NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 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
HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION 2 AND WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN THE WARNING CHIME WENT OFF AND DISPLAYED "PWR STG" IN THE DASH DISPLAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHIME THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. STARTED CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES LATER, I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. CAR IS NOW SITTING IN DRIVEWAY UNUSED. TAKING CAR INTO GM DEALERSHIP TOMORROW FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY SEEMED TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG BEFORE LOOKING AT IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMELL OF FUEL WAS EXCESSIVE INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED IN STATE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL WITH A DECISION REGARDING A RECALL IN 24 HOURS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RETURN CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THE MANUFACTURER HAD TO CONFIRM THE RECALL BEFORE THEY COULD PERFORM A REMEDY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RESPONDED IN A TIMELY FASHION TO THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,400.
06 SATURN ION SEDAN LOSS POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING CORNER AND BARELY MISSED HITTING PARKED VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK AND DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
MY 2006 SATURN ION WILL NOT START EVERY TIME I TRY TO TURN IT ON. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN MY CAR STILL HAS POWER BUT THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OVER. I TOOK TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AFTER THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS A VERY INCONVENIENT PROBLEM TO HAVE WITH YOUR CAR. HAVING TO WORRY IF IT WILL START IN THE MORNING OR NOT AND THEN HOW TO GO ABOUT YOUR DAY IF IT DOES NOT START TRYING TO FIND A RIDE TO WORK OR EVEN POSSIBLY MISSING WORK BECAUSE YOUR CAR WONT START BECAUSE OF A COMMON IGNITION PROBLEM ON THE MANUFACTURERS SIDE. I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THE RECALL LIST..SO THAT WE AS CONSUMERS CAN HAVE THIS VERY COMMON ISSUE FIXED WITH OUT COST TO US..SINCE WE ALREADY INVESTED MONEY INTO A VEHICLE WE EXPECT TO WORK. *TR
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING AN ALARM WILL SOUND AND A MESSAGE WILL SHOW UP ON DASH THAT SAYS "PWR STR" IMMEDIATELY THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO WARNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WOULD POWER THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT TO ALLOW THE POWER STEERING TO RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
POWER STEERING REPEATEDLY GOES OUT. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON "FIXES" IT FOR A SHORT TIME THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. SOMETIMES AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND SOMETIMES 30 SECONDS AFTER RESTARTING. IT STARTED AS A VERY INTERMITTENT ISSUE BUT HAS SINCE GOTTEN WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. BEFORE THIS STARTED I HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. FIRST THE ODOMETER WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF AND OCCASIONALLY FLASH "TRUNK". LATER THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD COME ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE. THEY EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY THEN THE STEERING ISSUE STARTED. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE MY POWER STEERING MESSAGE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY STEERING BECAME HARD TO STEER. AFTER I SHUT IT OFF AND LET IT REST FOR AWHILE IT WORKS AGAIN FOR AWHILE THEN GETS TIGHT. *TR
CAR WAS ON AND THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. *TR
ONE DAY UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I EXPERIENCED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I LIVED IN THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME AND ALSO IN TEXAS. I SHRUGGED IT OFF THINKING I MAYBE GOT SOME ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR OR MY CLOTHES. LATER I ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO START IT. TURNS OVER 6 TIMES AFTER A SINGLE BUMP OF THE KEY BUT THIS TIME THE CAR DID NOT START. I THEN REMEMBERED THAT EARLIER I SMELLED FUEL. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAVE A LEAK IN THE LINES. I CYCLED THE KEY 3 TIMES THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AFTER THE FIRST TURN IT CRANKED RIGHT UP. WHEN I RETURNED HOME THAT AFTERNOON I RESEARCHED A LITTLE AND FOUND THAT ITS BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR DEVELOPING A CRACK IN THE LINES RIGHT OFF OF THE PUMP. I LOOKED FOR A RECALL BUT FOUND NOTHING. NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS THAT IS. WWW.ROCKAUTO.COM SAVED ME $200 FROM THE PRICE THAT O'REILLYS WANTED ME TO PAY BUT REGARDLESS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION 3 THAT I PURCHASED FROM A SATURN DEALERSHIP IN 2009. TODAY THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THERE WAS NOT A WARNING OR ANY SIGNS. THE CAR WAS WORKING 100% AS NORMAL, UNTIL IT WAS NOT. FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY I TURNED THE CAR ON AND DROVE TO A DESTINATION. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I TURNED MY CAR OFF. I WENT IN TO THE STORE I WAS AT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. THEY PULLED MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE KEY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH (TUMBLER). THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF WITHOUT OPENING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN REMOVING THE #19 FUSE FROM THE ENGINE FUSE BOX. THEN IN ORDER TO KILL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TERMINALS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS EVERY TIME I PLUG THE FUSE/BATTEY BACK UP. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT WHILE THERE ARE 100'S OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS (THAT I READ) AND WHILE SOME SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A KNOWN ISSUE, GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM ABOUT TO DISH OUT $500 FOR REPAIRS THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE KEY HAD BECOME STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE OFF HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,459. UPDATED 12/11/12*LJ UPDATED 12/1212
I HAVE HAD MY 2006 SATURN ION FOR 3 YEARS. AND ALSO I HAVE 2 CHILDREN WITHIN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3TIMES TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHY WHILE DRIVING BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR BEGINS SPITTING AND SPUTTERING.. MAKING ALL SORTS OF RACKET WITH NO POWER YOU ARE FORCED TO TRY AND GET OFF THE RD. SAFELY WITH NO POWERSTEERING. THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.. AND ALSO I AM ALWAYS TOLD THAT THEY DON'T SERVICE SATURNS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SOLD IT. THIS HAPPENS WITH NOT WARNING I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH MY 2 GIRLS MULTIPLE TIMES. ONCE WE WERE TRAVELING 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT HAPPENED WITH BIG RIGS ALL AROUND.. I THANK GOD THAT WE DIDN'T GET HURT. ALSO FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF YOU HEAR LOTS OF CLICKING NOISES AND THE CAR WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF.. THEY REPLACED THE STARTER SWITCH BECAUSE THAT WAS UNDER RECALL BUT IT HAS MADE NO DIFFERENCE STILL CAN NOT GET THE KEYS OUT HAVE TO SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR IT TO STOP CLICKING AND TURN THE KEY ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET IT OUT.. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFE CAR AT ALL. CONTACTED SATURN COMPANY NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE GOTTEN NO WHERE... DEFINITELY WASTE OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL CHIME THAT SOUNDED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,864.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL AND ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,987.
WH REFERRAL LETTER OF COMPLAINT REGARDING SATURN AND GENERAL MOTORS UNABLE TO GET PARTS TO REPAIR HIS 2006 SATURN ION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS CONCERNING THE VEHICLE, BUT SATURN WAS NOT PRODUCING THE PART AND WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THE CONSUMER AN ANSWER AS TO WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *JB
THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 SATURN ION 3 STARTED NOT WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I NEEDED TO PULL OVER ALMOST GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AN ON THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY OR SO I THOUGHT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 3 WEEKS THE SITUATION GOT WORSE AND NOW 3 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT. *TR
I HAD AN VERY OCCASIONAL INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT BASICALLY CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO. IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAPPEN ON A TURN. I TRIED TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT NO ONE SAW IT IN ACTION TO IDENTIFY IT. IT USUALLY HAPPENED ON A TURN AND QUICKLY RETURNED TO NORMAL. IT HAPPENED ON A ROAD WITH A SMALL BEND IN IT. IT DID NOT RESTART WORKING BEFORE I DROVE OFF THE ROAD INTO A FILBERT FIELD. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS IN THE CRASH. I SAW A SPECIALIST DUE TO MY MEMORY LOSS AND HE SAID I LIKELY HAD 3 CONCUSSIONS: FRONT INTO STEERING WHEEL/AIR BAG; SIDE - BREAKING DRIVER WINDOW WITH HEAD; AND TOP SIDE DUE TO SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THEN COUNTED TO 10 AND STARTED IT UP,THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. THE NEXT TIME I WAS IN CITY TRAFFIC WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAN ON AND THE POWER STEERING DIED. AGAIN I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT WAS OK. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. I WENT ONLINE WITH SATURN AND THEY RECOMMEND A SATURN SERVICE CENTER. I ALSO READ BLOGS THAT THE REPAIR WILL BE OVER $1000 AND NOT COVERED BY A RECALL OR WARRANTY. I HAVE PARKED MY SATURN ION IN THE DRIVEWAY AND MAY HAVE TO TOW IT TO A DEALER. *TR
WAS TURNING ONTO HIGHWAY AND "POWER STEERING" LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE TO A PARKING LOT AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WE RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE TO A GROCERY STORE. AFTER THE STORE TRIP, WE STARTED HOME AND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FURTHER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AGAIN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN WE MAKE TOO MANY TURNS IN A SHORT TIME.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN, A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING LIGHT. SUDDENLY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING RESET. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY THAT INVOLVED A GM RECALL OF 53,000 CHEVY COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION MODELS FOR A FUEL LEAK BECAUSE OF A FAULTY MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY ON THE FUEL PUMP MODULE THAT CRACKS. WITHIN THAT RECALL WERE SPECIFICALLY 2006 AND 2007 SATURN IONS. THE RECALL INCLUDED ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND TEXAS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING AND I GRADUALLY SMELLED GASOLINE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. THIS WAS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE CAR COULD HAVE EXPLODED IF SOMEONE THREW A LIT CIGARETTE OUT OF THE WINDOW FROM ANOTHER CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND THAT MY VIN WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I CALLED SATURN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN SATURN CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE GATHERED, IT WAS NOT A DEFECT. A FUEL PUMP MODULE TYPICALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND DOESN'T CRACK. THIS WAS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT IN 53,000 OTHER 2006 SATURN IONS. SATURN SHOULD CLEARLY COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS REPAIR AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A MUCH WIDER SAFETY ISSUE THAN THEY ORIGINALLY OPENLY ADMITTED TO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE POWER STEERING QUITS AND REVERTS TO MANUAL STEERING WITHOUT WARNING ON AVERAGE 6 TO 8 TIMES A DAY. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WARNING SYSTEM COMES ON AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT TO RESET THE SYSTEM. THE CAR ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR
3 EXPLODED TIRES WITH ONLY 60,000MI ON THEM AND ALL WITHIN 6MOS. TOTAL BLOWOUTS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT TREADWEAR. TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED, TOTALING $348.61. ONE OF THE USED TIRES IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. NO WEAR OR WOBBLE OR ANY SIGNS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IDLING OR GOING DOWN THE ROAD. PLENTY OF FLUID AND TESTS FINE AT THE SHOP. THEY SUGGESTED IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I DO NOTICE IT HAPPENS WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR SOMETIMES AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED HE WAS ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
2006 SATURN ION REDLINE 32,000 MILES HAD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR AT IDLE. TOOK THE CAR INTO A MECHANIC WHICH INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING BELT AND GEARS WERE SHOT AND THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT IT DIDN'T FLY APART ON MY WAY INTO THE SHOP. THE REPAIRS WILL COST APPROX $1100. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ONLY 32K MILES AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT HAD IT NOT BEEN CAUGHT IN TIME. *TR
2006 SATURN LEAVE YOU STRANDED IN THE COLD WEATHER AS THE CAR WILL NOT START AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE IN SIDE OF THE CAR WARMS UP. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER I HAVE JUST GIVEN UP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INITIALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. BUT, AFTER APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES OF REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. AFTER STALLING, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/22/11*LJ UPDATED 11/16/11. *JB
I GOT HOME ON FRIDAY JAN 28, AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TRIED TO TURN THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY, FREEZING, WAITING FOR A FRIEND TO COME OVER AND STOP THE MOTOR, UNHOOK THE FUSES, AND UNHOOK THE BATTERY. PAID FOR A NEW KEY CYLINDER, PAID TO HAVE IT REKEYED, AND PAID A LOCKSMITH TO TAKE OUT THE OLD ONE AND REPLACE THE NEW ONE. IT WORKED FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN IT DID THE SAME THING, ONLY THIS TIME I WENT TO GO START MY CAR, AND THE KEY JUST WONT TURN. THE LOCKSMITH CAME BACK OUT AND SAID HE CAN'T FIX IT, IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I ASKED WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL AND SHE COULDN'T TELL ME, I ASKED WHO WOULD KNOW, AND SHE SAID NO ONE. SHE SAID THERE IS NO ACTUAL PERSON THAT I CAN TALK TO ABOUT THAT. SHE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. GOOGLE SATURN ION IGNITION, AND OMG THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME DEFECT. I WORRY FOR THE MOM WITH HER BABIES IN THE CAR DRIVING TO THE STORE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHUT OFF HER CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
I OWN A 2006 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING BAD SOME TIMES I CAN'T TURN AND HAVE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT'S GETTING WORSE BUY THE DAY. I HAVE CALLED GM SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPEN WAS THE OTHER DAY 1/22/2011 AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M SUPPOSE TO HANDLE THE ISSUE, OR WHY I WASN'T SENT OUT A LETTER IN THE MAIL. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. IT HAPPENING MORE OFTEN NOW SEEMS LIKE EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR. *LN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND LOCKED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT FUNCTION UNTIL HE SHUT THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
CONTINUAL COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BEGINNING - 1/12/10 + 1/14/10 + 12/29/10 + 6/21/11 + CURRENT PROBLEM 6/25/11 DEALERSHIP CHARGED $120 FOR DIAGNOSIS EACH INCIDENCE SINCE 12/19/10. CURRENT MILEAGE 22,170.
WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, MY 2006 SATURN ION DOES NOT START. IT SEEMS THE SENSOR OR CHIP IN THE IGNITION KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE CAR AND THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE LOCKS AND WILL NOT START. IF WE WAIT 10 MINUTES, IT WILL USUALLY START. THIS HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND USUALLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 20 DEGREES. *TR
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF THE TROUBLES THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2006 SATURN ION. MY SATURN DOESN'T ALWAYS START ON THE FIRST TRY (RADIO AND LIGHTS COME ON, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER). ON MOST MORNINGS, WHENEVER I TRY TO START THE CAR, IT DOESN'T START AND AN ICON SHOWING A CAR WITH LOCK SHOWS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HOWEVER, AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START SOMETIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, I EVEN CALLED AAA THINKING IT WAS MY BATTERY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PASS-LOCK SYSTEM (THE CAR THINKS I AM TRYING TO STEAL IT). ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28TH, I TOOK THE CAR TO NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN IN ST. JAMES, NY AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON THE AFTERNOON OF WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29TH AND DROVE HOME. HOWEVER, ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AT LEAST 5 TO 7 DIFFERENT TIMES FROM 8 ' 10:30AM BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T CRANK. FINALLY, AT AROUND 10:45 AM THE CAR STARTED, I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND DROVE IT BACK TO THE NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN IN ST. JAMES. THE NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN INFORMED ME THAT EACH TIME THEY ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD START; THEREFORE, THEY COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM NORTH SHORE CHEVROLET OF SMITHTOWN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD AND HAD NO PROBLEMS GETTING TO AND FROM WORK ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH. HOWEVER, ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH, THE CAR WOULDN'T START, ONCE AGAIN. *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER OF STEERING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE HAS TO APPLY MORE FORCE IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 54,935. PM
WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, USUALLY BELOW FREEZING, MY CAR WILL NOT START. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON IN SATURNS. THAT WAS LAST WEEK, AND MY CAR HASN'T STARTED ABOUT 8 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY, THE LIGHTS COME ON AND ALL THAT WORKS. I GO OUT AND TRY TO START MY CAR, IT WILL NOT START, I WILL WAIT ABOUT 8 MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN, THEN CAR WILL START. I WORK WEIRD SHIFTS AT A HOSPITAL AND SOMETIMES I GET OFF WORK AND HAVE TO WALK TO MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND MY CAR WILL NOT START. THAT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
I DO NOT RECALL THE EXACT DATE OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. MY CAR DIES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED A SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE RECALL. I HAD THE RECALLED ITEMS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM 'SUPPOSEDLY' REPAIRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BY AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALERSHIP. IT CONTINUED TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT BACK SATURDAY TO THE DEALER AND MY CAR IS STILL THERE. THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS DUPLICATING THE DYING SITUATION. I TOLD THEM THEY DON'T NEED TO DUPLICATE IT, JUST RE-REPAIR THE RECALL ITEMS. IF THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AND DO NOT WANT IT BACK. THE DAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM THE BUSY MAIN STREET OF MY TOWN INTO A PARKING LOT AND IT DIED BEFORE I EVEN REACHED THE CURB (NO BUMP). LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC (I TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS FOR FEAR OF MY CAR DYING) OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN CREAMED. A WOMAN DRIVING OUT OF THE LOT HAD TO STOP AND ALLOW ME TO PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND START IT BACK UP AGAIN. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED AND FOUND THIS TIME? IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS NOT. HOW DO I HAVE A GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY BE FIXED THIS TIME? WHAT IF IT IS NOT? I DO NOT WANT TO OUT MY CHILD'S LIFE OR MY LIFE OR ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING'S LIFE IN DANGER BY DRIVING A DEATHTRAP CAR. WILL GM REPLACE MY CAR FOR ME WITH A DIFFERENT ONE? MY CAR IS COMPLETELY PAID OFF. PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON BUT THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 SATURN ION II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD RESENT MOMENTARILY BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
2006 SATURN ION - POWER STEERING FAILURE. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO REPEATABLE PATTERN OF MILEAGE, TIME, SPEED, ETC. CHIME SOUNDS AND PWR STR APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. AT THAT POINT, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST NO LONGER WORKS AND STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND CORNERING. *TR
INITIALLY STARTED WITH GAS FUMES ODOR...NOW ONCE CAR STARTED HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER REAR END OF CAR. CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AS CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AT ANY TIME WITH AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING WHEN DRIVING AND ONCE PARKED!!! IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS/ISSUES REGARDING THIS YET NO RECALL IN THE STATE OF CALIF?? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEIR IS A DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
2006 SATURN ION. DAUGHTER HIGHWAY DRIVING RETURNING FROM COLLEGE, INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH CAME, POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE PULLED OVER TURNED VEHICLE OFF, TURNED BACK ON AND IT DROVE FINE. NEXT DAY DRIVING AT A SLOWER SPEED THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. CONTACTED AUTHORIZED SATURN SERVICE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT AFTER TAKING OUR VIN# INDICATED GM HAS NOT MADE A RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE. TO REPAIR THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP WE ARE LOOKING AT $300+. I JUST SPENT OVER $200 SIX MONTHS AGO ON A PROBLEM I FEEL GM SHOULD ALSO OWN UP TO...THE IGNITION PROBLEM WITH THE KEY STICKING IN THE IGNITION AND NOT ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I KNOW THIS ELECTRIC STEERING PROBLEM IS ALSO SHOWING UP IN OTHER GM VEHICLES AND FOR WHAT EVER REASON THEY ARE ONLY FIXING A SELECT FEW IN A SELECT FEW STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I HAVE READ WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN 14 ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN DEATHS TRACING BACK TO THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IS AT RISK. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AN AMERICAN COMPANY WOULD ALLOW THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE TO BE COMPROMISED. *TR
2006 SATURN ION POWER STEERING FAILURE. INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. 1. WAS WORKING NORMALLY, THEN JUST STOPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. PWR STR INDICATOR COMES ON TO INDICATE THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. 2. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS THEN STOPS WORKING. FAILURE OCCURS ONCE PER DAY TO ONCE PER WEEK. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER HOW LONG THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAS HAPPENED AFTER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING OR AS LONG AS 1 HOUR OF DRIVING. 3. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS TO 30 SECONDS SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY CURE THE PROBLEM. TURN THE CAR OFF. WAIT. TURN IT BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS NORMALLY FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 200 MILES, THEN THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHICH SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, KEY CODE PASS SYSTEM, REPLACED THE IGNITION AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR MOTOR. THE IGNITION REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,612 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 12/30/11 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF WAS TO DISCONNECT THE CABLES TO THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.