2003 Saturn Ion complaints

OVER THE PAST 2 AND 1/2 WEEKS WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM STARTING OUR 2003 SATURN ION. THE CAR WOULD NOT START LEADING ONE TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER THE CAR STARTED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND WENT VERY QUICKLY. A WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN LATER WITH NO PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE LOCAL SATURN SERVICE TECH ADVISED US THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN SEEN WITH OTHER IONS AND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *NM

ALMOST FROM DAY ONE, THE TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HOOKED UP A COMPUTER TO SEE IF IT TURNED OFF AND THEY SAID IT DOES, BUT, AS SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALER, I HIT THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND I SPUN THE TIRES AND THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED ON AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. YET THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION COUPE. WHEN I WOULD DRIVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND LET THE CAR WARM UP, THERE ARE INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHERE I WILL SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHANGING OF A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN I EITHER COME TO THE STOP OR WHEN I ACCELERATE AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD IN ESSENCE STALL OUT AND TURN OFF. HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP WHEN I PUT IT BACK IN PARK. IT HAPPENED ONCE, MAYBE TWICE B4 I HAD A CHANCE TO REALIZE IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ON THE 12TH OF JANUARY IT STALLED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HANG TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND BECAUSE OF THIS, I LOST POWER STEERING AND HIT THE MEDIAN AND A ROCK BED ON THE MEDIAN. THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND IT IS CURRENTLY STILL IN THE SHOP. I DO NOT KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE EXACT REASON FOR THE STALL. JUST THAT I HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT TAKE GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR AND SEE NO REASON FOR IT DO THIS. *NM

WHILE ON LOCAL INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE SATURN ION 3 QUAD COUPE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE RPMS REACHED ABOUT 6,000 WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED AND PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. AFTER A BRIEF FULL STOP (WHILE IN DRIVE), THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED PROPERLY AND DID NOT SLIP. UPON TAKING THE NEXT EXIT, THE CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND WAS IDLING. EXITING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING SMELL WHICH WAS QUITE SIMILAR TO A CLUTCH SLIPPING IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. NO FLUIDS WERE SEEN DRIPPING AND THERE WAS NO COSMETIC DAMAGE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RETURN TO DRIVE. DESPITE PRESSING THE BRAKE AS REQUIRED, THE CAR WAS 'LOCKED' INTO PARK. A STRANGE CLICK WAS HEARD FROM THE AREA NEAR THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON. THIS WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE NORMAL CLICK THAT IS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED IN PARK. HE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE CAR WOULD PROPERLY ENTER DRIVE AND THE ABNORMAL CLICK WAS NOT PRESENT.THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER REPLACED THE "INPUT" AND "OUTPUT" FILTERS IN THE TRANSMISSION PER DIRECTION OF SATURN CORPORATION. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT SLIPPED AGAIN SINCE THIS REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK OPENED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. *TC *JB

TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE FROZE. CONSUMER COULD NOT GO BACKWARD OR FORWARD. SHE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

SATURN ION CONTAINED SIDE AND FRONT AIR BAGS, AND NEITHER DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *BF *SC (LAWYER ILIANA RUIZ REPRESENTING MARCIAL GARCIA, CONSUMER) WHEN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE THAT RAN A STOP SIGN, THE CONSUMER SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND ENDED UP STRIKING A FENCE. *JB

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ON SATURN ION. *BF *SC

INTERIOR ROOF AROUND SUN ROOF - VERY LOSS AND WIRES ARE EXPOSED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND FAILED TO FIX ISSUE. POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH WIRES EXPOSED TO GETTING WET. CEILING HAS STARTED TO HANG LOWER BECAUSE THE MATERIAL/GLUE HOLDING IT IN PLACE IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF CEILING SHOULD BE DONE BUT COMPANY HAS NOT.*AK

I CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR HEAD-ON IN MY SATURN IN (2003). THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED UP TO THE WINDSHIELD, YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. IT WAS CRUSHED SO BAD THAT THE INSURANCE CO. TOTALLED MY CAR,YET WITH A WRECK SO BAD THE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE??*AK

FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB 'BRIGHT' / 'HIGH' ELMENT BURNED OUT. BULB WAS OEM WAGNER 5702KA. BULB BASE WAS BLACKED, HAD SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. BOTH LEFT AND FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY OUTER LENSES HAVE CHANGED FROM CLEAR TO TRANSLUCENT IMEDIATELY ABOVE TURN SIGNAL BULBS, PERHAPS DUE TO OVERHEATEING. DEALER SAID A PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND FIXED IN THE LATER 2003 IONS. DEALER OFFERED TO DIAGNOSE AND INSTALL A 'RESISTOR AND HARNESS' KIT AT MY EXPENCE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN ERROR AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT SATURN'S EXPENCE. MAY BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN SURGED FORWARD. *AK

I HIT ANOTHER CAR IN ITS LEFT SIDE HARD, IT SMASHED MY FRONT END COMPLETLY TO THE WINDSHIELD, THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED SO BADLY THAT IT WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE CO. YET NO AIR BAGS WAS ACTIVATED.*AK

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT A BEAM AS FAR AS WHEN VEHICLE WAS NEW. NIGHTIME DRIVING ON RURAL ROADS DURING DEER SEASON IS HAZARDOUS. SATURN DEALER HAS INSTALLED UPDATED WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT REPEATED PREMATURE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILURES AND COINCIDENTLY OR NOT, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE PERFORMED POORLY SINCE THEN. DISCUSSED THIS WITH SATURN DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAS LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE FROM THE ION. I KNOW MY SATURN ION HEADLIGHTS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY AT FIRST, BUT HAVE DEGRADED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND MY VISION ARE BOTH FINE. THE SUPENSION HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I REPLACED FACTORY HALOGEN BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR 9007 BULBS AND ILLUMINATED FIELD IS BRIGHTER, BUT STILL DOES NOT EXTEND DOWN THE ROAD MUCH FARTHER. AT SPEEDS OVER 55MPH, ON A DARK RURAL HIGHWAY, I CAN OVERDIVE MY HEADLIGHTS. EMAILED SATURN AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF MY PROBLEM AND DID NOT OFFER A SOLUTION, BUT WILL LISTEN TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A "TREND". I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM 5 TO 20 MILES ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB THE DRIVER HAS ELECTRICAL WINDOWS AND LOCKS FAILED. THE WINDOW WOULD ROLL UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD DO THE SAME. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THESE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO OCCURRED AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE DRIVER HAS INFORMED THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THE TURN SIGNALS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM KEEP RECURRING. *JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND GOING DOWN A HILL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 RPM'S AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. I BEGAN TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE PATTERN OF THE NOISE AND VERIFIED THAT IT PRIMARILY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS OF 20-25MPH OR HIGH SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. I TOOK MY CAR INTO SATURN DEALERSHIP 9/18/04 TO HAVE IT 'CHECKED OUT'. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT I EITHER HAD A FAILING WHEEL-BEARING OR I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TIRES. THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOT IMMANENT DANGER OF DRIVING THE CAR. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD AND THE WHEEL COMES COMPLETELY OFF. UPON PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, I FIND THAT ALL FOUR LUGNUTS HAVE BROKEN OFF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY "DID NOT KNOW WHY THE TIRE CAME OFF, AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO DAMAGE, SO THEY OFFERED TO PLACE THE TIRE BACK ON AND 'SEND ME ON MY WAY'. I CHOSE TO LEAVE MY CAR UNREPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THE REGIONAL ENGINEER COULD LOOK AT IT, CONVENIENTLY, THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE ENGINEER SUPPLIED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE NO REASON FOR THE LUGNUTS TO HAVE BROKEN AND THE TIRE TO HAVE COME OFF. THE ENGINEER OFFERED TO FURTHER TEST THE TIRE AND 'TAKE A CLOSER LOOK' AT THE PARTS THAT HOLD THE TIRE ON. THE ENGINEER TOLD US HE HAD PLACED THE TIRE ON ANOTHER CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM A PLUG THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE TIRE OVER A YEAR AGO. HE ALSO STATED HE STILL DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE LUGNUTS TO BREAK AND THE

APPARENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS LED TO FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. MANUFACTURER'S AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY SATURN ION QUAD COUPE INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGES OR FAILS TO ENGAGE WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT DOES NOT ENGAGE WHILE I AM PULLING INTO TRAFFIC I COULD BE HURT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND A "FIX" WOULD BE OUT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED ON OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER RE THIS ISSUE (IMPLYING THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS WOULD BE REPLACED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM.) WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY TO DISCUSS MY CONCERNS, THE DEALER'S RESPONSE THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE, AND THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTENTS, THE RESPONSE WAS ESSENTIALLY THAT IF THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN, THERE IS NO PROBLEM--ESSENTIALLY, THEY SAID SOMETHING BAD HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY WILL TAKE ACTION, AND THE DEALER DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE CONCERN. I THINK IT'S WRONG AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 2X PER DAY, NEVER IN THE SAME PLACE, NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT.*AK

THE AREA IN MY TRUNK ABOVE THE MUFFLER HAS STARTED GETTING EXTREMELY HOT. ITEMS STORED IN THE TRUNK ARE HOT TO THE TOUCH AND THE METAL IN THE TRUNK IS TOO HOT TO LAY A HAND ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER DROPPED ITEMS WHILE REMOVING THEM FROM THE TRUNK BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE FEBRUARY 2003. I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND IT IS IN THE SHOP EVERY MONTH TO MONTH AND A HALF BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL (4 TIMES), RADIO, INTERIOR FAN, TRANSMISSION, GEAR SHIFT, BRAKES, TIRES, HOOD LATCH, WINDSHIELD, ETC.

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL TWENTY SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE PEDAL. *AK

WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DROVE THROUGH WATER ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES DEEP DURING RAIN, CAR STOPPED WOULD NOT RESTART, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE, THE CAR WAS JUST ONE YEAR OLD.*AK

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 8 TIMES FOR PASSENGER FRONT SERVICE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. THE BULB WAS REPLACED, MANUFACTURER SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LEAKS AT THE TOP. CONDENSATION GATHERS ON THE UPPER INSIDE OF THE DOOR AND DRIPS ON THE DRIVERS LEG, AS WELL AS ON THE POWER WINDOW/LOCKS SWITCHES, WHICH COULD CAUSE CORROSION OR A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*AK

THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT OF MY 2003 SATURN ION HAS GONE OUT REPEATEDLY. UPON CAREFUL INSPECTION, THE BULB ITSELF IS NOT BURNT OUT. WHEN SIGNALING LEFT, THE BLINKER IN THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT BLINK VERY RAPIDLY. AS THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT IS ALSO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LGHT, I HAVE A BURNT OUT LEFT DAYTIME RUNNUNG LIGHT WHICH IS A POSSIBLE SAFTEY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE BULB WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THEY HAD JUST REPLACED IT. I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE AS I TRIED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE VEHICLE BEFORE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER BY TAKING THE RIGHT "GOOD" BULD AND SEEING IF IT WOULD TURN ON IN THE LEFT LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT DID NOT. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY WOULD JUST REPLACE THW WHOLE ASSEMBLY AS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM. AFTER FOUR MONTHS THE PROBLEM RE-APPEARED AND I ONCE MORE HAD TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER. BEING THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT EXPIRED, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCOURING SAFTEY FAILURE, PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE.

CAR HESITATES WITH NO WARNING WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP. ALMOST REAR ENDED. ALSO ALMOST STRUCK FROM SIDE IN INTERSECTION.*AK

THROTTLE FROZE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS WITHOUT CONSUMER FIRST PAYING FOR IT. ALSO, HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE COVERED WITH A FILM THAT MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT.*AK ON 3-7-04 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE GAS BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE THEN ROLLED OVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN DOUBLE WHIPLASH AND LEFT SHOULDER MUSCLE SPASMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. ON 6-16-04 THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. *NM

OUR 2003 SATURN ION II HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OCCURING A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE CONTINUED SINCE. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON THESE DATES: 10/3/03, 11/5/03, 5/24/04. WE ARE ALSO TAKING IT IN 6/28/04 FOR SERVICE FOR THE SAME REASON. THE SATURN HAS STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A STOPLIGHT, WHILE TURNING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, WHILE DRIVING, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN, AND WHILE ENTERING A TOLL STATION. WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO BEING STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES IN SEVERAL OF THESE OCCASIONS, BUT FORTUNATELY WERE NOT. WITH MY WIFE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD, WE ARE VERY HESITANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFETY FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS WHEN IN THIS CAR. 10/3/03 - SATURN SERVICE DEPT. CHECKED THE BATTERY AND IT CHECKED OUT OK 11/5/03 - SATURN SERVICE DEPT. CHECKED FOR CODES AND FOUND P1599 STALL CODE IN HISTORY. CHECKED WIRING AND CONNECTORS AND FOUND JUNCTION BLOCK LOOSE UNDER HOOD. THEY TIGHTENED UNDER HOOD JUNCTION BLOCK CONNECTOR SCREWS. 2/19/04 - SATURN SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED FUEL FILTER (RECALL - 03068) 5/24/04 - SATURN SERVICE DEPT. TEST DROVE CAR AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN. LOOKED FOR CODES IN SYSTEM OR TSB'S, BUT NONE WERE FOUND. WE FEEL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY HAVING, AND ARE EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE WE HAVE RECEIVED. WE WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED OR SOME ACTION TO BE TAKEN. *AK

FRONT SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER IS MISSING OR DOES NOT SIT FLUSH TO THE OUTER DOOR PANEL. *AK

TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED 4 TIMES WITHIN FIRST 7,000 MILES OF USAGE. *AK

WHEN MAKING TURNS, PARTICULARLY RIGHT TURNS, MY WIFE'S NEW SATURN ION QUAD COUPE, LOSES POWER AND HESITATES AFTER IT GETS THE TURN PARTIALLY COMPLETED. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT ONCE A WEEK SO IT IS TOUGH TO DUPLICATE BUT IT HAS CAUSED HER TO BE NEARLY HIT SEVERAL TIMES BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS THE WAY THE VTI TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED TO WORK SO THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. SATURN IN SPRING HILL DID NOT DENY THIS WAS HOW THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED TO WORK. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SERVICE BULLETINS THAT WOULD FIX THIS AND THEY SAID NONE WOULD ACTUALLY FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO MY CERTIFIED RETURN RECEIPT LETTER EVEN THOUGH I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED A WRITTEN RESPONSE. PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEIR CARS TO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO BE FIXED. SATURN IS REIMBURSING SOME OF THESE CHARGES BUT THEY CALL IT STRICTLY A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE". COMPLAINTS 10049664 AND 10049638 SOUND VERY SIMILAR. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU REQUEST THAT SATURN PROVIDE ALL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THEM ABOUT THE VTI TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHERE INDEPENDENT SHOPS DID REPAIRS. THOSE OWNERS/INDEPENDENT SHOPS COULD PROBABLY PROVIDE A WEALTH OF INFO ABOUT VTI TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I THINK YOU WILL FIND THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND A RECALL IS WARRANTY. *AK

I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT MY AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS ON AND I HAPPEN TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES AND THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW. I EVEN CALLED SATURN AND THEY HAVE MY COMPLAINT ON FILE. *AK

THE HORN ASSEMBLY REQUIRED EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO ACTIVATE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HORN WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *AK *NM

MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN HAS HAD AT LEAST EIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS FAIL SINCE THE CAR WAS DELIVERED IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE BULBS IN QUESTION ARE MANUFACTURED BY WAGNER, AND ARE TYPE 5702. FAILURE OF FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT, SINCE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS NO INDICATION OF MY INTENT TO TURN. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED THE CAR ON THREE OR FOUR OCCASIONS, AND HAS FOUND NO OBJECTIVE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. REPLACING THE BULB CORRECTS THE PROBLEM, TYPICALLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT IN SEVERAL INSTANCES FOR LESS THAN A WEEK. THE BULBS IN QUESTION ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM NATIONAL PARTS CHAINS SUCH AS NAPA, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, AUTOZONE, AND PEP BOYS; THE ONLY SOURCE IS A SATURN DEALERSHIP, WHICH CHARGES APPROXIMATELY $8 FOR A REPLACEMENT LAMP. I HAVE SINCE EXPERIMENTED WITH USING A SYLVANIA 3157NALL, WHICH IS APPARENTLY IDENTICAL AND IS RATED FOR USE IN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT APPLICATIONS. IT FUNCTIONS IDENTICALLY TO THE OEM PART, EXCEPT THAT IT APPEARS TO LAST MUCH LONGER (IT HAS YET TO FAIL AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS), AND IS READILY AVAILABLE FROM ANY AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE COST. *LA

WHILE TRYING TO FIND A SPOT IN A PARKING LOT, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VAN BACKING OUT AND ABOUT TO HID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY HORN TO WARN BOTH DRIVERS. WHEN I HIT THE HORN, THE CENTER SATURN EMBLEM WENT THROUGH THE PLASTIC AIR BAG COVER. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAD TO BE RELPACED. WHILE THIS INCADENT DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURIES, IT CONSERNS ME THAT ANOTHER EMBLEM COULD FALL INTO THEE AIRBAG MODULE AND CREATE A FLYING OBJECT IN A CRASH.*AK

SUBJECT: LOOSE SATURN SEATBELT BOLT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION 3: I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT CHANGED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN MARCH 2003. THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS PUTTING MY SON IN HIS CARSEAT IN THE BACKSEAT AND NOTICED MY FOOT JIGGLING SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER I REALIZED IT WAS THE RESTRAINING BOLT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT, AND THE BOLT WAS SO LOOSE THAT IT CAME OUT OF THE HOLE INTO MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. I WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED. TO THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT HAD BEEN KEEPING MY HUSBAND AND I "SAFE" WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD!!! I TOOK MY CAR INTO SATURN OF SALEM TODAY AND HAD THEM COMPLETELY GO OVER THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD ME THAT LOCK-TIGHT HAD BEEN PUT ON THE BOLT WHEN THE NEW SEATBELT HAD BEEN INSTALLED BUT THE BOLT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED ENOUGH (TO SATURN'S SPECS). AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT! I AM TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY HUSBAND, MYSELF AND MY CHILD, AND THE SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO ACT AS IF THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS NO BIG DEAL. I AM APPALLED. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS RAISED THIS CONCERN, BUT I WISHED TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. SINCERELY, DAWN YOUNG 503-485-8642 (WORK)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING VEHICLE WOULD BOG DOWN AND STALL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR

SATURN HORN IS HARD TO ACTIVATE (ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN WINTER CLIMATES) DUE TO A POOR HORN BUTTON DESIGN. IN A PANIC SITUATION YOU HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AND HUNT FOR THE "G" SPOT ON THE HORN BUTTON IN ORDER TO SOUND THE HORN WITHIN SUFFICIENT TIME TO BE USEFUL IN WARNING OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE EXPERINCED THIS MANY TIMES IN A PARKING LOT SITUATION, AND ALSO DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE HORN FAILS TO SOUND AT ALL. SATURN CORP. REFERRED ME TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DESIGN WITH THE AIR BAG. OTHER IONS THAT I TEST DROVE ALSO DISPLAYED THIS BEHAVIOR AND SATURN CORP. SHOULD BE WORKING ON A SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

TO DATE, VEHICLE HAS HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WHICH DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. 10 SERVICE VISITS IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND NO END IN SIGHT. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/BLINKER LIGHTS INOPPERABLE (REPAIRED 6 TIMES); OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GUAGE MALFUNCTIONING (REPAIRED 3+ TIMES); AIR CONDITIONING INOPPERABLE AND COMPASS MALFUNCTIONING.*AK

AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 100 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL HEAD ON. THE OWNER STATED THAT NEITHER THE FRONTAL NOR SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE OWNER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MPH FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE BLEW OUT. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BLEW OUT AT THE SAME SPEED. FIRESTONE, AFFINITY. *AK BOTH TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *LA

SATURN ION 3 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. 2003. POWER STEERING-ELECTRIC: IT APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS PROGRAMMED TO GIVE MORE ASSIST IN A PANIC SITUATION. SENSORS DETECT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING MOVED RAPIDLY, AND IMMEDIATELY GIVE MORE ASSIST, MAKING THE WHEEL VERY EASY TO TURN. SINCE MOST PEOPLE OVER-CORRECT IN A PANIC SITUATION, THIS INCREASE IN ASSIST IS EXACTLY THE WRONG THING TO DO. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHERE THE SPEED REALLY ACCENTUATES THE EFFECT. I DO 90% OF MY DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, SO THIS IS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ME. I NOW HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ODD STEERING BEHAVIOR SINCE ABOUT 2000 MILES WHEN I SWERVED TO AVOID AN ANIMAL AND ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD. IF THE CAR WAS STILL WITHIN THE 30 DAY, 1500 MILE BUY BACK PERIOD, IT WOULD HAVE GONE BACK. EVEN KNOWING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS, AND OCCASIONALLY GIVING THE WHEEL A SHARP MOVEMENT SO THAT I KNOW HOW THE CAR REACTS, I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD-RAIL WHEN I WAS SURPRISED BY ANOTHER CAR DRIFTING INTO MY LANE ON THE DATE BELOW. I TELL EVERY SATURN ION OWNER THAT I MEET ABOUT THE PROBLEM. A FRIEND'S SON DROVE THEIR ION OFF THE ROAD ABOUT A MONTH AGO UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. OWNERS WHO DON'T OFTEN VENTURE ON TO THE INTERSTATES ARE RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THERE IS ANY SUCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR NEW CAR. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO. THEY SEND ME ON MY WAY, DRIVE A COUPLE OF MILES, TELL ME THEY

THE HORN MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO HEAR THE HORN. *AK

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2003. *AK

HORN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK *MR