There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2004 Saturn Ionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, IT WILL NOT ALWAYS REGISTER THAT IT IS PARK; THEREFORE, IT WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, IT WILL EVENTUALLY ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. IT STARTED WITH JUST A FEW DAYS A WEEK, BUT IS NOW HAPPENING AT LEAST ONE TIME A DAY.
WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, I HAVE TROUBLE REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL TIMES WHERE MY CAR WASN'T AS STABLE AS IT SHOULD BE. THE CAR ITSELF RUMBLES AND JERKS A LOT ON CITY STREETS AND AS I GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. IN THE PAST THERE'S BEEN A FEW ISSUES WITH THE BREAKS. DURING WINTER TIME, THE CAR WON'T START UP (I HAVE A NEW BATTERY NOW AND IT STILL HAPPENS). ACCELERATION IS OCCASIONALLY DELAYED. LASTLY THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WHICH CONTINUES FROM THE TIME THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION UNTIL I TAKE IT OUT.
TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION IT PASSED SAFETY AND FAILED EMISSIONS ! THERE IS NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON
UNABLE TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. REPEAT TURNING SWITCH ON AND OFF EVENTUALLY SHUTS VEHICLE OFF AND ABLE TO REMOVE KEY. VEHICLE IS PARKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHUT OFF. ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE RUNNING BUT UNABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT OF SWITCH. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OR ABOUT YR 2012 TO CURRENT. DID NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AT ALL LAST YEAR (2016)
WAS GUARANTEED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I ORIGINALLY GOT A 2007 FORD ESCAPE BY TRADING IN MY VEHICLE AND 500 CASH. THEY WANTED ME TO PUT DOWN AN ADDITIONAL 900 DOWN WHICH I ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO DO. SO THEY OFFERED TO PUT ME IN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS CHEAPER AND I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY ON. THE 2004 SATURN ION I RECEIVED ON 08/23/2016 NOT ONLY HAD CLUTCH ISSUES WHICH I SAID I WOULD FIX, BUT THE BATTERY LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR MECHANICALLY. WE DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. SO NOW THE CAR SITS IN MY YARD AND I AM OUT MY ORIGINAL VEHICLE AND THE 500 CASH I USED ORIGINALLY PLUS TOWING CHARGES AND A VEHICLE I HAVE TO PAY ON THAT I CANNOT DRIVE. I WANT THEM TO COME GET THE CAR AND GIVE BACK THE 500 I WASTED ON TWO JUNK VEHICLES. I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE 2007 FORD ESCAPE. I WAS PRETTY MUCH STUCK TAKING THIS VEHICLE SINCE I LIVE TWO HOURS AWAY AND HAD NO OTHER WAY HOME.
MARCH 2015 - DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RECALLED IGNITION. SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WOULDN'T START A FEW TIMES, AND I REPLACED THE STARTER. JUNE-JULY 2016 - THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THE PASSLOCK LIGHT WOULD TURN ON. AFTER RESETTING THE PASSLOCK (LEAVE THE IGNITION TURNED TO THE RUN POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES) IT WOULD START IMEDIATELY. JULY 11, 2016 - TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM IT STARTED AFTER THE IGNITION WAS CHANGED. TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BODY CONTROL MONITOR ($829). REPAIRS FINISHED JULY 15, 2016. AUGUST 4, 2016 - CAR TAKEN BACK FOR TROUBLE STARTING ONCE MORE. AUGUST 8, 2016 - IGNITION CHANGED ONCE MORE, BUT CHARGED AGAIN BECAUSE GM WOULDN'T COVER IT. I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT MY CAR WORKED FINE UNTIL I HAD A PART CHANGED DUE TO A RECALL, AND NOW THAT REPLACEMENT WAS FAULTY AND I'M BEING CHARGED FOR IT!
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE A/C WENT OFF FIRST THEN EVERYTHING WENT OFF. I PUT CAR IN PARK AND AFTER SEVERAL TRIES THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. MY IGNITION ALSO GETS STUCK IN THE ACC POSITION(EVEN AFTER TWO IGNITION RECALLS) ON A REGULAR BASIS SO GLAD I WASN'T FIGHTING THAT AT THAT PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME. CALLED GM DEALER THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL BUT BRING IT IN, THEY WON'T PROVIDE A LOANER CAR BUT WILL GIVE ME A RIDE HOME BECAUSE I LIVE WITHIN 10 MILES.
2 RECALLES.,THEY INSTALLED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRIC POWER STERING ASSIST MOTOR PLUS 3 DIAGNOSTICS AND $ 877.43 LATER AND OUR ORIGINAL PROBLEM OF INTERMITANTLY WONT START STILL EXISTS.WE WERE TOLD TO CUT OUR LOSSES BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. THIS IS A 2004 SATURN ION. WE WANT OUR CAR FIXED FIRST OR OUR MONEY BACK. WE FEEL THE DEALER SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THERE CAR. WE FEEL THERE MAY BE A RECALL THEY ARE NOT TELLING US ABOUT LIKE RECALL #03V231000.
THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED UNDER RECALL #14063 ON JULY 15, 2014 FAILED ON JAN 31, 2015 BY JAMMING IN THE OFF POSITION. CAR WAS TOWED TO A GM AUTHORIZED SATURN SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE IGNITION LOCK AND CYLINDER WERE REPLACED ON FEB 2, 2015. DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL IGNITION SWITCH INSTALLED IN JULY DID NOT HAVE A WARRANTY AND CHARGED $275.83 FOR THE SERVICE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT OTHER UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. ... UPDATED 03/19/15*BF UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
THE CAR WONT TURN ON. IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. I HAD A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH EARLIER THIS YEAR AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT EVERYSINCE. *TR
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWICH REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. HOWEVER THE KEY IS STILL STICKING IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE RECALL AND I STILL HAVE IT. IT HAPPENS NOT OFTEN BUT ENOUGH TO BE ANNOYING. I HAVE TO MOVE THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND EVENTUALLY THE KEY WILL COME OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THAT KIND OF PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
TL* THE CONTACT THE OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF AND THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE KEY RELEASED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
THIS IS TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH DEALING WITH CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON TX AS THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN ASSISTING ME WITH THIS RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THEM 5 TIMES AND GET ON A ROTATING HOLD PATTERN. THE ONE TIME A SERVICE ADVISER DID PICK UP, HE HUNG UP ON ME WHEN I TOLD HIM IT WAS IN REGARD TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. SEEMS THAT I CAN NOT EVEN ORDER THE NEW SWITCH FROM THEM. I ALSO TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM THROUGH THE ONLINE SERVICE SCHEDULER AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RETURN CONTACT IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. I ALSO CALLED THE GM HOTLINE AND RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. THE CALL WAS ALSO TERMINATED BEFORE I COULD SPEAK TO ANYONE. THE RECORDING ADVISED TO START WITH THE NEAREST DEALER. THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKED. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING IN LIEU OF WHAT AMERICAN TAXPAYERS HAVE DONE FOR GM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER THIS FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135, 000.
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the ignition switch and the ignition lock cylinder; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) and 14V171000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026