2004 Saturn Ion complaints

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. IT DOES NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER (AROUND 36 DEGREES F AND BELOW). I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND TWO MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. MY MECHANIC ASSURED ME THE BATTERY IS TOP OF THE LINE AND GUARANTEED TO START IN COLD WEATHER. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT START YESTERDAY IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER. ALL LIGHTS TURN ON BUT CAR DOES NOT CRANK. DOES NOT EVEN MAKE NOISE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS THROUGH VARIOUS DISCUSSION BOARDS AND MOST OF THEM AGREE THAT THERE IS A FAULTY SWITCH IN THE IGNITION THAT LEAKS LUBRICANT. WHEN THE LUBRICANT FREEZES, THE PASSLOCK ANTI THEFT ALARM DOES NOT GET IT'S ELECTRICAL SIGNAL SO IT ACTIVATES AND PROHIBITS FUEL FROM BEING USED SO THE CAR DOES NOT START. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, BUT I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG IN THIS SITUATION. IF THIS IS THE CASE OF A FAULTY SWITCH, SATURN / GM SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND FORCED TO DO A RECALL WITH AN UPDATED SWITCH DESIGN. FOR THE AMOUNT THAT CARS COST TODAY MANUFACTURERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PUT OUT JUNK PARTS AND EXPECT CONSUMERS TO SIT BACK AND TAKE IT. *TR

DURING THE COLDER DAYS MY PASSLOCK SYSTEM DENY MY CAR TO START. I OR MY WIFE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO TRY IT AGAIN. IF IT DOESN'T START ATE THE 10 MINUTE MARK WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. WE HAVE WAITED A 1/2 AN HOUR FOR IT TO START BEFORE. I HAVE NO TRUST IT WILL START AT ANY POINT. WE NEED TO WAIT THE 10 MINUTES NEARLY EVERYTIME FROM END OF NOV TO FEB. *TR

AFTER OWNING MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR 8 MONTHS, IT DEVELOPED A RANDOM STARTING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START NORMALLY AND OTHERS NOT AT ALL. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, STARTER, AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE IGNITION SWITCH SAID IT IS COMMON TO NEED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. AFTER ALL OF THOSE NEW PARTS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FORUM WHERE DOZENS OF OTHER ION OWNERS WHERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REMEDY THAT SEEMED TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM WAS TO DISABLE THE VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM BY CUTTING THE PROPER WIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS ALLOWS THE CAR TO START EVERY TIME, BUT ALSO GIVES AN ERROR MESSAGE ABOUT THE DISABLED SYSTEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURS FOR ION OWNERS IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

SATURN ION WILL NOT START. SPORADICALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH PASSLOCK SYSTEM. AFTER WAITING A PERIOD OF TIME (10 MINUTES?) SYSTEM WILL START VEHICLE. HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE. *TR

MY SATURN ION 2004, BOUGHT SEPT. 2007 FROM CARMAX, FREQUENTLY DOES NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS ABOUT 33 DEGREES THIS MORNING AND EVEN WHEN I JUMPED IT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM LAST WINTER- MY FIRST WINTER HAVING THIS CAR. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT I AM GOING TO GET THE STARTER CHECKED TODAY. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS. APPARENTLY THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. AS AN EDUCATOR, I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AS I HAVE READ PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE ALREADY DONE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS A TEACHER, I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LATE TO SCHOOL WHENEVER IT IS COLD. I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT MY EFFORTS IN MAKING THIS COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IN A RECALL FOR THE CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. READING THE ONLINE FORUMS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE IGNITION/STARTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! *TR

MY SATURN 2004 ION HAS BEEN BREAKING DOWN SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2005. THEY HAVE PUT IN 2-3 TRANSMISSIONS AND EVERYTIME IT IS COLD IT WON'T START. A COUPLE TIMES THE WOULD START BUT NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR! THE TECH'S COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG SO MY DAD (WHO DOES NOT WORK ON CARS ) FIGURED OUT IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE! THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS AT LEAST 3 TIMES! THE CARS HEAT AND RADIO WOULD JUST SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON THEY ALSO FIXED THAT A COUPLE TIMES. MY CAR WILL BE PAID OFF SHORTLY BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO NOT HAVE A CAR PAYMENT BECAUSE AT ANY MOMENTS NOTICE MY 2004 SATURN ION MIGHT FALL APART!!!!! *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY WON'T START. THIS BEGAN ABOUT A WEEK AGO. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE ARE 2 SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CAR THAT PERTAIN TO THIS PROBLEM: ONE IS FOR REPROGRAMMING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) AND THE OTHER IS FOR AN IGNITION SYSTEM REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A SATURN DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. I PLAN TO DO SO TONIGHT. I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT THAT SATURN WON'T MAKE THIS A RECALL BECAUSE THEN SATURN WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. PLEASE HAVE GM/SATURN CHANGE THE 2 SERVICE BULLETINS (LISTED ABOVE) TO RECALLS! *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS BEEN GOING OUT AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. IN ORDER TO RESET IT I NEED TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE FIXED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT SAID TO FIX IT PERMANENTLY I NEED TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. I RESEARCH OVER 20 CASES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR ON THIS SITE AND CARSTATS.COM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN YOU CAN'T TURN THE WHILE QUICKLY YOU CAN'T AVOID ACCIDENTS. IT CAUSES STRAIN IN THE MUSCLES OF MY SHOULDER AND BACK. *TR

CAR HAS NOT STARTED 8 TIMES. SATURN ION 2004. 40,000 MILES. BOUGHT IT USED 5 MONTHS AGO. RUNS FINE IN WARM WEATHER. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY, STILL WOULDN'T START. BOUGHT NEW ALTERNATOR. STILL WOULDN'T START. JUMP START IT, IT WILL START SOMETIMES. CALLED SATURN RECALL; 2ND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY WIRE BUT NO ONE HAS RECALLED THE WIRE. THE PROBLEM: WHITE WIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN IT GETS TOO COLD OUTSIDE, NOT ENOUGH VOLTS GO THROUGH WHITE WIRE AND CAR THINKS SOMEONE IS BREAKING IN AND WILL NOT START. FOUND THIS OUT ON CARSPACE.COM. OTHER PEOPLE WITH MY SAME CAR HAVE SAME PROBLEM. YOU HAVE TO CLIP THE WHITE WIRE THEN YOUR CAR WILL RUN WITH NO PROBLEM. NEWER MODEL SATURNS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NEXT I WAS GOING TO GET A NEW STARTER, BUT OTHER HAVE GOTTEN THAT AND STARTER GOES OUT WITHIN A YEAR. IT STRESSFUL TO GET INTO A FAIRLY NEW CAR AND IT NOT START. ALL LIGHTS COME ON BUT ENGINE WILL NOT. NOW I KNOW TO WAIT 15 MINUTES AND THEN TRY STARTING CAR AGAIN. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? SO HERE I AM AGAIN LEAVING WORK TONIGHT IN THE COLD AND SEEING IF IT WILL START AND IF IT DOESN'T SITTING AROUND FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN TRYING IT AGAIN. IT IS SOOOO AGGRAVATING!! SO AGAIN WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? *TR

2004 SATURN ION - WON'T START WHEN COLD. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE, PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_73169.HTML OR SEARCH IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS IS SUCH A PREVALENT PROBLEM AND YET SATURN DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. CERTAINLY THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY PROBLEM IF SOMEONE'S CAR WOULD FAIL TO START. I WAS STUCK IN MY CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR IN NEGATIVE TEMPS AND BECAME ILL AFTERWARDS. *TR

I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I CANNOT RELY ON IT TO START WHEN I NEED IT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN HEADED TO A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS 30 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE IT STARTS. IT IS CRIMINAL FOR SATURN TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY REALIZED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT, BUT I'M ON A FIXED INCOME AND I PUT OUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK! I THOUGHT SATURN WAS A GOOD COMPANY BUT I SEE NOW THAT DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THEM. *TR

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION 2. ON COLD MORNINGS THE CAR WILL NOT START LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIME. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SATURN NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, USUALLY WHEN ITS COLDER OUT. I GO TO START MY CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN A SECURITY FEATURE LIGHTS UP. MY CAR THINKS I'M STEALING IT, APPARENTLY. SOMETIMES MY KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THIS HAPPENS EITHER, AND I'VE HAD TO GET IT TOWED AND REPAIRED. USUALLY AFTER SITTING THERE AND TRYING TO START IT FOR A PERIOD OF TEN TO THIRTY MINUTES, THE CAR STARTS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED, BUT IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE SEEING AS I'VE BEEN OUT OF TOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AND IT ALSO MAKES ME LATE FOR WORK. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER SATURN OWNERS AND THEY'VE SAID THEY'VE ALSO HAD THIS HAPPEN. I'D SAY THAT THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A MONTH. *TR

POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNLESS SHE WAITED 15 TO 20 MINUTES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND REPLACED IT. ONE YEAR LATER, WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START UNLESS SHE WAITED 15 MINUTES AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT. ON DECEMBER 12, 2008, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE DEALER WOULD ASSUME THE COST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. IN 20 DEGREE TEMPERATURE OR BELOW, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TAKES 20 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN BE REPLACED, BUT IT WOULD NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE IS UNSAFE AND AN INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE SHE WORKS AT NIGHT WHILE THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

WHILE RUNNING THE A/C, IT WILL LEAK WATER ALL OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND BECAME SO BAD THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO MAKE A NORMAL TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL ASSIST SYSTEM WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $600-$800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN ION 3 - WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING CEASED. THE DASH BOARD STARTS DINGING AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING START TO FLASH. IT IS THEN IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE THE TURN WITHOUT TURNING THE WHEEL FORCEFULLY. THIS HAS POSED A SERIOUS CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE USUALLY TRYING TO MAKE A TURN IN TRAFFIC. IT ALSO HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER AND SHE GOT VERY FRIGHTENED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE STEERING WHEEL IS EVEN HARDER TO TURN THAN WHEN CARS DID NOT ACTUALLY HAVE POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT YET. THE CAR HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON MY SATURN IS ONLY 25,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION AND START SWITCHES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE COOLANT SWITCH CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,240.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE AT THE COST OF $300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2004 SATURN ION HAS A MALFUNCTION. THE CAR IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. UPON CALLING THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD, PA THE SERVICE RECEPTIONIST WAS ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I HAD TO WAIT 15 MINUTES TO HALF AN HOUR AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN TO SEE IF IT WILL START. GM AND SATURN KNOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY WHICH IS PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT THE RECEPTIONIST KNEW HOW TO START MY CAR BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRING FOR ME WAS ON NOVEMBER 19TH WHEN I TALKED THE RECEPTIONIST AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON DECEMBER 6, 2008 THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BROUGHT IN TO BE FIXED AND WAS CHARGED TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THIS IS A DEFAULT OF THE CAR. *TR

WON'T START IN COLD FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. IT GETS WORSE EVERY WINTER. IT HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY DAY OR TWO FROM DECEMBER-FEBRUARY. COMMON PROBLEM. IN SATURNS *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE AND WEATHER ARE TOO COLD, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO START OR WILL NOT START AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DOES NOT HEAT UP NORMALLY. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MUST BE DONE MANUALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE STEERING COLUMN TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,899.

THIS HAS BEEN A RARE, SPORADICALLY, OCCURRING PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED THE CAR FOR OVER TWO YEARS. ON AVERAGE ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS THE INCIDENCE HAS INCREASED TO AS MUCH AS THREE TIMES PER DAY AND ABOUT FOUR DAYS PER WEEK. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY/ALL SPEEDS. THIS OBVIOUSLY RESULTS IN A SUDDEN, EXTREME DRAG ON THE STEERING MECHANISM REQUIRING GREATLY INCREASED DRIVER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. QUICK MANEUVERS OR SHARPER TURNS ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING RESTORES THE POWER STEERING. IF THIS IS ATTEMPTED WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, THE STEERING LOCK COULD BE ENGAGED, RESULTING IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES NO FAMILIARITY WITH THIS PROBLEM OR OF ANY BULLETINS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, DESPITE EVIDENCE FROM NUMEROUS INTERNET POSTINGS BY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. UPON MY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH SERVICE PERSONNEL AT SATURN DEALERS, THEY SPECULATE THAT A ROUGHLY $1000 REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY, WHICH CONTAINS SENSORS, ELECTRONICS, AND THE POWER STEERING ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TO DATE SUCH REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN PURSUED DUE TO INCONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS AND POSSIBLE HIGH COSTS. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2004 SATURN ION II, PURCHASED NEW. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION 3. I HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR THREE WINTERS IN WHICH I HAVE HAD STARTING PROBLEMS EVERY WINTER. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY ALL THREE WINTERS, TO FIND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. AFTER MANY READING MANY BLOGS AND WEBSITES I HAVE FOUND THAT SATURN USES AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT FREEZES IN THE COLD. SATURN ALSO DOES NOT CLAIM TO THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO MECHANIC KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I LIVE IN A PLACE THAT IS KNOWN FOR COLD WINTERS SO I KNOW NOW (ESPECIALLY AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE NET) THAT THE MECHANICS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION WITH THE CARS. MY HUSBAND HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FIND THAT IT DID NOT HELP (OBVIOUSLY IF WE ARE USING THE SAME FREEZING PART)! THIS IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM SORRY, BUT IF I GET STUCK OUT AT A REST STOP ON SOME HIGHWAY BY MYSELF OR WITH MY YOUNG CHILD IN BELOW 30 DEGREES, THAT BECOMES SAFETY ISSUE TO ME!!! ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS PRESENTED ITSELF IN THE ION IS MY SEAT BELTS. THEY DO NOT LOCK OR RETRACT. THERE HAS BEEN NO TAMPERING OR CHANGING OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION HAS PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF TRYING IT WILL START, EVERYTHING SUCH AS STARTER BATTERY FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN CHECKED. MY SECURITY LIGHT IS ON WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TURN SIGNAL STOPS WORKING FOR A WEEK, THEN WORKS, THEN QUITS AGAIN FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN WORKS AGAIN. SATURN DEALER SAYS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL - IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V657000 - NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04061. THEY SAID ANY REVIEW/REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

AFTER A FEW STOPS, NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMP IS OUTSIDE/NICE OR COLD... MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT SIMPLY CLICKS AND WILL NOT TURN OVER... FEELS/SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START. I HAVE HAD IT STALL WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT!!! MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO GROSS LEAK EMISSION CONTROL, AND THEY CAN NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE!!!! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, HOWEVER THEY DO NOT MIND CHARGING ME EACH AND EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN, AND EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY HAVE NEGLECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM!!! FRUSTRATED *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE DRIVING FORWARD OR TURNING, THE STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR IS FAILING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEREFORE, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,337 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

BOUGHT 4 MICHELIN AGILITY TOURING TIRES (P195/60R15 87S) FROM SEARS AUTO ON 1/15/07. ON 6/26/08 REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY. ON 7/11/08 REAR DRIVER TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED. ON 7/16/08 FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT WHILE IN ANOTHER DRIVEWAY. EACH TIRE SHOWED NO PUNCTURES AND WAS NOT UNDER-INFLATED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AS WELL AS THE 4TH MICHELIN THAT DID NOT GO FLAT YET WERE REPLACED AS THEY WENT BAD WITH FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING S2 TIRES BECAUSE SEARS DIDN'T CARRY ANY MORE S CLASS TIRES FOR THE SATURN ION. DISCARDED 1ST FLAT TIRE. WILL HOLD LAST 2 DEFECTIVE TIRES AND THE NON-FLAT TIRE UNTIL 12/31/08. IT'S STRANGE THAT 3 TIRES WITH NO SIGNS OF PUNCTURES WENT FLAT OR BLEW OUT WITHIN 3 WEEKS AFTER ONLY A 1.5 YEARS' USE. THEY COULD HAVE CAUSED BAD ACCIDENTS. SEARS DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT SINCE THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER ON THE RIMS. DOT HNDA H5FX 4206, 4306, 4406?, AND 4506. *TR

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD (USUALLY BELOW 40), MY CAR WILL NOT START. IT SIMPLY CLICKS AND SECURITY SENSORS START COMING ON. IF I WAIT 10 MINUTES OR SO AND THEN TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL START AND PROMPTLY STALL OUT. I HAVE HAD IT STALL WHILE I'M DRIVING WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

I HEARD ABOUT A RECALL FROM A YEAR 2007-2008 OR SO AGO FOR SATURN, TURN SIGNAL. AT THE TIME THE TURN SIGNAL WAS WORKING, BUT I TOOK IT TO SATURN AND INQUIRED ABOUT IT BUT THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. LATER ON I TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT ON SIDE. I REPLACED IT BUT NOTICED THAT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I TOOK TO SATURN AND ONE MAN TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED! THEN I TOOK IT BACK TO GET IT FIXED AT ANOTHER MAN SAID THAT THE RECALL HAS NOT EXPIRED, BUT IT IS NOT MY VIN NUMBER. I PAID ABOUT 60 DOLLARS ON SATURN, AND GUESS WHAT THEY DID? THEY CHARGED ME ALL THAT MONEY TO TIGHTEN UP THE BULB AND PUT SOME GREASE ON IT. I DROVE AWAY AND WENT DOWN THE STREET AND IT WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS UPSET, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THEY DID NOTHING. I TOOK IT BACK A FEW MINUTES LATER, THEN THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CLEAN THE AREA AND SAW SOME BURNT WIRE AND THEY PUT ANOTHER BULB ON. THEY ASSURED ME AGAIN THAT IT WAS FIXED. I DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK. THEY CHARGED MY ALL THAT MONEY TO SIMPLY SCREW THE LIGHT BULB. I TOLD THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IT WAS NOT THE LIGHT BULB. IT WAS THE WIRING BECAUSE THEY LIGHT BULB WOULD WORK ONE DAY AND NOT THE NEXT. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO NOT HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR A YEAR. THE PUT DOWN I DECLINED MAINTENANCE(S). AS WELL AS THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE. I ONLY DECLINED THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER MAINTENANCE THEY WERE TALKIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON THE VEHICLE HAS A RETAINER THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER DURABILITY. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE RETAINER DETACHES AND CAUSES THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO RAISE UPWARDS. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY SWITCH GEARS FAST ENOUGH. WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED ON JULY 20, 2007, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDER AXULATOR, MASTER CLUTCH, THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL, AND THE RETAINER. THE REPAIR LASTED FOR 15 MONTHS. RECENTLY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH HAD ONCE AGAIN LOST THE RETAINER AND CAUSED THE PEDAL TO RAISE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS LOCATED, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,751 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,210.

FAILURE OF A WIRING HARNESS IN A FRONT DOOR THAT CONTROLS WINDOWS, MIRRORS AND DOOR LOCK. A 2004 SATURN ION WITH 25, 106 MILES HAD 5 BROKEN WIRES IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HAS NO POWER AT THE WINDOW SWITCH. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW THAT FORCES TINY WIRES TO BEND 2 TIMES AT 90 DEGREES AND BE SLAMMED BY A DOOR!! THINK OF THE SAFETY OF UNLOCKING A DOOR IN A PANIC SITUATION OR DRIVING WITH A WINDOW DOWN IN RAIN, SLEET, COLD, ETC., AND A FUSE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2004 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND NOW JUST PAID $630 TO HAVE THE BODY MODULE REPLACED BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS THE WHOLE CAR DOWN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START IT. INITIALLY IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A COLD WEATHER PROBLEM BACK WHEN I FIRST HAD THE CAR IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THIS RECENT INCIDENT IS STILL NOT YET RESOLVED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE BODY MODULE IS STILL NOT REGISTERING THAT THE KEY IS IN OFF POSITION BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS STILL FAULTY. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO NEXT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THESE KIND OF REPAIRS ESPECIALLY ONCE EVERY WEEK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOCKS UP AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. THE CAR HAS TO SHUT OF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND IT USUALLY WILL UNLOCK THE SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR, UNABLE TO GET TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CANNOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, AND SATURN REFUSES TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS NOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEG AND NECK. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT. THEY OFFERED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. MINNESOTA STATE POLICE FILED REPORT NUMBER E08405161. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

IN 2005 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2004 SATURN ION FRONT HEADLAMPS. I HAD THE RECALLED PARTS REPLACED. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY LEFT BLINKER HAS GONE OUT ABOUT FIVE TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS, HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE SOCKETS, AND AM NOW ABOUT TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME OCCURRENCES ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN OTHER SATURN IONS AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME BLINKER OUT. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I BELIEVE IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE 2005 RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE AND PULLED OVER ON THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT WAS FINE. POWER STEERING WORKED. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $900.00. THIS CAR IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT!! I COMPLAINED TO SATURN AND AM AWAITING TO HEAR FROM THEIR "DISTRICT SPECIALIST". LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND NOBODY WAS HURT BUT HOW CAN THIS NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. TRY GOING AROUND A CURVE OR TURNING A CORNER WHEN YOUR POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WOULD LOSE COMPLETE POWER TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD NOT GET ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS, IT WOULD JUST LOSE COMPLETE POWER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SATURN OF DANVERS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN IN LOANER CARS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE THEY TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I HAVE LOST POWER AT LOW RATES OF SPEED AND ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008 MY CAR LOST POWER ON I-95 N IN WOBURN, MA WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL VEHICLES HAD TO AVOID HITTING MY VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES. I NOTIFIED THE SATURN CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY HAD JOHN CACHURSKI (SP) CONTACT ME, HE STATED I WOULD NEED TO RETURN THEIR LOANER CAR AND GET MY CAR BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITH MY MODEL/YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION FROM THEIR DEALERSHIPS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP TO TRY TO GET MY VEHICLE UP TO PAR. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ANY DAY THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IT WILL NOT START. SOMETIMES AFTER ABOUT HALF AN HOUR OF TRYING IT WILL START, BUT NOT VERY OFTEN. ALSO IT OFTEN IDLES AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RPM. IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE WHEN IT DOES THIS. ALSO WHEN IT IDLES HIGH IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. IT'S VERY TWITCHY AND JERKY. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE WIPER ARM WON'T MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH WINDSHIELD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR WHOLE ARM ASSEMBLY SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE DETACHING FROM THE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE DOORS ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCESSIBLE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION AND SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PANEL AND THE DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,844.65. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. DURING THE WINTER, IT TAKES A HALF AN HOUR TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER ASSEMBLY SOLENOID IN 2007. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. THE OIL THAT WAS USED AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING PREVENTS THE ELECTRICITY TO CONNECT TO THE STARTER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,200.

HAVE TO HAVE MY IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING REPLACED IN MY SATURN ION 3. KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START VEHICLE. A NEW KEY WILL START THE CAR BUT ONLY WORKS FOR 2 WEEKS. I AM ON MY 5TH KEY IN A LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY, HOPE TO GET IT BACK TOMORROW. CHARGE WAS $523, COMPLAINED TO SATURN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY BROUGHT IT DOWN TO $230. SO I AM PAYING $230 TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MY 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WILL RANDOMLY GO OUT ON THE CAR WHILE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH CAUSING THE CAR TO BE TOUGH TO MANEUVER. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING IS RESET AND WILL WORK FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS MAKES THE HANDLING OF THE CAR UNPREDICTABLE. *TR

SATURN ION 2 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION, THE STEERING WILL GET HARD AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WHEN THE VEH IS TURNED OFF THEN ON, IT WORKS OK THEN WHILE DRIVING A MESSAGE COMES ON (POWER STEERING) THEN THE PUMP DISENGAGES AND IT GET HARD TO STEER. THIS IS HAPPENING ON MY SATURN 2004 ION 2 WITH 36000 MILES. I SEARCHED IN THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CLIENTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI THEFT/PASSLOCK SYSTEM ON MY SATURN ION. TODAY IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPEN AND AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE ISSUE. THE CAR WILL TURNOVER BUT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON THE DISPLAY AS WELL AS A SERVICE VEHICLE INDICATOR. AT FIRST IT WOULD TAKE 5 OR 10 MINUTES TO START AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. TODAY FOR EXAMPLE I WAITED A HALF HOUR FOR THE CAR TO START. I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP HERE IN MY TOWN ONLY TO END UP IN A ARGUMENT WITH THE PERSON THAT SOLD ME THE PIECE OF CRAP. I DON'T KNOW HOW SATURN IS STILL IN BUSINESS. I SPENT A PRETTY PENNY ON THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE WANTS TO HELP. TO KNOW THAT A VEHICLE THAT YOU SELL IS CAUSING SO MANY CUSTOMERS SO MANY PROBLEMS AND DO NOT EVEN WANT TO HELP THEM RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS JUST PATHETIC TO ME. I AM AT THE POINT OF TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKING A VOLUNTARY REPO. I WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM SATURN OR GM AGAIN. *TR

MY MOTHER OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. SHE COMPLAINED THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THAT SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I DROVE THE CAR FROM VIRGINIA TO NEW JERSEY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT APPROX EVERY 50 MILES. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WAS FINE FOR ANOTHER 50 MILES OR LESS. WE CALLED THE DEALER - THEY ASKED IF WE WERE MAKING A LOT OF TURNS - WE WEREN'T. IT WAS A STRAIGHT DRIVE DOWN 95. WHEN WE RETURNED HOME, THE CAR WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALER . BECAUSE MY MOM HAD AN AUTOMATIC STARTER PUT IN, THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE 3RD PARTY HOOKED IT UP THAT WAS INTERFERING WITH THE STEERING. THEY SAID THE FIXED THE PROBLEM. 2 WEEKS LATER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. *TR