2004 Saturn Ion complaints

2004 SATURN ION III LOST 4 OF 5 QUARTS OF OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,000. THE DEALER SAID, TOO BAD". *NM

DRIVING CAR IN FRONT STOPS FAST. I TURN TO MISS BUT NOT ENOUGH, SO WE CRASHED. NO AIR BAG COME ON, NO MOTOR KILL, NO FUEL KILL. AND WE WHERE GOING 35 AT THE MAX. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 35 MPH ON A STREET, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

2004 SATURN ION RIGHT FRONT TIRE WORN DOWN TO METAL. THEN RIGHT FRONT LOWER ARM BROKE INTO CAUSING A CRASH. NO CORRECTIONS WERE DONE. SATURN CO. SAID IT WASN'T A FAULTY PART. SAID PART BROKE WHEN HITTING A THE CURB. CURB WAS HIT BECAUSE NO CONTROL OF STEERING. *NM

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2004 SATURN ION COUPE. SHE IS A NEW DRIVER AND HAS TOLD ME AN SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE HOOD ON HER VEHICLE KEEPS OPENING BY ACCIDENT. I ASKED IF IT WAS OPENING ALL THE OR JUST PART OF THE WAY. SHE SAID JUST POPPING UP PART OF THE WAY AND SHE HAS TO OPEN IT FROM THE FRONT AND CLOSE IT COMPLETELY. I ASKED HER TO LET ME KNOW THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED AND SHE DID. I TOOK A LOOK AND SAW IT HAD RELEASED AND WAS ONLY BEING HELD SHUT BY THE SECONDARY SAFETY LATCH. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE LOCATION OF THE HOOD RELEASE I NOTED IT WAS LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S LEFT. WHEN I TESTED IT, THE RELEASE ACTIVATE VERY EASILY. THE POSITION OF THE RELEASE IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE DRIVER'S FOOT AND IS LIKELY BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE FOOT MOVES AROUND OR WHEN THE DRIVER IS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. IN FACT, I DROVE HER CAR LAST WEEK AND HAD THE HOOD ACCIDENTALLY RELEASE 3 TIMES. ONE TIME I NOTICED WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION COULD EASILY LEAD TO A HOOD BLOWING UP AND OFF WHILE DRIVING IF THE SECONDARY SAFETY LATCH FAILS. THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT. I CALLED SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, EXPLAINED MY CONCERN, AND WAS BASICALLY TREATED AS IF I WAS CRAZY. I ASKED FOR MY CONCERN TO BE SENT TO THE PRODUCT DESIGN AND SAFETY GROUP FOR REVIEW AND ASKED FOR A FOLLOW UP CALL. THEY TOLD ME "THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED AND NO ONE WOULD BE GETTING BACK WITH ME." *JB

SATURN ION 2004. TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 2004. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. SATURN STATED THERE HAD BEEN MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, SO REPLACED IT FOR FREE. (MINUS MY INCURRED COSTS OF TRAVEL). SECOND MAJOR DEFECT: MAY 2006, A CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. SATURN HAS AGREED TO "REPLACE" THE CYLINDER HEAD, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR $800.00 OF THE REPAIRS. A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 79K MILES. I KNOW THAT "REPLACING" THE CYLINDER HEAD WILL GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...AND I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *NM

OEM TIRES ON 2004 SATURN ION RED LINE UNSAFE TO USE ON WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. HAD TO REPLACE TIRES WITH WINTER RATED ONES. *JB THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE ON SLIPPERY SURFACE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WENT A HALF A BLOCK PAST THE CONSUMER'S TURN WHEN THE ABS ACTIVATED BUT COULDN'T FIND A TIRE WITH ENOUGH TRACTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE OEM TIRES, DUNLOP SP9000, WERE THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM

STARTER FAILURE SATURN ION IN COLD WEATHER. HALF HOUR TO 45 MINUTES TO CRANK - BACKFIRING IN A CLOSED SYSTEM WITH FUEL INJECTION OCCASIONALLY, TWICE BLOWING LID OFF OF AIR-FILTER COMPARTMENT - NOT A JOY. "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT GOES ON - LATE TO WORK - COMMON PROBLEM - LOTS OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS. REPLACED BATTERIES BELIEVING THIS TO BE PROBLEM. NEW BATTERIES WITH HIGHER CRANKING AMPS DOES NOT SOLVE. NOT A BATTERY PROBLEM. DATE GIVEN IS MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, WITH ONLY ONE EVENT ON THAT DATE. IT ALSO OCCURRED ON 2/19/06, MANY TIMES IN 01/06, A FEW TIMES IN 12/05, AND SEVERAL TIMES IN 12/04, 01/05, AND 02/05. IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 02/04 - BUT THAT WAS A MUCH MILDER WINTER THAN YEARS THAT FOLLOWED. TREATMENT OF GASOLINE WITH "HEAT" DOES NOT SOLVE. CAR RUNS LIKE A DREAM WHEN WARMER WEATHER - UTTERLY INCONVENIENT AND EMBARRASSING ("WHAT? THIS IS A SATURN? NEW AND WON'T START? LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON IT?") WHEN COLD. BAD ADVERTISING FOR THE COMPANY TOO. *JB

NO SPECIFIC ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WHAT APPARENTLY IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE DRIVER-SIDE OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR CANNOT BE ADJUSTED (ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY) OVER THE ANGLE RANGES NEEDED FOR SAFE DRIVING AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. THE MIRROR CAN BE ADJUSTED SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN SEE WELL BACK INTO THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS WORTHLESS) AND ONLY OUTWARDLY TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR IS STILL VISIBLE. ADJUSTMENT TO ALLOW VISIBILITY OTHER THAN STRAIGHT BACK IS NOT POSSIBLE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT A PHYSICAL STOP INSIDE THE HOUSING PREVENTED ANY MOVEMENT FURTHER OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. ENTERING A FREEWAY THIS WAY IS VERY HAZARDOUS SINCE THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC IN THE NEAR LANE CANNOT BE SEEN. IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW THE SERVICE PERSON HOW IT SHOULD WORK WE WENT TO ANOTHER MODEL OF SATURN AND THE RESULTS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME INDICATING THAT (AT LEAST) MORE THAN ONE MODEL OF SATURN HAS THIS SAME VISIBILITY PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE TAKEN MY SATURN ION3 IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES NOW FOR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS 2005, THE SECOND WAS EXACTLY A MONTH LATER AND THE THIRD TIME WAS O WEEK AFTER THAT. ON THE FIRST VISIT THEY SAY THAT THEY REPLACED THE (BCM), ON THE SECOND VISIT THEY JUST REPLACED THE FUSE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY AND THE THIRD VISIT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER A WEEK. I PICKED MY CAR UP ON THURSDAY EVENING AND NOT 3 DAYS LATER AND THE FUSE IS BLOWN AGAIN. THEIR ONLY ANSWER WAS TO GIVE ME A COUPLE EXTRA FUSES IN THE PANEL AREA SO THAT I COULD CHANGE THEM MYSELF. *NM

SINCE NOV. 2,2005 MY SATURN ION OF 20,000 MI. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP 5 TIMES,TOWED TWICE. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF NO ACCELERATION OR DROP OF SPEED FROM 60 MPH TO 10 OR 30 MPH WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LAST VISIT TO THE SHOP THEY FOUND "POWDER" IN MY FUEL TANK AND CLAIMS IT TO BE TALCUM POWDER. COULD THIS BE SUCH A THING OR HAS MY CAR BEEN TAMPERED WITH? OVERALL I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE LOST FAITH IN SATURN CARS. *NM

2004 SATURN ION NO CRANK AND NO START WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS COLD. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. LOTS OF IONS HAVE THIS ISSUE. *JB

MULTIPLE EPISODES WITH THIS CAR OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAS HAD TO START CAR FOR ME 2 TIMES. ANOTHER TIME THE CAR STALLED WHILE IDLING 4 TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTE DRIVE. TONIGHT THE CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS ON THEIR COMPUTER. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT THIS WITH THE LEMON LAW BUT I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW THAT I WANT TO JUST GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

INSIDE OF RIM ON 2004 ION 3 BROKE OFF BREAKING SEAL TO TIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CAUSING A FLAT TIRE. RIM WAS CAST BY DESIGN. *JB

I HAD MY 2004 ION 3 IN TO REPLACE A TIRE ON 11/19, THEN ON 11/30 HAD TIRES ROTATED COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT A RATTLE. PER DEALER THE HEAT SHIELDS WERE CRACKED AND THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER ON THAT DAY THE RATTLE IN THE FRONT SOUNDED WORSE, BUT I WAS TOLD HEAT SHIELDS WERE THE PROBLEM AND I KNEW THEY WOULD BE FIXED SOON. RATTLE PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE, CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT PART INFORMED THEM OF RATTLE GETTING WORSE, GOT APPOINTMENT TO BRING BACK SINCE PART WAS IN (APPT WOULD HAVE BEEN 12/26). DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EVENING OF 12/20, I WAS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED JERKING TO THE RIGHT, HEARD HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END. PULLED INTO GAS STATION, DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING, SOUND QUIETED. WHILE LEAVING GAS STATION I HEARD A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND PULLED OVER IN PARKING LOT, THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD A BLOWOUT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, THERE WAS ONE LUG NUT LEFT IN IT AND ONE LUG NUT HANGING OFF. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE SCREWS HAD SNAPPED OFF THE WHEELS, FORTUNATELY THERE WERE TWO SCREWS LEFT OTHERWISE I DON'T THINK THE TOW TRUCK COULD HAVE TOWED IT. WHEN I ADDRESSED CONCERNS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE WAS VERY HELPFUL AND FIXED THE CAR FOR FREE, SAID THE STUDS(SCREWS) WERE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE. WAS ADVISED BY HIM THIS IS MOST LIKELY SCENARIO AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE NOT TIGHTENING THE LUG NUTS ON THE 11/30 TIRE ROTATION (BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIM I WOULD

2004 SATURN ION 2, CAR STALLS AND DOORS LOCK THE PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THESE 2 ISSUES AND HAS YET TO BE FIXED, CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING AT ANYTIME, SOMETIMES AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY OR TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT OR TURNING A CORNER. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING SATURN ION ALUMINUM WHEELS. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL WHEELS DO TO THEM BENDING. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITION LEAKING WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, OBSERVED A SOFT FLAPPING SOUND THAT CAUSED CONCERN. BEFORE I COULD SLOW DOWN OR TAKE ANY ACTION THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND THEN THE COMPLETE TIRE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE ROADWAY AND CALLED THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND REQUEST ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. *JB

2004 ION 3 QUAD PURCHASED NEW IN 2004 CURRENTLY HAVE 18K MILES ON IT. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT STABILIZER BUSHING, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ALL HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THE ELECTRIC STEERING STILL DOESN'T SEEM CORRECT. SOMETIMES THE CAR PULLS WHEN YOU RAPIDLY ACCELERATE AND IS VERY TOUCHY. I DID READ THAT GM MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE ELECTRIC STEERING FOR 2005 ION, BUT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT (SAYS CAN NOT) MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE 2004. NOW WE HAVE THE LOSS OF POWER PROBLEM. HAS DONE IT WHEN CAR IS COLD AND HOT, USUALLY WHEN ACCELERATING, BUT ONCE JUST DRIVING 35 MPH. IT'S NOT A STALL JUST LIKE A LOSS OF POWER. CAR DOESN'T SHAKE OR JERK. ALMOST LIKE YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR THIS AND THE DEALER RESPONSE IS THE SAME AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED "NO COMPUTER CODES, COULD NOT REPRODUCE, NO PROBLEM FOUND". IT'S AT THE SHOP NOW BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 12/2 AND WE AGAIN COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR LOST POWER AFTER PICKING IT UP THE LAST TIME. THE LAST TIME IT FAILED MY WIFE WAS TAKING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT AND THE GUY BEHIND ALMOST HIT HER WHEN THE SATURN LOST POWER. LOOSING FAITH IN SATURN'S ENGINEERING. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED DIGITAL CLOCK WAS LOSING ONE MINUTE OF TIME PER MONTH. HE HAD TO LOOK AT HIS WRIST WATCH TO KEEP ACCURATE TIME. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR SATURN ION. WE PURCHASED IT IN 2004, AND WE HAVE HAD THREE BENT ALUMINUM WHEELS AND NOW WE HAVE A BROKEN WHEEL. WE HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK NUMEROUS TIMES TO BE FIXED TO SPACE COAST SATURN, WHERE WE PURCHASED OUR SATURN ONLY TO HERE EACH TIME THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OUR SATURN BECAUSE IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT, IT IS OURS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN. I AM AFRAID THAT WE COULD HAVE A BLOW OUT AND SOMEONE COULD BE HURT. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V547000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL. SHE HAD THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THREE SEPARATE TIMES. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR, SHE BELIEVED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE COSTS FOR THIS REPAIR. *AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/29/05. **JB

DT: THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THEE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE AWARE OF AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION. THE TURN SIGNALS WERE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. SINCE THEN THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT WHERE THEY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER FELT THEY DID NOT COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THERE WAS A TSB ON THE ISSUE THAT THE DEALER USED TO CORRECT IT. THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2004, AND WERE THOUGHT TO BE CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. LAST WEEK AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK UP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND CAME AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AT THAT TIME. NO FURTHER REPAIRS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

DEAR NHTSA ASSOCIATE, I HAD A 100% PARALLEL, FULL FRONTAL IMPACT, NO ANGLE, AS MY NEW CAR TRAVELING 35 MPH HIT A LARGE DELIVERY VAN TWICE THE WEIGHT OF MY VEHICLE WITH A SQUARE AND STEEL BUMPER THAT WAS STOPPED ( 1 MPH ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT ). THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY NECK AND HEAD WERE IMPACTED ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH I WAS USING MY SEATBELT PROPERLY. THE FORCE WAS SUFFICIENT TO STRAIN THE BELT AND INJURE MY HEAD. I HAD A CUT ON THE TOP OF MY FOREHEAD IN THE MIDDLE, A CONCUSSION, AND I AM CURRENTLY BEING TREATED FOR MIGRAINE TYPE HEADACHES BY A DOCTOR THAT HAVE OCCURRED DAILY SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I PLACED THE CAR INTO THE CARE OF A SATURN OWNED BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR AND ASKED THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM BE TESTED FOR FUNCTIONALITY. INSTEAD, I WAS GIVEN A 1-800 NUMBER FOR SATURN CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO CALL. THEY SAID THE FIRST STEP WAS TO SEND ME THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURING INFORMATION BOOKLET AND TO CALL BACK AFTER READING IT. I DID SO AND ASKED THAT THE AIRBAGS BE TESTED WHILE IN THE CARE OF THE SATURN BODY SHOP, AS THE TYPE OF IMPACT AND MILES PER HOUR EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CONTAINED IN THE MANUAL THEY SENT TO ME. INSTEAD OF GRANTING CLEARANCE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TEST THE AIRBAGS, IN LIGHT OF MY VALID ARGUMENT OF THEIR DOCUMENTATION CONTRADICTIONS, SATURN CORPORATE INSTEAD ISSUED ME AN INTERNAL "CASE NUMBER" 1-17876541 AND TOLD ME SOMEONE IN THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 6 TO 8 WEEKS. I

AS I WAS GOING TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION THIS MORNING, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAITED 15 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WAS ON AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING WAS ON. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LATE FOR WORK DUE TO THIS. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR STARTED. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED RECENTLY, SO I KNOW IT IS NOT MY FAULT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AT 9 AM AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN AT 4:00 PM , IF IT WOULD START. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE TOWED AND I WILL RECEIVE A RENTAL. *JB

SHIFTER KNOB IN 04'SATURN ION REDLINE FELL OFF THE COLUMN WHILE SHIFTING 1-2. OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT, ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. ALL GEARS LOCKED OUT DUE TO REVERSE LOCKOUT, WAS ABLE TO REPLACE KNOB BY HAND AND UNLOCK GEARS. ALSO HAVE HAD CAP ON SHIFTER KNOB REPEATEDLY FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TO NO CONSEQUENCE OTHER THAN INCONVENIENCE. *NM

DT: 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST NO POWER. THE RPMS WENT TO THE RED AREA, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONSUMER COASTED OFF THE ROAD, AFTER A BLOCK OR TWO SHE GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO IT UNTIL MONDAY. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2005. *AK (11/15/05) *SC

ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH - AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

I FIRST TOOK MY 2004 SATURN 3 ION QUAD COUPE TO THE DEALER WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AS I WOULD ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD LOSE SPEED. I NEVER KNEW WHEN THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. AT THE TIME OF MY FIRST COMPLAINT THERE WAS 27,539. I NOW HAVE 33,020 AND FINALLY AFTER 3 MONTHS AND 12 TRIPS TO THE DEALER THEY ARE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. EVERY TRIP TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN MY BEING TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK WHILE THEIR MANAGER DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME EVERYDAY AND HE SAID THE CAR NEVER ACTED UP ON HIM. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT STARTED ACTING UP. I HAD TO CALL THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WROTE THEM 2 LETTERS AND FINALLY WHEN I SENT THEM LEMON LAW PAPERS AND TOLD THEM THEY COULD BUY IT BACK THEY DECIDED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IN THE 3 MONTHS TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED SATURN REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, THE INPUT/OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR AND COVER GASKET, THEN THEY REPLACED THE COVER ASSEMBLY, VARIABLE DRIVE AND DRIVEN PULLEY A AND NOW THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACE. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG AND THEN IT WILL BE FOR SALE. *NM

2004 SATURN ION SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY. THIS HAPPENED ON 8/5/05 AND 8/20/05. EVERYTHING DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING IN TRAFFIC. WHEN I CAME TO A SAFE STOP WITH THE STALLED VEHICLE I PULLED OUT THE IGNITION KEY AND RE-ENTERED IT. THE CAR THEN STARTED JUST FINE AND THERE WERE NO STALLING ISSUES SINCE THEN. THE PROBLEM I FORESEE IS THE FACT THAT SOMEONE COULD GET HURT AND GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER IN TRAFFIC. ALSO, AS A REACTION TO THE ENGINE STALL, SOMEONE MIGHT TRY TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHILE IN MOTION AND ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH COULD BE LETHAL. I ALSO FIND IT IRRITATING THAT YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT A 10 MONTH OLD CAR WITH APPROX. 8000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING (I.E. NO ENGINE NOISE, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, FULL TANK OF GAS..ETC.) WHILE CRUISING ALONG. I ALSO BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WILL HAVE A HARD TIME TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE ENGINE STALL HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE CAR RUNS FINE OTHERWISE. THIS IS WHY I HAVE NOT YET REPORTED THE INCIDENTS TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME UNTIL MORE ION OWNERS REPORT THIS ISSUE TO YOU FOLKS. HOWEVER, I JUST WANTED TO GET THE WORD OUT. I LOOKS LIKE MY ION IS NOT THE ONLY SATURN ION WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE ALREADY EXISTING CAR STALLING COMPLAINTS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN ION, IT DIES FOR NO REASON. THERE ARE NO CONSISTENCIES TO THE PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY 25 TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME THIS EVENING. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC. I COULD BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND HAVE INDICATED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SATURN CORPORATION THAT I FEEL I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR. THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION RED LINE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION (ONLY TRANSMISSION OFFERED). I WAS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND THE ENTIRE SHIFT KNOB ASSEMBLY CAME OFF IN MY HAND. THE KNOB FELL TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR, CAUSING ME TO LOOK DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE IS THEN DIFFICULT TO SHIFT, AND THE PULL UP FOR REVERSE FEATURE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM. THE "FIX" IS TO EPOXY THE KNOB BACK ONTO THE SHIFTER BAR AS IT IS A PRESS FIT DESIGN (NO MECHANICAL LOCK OR FASTENERS).*JB

2004 SATURN ION RIGHT BLINKER MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT BLINKER AND THE EXTERIOR BLINKER DO NOT FUNCTION UNTIL SECONDS AFTER AND IN SOME CASES NOT AT ALL. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, HARD TO DIAGNOSE AND HARD TO PREDICT WHILE DRIVING. THE SHIFTER KNOB BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *JB

COLD CAR START - BACKED FROM GARAGE, WHILE IDLE SEEMED VERY HIGH. DROVE ONE BLOCK AND THROTTLE SEEMED TO STICK. FOOT OFF GAS, CAR STILL TRAVELED AT 30MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW. RPM AT 2000. STOPPED CAR AND FOUND THAT GAS PEDAL CABLE LINKAGE AT ROTATING CONNECTION TO "THROTTLE BODY" DID NOT FULLY RETURN TO FULL RELEASE POSITION UNTIL MANUALLY MOVED FULL STROKE ABOUT TEN TIMES. - CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

3 VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INCORRECTLY. RATHER THEN ONE LARGE AIR BAG, IT CAME OUT IN TWO PIECES DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE STEERING WHEEL "OPENING" COMPLETELY TO RELEASE THE ENTIRE AIR BAG. THIS LEFT THE TOP PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL EXPOSED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE, MY VEHICLE JUST DIED - NO WARNING. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAD HAPPENED. THERE IS NO POWER & MUST BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD & RESTARTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION - RAPID DECELERATION ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY COULD BE FATAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER, THEREFORE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. TALKING TO THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE REP RETURNED THE SAME RESPONSE. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, IT IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND THE CAR IS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD. IT IS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE ANYTHING BECAUSE "NOTHING IS WRONG. *JB

MY CAR HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. ONCE THE CLUTCH IS OUT AND YOU APPLY THE THROTTLE THE CAR GOES THEN LOOSES POWER AND THEN GOES AGAIN. THIS CAR WAS IS IN THE SHOP THE LAST 26 OF 39 DAYS FOR 4 SEPERATE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. THE DEALER STATES THEY CAN NOT FIX IT AND THAT SATURN CORPORATE HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT EITHER. NO ONE FROM SATURN CUSTOMER CARE HAS ONCE ASKED ME FOR MY SIDE OF THE STORY OR THE 6 PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION ON HOW I WAS TREATED AND TOLD WOULD BE DONE TO REPAIR MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO TO REPAIR MY CAR. MY CAR IS NOW AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THE DAY AFTER I WAS TOLD TO PICK IT UP BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN APPROXIMATLEY 60 MINUES AFTER PICK UP FROM THE ORIGINAL DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. IT SEEMS THERE ARE MANT SATURN ION REDLINES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET...

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. AT DIFFERENT TIMES IT COULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS TO GO. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND HAPPENED ONCE WHEN VEHICLE WAS GOING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO SATURN DEALER, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE ACTION. *AK *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION ON JUNE 10 2005 THE VEHICLE MOVED ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS HIT BY TWO OTHERS TRUCKS. THESE WERE MORE OF A SIDE IMPACT. IT WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A SEMI TRUCK THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED. HE HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THERE SEAT BELTS. DAUGHTER FLEW OUT FROM UNDER THE SEAT BELT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS THE DRIVING. THEY WERE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, AND THE ROADWAY WAS WET. ON THE POLICE REPORT THEY LISTED IT AS HYDROPLANE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ON PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST IN THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THERE ARE PICTURES, POLICE REPORT AND REPAIR INVOICES AVAILABLE FOR THE ODI OFFICE. THE POLICE REPORT STATED THAT SHE HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE IN REVERSE THE BRAKES MAKE A LOUD NOISE, THE BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING FORWARD THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION, BUT DO NOT MAKE ANY NOISE. *AK THERE WAS A SHIMMY AT 60- 65 MPH AND THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. *SC *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE DIES. SOMETIMES WILL PUSH THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. WHEN FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE DID THIS, READJUSTED THE COMPUTER. AND NOW WAS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN . TOOK VEHICLE TO SATURN, THEY KEPT SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

2004 SATURN ION EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS.*MR THE TURN SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE TURN SIGNAL AND RUNNING LIGHTS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PARTS BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. *NM

DT: CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TURN THE CAR OFF, IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY CANT HELP CALLER.*AK

2004 SATURN ION EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR *NM

CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL AND SHUT DOWN

DURING BRAKING, WHEN GEARS SHOULD BE DOWNSHIFTING, MY AUTOMATIC SATURN ION 3 RPMS WOULD SEEM TO BE RACING UPWARDS BY SEVERAL 1000'S. I COMPLAINED ON 2 PRIOR OCCASSIONS TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". ON 05/13/05 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, CAR SEEMED TO LURCH BACKWARDS. WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT THE RPMS RACED ABOVE 3000. IT LURCHED ME OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE ROAD. PUT IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AND PARK. TURNED IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED. IN PARK CAR WAS IDLING AT 3500 RPMS. RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES WITH SAME RESULT. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE B/C CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOW GUY HAD TO BRAKE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS LOADING CAR ONTO STEEP INCLINE OF TRUCK BED B/C HE SAID CAR WAS QUICKLY MOVING FORWARD AND UP ON IT'S OWN. WAITED W/ SERVICE PEOPLE AT SATURN TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THEY DID. REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. COMPLAINED HARSHLY B/C THIS WAS 3RD TIME IN. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN MARCH B/C IT WOULDN'T START IN THE A.M. TOW GUY COULDN'T START EITHER. OF COURSE SATURN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THAT PROBLEM EITHER AND STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE COLD WEATHER. DON'T LIVE IN ALASKA... MARCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT WARRANT A 1 YR OLD, GARAGE KEPT CAR NOT STARTING. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING OR OF RPMS AND THEY DID NOTHING. SATURN MADE EFFORTS, AFTER THE MAY INCIDENT, TO COMPENSATE. WILL UPDATE WHEN ALL DETAILS ARE WORKED OUT.

STEERING FAILURE DURING STATIC AND VERY SLOW TURNING EXERCISES. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WE TEACH NEW DRIVERS AND RE-TRAIN ELDERLY DRIVERS AND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR A TRAINING VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. HE PERFORMED THE POWER STEERING DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS. "SINCE MOST OCCURRENCES OF THE DTC ARE CAUSED BY FREQUENT STATIC STEERING, SUCH AS PARKING MANEUVERS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, REVIEW THE EPS SYSTEM WITH THE CUSTOMER TOI DETERMINE THE CONDITIONSL UNDER WHICH THE DTC SET". THE SYSTEM RESET WHICH DOES NOT HELP. INCREASING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOES THAT. THE DEALER HAS NO CURE. I THINK A MANUFACTURER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE THAT CAN SAFELY BE OPERATED UPON A ROAD WAY REGARDLESS OF STATIC STEERING OR SLOW STEERING.

BY 3500 MILES (AFTER 1500MI WHEN WE COULD HAVE RETURNED IT), THE FRONT PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL BURNT OUT. THE CAR WAS ALSO SPUTTERING WHEN WE STARTED THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACKED HEAD, THAT WE WERE TOLD WAS PROBABLY PRESENT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR; HAD WE KNOWN WE WOULD'VE RETURNED THE CAR. WE WERE GIVEN A RENTAL CAR, BUT HAD TO DRIVE 45 MIN ONE WAY TO GET TO SATURN OF GREEN BAY. WITHIN A MONTH, THE FRONT DRIVER TURN SIGNAL HAD BURNT OUT. THE WIRING WAS REPLACED WHILE WE WAITED 2 HRS WITH OUR 3 YEAR OLD. WE HAD TO DRIVE 1 HR 1WAY TO SATURN OF APPLETON FOR REPAIRS. IN AUG 2004, THE CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE WHEN WE TURNED ONTO A STEEP GRADE. IN MI FOR VACATION, WE HAD TO DRIVE OVER 1 HR 1WAY TO SATURN OF TROY; THE SWAYBAR AND MOUNTING BRACKETS HAD TO BE FIXED. WE WAITED FOR OVER 2 HRS WITH OUR SON WHILE IT WAS FIXED. IN SEPT 2004, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL HAD TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR. WE DROVE 1 HR 1 WAY FOR THE REPAIR, AND HAD TO WAIT 2 HRS WITH OUR SON. WE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE CRUISE MAKING A FUNNY NOISE, BUT IT WAS CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS FINE. IN APRIL 2005, THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO BE FIXED. IT TOOK OVER A WEEK FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND ALMOST 2 WEEKS FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED AT SATURN OF GREEN BAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER 30 MINUTES EARLY, BE DRIVEN OVER TO MY SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH, WALK TO MY SECOND SCHOOL I TEACH AT, AND WAIT FOR A DRIVER TO PICK ME UP (20-40 MIN PAST WHEN I WAS DONE FOR THE DAY). DESPITE EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN T

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CHILD IN THE REAR LEFT SEAT COMPLAINED THAT THE SEAT BELT HARNESSING THE CHILD WAS TOO TIGHT AROUND HIS/HER NECK. THE DRIVER HAD TO CALL 911 TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT CUT AWAY FROM THE CHILD'S NECK AND THROAT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

2004 SATURN ION RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT RESULTING IN THE DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT KIT WAS REPLACED. ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE USED FOR THE REPAIR CAME FROM SATURN. THE VEHICLE STRUT BRACKET THAT WAS WELDED TO THE STRUT WHICH HELD THE SWAY BAR LINK HAD BROKEN OFF AND CUT INTO THE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. *BF *NM