2006 Saturn Ion Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 99, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING BECAME TIGHT AND HARD. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH SATURN DOES KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ONLY ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY AND NOT A RECALL. *TR

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A WARNING CHIME, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED IT OVER, TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT ON THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN, I DROVE ABOUT 10 MORE MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT GM HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME EXACT STEERING MOTOR USED IN THE COBALT BUT HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE SATURNS. I PAID OVER $1100.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I AM LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET IN A WRECK AS THIS MANIFESTED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *KB

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. I PULL THE CAR OVER AND SHUT IT OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART IT AND THE STEERING WORKS AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. USUALLY ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES. I WENT FROM MY HOME IN LAKE ORION, MI TO MILFORD MI THE OTHER DAY WHICH IS UNDER 30 MILES AND IT WENT OUT ON ME 6 TIMES. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. I SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE SAME ISSUES. I AM ALSO AFRAID THAT IF THE ROADS ARE SLICK HERE AND IT GOES OUT LIKE THAT WHILE I'M DRIVING I COULD GET INTO A CRASH. *TR

2006 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE IGNITION RECALL REPAIRS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED 2 YEARS AGO, THE IGNITION COMPLETELY FROZE AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE IGNITION PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS RELATED TO THE CURRENT RECALL. ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MOONROOF WOULDN'T CLOSE. *JB

I AM BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE WITH THE SATURN ION IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER BASED. I PUT IN A COMPLAINT EARLIER ABOUT HOW THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING TURNS. THIS MORNING AS I WENT TO WORK I WAS MET WITH THE AUTOMATIC STEERING NOT WORKING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE EMERGENCY BREAK WAS STILL UP. I CHECKED MY STEERING FLUID AND IT IS FULL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND TRIED TO MOVE THE WHEEL. NO DICE. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING ALL THE WAY THERE. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET MY CAR TO A SHOP. AFTER MAKING THE ARRANGEMENTS, I WENT TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHAT SO THAT OTHERS COULD PARK BESIDE ME AND SO THE TOWING COMPANY COULD GET IT OUT. TO MY AMAZEMENT THE CAR STEERING WORKED FINE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY BEING REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUING TO RUN ANYWAY, AND THE SHUTTING OFF WHILE GOING OVER TRACKS AND MAKING TURNS WITH THE SATURN ION 2004-2007. PLEASE GET GMC TO FIX THESE ISSUES. WHAT MAKES ME REALLY ANGRY IS THAT THE COMPANY KNOWS, THEY SIMPLY ARE AVOIDING FIXING THE PROBLEMS AND ONLY FOCUS ON THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED SOONER OR LATER BTW THE SHUTTING OFF ISSUE OR THE STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. I HOPE YOU GUYS LOOK INTO THESE ISSUES AND DEMAND THAT GMC FIXES THEM BEFORE THEN. THANKS. *TR

GAS FUMES HAVE BEEN NOTICED WITHIN THE CAR,OUTSIDE THE CAR NEAR THE FUEL TANK, AND STRONGLY WITHIN THE TRUNK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR FUEL LEAKAGE #09V419000, HOWEVER, MY CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY SINCE ITS NOT REGISTERED AND/OR WAS PURCHASED IN THE STATES LISTED. NEW JERSEY HAD A RECORD BREAKING HEAT AND THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF HOT DAYS THEREFORE THE RECALL/BULLETIN SHOULD BE UPDATED IMMEDIATELY TO INCLUDE NJ. FOR TOTAL REPAIRS FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT.THIS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY SOLD THIS VEHICLE WITH GOOD FAITH AND PROFIT. I BOUGHT IT FOR THE SAFETY, AND YET THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

THIS HAPPENED ON MY DAUGHTERS 2006 SATURN ION WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. SHE HAD BEEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A DOUBLE TURN LANE OFF AN ANGULARED INTERSECTION (ABOUT 60 DEGREES). SHE WAS IN THE OUTSIDE LANE WITH A SEMI-TRUCK MAKING THE TURN ALONG SIDE, LEFT OF HER. SHE WAS GOING APPROX. 25 MPH. WHEN SHE LOST THE POWER STEERING AND ALMOST VEERED UNDER THE TRAILER. THANK GOD SHE DIDN'T GO UNDER UNDER IT OR SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE EPS HAS FAILED 4 TIMES SINCE. I SEE THAT GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR OTHER MODELS AND POSTED RECALLS FOR THEM, BUT NOT FOR SATURN. 846 SATURN COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND 3,489 REPORTS TO GM AND NO RECALLS!!! HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO REPORT A CRASH OR SADLY ENOUGH, HAVE TO DIE, BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I'VE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR SOMETIME AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPORTED $1,000 REPAIR AT A DEALER THAT ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM. NHTSA AND OR GM, STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND DO SOMETHING. SINCE WHEN IS THE LOSS OF STEERING NOT A MAJOR ISSUE!!! *KB

I WAS DRIVING AND GOING AROUND A CIRCLE AND ALL OF SUDDEN IT WAS HARD TO STEER,A CHIME AND POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH,I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. I TURNED ENGINE OFF.OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK ON SERPENTINE BELT IF BROKEN, BUT THE BELT WAS GOOD. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN,AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.A WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN,AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT,I PULLED OVER TURNED ENGINE OFF,RESTART AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WORKING OK,I CALLED THE GM DEALER SERVICE DEPT.AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR T.S.B. FROM GM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS SPILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF CONSTANTLY IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN NOT AVAILABLE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR EMITTING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE FUEL PUMP MONITOR THROUGH THE FUEL LINE AND LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

ON 9/27/2011 I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF IN MY IGNITION. THE CAR STAYED ON AND I CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE ON POSITION. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN ION. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS VEHICLE AND/ OR PART MUST BE RECALLED. *TT

OUR CAR HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. WE WERE TOLD BY A NON GM DEALER THAT IT'S THE FUEL PUMP AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL. THE GM DEALER HAS TOLD US THAT THIS IS A "STATE SPECIFIC" RECALL AND THAT THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM FIXING IT IN ILLINOIS. *TT

MY 2006 SATURN ION KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING UNTIL I COULD FIND A SERVICE SHOP OPEN AT 7PM. TOOK CARE TO NON-GM SHOP FOR FIXING THAT NIGHT, SHOP CLAIMED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IGNITION TUMBLER WAS BROKEN. THEY REPLACED FOR AROUND $400. SATURN WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER COVERING THIS SINCE I DID NOT USE A GM DEALER. ALMOST 1 YEAR LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. LUCKILY PARTS AND LABOR WERE COVERED WITHIN THE YEAR, HOWEVER, NOW THEY STATED THAT THE TUMBLER HOUSING IS ALSO WORN OUT AND ARE WANTING TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $300 TO COVER THE NEW PARTS AND DIFFERENCE IN LABOR. FIRST INSTANCE WAS AT 63,000 MILES, SECOND INSTANCE AT 75,000 MILES. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2011, I WAS DRIVING ON A FAMILIAR ROAD IN TOWN WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN BLINKING. THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAGE, TEMPERATURE GAGE, AND RPM INDICATOR ALL WENT DOWN TO ZERO AND THE MESSAGE CENTER BEGAN SAYING "TRAC OFF" AND "PWR STR." AS THIS HAPPENED, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. AFTER ABOUT ONE MINUTE, I WAS ABLE TO START MY CAR AGAIN AND RESUME DRIVING AS NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS SINCE THE FIRST TIME, THREE DAYS AGO. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE AND I ALMOST WENT INTO THE DITCH. IN ADDITION, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AT 40,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE (MESSAGE CENTER OCCASIONALLY FLASHING "TRAC OFF" AND "PWR STR", AND THE ABS AND EMERGENCY BREAK LIGHTS GOING ON). THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHORTING OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE VEHICLE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM... *TT

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 SATURN ION INDICATOR CHIMED AND PWR STR LIGHT DISPLAYED. I LOST STEERING CONTROL AND ALMOST WRECKED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD KILLED THE CAR UPON RESTARTING ENGINE EVERYTHING WAS FINE. FIVE MINUTES INTO MY TRIP PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON AT OTHER TIMES IT TURNS OFF ON IT OWN. BOTH ARE THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY FOR ME BEING A SINGLE MOTHER. *TR

AFTER BEING ON THE ROAD IN MODERATE CITY TRAFFIC ON A CLEAR DAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, I HEARD AN AUDIBLE ALERT THEN THE VISUAL ALERT "PWR STR" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY, AND I NO LONGER HAD POWER STEERING. I CONTINUED MY 35+ MILE DRIVE HOME, MAKING ONE STOP ON THE WAY. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER THAT STOP, THE POWER STEERING WAS ONCE AGAIN WORKING. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEN HAPPENED AGAIN. FOR THE PAST 25 DAYS OR SO, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING, SOMETIMES HAPPENING AFTER HAVING TRAVELED ONLY 100 FEET AND SOMETIMES NOT HAPPENING UNTIL WELL AFTER THAT. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. IN THE EVENT THE STEERING FAILED WHILE A CORNER WAS BEING NEGOTIATED, THE OUTCOME COULD BE TRAGIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. A PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UPON AVAILABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,256. UPDATED 10/27/11*BF UPDATED 3/30/12 *CN

OUR SON HAD MY WIFE'S 2006 SATURN ION AT COLLEGE 200 MILES FROM HOME. GAS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR, IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM TO TAKE IT TO DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED FUEL TANK RETURN LINE CRACKED. REMOVED FUEL TANK AND REPLACED FUEL MODULE ASSEMBLY. TOTAL BILL 685.63. CAN NOT GET NO SATISFACTION FROM SATURN ON THE RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE. WHAT DIFFERENCE WHAT STATE THIS OCCURS IN. NHTSA #09V419000. *TR

INITIAL SIGNS WERE A STONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND LONGER CRANK TIMES WHEN STARTING. THIS WAS FILLING OUR GARAGE WITH A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND RECOMMEND REPLACING AT A COST OF $650. THE FUEL PUMP MODULE IS A PLASTIC CASE THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. IT IS NOT ACCESSABLE UNLESS YOU TAKE THE FUEL TANK OFF. WE ARE JUST FINISHING A SUMMER OF RECORD SETTING HEAT. LOOKING ONLINE IT HAS CRACKED FOR PEOPLE IN HOT CLIMATES. THERE IS A RECALL FOR A PROBLEM THAT SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR, GM RECALL NUMBER 090226. OUR CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THIS BECAUSE IT IS NOT LOCATED IN AZ OR NV. *TT

THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT WOULD STAY OFF TILL THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE FREQUENCY PROGRESSED AND I CONTACTED A GM DEALER WHO FIXED THE CAR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WAS ENCOURAGE TO REPORT IT TO THIS SITE SINCE A RECALL INVESTIGATION WAS UNDERWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. ..UPDATED 09/29/11 *BF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/03/12

2006 ION. STRONG GAS SMELL DEVELOPED OVER A WEEK IN SEPT 2011. AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN FOUND GAS LEAKING FROM TOP OF TANK. RESEARCH LEAD ME TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000. GM PERFORMED THE RECALL ON ONLY 53K CARS IN AZ AND NV IN OCT 2009. SEEMS THE FUEL PUMP MODULE CONNECTIONS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND CRACK WITH HEAT AND ROAD VIBRATION. HOWEVER, A CALL TO SATURN REVEALED THEY ARE HIDING BEHIND A VIN SPECIFIC RECALL AND THAT THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF IONS WITH THIS SERIOUS SAFETY-DEFECT ARE ONLY COVERED BY GM FOR 10 YR/120K MILE "SPECIAL COVERAGE WARRANTY" EXTENDED TO THIS DEFECTIVE PART. HAD SATURN/GM INFORMED ME MY CAR MIGHT BURST INTO FLAMES BACK IN FEB 2010, WHEN THEY WERE TO NOTIFY THE 53K OWNERS IN AZ AND NV, I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR DONE ASAP AS I WOULD STILL BE UNDER THEIR "SPECIAL COVERAGE" LIMITATION. I AM ANGERED AND OUTRAGED THAT GM SEEMS TO TAKE THE POSITION OF "LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE CAR BECOMES A DEATH-TRAP" BEFORE WE TELL PEOPLE THEY MIGHT BE IN DANGER AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. WITH NO NOTIFICATION, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY ION. NOW THAT THE CAR ACTUALLY HAS BECAME LIFE-THREATENING, I AM "NOT COVERED" BY GM'S SPECIAL COVERAGE. MY ION DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE I AM OVER THIS ARTIFICIAL LIMIT IF 120K MILES. ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THIS IS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT. BET YOU MY MILEAGE WAS BELOW THIS ARTIFICIAL LIMIT IN FEBRUARY 2010. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM DIDN'T SHOW UP UNTIL AFTER 200+ DAYS OF OVER 90 DEGREE DAYS IN EAST TEXAS - I HAVE TO PAY $600 TO REPAIR THEIR OBVIOUS DEFECT. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE UNFAIR, BUT THE SAFETY ISSUE SCREAMS FOR JUSTICE. I GUESS SOMEONE'S FAMILY WILL HAVE TO DIE IN A TRAGIC FIREBALL BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES GM TO TASK FOR THIS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS FUEL SYSTEM DEFECT. *TR

WE LOST OUR POWER STEERING,GOING AROUND A CURVE @ 45 MPH,ALMOST LOST CONTROL. WE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IT RESET ON STARTING. IT KEPT GOING OFF AND ON FOR 100 MILES,REQUIRING US TO PULL OVER AND STOP AND START THE CAR EVERY TIME, UNTIL WE GOT HOME NOW. *TR

SATURN ION IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL AS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V419000. THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NY SO IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT MATTERS WHAT STATE THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN? IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,080.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND POWER STEERING MOTOR WENT OUT. POWER STEERING KEEPS SHUTTING OFF. *TR

STRONG FUEL ODOR WHILE DRIVING, LINGERS WHEN PARKED. LEAK NOTICED COMING FROM TOP OF GAS TANK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ABOVE. WHENEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT WOULD STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. A POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE AND A WARNING BELL WOULD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

WHILE TRAVELING AT CITY SPEEDS (APPROX 35MPH), THE VEHICLE'S INFORMATION CENTER SOUNDED A "DING" AND DISPLAYED A MESSAGE READING "PWR STR". THIS OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE MESSAGE "PWR STR" INDICATES A POWER STEERING FAILURE, AN INDICATION CONFIRMED BY THE FACT THAT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, REQUIRING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BEYOND 1-2 DEGREES FROM ITS PRESENT LOCATION. I ESTIMATE THIS EFFORT WOULD EXCEED THE ABILITIES OF SOME DRIVERS, GIVEN THE SUDDEN ONSET AND DIFFERENCE IN EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL BEFORE AND AFTER THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, INCLUDING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55-65MPH) AND WHILE TRAVELING IN A PARKING LOT (5-15MPH). TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING IT SHORTLY THEREAFTER SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM; THE MESSAGE IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING WORKS AS EXPECTED. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED WITH THE RECENT INCIDENTS THAT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN ONLY FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE OF TRAVEL BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. TO DATE, I HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID GETTING INTO A COLLISION AS A RESULT OF THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, HOWEVER I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATHS IF THE PROBLEM WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE DRIVER IS ACTIVELY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL (E.G. TURNING, CHANGING LANES, NAVIGATING A PARKING STRUCTURE) OR IF THE DRIVER LACKS THE STRENGTH NECESSARY TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT FUNCTIONAL POWER STEERING. IT WOULD SEEM THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: RQ10004), AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO HAVE THIS COMPONENT RECALLED AS IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *KB

IN MAY 2009, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2006 SATURN ION IN THE MIDDLE OF STEERING. WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND WOULD START BACK UP THE CAR IT WOULD WORK. EVERY TIME IT WOULD TURN OFF, MY CAR WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND IF I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, ALMOST WAS HIT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO TURN FAST ENOUGH. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR, HAD TO PAY $100 TO HAVE IT FIXED. NOW 2 YEARS LATER, 40,0000 MILES HERE IS IT DOING IT AGAIN. IT COST ALMOST $800 TO GET THIS REPAIRED. WHY SHOULD THIS BE FAILING EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN TODAY, I WAS COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE EDGE. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN MY 2006 SATURN ION. HER A "BEEP" NOTIFICATION FROM THE DASH AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. WARNING ON DASH STATED "PWR STRNG". *TR

BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STRONG ODOR OF RAW GAS AND FUMES IN AUGUST OF 2011. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM EVALUATED. UPON RAISING THE VEHICLE AND DOING A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, RUN MARKS FROM GASOLINE COULD BE SEEN COMING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. AN EVAP TEST WAS PERFORMED AS WELL AND SMOKE COULD BE SEEN RISING OUT OF THE TANK AREA. THE TANK IS PLASTIC AND NO VISUAL CRACKS COULD BE SEEN. MY TECHNICIAN FELT THIS WAS UNUSUAL AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. AFTER FURTHER DIGGING THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FOR MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I WAS ADVISED TO RETURN TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS COVERED WHICH I DID. I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE FACTORY RECALL. I RETURNED TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. ONCE THE TANK WAS LOWERED ANOTHER EVAP TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE TEST REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINES COMING OFF THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WERE LEAKING. THIS WAS WERE THE TWO HOSES WERE PRESS FITTED TO THE SENDING UNIT FROM THE FACTORY. THE ONLY MEANS OF CORRECTING WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP MODULE. I HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED USING AN OE FUEL PUMP MODULE. I FEEL AFTER READING THE PARAMETERS SET FORTH UNDER THIS RECALL THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL. I URGE NHTSA TO ONCE AGAIN EVALUATE THIS DEFECT. IN MY OPINION THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS WERE USED ON MORE VEHICLES THAN INITIALLY STATED. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

IGNITION STUCK IN "ON" POSITION, CAN'T REMOVE KEY. *TR

I WAS SMELLING GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE AND TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER. THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A CRACKED FUEL PUMP IN MY 2006 SATURN ION REDLINE. THIS WAS A RECALL (NHTSA RECALL ID NUMBER: 09V419000), BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER, SO IT COST ME $576 OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. *TR

POWER STEERING AND IGNITION PROBLEM. WENT IN TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING CHECKED THEN THE IGNITION FAILED ON ME AND THE COMPUTER IN THE ENGINE WENT NUTS. *TR

AFTER DRIVING THIS CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS I NEVER KNEW THAT SO MANY SATURN DRIVERS HAD MY ISSUES. THE CAR HAS A STRANGE KNOCK IN THE BACK. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE TRUNK. THERE ARE OFTEN STRONG SMELLS OF GASOLINE. IT HAS BEGUN TO CAPTURE THE KEY. I HAVE TO FIGHT WITH IT TO GET THE KEY OUT AND NOW IT HAS STARTED TO CUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE LATEST INCIDENT IS WHAT I AM WRITING ABOUT WHICH IS A CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I MADE A SLOW LEFT TURN AND THE CAR PROMPTLY SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS GOING UP THE HILL. IT OCCURRED WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE, IT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE WITH THIS MORNING BEING THE MOST RECENT TIME. IT IS INCREASING IN BETWEEN CUT OFFS. IT CUT OFF ON ME ONLY 2 WEEKS AGO AS I MADE A RIGHT AND WENT UP A HILL. *TR

THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGITION TO START THE CAR, THE KEY BECOMES JAMMED IN THE IGITION. THE REPAIRMAN WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. HE HAD TO TAKE A LOOSE MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO REMOVE THE IGITION SWITCH TO TURN OFF THE CAR. NOW THE IGITION LOCK AND SWITCH HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT

VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE, I CHECKED WITH MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT MY WARRANTY AND IT EXPIRED JUNE 2011. I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY DISCOVERED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS LEAKING FUEL (AS IN BUBBLING AROUND THE TOP OF THE TANK). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ALTHOUGH THE FIRST TWO PARTS SHIPPED IN WERE BROKEN UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SHOP. I WAS PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THE SPECIAL COVERAGE BULLETIN #09275A ADDRESSING THIS EXACT FAILURE. MY VIN FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS BUT MY LOCATION (VIRGINIA) DOES NOT. THE APPROVED STATES ALL APPEAR TO BE SOUTHERN, HOT, STATES. THE RECENT TEMPS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA/ DC AREA HAS BEEN VERY HOT OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR COSTS OR AT LEAST THE COST OF THE PARTS.

MY 2006 SATURN ION, HAS STARTED TO HAVE A DISTINCT OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL AND GAS CAN BE NOTICED UNDER THE CAR FROM A LEAK. IT IS ALSO HARDER TO START AND MAY TAKE 2 TIMES OF TURNING THE IGNITION. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP WHICH CONNECTS TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND I WILL NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FUEL FILTER. THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON GM VEHICLES IN WARM WEATHER STATES, BUT GM IS NOT HONORING THIS DEFECT IN ALL STATES. IT HAS BEEN AN UNSEASONABLY HOT SUMMER, SO ALL STATES HAVE HOT WEATHER. GM TOLD ME THIS IS VIN SPECIFIC, BUT IF THIS IS A DEFECT ON A PART, WHY ISN'T IT PART SPECIFIC. MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS AND COULD START A FIRE AT ANY MOMENT AND YET GM DOES NOT SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE. MANY OTHER SATURN/GM OWNERS HAVE POSTED ABOUT THIS DEFAULT AND HAVE BEEN DENIED ANY COVERAGE BY GM. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR EVERY STATE, WHEN OWNERS IN EVERY STATE THAT OWN A SATURN OR OTHER GM MODEL ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE? I AM TAKING MY SATURN TO A GM DEALERSHIP, AND HAVE TO HAVE THEM DEAM THIS AS A DEFECT. SO, THE COMPANY THAT WILL LOOSE MONEY IF THEY HAVE TO FIX THIS FOR FREE IS DETERMINING IF THIS IS AN ITEM THAT QUALIFIES? THIS IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND A RECALL SHOULD BE POSTED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL GM OWNERS.

2006 SATURN ION. CONSUMER STATES DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE AND ODOR OF GASOLINE *TGW THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE TRACED THE PROBLEM TO THE AREA OF THE FUEL PUMP. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THE MECHANIC FOUND THE A RECALL RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL #09V419000. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FUMES WERE SO STRONG THAT AT TIMES SHE WAS UNABLE TO SIT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR INJECTOR MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,500 AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE COULD SEE FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

THE POWER STEERING TO MY 2006 SATURN ION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS MERGING FROM AN ON-RAMP TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR GOING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH. IT TURNS OFF AND ALERTS ME EACH TIME I TURN THE CAR ON. *TR

UPON PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, I CAN NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IT IS STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. IF LEFT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL USUALLY COME OUT. BUT IF LEFT IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE STUCK ACCESSORY POSITION, THE BATTERY IS DRAINED DUE TO THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE STILL LEFT ON. THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR OR DIAGNOSIS. READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE CONVINCES ME THAT THIS IS A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH SATURN IONS. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN PART OF THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT RECALL. *TR

2006 SATURN ION 2, THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, IN THE RUN POSITION. I COULD NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISENGAGE THE FUSE FROM THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. THIS PROBLEM, AFTER MUCH ON-LINE RESEARCH, IS AN ISSUE WITH SATURNS FROM 2005-2007. MOST INDIVIDUALS WHO POSTED THIER ISSUES ONLINE NOTED THAT THE REPAIR, THROUGH THE DEALER, WAS IN EXCESS OF $500.00. IN ADDITION, MOST INDIVIDUALS NOTED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SIX MONTHS OR MORE AFTER REPLACING THE THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, THROUGH THIER DEALERSHIP. MECHANICS ARE NOTING THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY, IN THAT EACH TIME THE KEY IS TURNED SMALL BITS OF METAL FROM THE KEY ARE FLAKING OFF INTO THE ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO LOCK UP, TYPICALLY IN THE ON POSITION. THANKFULLY, FOR ME, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED CLOSE TO HOME. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WILL TAKE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL BE DOING MYSELF, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTED ON-LINE THROUGH EDMONDS AND OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINT SITES, I FEEL THAT SATURN/GM SHOULD BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY PARTS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THIS POOR ENGINEERING SHOULD NOT BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ANY CONSUMER. *TR

OUR 2006 SATURN ION HAS A MAJOR LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP RESERVOIR. THE LEAK IS DEFINED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V419000 AND IS LISTED AS A RECALL 09226A. DEALER IS CONFIRMING THIS IS THE PROBLEM OUR VEHICLE HAS, BUT GM SAYS THIS AS A 'SPECIAL POLICY' REPAIR BULLETIN NUMBER 09275 AND NOT A RECALL 09226A. GM IS REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE HAS A BRANDED TITLE AS SALVAGE. THEY WILL REPAIR A SALVAGE TITLED VEHICLE UNDER A 'RECALL' BUT NOT ON A 'SPECIAL POLICY' EXTENSION. DEALER STATED THE ISSUE IS THE LEAKY FUEL PUMP AND NOT CUASED BY ANY OTHER DAMAGE. APPARENTLY THERE ARE A LOT OF 2006 SATURN ION'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE THAT GM HAS SLID AROUND FIXING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT A RECALL, BUT A SPECIAL POLICY AND THIS IS A FUEL LEAK ON THE PUMP AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO AN ADMITTED FAULTY COMPONENT. *TR