2003 Saturn Ion complaints

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE LEFT FRONT BLINKERS AND REAR BLINKERS. *LA *MR

THERE'S A STRONG SULFUR ODOR ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THE SMELL MAYBE CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE SMELL COULD MAKE OCCUPANTS ILL ESPECIALLY ANYONE WITH RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS. *AK *SC

THE HORN DID NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THE DESIGN FOR THE HORN, ONLY ALLOWED IT TO BE USED WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FINGERS WERE DIRECTLY ON THE HORN INDICATOR SYMBOL. *AK THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE HORN WORKED AS DESIGNED. *SC

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY LEAVING CONSUMER VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENT. *LA DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

HOOD LATCH BROKE. THIS IS THE CABLE WHICH ENABLES CONSUMER TO OPEN THE HOOD FROM THE INSIDE. *AK

2003 SATURN ION 1. DURING COLD WEATHER THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FROSTS. THE CONTROLS ARE SET FOR DEFROST, AIR ON AND BLOWER MEDIUM HIGH. EVEN WITH THE BLOWER ON HIGH THERE IS VERY LITTLE AIR COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DEFROST OUTLET. A CO-WORKER HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HIS ION. THE DEALER SAID THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. 2. THE HOOD LATCH FREEZES AND THE HOOD CANT BE OPENED TO ADD WINDOW WASHER FLUID. SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THE HOOD OPEN BUT YOU CANT RELATCH THE HOOD COMPLETELY WITHOUT PUSHING THE HOOD RELEASE HANDLE DOWN. A CO-WORKER HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HIS ION. 3. SOME THE EDGES ON INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS ON THE ARE VERY SHARP. THE WORST IS THE COMPARTMENT DOOR TO THE LEFT DRIVERS LEG. THIS POPPED OPEN AND HAD A SHARP ROUGH EDGE. AS I EXITED THE CAR I CUT MY LEG. I FIXED THIS MYSELF BY FILLING THE EDGE. *LA

OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT AS THE ACTIVATION LOCATIONS ARE NOT PROMINENT ENOUGH TO FIND WHEN INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IN FACT I BELIEVE THAT THE HORN DID NOT OPERATE ON ONE OCCASION WHEN POSITIVE ACTIVATION WAS ACHIEVED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN. ONE THAT MORE THAN LIKELY HAS OR WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *CB

CONSUMER HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING TWO RECALLS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *PH WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER HE HAD HEARD OF THE RECALL BUT WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IT SAID, THE CONSUMER WANTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT WAS TOLD THE MOST SKILLED MECHANICS WORKED WEEKDAYS. THE CONSUMER FELT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ONLY BEEN MINIMALLY INFORMED OF THE RECALL. *JB *NM

I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 3 MARCH 17, 2003. WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE CAR HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER WITH COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. SATURN CORP. RECALLED THE CAR. THE PURCHASE OF [XXX] WAS CANCELED 4/17/03 AND I PURCHASED A 2ND 2003 SATURN ION 3, [XXX], ON 4/17/03. THE 2ND CAR FROM THE BEGINNING HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, JERKING UP AND DOWN FROM 30 MPH TO 70 MPH, KICKS WHEN STARTED, RATTLES LOUDLY IN REVERSE, AND STEERING PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF TURNS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 4 TIMES (BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 9/9/03, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 9/11/03 I REAR ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR TOTALED $8400.00 AND IT WAS A DEAD-CENTER HIT TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR BENDING BOTH OF THE FRONT FRAMES AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT AND BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT WAS MORE THEN 50% MY FAULT MY LAWYER HAS ADVISED ME THAT THERE ARE NO LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT I NEED TO TAKE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INSURE THAT THE WORD IS OUT THERE FOR CONSUMERS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO INSURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT 69 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A RACCOON AND DAMAGED THE UNDERBODY, RADIATOR ,AND THE FRONT END. *AK

CONSUMER FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THE HORNS BUTTON WHEN NEEDED DUE TO ITS LOCATION. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WARN OTHER MOTORIST IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING ON WET SURFACE TIRES WILL SPIN BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. *AK

I WAS IN AN HEADON COLLISION IN MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE (PURCHASED 6/3/03) AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING AT 60MPH (THE HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT IS 65) WHEN I HYDROPLANNED OFF THE HIGHWAY FROM THE CENTER LANE INTO THE MEDIAN GUARDRAIL. *AK

WHEN TIRES SPIN TRANSMISSION DISCONNECTS. THEN. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS SNOWING. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL TURNS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN.*AK

BOUGHT A SATURN 2003 ION 1 THIS PAST SUMMER ,JUNE 2003. IT WORK JUST FINE UNTIL COLORADO GOT ITS FIRST COLD SPELL, THIS IS WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACT-UP. THE CAR WILL NOT START UP IN THE EARLY COLD MORRINGS. WHEN I FIRST TRY TO START THE CAR THERE IS NOTHING, JUST A CLICKING SOUND. THEN AFTER TRYING FOR A WHILE THE CAR FINALLY STARTS UP, BUT IT IS A VERY ROUGH START. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MY SATURN DEALSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME AND TODAY WILL BE THE FOURTH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL NOT START UP IN THE EARLY COLD MORRINGS. I AM GETTING VERY TRIED OF THIS. I HOPE WITH THE FOURTH TRY THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. IF NOT, YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.

I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION IN JANUARY 2003. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES AND A GRAND TOTAL OF 18 DAYS IN SERVICE. THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS WHEN I TRY TO ACCERLERATE. THE SERVICE TECHS AT SATURN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE RECALIRBERATED AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS STILL DOWN SHIFTING WHEN ACCERLERATING. I AM TERRIFIED THAT I WILL BE HIT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS NOW GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS AND THEN TAKE OFF AGIAN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLIANT WITH THE BBB AND CURRENTLY HAVE A CASE PENDING. I WANT TO BE REFUNDED IN FULL FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD TODAY BECAUSE MY WIFE LEFT THE LIGHTS ON BY ACCIDENT. WHEN THE BATTERY IN THIS MODEL CAR BECOMES DISCHARGED TWO UNDESIREABLE PROBLEMS ARISE. I FEEL THAT BOTH OF THEM INTRODUCE SAFETY CONCERNS. FIRST, THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THROUGH NORMAL MEANS. SECOND, THE CAR CAN'T BE MOVED! THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER REMAINS IN THE PARK POSITION. I FEEL THAT A CAR DESIGNED SUCH THAT THESE TWO PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN THE BATTERY FAILS IS A POOR DESIGN. THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL PROVIDED WITH THE CAR MAKES NO MENTION OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCURING WITH A DEAD BATTERY. IN ORDER TO JUMP A DEAD BATTERY IN A CAR IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO MOVE THE CAR I N ORDER TO JUMP THE BATTERY FROM ANOTHER CAR. I FEEL HAVING AN INTENTIONAL DESIGN IN A CAR THAT PREVENTS IT FROM BEING MOVED BY THE OWNER CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN. REGARDING THE KEY SITUATION, MY WIFE LEFT HER ENTIRE SET OF KEYS IN THE CAR WHEN THEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MANY IMPORTANT KEYS WERE LEFT IN THE CAR UNATTENDED. IT COULD HAVE MADE A BAD SITUATION MUCH WORSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IN THE CAR DISCUSSES HOW TO GET STUCK KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT NO MENTION IS MADE IN THE BOOK THAT KEYS WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. I SPOKE TO THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AT SATURN REGARDING THIS CONCERN, BUT IT IS NOT SATURN'S POLICY TO RESPOND TO THIS TYPE OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINT. SINCE I FEEL THESE TWO PROBLEMS DO HAVE A SAF

I BOUGHT A ION QUAD COUPE IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT MOVING WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR. THEY WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED SOME PARTS. THE NEWLY REBUILT TRANMISSION STIL SLIPS AND HAS A HARD SHIFTING FEELING. I BROUGHT IT IN 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY FIXED, AND STILL NEED TO GO BACK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF IT WAS TO NOT DRIVE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR FAIL WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE I BROUGHT IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GIVE ME PAPERWORK ON MY CAR. I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT PARTS WERE EXACTLY REPLACED. PAPERWORK IS MISSING FROM OVER 2 WEEKS AGO FROM THE 2ND VISIT. *AK

THE TWO SATURN 2003 IONS I HAVE DRIVEN (INCLUDING MY CURRENT VEHICLE) HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHERE, WHEN ENGAGING IN THIRD GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL "FREEWHEEL" FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING WITH A LURCH. THE PROBLEM CAN BE CREATED BY ACCELERATING AROUND A CORNER WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD. THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED IN MARCH/APRIL, 2003. *AK

MY SATURN ION QUAD COUPE IS EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND AT TIMES COMPLETELY DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THIS HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MOST NOTABLY WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC LAST WEEK. I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED, THEN SUBSEQUENTLY DISENGAGED FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY SEVERAL VEHICLES, WHICH HAD TO TAKE UNSAFE EVASIVE ACTIONS TO AVOID PLOWING INTO ME. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT BEING SAID, SINCERELY URGE YOU TO OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. ALSO, THIS MAY NOT BE RELATED, BUT THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING NOISE BETWEEN 1100 AND 1300 RPM DURING DECELERATION , A METAL GRINDING NOISE.*AK

MY 2003 SATURN ION DOWN SHIFTS ON ME WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. IT IS GETTING CONSISTENTLY WORSE AND HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL STOP FOR A SECOND AND THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. SATURN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A TECH HAS TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND SEEN IT HAPPEN FIRST HAND. STILL ON RESOLVED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LEMON LAW IT.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT STALLING. IT OCCURRED ALMOST EVERY OTHER WEEK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 350 MILES PER WEEK. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

THERE WAS AN EGG SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS WORSE WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. THE SMELL MADE THE OCCUPANTS NAUSEOUS AND SICK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE SMELL BUT HAS GIVEN A LOT OF SCENARIOS. *NLM

I WAS THE DRIVER OF A 2003 SATURN ION 2 INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE DID HAVE SEAT BELTS ON. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS 30-35 MPH. NONE OF THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS WERE SERIOUS. *LA

IN A PANIC SITUATION, THE OWNER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON DUE TO THE SIZE AND LOCATION. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION, DUE TO THE CONSUMER HAVING TO TAKE HER EYES OFF THE ROAD AND LOOK ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCATE THE HORN BUTTON.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTED THE DRIVER'S HEAD REST WAS TILTED TOO FAR FORWARD, THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY CORRECTED. *JB *NM

PURCHASE SATURN ION III IN MARCH. TRANSMSSION HAD HARD SHIFT THEN SLIP PROBLEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *LA

THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND THE HOOD OPENED. *AK *JB

I BOUGHT A SATURN ION IN EARLY AUGUST OF 2003. I HAVE HAD 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT ON ME AND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR WHAT SO EVER! THE LATEST TIME WAS AT THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH AN EIGHT WHEELER TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND ME. HAD I NOT THOUGHT QUICK AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE CAR OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT IT THE REAR BY A SEVERAL TON VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE ENTIRE POWER TO THE CAR DIES !! THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AND YOU THE ENTIRE CAR "SHUTS DOWN" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR W/ ONLY THE PRAYER OF RESTARTING YOUR SATURN ION SO THAT YOU ARE NOT KILLED! THE FIRST PERSON I SPOKE WITH IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HE HAD HEARD OF THIS IN A "COUPLE OF OTHER CARS" THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE "FIRST SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT." I AM OUTRAGED THAT SATURN SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THE CAR TO "DUPLICATE" THIS PROBLEM FOR THEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY OR EVEN EVERY WEEK. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "WE CAN'T FIX WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS BROKEN" I AM GOING TO ASK THAT THE CAR BE RETURNED TO GMAC WHICH IS THE LEAN HOLDER! I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MYSELF AND MY SMALL CHILDREN. "I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM PURCHASING THE SATURN ION !!!! I FEEL AS IF I HAVE BEEN RIDING IN A DEATH TRAP!! *LA OUTRAGED UNFORTUNATE SATURN OWNER OF WINSTON-SALEM. *LA

THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS BLEW OUT 11 TIMES. FIRST THE DEALER TOLD ME THE BULBS WERE BAD, THEN TOO MANY AMPS FOR THE TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT. THEY DID SOME "CONVERSION" 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE BULBS BLEW OUT LESS FREQUENT BUT STILL OCCURRING. THE DRIVER FRONT BULBS BLEW 3 WEEKS AGO. THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO MALFUNCTION WHENEVER I PLUG THE CELL PHONE CHARGER INTO THE POWER OUTLET. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE TURN SIGNAL.

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND WAS NOT TURNING SMOOTHLY, IT WAS HARD TO HANDLE THE WHEEL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND MIS-ALIGNED AND WAS REPAIRED. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR FRONT LIGHTING ON MY NEW 2003 SATURN ION WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ON 5/15/03 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ALBUQUERQUE SATURN DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE RUNNING LIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THEY REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON 7/18/03 AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT LESS THAN 100 MILES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THEN AGAIN ON 9/29/03 I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RUNNING LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL REPLACED. I TALKED WITH THE SALES MANAGER BEN VIGIL AND THE SERVICE MANAGER JUSTIN GREENBERG. I COMPLAINED THAT I'VE SPENT MORE TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE THAN ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND I WAS CONCERNED I HAD BOUGHT A LEMON. I TOLD THEM THAT IF MY TURN SIGNALS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MR. GREENBERG TOLD ME THAT HE PROBABLY GETS TWO CUSTOMERS A DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (WHICH SHOCKED ME). HE SAID SATURN HAS SENT OUT NEW BULBS TO THE DEALERSHIPS WHICH THEY CLAIM WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE'LL SEE.

I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 3 ON JULY 11, 2003. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR HAS BASICALLY NOT WORKED AND MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED ON THREE OCCASIONS -- ONE OF THEM ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO REPAIRS THREE TIMES TO SATURN PENSACOLA AND SATURN HAS FAILED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" MY CONCERN. I AM MAINLY CONCERNED WITH GETTING THIS CAR FIXED OR IF IT IS NOT FIXABLE FOR ME TO GET A REPLACEMENT CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS AROUND ME! THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR TERMS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SATURN CORP REP DIANE WANTS ME TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SATURN FACILITY MYSELF TO GET THIS CAR FIXED. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE THE NEXT NEAREST FACILITY IS OVER 60 MILES AWAY! THEY REFUSE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO MOBILE OR MONTGOMERY. AND, THEY REFUSED TO LOAN ME A CAR OR TOW MY CAR TO THE PENSACOLA SERVICE CENTER WHEN MY CAR DIED THE SECOND TIME ON SEPT. 13. THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" AND TREATMENT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY SATURN CORP AND THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY POOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS A LEMON AS WELL AS THE BETTTER BUSINESS BUREAU, NHTSA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, GENERAL MOTORS (WHO OWNS SATURN), ETC. I FEEL EXTREMELY LET DOWN BY SATURN BECAUSE I OWNED A SATURN PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS EXTREMELY LOYAL TO THE VEHICLE. A CO-WORKER AT MY JOB IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HER 2003 ION. IN FACT, I WANTED SATURN TO COMPARE MY SATURN ISSUE TO MY CO-WORKER'S ISSUE (WHO IS BRINGING HER CAR IN TODAY) AND SAT

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD 3 ON 6-12-2003. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE BEGINNING. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. A TECH FROM SPRING HILL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. TRYING TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS A NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL IS CRACKED AND BEING REPLACED. THE REAR BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF SCRATCHES FROM THE TRUNK RUBBING. THE FRONT BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF RUNS IN THE PAINT. NONE OF THE BODY PANELS SEEM TO MATCH UP. THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO FIX A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THEY'RE REPLACING THE DR SIDE GLASS BECAUSE IT IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED. IT SOMETIMES RUNS ROUGH AT FIRST CRANK.

KEY ALWAYS STUCK IN IGNITION, CAR DOESN'T START CAR DOOR LOCK BROKEN. *JB

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS MY KNEE HAS ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE KEYS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. MY WIFE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN ONCE. I AM 6 FOOT 3 INCHES, MY WIFE IS 5 FOOT 6 INCHES. IN OTHER WORDS, NORMAL HEIGHTS. TWO OF THESE OCCASIONS HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY, GOING 65 MPH. LUCKILY TRAFFIC HAS BEEN LIGHT SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT. HAD TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVIER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING , THE STEERING KNUCKLE SHEARED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK DEALER REPAIRED AT NO COST. REPLACED RIGHT FRONT KNUCKLED AND ASSOCIATED SUSPENSION PARTS. FRONT RIGHT WHEEL,TIRE, SPOILER AND UNDER SKIRTING. SATURN'S ENGINEER'S OF DETROIT SENT THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT DAMAGED PARTS FOR INVESTIGATION. CONSUMER HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. *PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE DRIVER PULLED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING AND OBJECT IN THE ROAD, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE IMPACTED A TREE, AND DAMAGED THE A FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

I OWN A ION 2003, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR WE ALSO PURCHASE THE PLASTIC WINDOW GUARDS FROM THE DEALER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BACK DOOR, THE TWO PARTS MAKING UP THE DOOR WERE SEPARATING AT TOP OF WINDOW. THEY TRY TO GLUING, IT DIDN'T WORK, THEN THEY TRY SOMETHING ELSE AND IT DID WORK, AND FINNALLY THEY ORDER A NEW PART. WHEN THEY INSTALL THE NEW PART, THEY REMOVED THE PLASTIC GUARD FRON THE WINDOW AND SAID THEY WILL REPLACE IT AT THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. WELL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE CAME A THEY NOT ONLY DID NOT REPLACE THE WINDOW GUARD BUT THEY REMOVED THE GUARD FROM THE OTHER WINDOW!!!!THEY STATED THE GUARD WAS THE CAUSED OF THE PROBLEM. NOW I WANT TO KNOW ARE THE DOORS SAFE. MY WIFE PLACE MY GRAND CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. IS THERE A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS ????*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND CAR WOULD SHAKE. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG. WITHIN 2 DAYS ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, SOMETIMES STAYING ON STEADY AND SOMETIMES BLINKING. VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS (EVEN SMALL ONES) VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY FEEL LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUT ON AND VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO STALL OUT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN OPENING THE TRUNK IT WAS VERY HOT AND YOU COULD NOT PUT YOUR HAND DOWN IN IT. CALLED DEALER TO MAKE ANOTHER SERVICE APPT. THIS WEEK.*AK

HEADLIGH MOVEMENT, DISTRACTING TO DIRVER AS LIGHT BEAMS HIT OBJECT THE BEAM APPEARS TO BE GITTERING. DISTRACTING ALSO TO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF YOU AS DRIVERS CONTINUE TO LOOK IN MIRROR. SATURN DEALERSHIP STATED THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX, THAT IS IS THIS WAY BY DESIGN. HEADLIGHT MOUNTS TO MOUNTING PANEL WITH (2) PINS GOING THROUGH UPPER EAR IN MOUNTING PANEL AND THEN UPPER AND LOWER EARS ON HEADLIGHT ASSY. AND INTO LOWER EAR OF MOUNTING PANEL. APPEARS TO MUCH PLAY IN THE PIN TO MOUNT AREA, THIS WILL WORSEN OVER TIME AS METAL PIN IN PLASTIC EARS WILL BECOME LARGER FROM THE SHAKING. THIS OCCURS EVEN OF SMOOTH ROAD BEDS.

MY 2003 SATURN ION, WAS DELIVERED ON DECEMBER 3,2002. THIS WAS MY SECOND SATURN. AFTER ABOUT A 1000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THAT TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER 1000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH 4 TIMES SINCE THEN AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS *JB

ELECTRICAL; DOOR SEALS LOOSE; CAR RETURNED UP TO 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE ON 7/13/03. SATURN ION 3 COUPE--TURN SIGNALS BURNED OUT W/IN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER; REQUESTED CHECK OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. JULY 26, 2003 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED. COMPLAINED ABOUT DOOR SEAL AT SAME TIME & SERVICE DEPT DID NOT CHECK IT OUT UNTIL THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX ON JULY 31. REQUESTED TO RETURN VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD "IT WOULD BE FIXED TO MY SATISFACTION". DOOR SEAL WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY & I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR A FOURTH TIME TO GET THIS REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. *PH

MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR DUE TO A SHORTAGE OR SOMETHING AND ALSO MY CAR SHAKES AND LOOSES POWER WHEN I HAVE MY AIR CONDITIONER ON. *AK

MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT A SATURN ION III. SHE HAS RECENTLY HAD TROUBLE WITH HER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SATURN HAS ACKNOWELDGED A HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM FROM 2ND TO 3RD, BUT SINCE A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT, IT IS BEING CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOW BEGUN TO BE A WAY MORE SERIOUS CONCERN BECAUSE IT WILL COMPLETELY SLIP, (LOSE ALL POWER), FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN EVER INCREASING LONGER INTERVAL AND MORE FREQUENTLY. SHE HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE NOW TRIES TO AVOID ANY SITUATION AT LOW SPEEDS THAT MIGHT CAUSE HER INJURY, (SHE TRIES TO MAKE AS MANY RIGHT HAND TURNS TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AS POSSIBLE). SATURN HAS HAD TWO SERVICE EMPLOYEES WITNESS THE PROBLEM, ALBEIT IN A STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING SITUATION. THEY STILL REFUSE TO REPAIR/REPLACE OR ADMIT A PROBLEM BEYOND THE HARD SHIFTING. MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN MESA, AZ. HER PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX], AND NAME IS [XXX]. I MENTION MESA BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL STREETS THERE. THE MAJORITY OF MAIN CITY STREETS ARE SIX LANES WIDE WITH 45MPH SPEED LIMITS. THAT IS A VERY SCARY SCENARIO TO BE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN AND LOSE POWER.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MARCH 22, 2003 I PURCHASED AN SATURN ION 3. WITHIN THE 1ST THE WEEK THERE WAS PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE 2 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING (3RD TIME). SUPPOSEDLY THE CAR WAS FIXED. 3 DAYS LATER THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED ME AT SATURN CORP.'S REQUEST TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN THE CAR AS THE ENGINE COULD BLOW UP. THE ENGINE HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE WITH ABOUT 650 MILES. ALSO, ANOTHER SATURN ION WITH 2500 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DEALER'S LOT WITH A CRACKED CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE. I WAS RELEASED FROM THE SALE ON APRIL 17, 2003. I TOOK A 2ND SATURN ION 3 ON APRIL 17, 2003. THIS CAR HAS JERKY STEERING PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF TURNS AND SEVER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR KICKS WHEN TURNING ON THE IGNITION, ENGINE GETS RACKETING WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, WHEN CHANGING GEARS - KICKS, SLIDES, AND WILL SURGE, AND BOUNCE THROUGH GEARS BETWEEN 30 MPH TO ABOVE 70 MPH. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID, "ALL THE IONS DRIVE THIS WAY. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR". THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES. EACH TIME THE CAR IS RETURNED WORSE THAN THE TIME BEFORE.*AK

VEHICLE TIRES ARE BLOWING OUT AT THE SIDE WALLS AND DEFLATING. THE ALUMINUM RIMS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT TIRE DEVELOP A BUBBLE.*AK