2003 Saturn Ion complaints

CAR WOULDN'T START, BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OK. FINALLY CHECKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR AND THE COLD WEATHER PROBLEM WITH THE STARTED IS A KNOWN ISSUE. WAITED AN HOUR OR SO TO TRY AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED. *TR

HOOD LATCH BROKEN, IGNITION SWITCH SPARKS AND THE CAR DOESN'T START, LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT END, TRANSMISSION IS QUIRKY WHILE SHIFTING(AUTOMATIC) DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE PARTS. *TR

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LESS AND THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THEN THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN AND THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON". THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 8 TO 10 MINUTES. AFTER 8 TO 10 MINUTES THE LIGHT STOPS BLINKING AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE GOES OFF AND THEN THE CAR STARTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND IT OCCURS ALL DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAYS. AS I READ ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $200.00 TO FIX. *TR

FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER COMBINED WITH SECURITY SYSTEM LOCKOUT. THE PROBLEM ARISES AS FOLLOWS: A.THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS.) B.AN OPERATOR ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. C.THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: ?SERVICE ENGINE SOON.? FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. D.THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. E.AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. ?THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON? SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. F.NOW THE OPERATOR MAY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. G.HOWEVER, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. H.A SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY START AFTER THE PRESENT ?LOCK-OUT? WILL BE WHEN THE IGNITION SEEMS TO CRANK A BIT MORE THAN JUST A CLICK, BEFORE LOCKING OUT AGAIN. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES GET COLDER THEN 32 F. *TR

2003 ION WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, MY CAR WILL NOT START, I WILL TRY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WILL WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL START LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS COMPLETELY FINE. IT WILL TURN ON ALL ELECTRONICS, TELL ME TO SERVICE ENGINE, THEN IT WON'T TURN OVER. NEXT I WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTS. AND RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES. *TR

WHEN IT IS TOO COLD, MY IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS MY SECURITY SYSTEM AND I HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME BEFORE MY CAR STARTS. SATURN HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY (# 04-08-45-005D) ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL (EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT). MANY OTHERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML *TR

CAR WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES. SATURN REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BACK IN 10/05. IT DID IT AGAIN IN 2006 AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2007. THE CAR THINKS THAT IT IS BEING STOLEN AND CUTS THE FUEL LINE TO THE CAR. *TR

RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEWER CAR(O3 ION COUP) WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE NEW AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 5,793 MILES I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE HAVE CHOPP. I AS WELL NOW SEE THEIR IS A RECALL ON THE TIRE LINE NHTSA ID # 01T006000. THEY ARE FIRESTONE TIRES FIRE HAWK GTA-02 205-55R16. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO HAZARD BUT NOW IM VERY CONCERNED.THE CAR IS NOT RIDING RIGHT. THE DEALER AT THIS POINT IS ONLY WILLING TO REPLACE ONE TIRE. I AS WELL HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY WARRANTY ROAD HAZARD AT 1-800346-6469 CLAIM # 21833283 AS OF 11/07/2007. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER TO TRY AND GET THEM REPLACED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE DRIVEN 5,793 MILES ON THE TIRES. I FEEL THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE. AND AM UNSURE OF WHERE TO GO WITH THIS NOW.... *TR

I AM WRITING TO NOTE THAT MY 2003 SATURN ION 3 DOES NOT START UP IN THE COLD, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAPPENED ONCE IN 2005, AND THEN I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR THE REST OF THAT WINTER AND THE NEXT. AT THE TIME, I WAS TOLD BY A SATURN MECHANIC IN 2005 OVER THE PHONE THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES OCCUR WITH IONS IN COLD WEATHER. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THIS PAST MONDAY AND THIS MORNING. THIS AFTERNOON I WENT ONLINE TO SEEK OUT GUIDANCE IN TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING ONLINE RESOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A RECURRENT ONE THAT SATURN HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A CLEAR-CUT CASE FOR A COMPONENT RECALL, BUT SATURN WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I ASK THAT THE NHTSA DIRECT ITS RESOURCES TOWARD SATURN TO SEEK A DETERMINATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.* *I HAVE FORWARDED A COPY OF THIS EXPLANATION TO MY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, REPRESENTATIVE JIM MORAN. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN FIRST ATTEMPTING TO START IS IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES IT WILL FINALLY START WHEN ATTEMPTING AGAIN. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME. *TR

VEHICLE WON'T START - NO CRANK, NO START. IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LOW USAGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IN COLD WEATHER. MUST PLAY WITH IGNITION SWITCH MANY TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. *TR

WHENEVER IT IS DAMP OR COLD OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL REFUSE TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS REFUSED TO START I MUST WAIT A MINIMUM OF 10 MINS BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE. ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS THIS PROCESS REPEATS AND I MAY HAVE TO WAIT UPWARDS OF 20 MINS TO START MY VEHICLE AND DRIVE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN TRACED BACK TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GMS PASSLOCK VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE FAULT AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE CONSUMER INCURRING SUBSTANTIAL COSTS. *TR

THE 2003 SATURN ION-3 POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT WILL WORK AGAIN, FOR A WHILE, AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RESTARTED. THIS CAR HAS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT ENCLOSED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. SATURN HAS ADVISED ME THIS IS A $1000.00 REPAIR ON A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WITH 55,000 MILES. I SEE THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON PONTIAC G6 AUTOS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD RECOMMEND EXPANDING THAT INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL GM CARS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAUSES HER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 TIMES TO RELEASE THE KEY. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WILL OPERATE NORMALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT THEN THE FAILURE RECURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

2003 SATURN ION WITH CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE CASTING OF CYLINDER HEAD**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD IN MAY OF 2007 BUT THE CORPORATION DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MATTER. THE CONSUMER STATED SATURN STATES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INSURANCE WARRANTY NOR THE DEFECT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DURING RAINY CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TRAVELED BEYOND THE NORMAL RADIUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC LINKAGE ON THE WIPER MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN (NHTSA ACTION # PE07011) FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. FIRST TIME THE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE SERVICE ENGINE DISPLAY CAME ON AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED OFF THE KEY, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR SMOKE, AND CALLED DAD BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK WITH THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION, AND THE WINDOWS LOCKED IN THE DOWN POSITION. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ,THE EXTENDED WARRANTY - NO PROBLEM, THEY WILL TOW IT TO THE NEAREST SATURN DEALER, 180+ MILES AWAY THROUGH A RAIN STORM. SEVERAL DAYS LATER HAD TO DRIVE ROUND TRIP TO RETRIEVE CAR FROM SATURN DEALER, WHO HAS REPLACED 7.5 AMP BODY CONTROL MODULE FUSE, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT BLEW OUT. GOT BACK HOME , 180+ MILES AND NO PROBLEMS. DAUGHTER ENTERED THE CAR, WENT 8 MILES, BANG SAME THING. TO REPLACE FUSE CALLED SATURN TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. DROVE CAR BACK TO SATURN 180+ MILES TO GET FUSE TO BLOW 3 TIMES ON WAY BACK BY ADJUSTING THE LH RV MIRROR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK AND REPLACED LH MIRROR SWITCH. PICKED UP CAR FROM SATURN. DEALER NO PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TODAY SHE WAS HEADING TO WORK, ADJUSTED LH RV MIRROR AND BCM FUSE BLEW OUT, EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. CALLED SATURN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX WHAT I JUST PAID TO HAVE FIXED , $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE, AND WHAT WAS THE REAL ROOT OF THE PROBLEM? WHEN WAS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? CHECKED THIS SITE FOR OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FOUND ODI #10152158 NOTICED THAT THE VINS WERE VERY SIMILAR - 9TH DIGIT WAS DIFFERENT. MINE WA

CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. FAULTY IGINITION SWITCH.*AK

SATURN 2003 ION THE CAR WILL NOT START, PASSLOCK LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE MESSAGE DISPLAYED. CAR WILL START AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. HAPPENS IN HUMID COOL WEATHER (RAIN, 30-40'S F). A VOLTAGE SIGNAL IS SENT THROUGH THE PASSLOCK RESISTOR IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM INTERPRETS IT AS A FAILURE AND THE STARTING CIRCUIT IS DISABLED. THIS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CASES WHERE THE CAR NEEDS TO BE MOVED QUICKLY TO AVOID A HAZARD. *JB

2003 SATURN ION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR ON COLD MORNINGS PASS LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES AND LOCKS CAR FROM BEING ABLE TO START FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN COLD WEATHER SEVERAL TIMES, LATEST BEING DATE JUST BELOW. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER ISSUE. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN WITH THE STARTER SWITCH, AND IS IS APPARENTLY KNOWN TO SATURN CORP.*AK

I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION AND HAVE EXPERIENCED STARTING PROBLEMS THE PAST TWO WINTERS. I'VE HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE BATTERY,FUEL,AND CLUTCH BUTTON, BUT DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT HAPPENINGS, NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. MY BATTERY WAS RECHECKED AND CORDS WERE CLEANED, FUEL LINE WAS CLEANED, ETC. THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AND THEN HAPPEN AGAIN. I FINALLY NOTICED THE PATTERN OF NOT STARTING WHEN IT WAS COLD. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT WOULD RESTART ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK DURING MY INSPECTION THIS YEAR BUT AGAIN HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP DUE TO IT NOT ACTUALLY HAPPENING. ON 3/15/07 I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT, BUT BEING THAT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR A PROBLEM I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER. (EXCEPT THAT I TRUSTED SATURN WHEN I PURCHASED MY 2 CAR FROM THEM). SATURN SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND SHOW THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE AND CAN BE TRUSTED TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN THE RAIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHIELD AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,990. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE REPAIRING THE LINKAGE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE THAT OF INVESTIGATION# PE 07011 ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THE DUPLICATE FAILURE. ALSO, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPAIRED, IT WAS RELATED TO INVESTIGATION #DP 05008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. *AK

I DRIVE A '03 SATURN ION AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR WHERE THE CAR WOULDN'T START, MOSTLY ON COLD MORNINGS, AND WOULD LEAVE ME STUCK IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN. MOST OF THE TIME IF I WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES IT WOULD START UP WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS PAST SUNDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF OR TURN THE KEY. SO NOW I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH MY KEY IN MY IGNITION AND MY STEERING COLUMN OFF SO IT LOOKS LIKE I STOLE MY CAR, THE ONLY WAY I CAN START AND STOP THE CAR IS BY PLUGGING AND UNPLUGGING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND IT HAS ENDED UP COSTING THEM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I JUST PAID $200 FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER ALONG WITH THE HOUSING UNIT AND I COME TO REALIZE THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AT ALL. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. AFTER INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION,IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T START. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT WITHIN TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE MECHANIC ON TWO OCCASIONS STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH/ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMWAS READING THAT SOMEONE WASTRYING TO BREAK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 2 BRAND NEW FOR SATURN OF LA CROSSE. APPROXIMENTLY 25 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL NOT START, AND I HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMENTLY 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED ANY DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT, BUT DID FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERINCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM UPSET THAT SATURN IS NOT TAKING THIS MATTER MORE SERIOUSLY AND MAKING A RECALL NOTICE. DOES IT HAVE TO START ON FIRE OR SOMEONE DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *NM

FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS I'VE HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING MY CAR ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN I WENT OUT TO START IT EACH TIME IT WOULDN'T START. I WOULD WAIT ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES TO RESTART IT, AND LUCKILY IT STARTED. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE ON EVERY OCCASION, ALL THE WHILE BRAVING THE FREEZING COLD. *NM

2003 SATURN ION COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH NO CRANK, NO START WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IS COLD - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) B2960 AND OR B3033 ARE SET. *TT. WENT TO START IT IN COLD WEATHER, HEARD A CLICK AND NOTICED SERVICE VEHICLE ON THE DASHBOARD. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER TURNING KEY IN IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. I LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO AND IT FINALLY STARTED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AS ADVISED BY AN AUTO MECHANIC AND IT STILL DID THE SAME THING A COUPLE DAYS LATER. I ALSO FOUND A MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE AT: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP EARLIER IN 2006. IT WORKED GREAT UNTIL THE COLD WINTER CAME. EVER SINCE THE WEATHER HAS BECOME COLD I HAVE HAD ISSUES STARTING MY CAR ALMOST DAILY. I WILL GET IN THE CAR AND TRY TO START THE ENGINE. MOST TIMES NOTHING HAPPENS...NO NOISE AT ALL. OTHER TIMES IT WILL SOUND LIKE IT'S TURNING OVER BUT WILL THEN STOP. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN THE CAR STARTS FINE. I WILL DRIVE TO MY LOCATION AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. IF I GET BACK IN AGAIN WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE...BUT STILL NO RECALL BY SATURN. IF THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS WITHOUT A RECALL I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE SATURN VEHICLES. *JB

MY SATURN ION (2003) HAS HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS THIS WINTER WITH INTERMITTENT STARTS. I TRY TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, AND IT JUST WON'T CRANK OVER. I HAVE MISSED WORK, AND BEEN STRANDED IN THE FREEZING COLD. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED ON THE STARTER SWITCH. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS DONE, AND HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. I CANNOT AFFORD A $200 REPAIR ON SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY SATURN. THIS IS A CASE OF NEGLIGENCE. *JB

2003 SATURN ION-3 FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. (REFERENCE SATURN TSB 040845005 OF NOV 2005 OR NHTSA 10007431 OF MARCH 2006). IT APPEARS THAT SATURN IS COUNTING ON WARM WINTERS TO GET THE CARS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD (WHICH HAPPENED TO ME) AND THEN HIT YOU WITH A $40 PART AND $156 LABOR CHARGE TO FIX AN ITEM THEY MIS-MANUFACTURED. *NM

WHEN MY 2003 SATURN ION IS IN WEATHER THAT IS 32 DEGREES OR UNDER, THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION FREEZES THUS TRIGGERING THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO LOCK THE CAR DOWN FOR A PERIOD OF 15 MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME DURING THIS WINTER SEASON. HAD I BEEN WITH A SMALL CHILD OR ELDERLY ADULT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS EVENT. SATURN IS MORE THAN AWARE OF THIS SITUATION CLAIMING THE FIX DOZENS OF CARS A WEEK AT 200+ A POP. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH SATURN AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL. THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE SAID THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS PART IS IF PEOPLE WOULD FILE THE CLAIM ON THIS SITE. *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH FREQUENTLY FAILS TO MOVE INTO THE LOCKED POSITION AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THIS REQUIRES REPETITIONS OF STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE. THE DEALER FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM SATURN OF BELLEVUE (WA) IN OCTOBER OF 2005. I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BLINKER. IT DOES NOT OPERATE. MY BACK ONE FLASHES QUICKLY. IT IS NOT THE BULB. WHEN I TOOK APART THE HEADLIGHT TO LOOK AT IT, IT STARTED WORKING. SEEMED LIKE A LOOSE CONNECTION. THAT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX, NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN. I FOUND A RECALL CAMPAIGN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V547000. I AM THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED THAT SATURN EXPECTS ITS CUSTOMERS TO PAY $92 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON A RECALL ISSUE. IT SEEMS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION 2, AND IT HAS HAD INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS SINCE 2004. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT I WOULD CHANGE THE BATTERY AND TEST THE OLD ONE, AND IT ALWAYS TESTED FINE. ONCE THE WEATHER GOT COLD THIS WINTER, IT STARTED HAVING MORE FREQUENT STARTING PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START AFTER WAITING 20-30 MINUTES. LAST WKEND, I WAS UNABLE TO START IT AT ALL AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE IT AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BEING REPLACED, SINCE THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM. PLEASE RECALL THESE IGNITION SWITCHES! SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEM - CHECK THE INTERNET! JUST TYPE IN '2003 SATURN ION STARTING PROBLEMS' IN GOOGLE AND YOU'LL SEE MANY SITES COME UP WITH PEOPLE IN THE LAST MONTH ALONE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. COSTS ABOUT 200 BUCKS TO FIX, AND THAT'S RIDICULOUS IF SATURN KNOWS THERE'S AN ISSUE. *NM

MY CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD WEATHER, IT WOULD ALMOST START THEN NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING BEFORE IT WOULD START UP. ALSO THE SERVICE VEHICLE MESSAGE WOULD FLASH AND VARIOUS LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD FLASH ALSO. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING AT THE SATURN DEALER WHERE THEY CHARGED ME 200 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NM

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS ANY TIME THERE IS COLD WEATHER, WHICH HAS BEEN EVERY DAY BECAUSE IT'S THE WINTER, MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START FOR ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD SOME WORK DONE; FUEL INJECTION CLEANING, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, ETC. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED AND I TOOK IT BACK. THE CAR STARTED FINE AND FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE WE WERE HAVING MILD WEATHER I HAD NO PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS THE WEATHER HIT 30 DEGREES IT STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR IT TURNS OVER BUT THEN DIES. 5 OR SO MORE TIMES AND IT AGAIN TRIES TO TURN OVER BUT NOTHING. EVENTUALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO THE CAR WILL START. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE'RE NOW OUT $100 FOR THAT PLUS THE WORK I'VE HAD DONE THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CALLED SATURN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS, THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED INTO A RECALL AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO HOOK MY CAR UP TO THE COMPUTER FOR $100 JUST TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF POSTS AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE "IGNITION SWITCH", BUT SOME PEOPLE WILL STILL HAVING PROBLEMS EVEN AFTER THAT WAS REPLACED. JUST THIS WEEKEND I WENT TO WORK AND CAME OUT TO START MY CAR AT 9:20 AND BY 10:00 THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO FIND A RIDE HOME. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND AM SCARED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH THEM IN FEAR THAT MY

CAR ROUTINELY WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. A NEW IGNITION SWITCH MUST BE INSTALLED AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

IN COLD TEMPERATURES MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WOULD NOT START. ALL OF MY LIGHTS WOULD COME ON BUT WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND I WOULD BE LOCKED OUT OF STARTING MY CAR FOR THE NEXT 8-10 MINUTES DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM AND CODES B2930 B3033 WERE FOUND IN THE SYSTEM. THE IGNITION SWITCH SN 10392423 WAS REPLACED. THE OLD PART WAS KEPT BY SATURN. *JB

FREQUENT INABILITY TO START VEHICLE DUE TO IGNITION CYLINDER WEAR. SATURN CLAIMS SECURITY SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DUE TO INTERNAL IGNITION SWITCH NOT BEING ABLE TO "READ" CHIP IN SATURN VEHICLE KEY. FAILURE OF SUCH PROCESS RESULTS IN OPERATOR OF VEHICLE HAVING TO WAIT UNTIL SECURITY SYSTEM "RESETS" (10-15 MINS.) SATURN WILL NOT HONOR THE FACT THAT THIS MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW, AND HOLDS OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR $200 REPAIR. THIS OWNER IS JUST GLAD THE STEERING WHEEL HASN'T FALLEN OFF THE DASHBOARD YET. GOOD CAR ! *JB

INTERMITTENTLY, CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. NO CRANK OR START. AFTER 10 MINUTES, CAR SOMETIMES STARTS WITH ANOTHER KEY. CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS, BUT REQUIRES 10 MINUTE PAUSE BETWEEN EACH ATTEMPT FOR SECURITY LOCK-OUT TO BE BYPASSED. *NM

1. TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 2. GREASE IN IGNITION SWITCH THICKENS AND CAR WILL NOT START. IT NORMALLY TAKES 10 - 15 MINUTES TO WARM THE IGNITION ENOUGH FOR THE CAR TO START. 3. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TO REPAIR THE CAR AND BILL THE MANUFACTURER BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR IT. 4. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. *JB

SATURN ION COLD START PROBLEM**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE, AND A SECURITY LIGHT WOULD BLINK AND THE ODOMETER SCREENS WOULD READ SERVICE ENGINE SOON. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START FOR 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT ENGAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE SHOULD BE RECALLED. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, 36 TIMES. THE CONTACT DID NOT LOSE POWER . THE VEHICLE WILL EVENTUALLY START. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE, BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WASHERS DID NOT WORK. THE WEATHERWAS NOT A FACTOR.*AK

CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. THEN I GET A SERVICE ENGINE MESSAGE AND THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES. THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR 10 MINUTES AFTER. HOWEVER, THE CAR ALWAYS STARTS WHEN IT IS NOT COLD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS. *NM

MY 2003 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT PROPERLY READ THE KEY AND THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM LOCKS OUT THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND IN MARCH 2006 GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN IDENTIFYING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. SATURN HOWEVER REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT WITH MY VEHICLE. AS THIS FAILURE ONLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE AS I WORK LATE HOURS AND I RELY ON MY VEHICLE STARTING SO THAT I CAN TURN ON THE HEAT. SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD IN A VEHICLE THAT HAS AN IDENTIFIED DEFECTIVE PART THAT WILL NOT START IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME BECAUSE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ORDERED. AS SATURN WILL NOT STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS I ASK THAT A SAFETY RECALL BE ISSUED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE (USUALLY AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES) THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPER KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. GM HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY (# 04-08-45-005D) DATED 15 MAR 2006 IDENTIFYING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST $250.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN PERFORMANCE OF MY DUTIES AS A FEDERAL OFFICER I RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO START WHEN I NEED IT TO. I AM OFTEN DISPATCHED TO REMOTE AREAS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC. WAITING 10-30 MINUTES FOR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM TO TIME OUT BEFORE I CAN START THE CAR HAS MADE ME LATE FOR ASSIGNMENTS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. HAVING A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH IS UNACCEPTABLE; BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS INSULTING. THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE, IT IMPACTS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT I HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT. FINALLY IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERY SATURN ION OWNER WHO DEPENDS ON THEIR CAR TO START IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER WHEN THERE IS NO OTHER WARM ENVIRONMENT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE (USUALLY AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES) THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPER KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. GM HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY (# 04-08-45-005D) DATED 15 MAR 2006 IDENTIFYING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST $250.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN PERFORMANCE OF MY DUTIES AS A FEDERAL OFFICER I RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO START WHEN I NEED IT TO. I AM OFTEN DISPATCHED TO REMOTE AREAS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC. HAVING A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH IS UNACCEPTABLE; BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS INSULTING. THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE, IT IMPACTS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT I HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT. FINALLY IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERY SATURN ION OWNER WHO DEPENDS ON THEIR CAR TO START IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER WHEN THERE IS NO OTHER WARM ENVIRONMENT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE (USUALLY AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES) THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPER KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. GM HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY (# 04-08-45-005D) DATED 15 MAR 2006 IDENTIFYING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST $250.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN PERFORMANCE OF MY DUTIES AS A FEDERAL OFFICER I RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO START WHEN I NEED IT TO. I AM OFTEN DISPATCHED TO REMOTE AREAS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC. HAVING A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A RECOGNIZED DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH IS UNACCEPTABLE; BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS INSULTING. THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE, IT IMPACTS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT I HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT. FINALLY IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR EVERY SATURN ION OWNER WHO DEPENDS ON THEIR CAR TO START IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER WHEN THERE IS NO OTHER WARM ENVIRONMENT AVAILABLE.