2004 Saturn Ion complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE WERE LOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63270.

IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW 20F), THE CAR REFUSES TO START, OR EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. *TR

I PURCHASES A 2004 SATURN ION IN 2006. IN OCTOBER OF 2007, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, MY VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER WHILE I WAS VISITING RELATIVES 2 HOURS FROM MY HOME WHICH DETAINED ME ON MY TRIP BACK HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN HARRISBURG, PA TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (THEY REPLACED IT). TWO YEARS LATER IN DECEMBER, 2009 THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME ON MY WAY TO WORK ON AN EXTREMELY COLD WINTER MORNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED ANOTHER IGNITION SWITCH TO REPLACE THE ONE THEY HAD REPLACED 2 YEARS EARLIER. AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT SATURN OWNERS HAVE GOTTEN INTO BECAUSE OF FAILING IGNITION SWITCHES, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THESE PARTS. I HAVE READ ABOUT COUNTLESS SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO TURN THEIR CARS OFF! AN IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD NOT GO BAD EVERY 2 YEARS. THIS IS NOT A HIGH WEAR AND TEAR PART. A CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN ON AND OFF A LARGE NUMBER OF TIMES WITHOUT FAIL. A CAR THAT FAILS TO TURN OFF IS AN ENORMOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU LEAVE THE CAR UNATTENDED AND TURNED ON, SOMEONE COULD BE HURT OR KILLED. NOT BEING ABLE TO START A CAR IS ALSO A DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAPPENS IN BITTERLY COLD WEATHER. SATURN/GM IS DOING NOTHING TO

I PURCHASED A 2004 SATURN ION. NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL WINTER. MY CAR WON'T START IN THE COLD. I HAVE BEEN AT STORES AND CAME OUT AND IT WON'T START. I GIVE IT 10 MINUTES EXACTLY NOT A MINUTE SOONER NOT A MINUTE LATER, IT THEN STARTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF FOR SOME REASON I AM OUT LATE AND MY CAR WON'T START AND ITS SUBZERO TEMP I CAN DIE FROM IT. I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY IT WON'T START AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING A BIG DEAL TO ME AND OTHER OWNERS. PLEASE FIX THE ISSUE, PUT OUT A RECALL!! *TR

POWER STEERING GOES OUT FREQUENTLY ON 2004 SATURN ION. CHECKED FUSES, NO PROBLEMS WITH FUSES. SATURN WANTS TO CHARGE $100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. CAN TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART - THIS RESETS THE POWER STEERING BUT ONLY FOR A LITTLE BIT. SOMETIMES IT GOES OUT CONSTANTLY, SOMETIMES NOT FOR A FEW HOURS OR DAYS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A SNOW STORM, MY WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE BEGAN ACTING FUNNY. THEN WENT UP PAST MY WINDSHIELD KICKING THE WIPER COMPLETELY OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE ANYTHING. I FOUND IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR ASSEMBLY. WHICH I AM NOW TRYING TO GET A NEW ONE. EVERY JUNK YARD I HAVE GONE TO SAYS THE SAME THING...EVERY PART THAT I NEED THEY PULL OUT AND IT IS ALSO BROKEN ON THE SAME MODELS. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL IF IT IS BROKEN IN EVERY SATURN!? *TR

ON COLD DAYS MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL ROLL OVER A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT WILL APPEAR. THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15-30 MINUTES TO START LEAVING ME STRANDED WITH NO HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THIS OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS ON COLD DAYS IN THE SPRING, WINTER AND FALL.. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION THAT WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY IN THE WINTER. I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR IONS AND MOST OF THEM SAY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I THINK I WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MANY OTHERS WITH THE ANTI-THEFT/ELECTRIC SYSTEM OF MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR THEIR SHODDY WORK. I AM ABOUT TO GET A LAWYER AND SEE IF HE CAN GET MY CAR ISSUE RESOLVED WITH GM. WHEN IT IS COLD/WET THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL CRANK 1 TIME AND THEN NOTHING FOR 10 MINUTES. AFTER WAITING INSIDE THE CAR ON A VERY COLD MORNING I CAN ATTEMPT TO TRY MY CAR YET AGAIN. IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK AND THE CYCLE MAY NEED TO BE REPEATED. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED AND HAVE OFFERED TO GM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND WAS MET WITH UTTER INDIFFERENCE. THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THEIR BAD WORK AND I WILL NOT. *TR

I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT AND THE CAR WAS FINE, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD AAA COME OUT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN, BUT THE KEY WILL NOT. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD AS ALL THE LIGHTS WORK FOR THE CAR BUT THE KEY IS NOT WORKING. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR SIMPLY STARTED. NOW MY CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE, TO BE FIXED. I LOOKED ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER 2004 SATURN ION OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM TURNING THEIR CAR ON IN THE COLD. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 SATURN ION 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING COLD. NOW, MOST MORNINGS I HAVE THE COMMON IGNITION PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS. I TURN THE KEY, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE CRANKS ONCE, THEN NOTHING. I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY ALL THE WAY OFF, WAIT 10 SECONDS, AND TRY AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, AFTER 10-30 MINUTES OF DOING THIS REPEATEDLY, THE CAR STARTS. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THE CAR DOES START AFTER ONLY A FEW TRIES. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS, AND I AM ANGERED AND DISMAYED THAT GM WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. GOOD THING MY EMPLOYER IS UNDERSTANDING, AND HAS NOT FIRED ME YET FOR BEING LATE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A SATURN ION 2004 CAR. AFTER 2 MONTHS, ONE DAY IT JUST DIDN'T TURN ON WHEN I STARTED IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. I, HOWEVER, REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE, SINCE IT WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM OF "NOT STARTING" HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES....I WENT ON THE SATURN WEBSITE AND TO MY AMAZEMENT, THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME CAR, SATURN ION 2004, 2005, 2003. THIS IS A REAL INCONVENIENCE NOT KNOWING IF WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF IT WILL START OR NOT. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME THING. SATURN TELLS US WHEN WE CALL TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE STATION. WE THEN GET A BILL FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE ARE WASTING MONEY. I BELIEVE SATURN SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST IGNORING IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN THE PASS LOCK OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. HE USUALLY HAS TO WAIT FOR 12 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER REPLACED THE CD PLAYER AND ADJUSTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN THE PASS LOCK/ ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL , HE CANNOT START THE VEHICLE. USUALLY HE HAS TO WAIT 12 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CD PLAYER AND ADJUSTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

CAR WON'T START IN COLD WEATHER. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR FINE. HAD REMOTE STARTER REMOVED, AS SUGGESTED BY SERVICE CENTER ; NOW HAVE NO RUNNING LIGHTS OR KEYLESS ENTRY. HAVE HAD THE SATURN ION 2004 SINCE OCT. 5TH, 2009. HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR JUMP STARTED 5 TIMES SINCE. SINCE THIS IS UNDER WARRANTY IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALERS FOR GOOD. I HOPE NO ONE ELSE DECIDES TO BUY IT UNTIL SATURN OWNS UP AND FIXES THIS DEFECT. UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER. 11-21-09. *TR

I COULDN'T START MY CAR. I HAD IT JUMPED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I GOT A NEW BATTERY THINKING THIS WOULD FIX EVERYTHING, WHICH IT DID NOT. I CAME TO LEARN IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY, BUT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON: WHEN THIS HAPPENS I'M REQUIRED TO SIT FOR TEN MINUTES TO WAIT FOR IT TO CLEAR OUT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENED THE OTHER NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, WHICH IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN A PARKING LOT WITH NO ONE ELSE AROUND. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. SEEMS UNFAIR THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS COSTLY ISSUE AND IS NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF FIXING IT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE READ THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AFTER THEY'VE SPENT $300+ TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

MY SATURN ION 3, 2004 WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES AND THEN TRY AGAIN TO TRY TO GET THE CAR TO START. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS. I CALLED SATURN TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THEY FIX ABOUT 10 OF THEM EVERY WEEK, B UT SATURN HAS YET TO RECALL THE SWITCH. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY IN THE COLD AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. *TR

WHILE SLOWING AND PREPARING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, RPM'S INCREASED EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR. VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP AND REQUIRED MORE THAN NORMAL FOOT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE KEY. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES RANDOMLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. ON ALL OCCURRENCES, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT AND IN THE WINTER SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO START. THE STEERING STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HAPPEN ONCE THEN NOT FOR MONTHS. NOW IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. I LIVE 13 MILES FROM MY JOB. I GOES OUT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON THE WAY. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE IF I HAD MORE STOP SIGNS TO RESTART THE CAR AT. I AM A PUNY GIRL AND IS SOMETIMES HARD FOR ME TO STRONG ARM THE STEERING WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING. OF COURSE MY WARRANTY IS PAST. NOW MY PROBLEM IS WINTER IS COMING, I HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD SON THAT I HAVE TO TAKE TO THE COUNTRY AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING TO THE SITTERS. I AM WORRIED TO DEATH ABOUT HIM BEING IN THE CAR WITH ME IF I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND THIS CAR DECIDES TO START SLIDING. I DON'T THINK IT POSSIBLE TO STEER OUT OF A SPIN. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE MADE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER MISTAKE. WILL IT TAKE PEOPLE DIEING? I HOPE TO GOD NOT. SO YOUR ANSWER TO WERE THERE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES? IS....NOT YET. PLEASE HELP!! *TR

KNOB FOR THE DEFROSTER/AIR/HEATING FAILED TO WORK. SWITCH DOESN'T CHANGE IT TO DEFROST/FRONT/FLOOR LIKE ITS SUPPOSE TO. IT JUST COMES OUT FRONT,CAN'T SWITCH. DOESN'T CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FROST,ICE,FOG,ETC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER ON THE INTERNET SHE DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 . THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WE PURCHASED OUR SATURN ION (USED- FROM A DEALERSHIP) AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT BEGAN NOT STARTING ON THE FIRST TRY WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES TO START IT. THEN WHEN THE MORNING WEATHER TURNED COLD IT WOULD NOT START. AT ALL. IN THE AFTERNOONS WHEN IT WOULD WARM UP SOME IT WOULD START AGAIN. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO REPLACED THE BATTERY. NEXT MORNING IT WOULDN'T START. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THERE WAS NONE. BUT, I DID FIND HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. I EVEN FOUND VIDEOS POSTED TO YOUTUBE.COM ON HOW IT MIGHT BE FIXED. SCARY!! ALSO I FOUND POSTS WHERE PEOPLE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS FOR FIXES AND THE DEALERSHIPS FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY FOR IT TO CROP UP AGAIN WITHIN A SHORT TIME. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP? I FOUND YOU BY ACCIDENT OTHERS WOULD MAKE COMPLAINTS BUT THEY DON'T KNOW YOU EXIST TO HELP. OUR CAR IS BASICALLY USELESS BECAUSE WE CANNOT COUNT ON IT TO START WHEN WE NEED IT. THE DATE I GAVE YOU WAS A GUESSTIMATE OF THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS POST WHERE FOLKS TOOK THEIR CARS IN, HAD REPAIRS , ONLY TO HAVE THE TREND START OVER AGAIN. *TR

2004 SATURN ION- IGNITION FAILS TO RELEASE THE KEY, CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT STRUGGLING. HAVE RESEARCHED THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OCCURRING, THAT IS UNREAL. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING YET... AS SO MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS AND SOME HAVE HAD TO REMOVE A FUSE TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF. SATURN NEEDS TO DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THIS AND REPLACE ALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCHES BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS. *TR

SATURN ION 2004 WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THE SYMPTOMS IS SPORADIC AND UNPREDICTABLE AND LINKED TO FAULTY SECURITY MODULE (ANTI-THEFT) WHICH DISABLES THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM DOCUMENTED IN VARIOUS FORUMS AS WELL AS WELL KNOWN TO SATURN DEALERS. YET GM DID NOT MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2005 AND ADVISED THE DEALERS AND SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. *TR

I WAS ONCE A LOYAL GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ' THAT IS UNTIL GM NEARLY KILLED ME. I'M THE UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION WITH AN AILING TRANSMISSION THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR, AND I AM NOT ALONE. IN MY CASE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE. THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE FROM 315 N ONTO INTERSTATE 270 E. EXITING THE ENTRANCE RAMP AT THAT INTERCHANGE IS OFTEN A HAZARD UNDER THE BEST CONDITIONS. AS I ACCELERATED INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC, MY CAR SHUTTERED VIOLENTLY AND LOST ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM. I SWERVED BACK TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED BY THE CLOSING TRAFFIC ON 270 E, NEARLY SIDESWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE STILL IN THE EXIT LANE. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR REST FOR A FEW MINUTES I TRIED AGAIN TO GET IT INTO GEAR, ULTIMATELY HAVING TO LEAVE IT IN A PARKING LOT. DESPITE GM AGREEING TO A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ON APRIL 16, 2009, SATURN DEALERSHIPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADVISED TO SUSPEND ALL EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIRS UNDER THE AGREEMENT. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, UNDER DIRECT INSTRUCTION FROM GM, HAS TAKE THE POSITION THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE BY GM PRIOR TO THE DECLARATION OF BANKRUPTCY ON JUNE 1, 2009 AND NOW HAS NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. GM ALSO FAILED TO NOTIFY THE 150,000 OWNERS OF AFFECTED VUE AND ION MODELS THAT DUE TO AN ACKNOWLEDGED DESIGN FLAW, THEIR CARS MIGHT DROP IN OR OUT OF GEAR, EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS, POSING SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO

ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN ION ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER HITTING AN UNUSUAL BUMP OR DIPS IN THE ROAD, I?VE EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE CAR?S SYSTEMS, INCLUDING LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF STEERING AND ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, BRAKE OR NAVIGATE THE CAR. THE CAR SLOWS TO A COMPLETE STOP. FROM MY PAST EXPERIENCE I'VE LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL NEED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CAR KEY WILL THEN PHYSICALLY NEED TP BE REMOVED AND REINSERT THE KEY TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. (TRYING TO START THE CAR WITHOUT REMOVING THE KEY WILL NOT WORK.) ON ALL OCCASIONS THIS HAS PRESENTED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS OTHER CARS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-75 MPH ARE FORCED TO MANEUVER AROUND MY STALLED VEHICLE, WHICH DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THE POWER OR CONTROL TO BE PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP ON OCTOBER 17, 2007 AFTER THE FIRST 3 INCIDENTS, HOWEVER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS COULD NOT IDENTIFY OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED A FUSE BOX IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE CAR. BUT COULD NOT NEITHER ASSURE ME THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, OR WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SITUATION RECURRED RECENTLY ON OCT 4, 2009 WHILE ON INTERSTATE 95. THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT AS I SAT STRANDED IN THE FAST-LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY AT ANOTHER SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY AGAIN SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR REPLICATE TH

I TRIED TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION AT ABOUT 11 PM LAST NIGHT AND IT TOOK FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR IT TO TURN OVER. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 28 DEGREES (F). THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, ALWAYS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. I KNOW THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. I HAVE FOUND REPORTS OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER ION OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY SATURN AS SITTING FOR 10-20 MINUTES OR MORE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES WAITING FOR ONE'S CAR TO START IS NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77042. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF THE STEERING CONTROLLER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $1000 TO REPLACE THE MAIN COMPUTER. UPDATED 02/19/10

EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING IN MY '04 SATURN ION. STEERING CAN LOCK UP AT ANY GIVEN TIME AFTER START UP AND HAS DONE SO ON AN EVERY TRIP BASIS FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP'S DIAGNOSTIC DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING COLUMN FOR ALMOST $800; WHICH AS I HAVE READ DOESN'T GUARANTEE FIXING THE PROBLEM. LOSING YOUR POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THAT IF THIS ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN THE ION SERIES, SATURN/GM SHOULD ADDRESS IT ACCORDINGLY. *TR

2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE. 2.2L MAN. POWER STEERING FAILS SEEMS TO BE RANDOM AS TO WHEN IT FAILS. REPEATED FAILS, USUALLY MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DAY. MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT AND IF NOT EXPECTING IT CAN MAKE FOR A CLOSE CALL. FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECT AS OF THIS TIME. OLD PART CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE ONCE REPAIR IS COMPLETED. *TR

MY POWER-STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION. THE MESSAGE CENTER BEEPS AND THEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND STEERING WORKS. *TR

I DRIVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES, HOWEVER, WHEN I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WOULD BE FINE. I DID BRING IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. HE FOUND NO ERROR CODES AND NO DUPLICATE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS AT RANDOM TIMES. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IT STARTED TO TURN OFF A COUPLE TIMES A DAY. I FINALLY BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN WHEN IT TURNED OFF ON ME ON THE FREEWAY AND I ALMOST CRASHED WHEN A BIG RIG SWERVED. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING COLUMN & MODULAR. THAT PART WAS $560.53 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR). FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS PART ON MY CAR WITH THE HELP OF MY MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH MY SATURN MAKE. HOWEVER, THE STORY DOES NOT END HERE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CAUSE FOR THE STEERING BREAKING. THE MOTOR IN THIS COLUMN PIECE FRIES THE WHOLE MODULAR. THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS WAS ANOTHER $175.00. THE SATURN FACTORY HAS PLENTY OF STEERING COLUMNS IN STOCK HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR, THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YES THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS FRUSTRATING AND EXPENSIVE BUT HAVING POWER STEERING GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY IS VERY DANGEROUS. SOMEONE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIE OR BE INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE A SAFETY RECALL IS FORCED UPON SATURN. *TR

THE POWER STEERING MOTOR KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2004 SATURN ION WHILE I AM DRIVING IT. IT GOES OUT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR- SOMETIMES WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR ABOUT $1000 BUT AFTER READING MANY MANY PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2004 SATURN ION KEEPS GOING OUT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AFTER IT HAS RAINED, AND IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. IT APPEARS THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TRANSAXLE GRINDING/WHINING NOISE IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, EXCESSIVE ENGAGEMENT OR DISENGAGEMENT EFFORT WHILE SHIFTING INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO EITHER 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION2 SEDAN. AS OF THE PAST WINTER WITH UNSEASONABLE COLD TEMPS I BEGAN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION OF MY CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL SOMETIMES FOR HOURS AT A TIME. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I LIVE IN WESTERN NY WHERE WE DO SEE COLD TEMPS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE A CHILD I MUST GET TO SCHOOL BEFORE I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. I HAVE BEEN A TRUE ADVOCATE OF SATURNS VEHICLES UP UNTIL THE PURCHASE OF THIS ONE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND NO RESOLUTION. I REALLY HOPE THAT THEE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR GM TO ACTUALLY STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO SELL MY CAR OR BE FOREVER SLIGHTED BY SATURNS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE AS A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOM HELP TAKE CARE OF YOUR CONSUMERS. *TR

THE 2004 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER, AFTER GETTING IT CHECKED IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER READING REVIEWS IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THIS YEAR AND MAKE. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SOMETIMES MORE. IT HAS MADE ME LATE FOR WORK AND EVEN MISS CLASSES. IF THIS IS SO COMMON WHY ISN'T THIS PART BEING RECALLED!? APPARENTLY A "SECURITY MEASURE" HAS THE CAR NOT STARTING FOR 10 MINS, SOMETIMES 20. PLEASE HELP! *TR

POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON,STEERING BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE,. TROUBLE BEGAN AROUND 2 MONTHS AGO, NOW HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES DAILY, VERY SCARY, AS I TRAVEL A GREAT DEAL ON THE HIGHWAY. VIA INTERNET SEARCHES, NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP QUOTES 800.00 TO 1065.00 TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HAVE BEEN ADVISED, DEALERSHIP CHARGES THIS AMOUNT,TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, REMOVES THE BAD COMPONENT, THEN RESELLS REMAINDER OF COLUMN FOR PROFIT. THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, AND THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. BROUGHT MY ION BRAND NEW IN 2005(YEAR END SALE),SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT 4 YEARS LATER,,ROUTINE MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED AND 39,000 MILES, THIS IS HAPPENING. WE(CONSUMERS THAT TRUSTED SATURN) NEED HELP IN REMEDYING THIS SITUATION AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO DO SO!!! *TR

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. AFTER CAR IS STOPPED AND KEY TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES ONCE A DAY OR TEN TIMES A DAY. CANNOT PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. WHEN IT HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL CAR. HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE SIMILAR TO MINE AND WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT RECALL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION THAT OCCASIONALLY LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IT STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THEY REPLACED MY IGNITION A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHICH HAD KNOWN ISSUES WHILE STARTING IN THE COLD. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PWR STR LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES APPEAR AND THAT IS WHEN THE STEERING GOES OUT. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS OUT THERE ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION 3'S POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. OFTEN DRIVING IT FOR 10-15 MILES, THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY ON THE MESSAGE CENTER AND THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE AT ANY TIME IT WILL GO OUT. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL COST 1600 DOLLARS TO GET A NEW STEERING COLUMN FROM GM. IF I DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS, AN ACCIDENT WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, WITH 55,000 MILES AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET BY THIS WHICH SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT MANY 2004 IONS HAVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IF THE STEERING WAS FAILING, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKE WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. THE LOCK ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO REMOVE BUT THE PROCEDURE REQUIRES THAT THE KEY BE TURNED TO THE RUN POSITION. WITH A BROKEN LOCK THAT CANNOT BE DONE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE LOCK OUT BE USING BRUTE FORCE AND COMPLETELY BREAKING THE LOCK MECHANISM. I AM HAPPY THAT THIS HAPPENED AT A STORE CLOSE TO HOME AND WE ABLE TO GET A RIDE HOME. I GUESS I SHOULD BE THANKFUL WE WERE NOT ONE OF THE POOR SOULS WHO GOT STUCK IN AN ION THAT COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGES COMES ON THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. SHUT OFF THE CAR THEN RESTART THE POWER STEERING IS BACK UNTIL IT GOES OUT AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF MILES. *TR

ENGINE STARTED A FAINT SQUEALING NOISE ON 24 NORTH DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND MANAGED TO GET OVER AND PULL OUT OF THE LANE, HOWEVER THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SHOULDER AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, MY TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT, HAD TO DRIVE ON THE EDGE OF THE SHOULDER TO THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS APPROX 11 MILES BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE PLACE, TRAFFIC GOING APPROX 80 MILES PER HOUR AND CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 50 MPH, AS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION BYSTANDERS PUSHED CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. HAD IT TOWED HOME, WAS TOLD TENSION ROD SEIZED AND TIMING CHAIN BROKE. HAD TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE FOR 5K, CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND 88K MILES. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR SEIZURE AS CAR HAD PLENTY OF OIL AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. *TR

ON COLDER DAYS MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT WILL ROLL OVER A FEW TIMES AND THEN SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT WILL APPEAR. THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15-30 MINS TO START LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED IN THE WINTER WITH NO HEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THIS OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE WINTER AND IN THE FALL 3 TIMES A WEEK. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET, THEY THINK IT IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON I KNOW WITH THE SAME CAR SATURN ION HERS IS 2005 MINE A 2004 AND HERS DID THE SAME THING HERS WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY...MOSTLY WHEN I'M ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A WEEK AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION LAST JUNE AND THE WEEKEND AFTER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY STEPFATHER LOOKED AT IT AND REPLACED THE FUSE FOR THE POWER STEERING. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 5 MONTHS AGO. AT THIS POINT MY WARRANTY WAS OVER AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT. THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVERYTIME I GO OVER 35MPH, OR IT JUST FAILS FOR NO REASON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAS TOLD ME IT WILL BE $1,000.00 TO FIX AND THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE YET TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON APRIL 14, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND TRUNK FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRUNK STOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING WHEN THE TEMP. GETS BELOW 30 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD THIS "FIXED" TWICE, AND I WAS TOLD THIS WAS BECAUSE I NEEDED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SITES WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SENSOR IN THE PASSLOCK PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT CAUSES IT TO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN TEMP. GETS BELOW 30 DEGREES. SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF THIS I BELIEVE AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN THE COLD WEATHER. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS ALMOST COST ME MY JOB. *TR