (JULY 5) A 2004 SATURN ION REDLINE, 73,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, FOR MY SON, THE FIRST DAY HE DROVE IT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE HE WAS MAKING A TURN. HE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A CHIME, THE LETTERS PWR STR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD READOUT, AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY, MAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND STARTING IT AGAIN RESTORED THE POWER STEERING. BUT WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE MORE WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ONCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE DONE A WEB SEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ION FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE ISSUE OF A PART WEARING OUT. IT IS A WIDESPREAD AND EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATH, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. I AM ALSO OUTRAGED THAT GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY COBALT SS, WHICH HAS THE SAME STEERING SYSTEM AS THE ION REDLINE, BUT NOT FOR THE ION. I HAVE CONTACTED GM, AND A SPOKEWOMAN (MERISSA) ACKNOWLEDGED THE COBALT RECALL, BUT SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO THE ION FOR REASONS SHE COULD NOT EXPLAIN. ARE THE SAFETY AND LIVES OF SATURN ION OWNERS SOMEHOW LESS VALUABLE THAN OWNERS OF CHEVY COBALTS? GM HAS DIRECTED ME TO A CHEVY DEALER (NOW THAT SATURN IS GONE) TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ASSESSED. IT SAYS IT CANNOT PROMISE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING SYSTEM. I IMPLORE NHTSA TO REQUIRE A RECALL FOR SATURN IONS WITH ELECTRIC STEERING. JUST DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILS" TO SEE ALL THE IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS AND HARROWING REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS AND NEAR ACCIDENTS. DO YOUR JOB, PLEASE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 2004 SATURN ION. RESTARTING ENGINE "RESETS" POWER STEERING. MAY OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. SAME PROBLEMATIC POWER STEERING UNITS USED IN OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED (COBALTS AND G5) BUT NO RECALL FOR SATURN IONS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME PARTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63918.
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 SATURN ION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR
2004 SATURN ION COUPE STEERING JUST WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE DASH LIGHT JUST GOES ON AND STEERING IS GONE HARD TO CONTROL CAR . *TR