2004 Saturn Ion complaints

ON JULY 21, 2004, I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND ON AUGUST 3, 2004, I EXPERIENCED TREAD AND BELT SEPARATION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DISCOVERED I HAD NO BRAKES EITHER, (THE TIRE HAD RIPPED THE BRAKE LINES). I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER HITTING A ROAD SIGN. THE TIRE IN QUESTION, CAME STANDARD ON THE VEHICLE (WHICH HAD 816 MILES ON IT) AND WAS A FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA 03, (P205/55R16). I SUFFERED A FRACTURE TO MY RIGHT FOREARM, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS, APPROXIMATELY $6000 WORTH OF VEHICLE DAMAGE, (NOT INCLUDING THE IMMEDIATE DEPRECIATION OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE), AND ULTIMATELY LOSS OF MY EMPLOYMENT RELATED TO NO TRANSPORTATION. I CALLED THE SATURN CUSTOMER SVC. CENTER AND THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, WHEN THEY HAD A SATURN REPRESENTATIVE FLY DOWN FROM TN TO TELL ME THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH NOT ONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE, HOWEVER IN THE MEANTIME I MUST IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THEIR PREMISES!! I FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT AND SHIPPED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE, PER THEIR REQUEST, ONLY TO BE TOLD 28 DAYS LATER THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF A "360 DEGREE SPIN CUT THROUGH THE TREAD". MY INSURANCE TOLD ME THAT IF I FILED THE CLAIM THROUGH THEM THAT I WOULD BE "HEAVILY PENALIZED" SINC

THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, THE CAR CONTINUED SPEEDING, TRIED TO BRAKE BUT BRAKES WORN OUT, WAS INEFFECTICE, CRASHED 5 CARS BECAUSE THE CAR WONT STOP.*AK

WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SUSAN'S MOTHER BRENDA O'BRIEN.*AK

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' 2004 SATURN ION DAYTIME LAMP/TURN SIGNAL BULB REPLACEMENT. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP HIS VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS STILL INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED, THE WORK WAS DONE, BUT CONDENSATION WAS INSIDE THE UNIT THAT CONTAINED THE BULB IN QUESTION AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION IN APRIL, 2004. IN JUNE, 2004 MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING MY RUNNING LIGHT ON THAT SIDE NOT TO WORK EITHER.*AK IN JULY, 2004 WHEN OPENING UP THE HOOD TO REFILL WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, THE HOOD LATCH INSIDE THE CAR CAME OFF IN MY HAND. ON DEC 22, 2004, THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED TO WORK CAUSE ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WHICH RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR. BOTH CARS WERE ONLY MOVING ABOUT 15 - 20 MPH, BUT ON IMPACT THE WHOLE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) SIDE BUMPER BROKE UP AND WAS ON THE GROUND. LEAVING A BIG GAPPING HOLE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DEFECTIVE BRAKES, AS OF THIS DATE. IN FEBRUARY, 2005, WHEN COMING OUT TO START CAR AFTER WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE KEY LOCKED IN THE IGNITION, THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK LOCKED AND COULDN'T GET THEM OPEN TO GET A JUMP FROM THE TOW TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SAME DAY I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WENT INTO A STORE WHEN I CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THIS TIME THE KEY DIDN'T LOCK IN IGNITION SO I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 4 DIFFERENT OCCASION, WITH THE DEALERSHIP NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

I OWN AN 2004 SATURN ION 3 THAT CAME WITH FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK GTA TIRES AND THE SIZE IS P205/55R16 89H M+S. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AT 6,000 MILES. ON 3/3/2005 I HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS WAS AT NINE AT NIGHT AND I HAD FORGOTTEN MY CELLPHONE AND WAS MADE LATE FOR WORK. WITH SEMI'S DRIVING BY AT 70 MPH ON I-75 I WAS IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE. ON 3/4/2005 I CALLED THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD THE TIRE AND HOW MUCH ETC. THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO SERVICE AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN. I WAS HAPPILY SURPRISED SINCE THIS WAS FRIDAY AT NOON. THEY INSPECTED THE TIRE FOR PUNCTURES (FOUND NONE) AND I THINK THEY WERE SURPRISED AT THE SIDEWALL SEPARATION. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY (NO CHARGE). THE TIRE HAD 9,000 MILES AT THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT 30 MPH I HEARD A CLUNK AND THOUGHT SNOW WAS HITTING THE TIRE. THIS THEN QUIETED DOWN. I GOT ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND WENT TWO MILES BEFORE I HEARD A NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A HELECOPTER OVERHEAD. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN MY NEW VEHICLE. *AK

THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, AND I REAR ENDED HER. IT WAS A MINOR ACCIDENT - ONLY GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH - SO MINOR THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. BOTH OF MY REAR SEATS, HOWEVER, CAME UNLATCHED AND FLEW FORWARD, PUSHING MY DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT INTO THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT, EVEN WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING LOOPED THROUGH THE SHOULDER HARNESS OF THE CAR SEAT. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. I CALLED SATURN TO REPORT IT. THEY SPOKE WITH THE COLLISION CENTER WHERE MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED, AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BROKEN THAT COULD BE FIXED. THE COLLISION CENTER ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THEY TRIED TO GET THE SEATS UNLATCHED BY PULLING ON THEM FROM THE FRONT AND BY TRYING TO KICK THEM FROM INSIDE THE TRUNK, NEITHER OF WHICH SIMULATES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ACTUAL CAR ACCIDENT, WITH THAT KIND OF INERTIA. THE PERSON WHO INSPECTED MY CAR TOLD ME THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK UNLATCHED THE LOCKS DURING THE ACCIDENT. SATURN TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I EVEN SPOKE WITH A SUPERVISOR. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY COULD SOMEHOW INSTALL A BETTER LOCK TO MAKE SURE THE SEATS WOULDN'T UNLATCH. THEY TOLD ME OVER AND OVER THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE NOTHING IS BROKEN. BUT SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG FOR THE SEATS TO HAVE COME UNLATCHED. AT THIS TIME, I STILL FEEL THAT MY REAR SEATS ARE UNSAFE AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN MY CAR BACK FROM THE COLLISION CENTE

TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL. CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE WILL JUST SLOW DOWN TO 10 MPH. WHILE DRIVING UP THE HILL VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UP TO 25 MPH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

FRIDAY THERE WAS A SNOWFALL. SATURDAY MORNING, I DROVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DIFFICULTY HANDLING THE STEERING OF THE CAR. AS I APPROACHED 40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I COULD NOT GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO I TRIED TO COPE BY SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN. THREE TIMES, I ALMOST CRASHED - TWICE INTO OTHER CARS, ONCE INTO THE HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE FASTER I WENT, THE MORE VIOLENT THE SHAKING. I WAS TRAVELLING FROM THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE ENTRANCE TO 280 TO 94 WEST TO THE 35W SOUTH. I GOT OFF AT THE FIRST EXIT I COULD ON 35W. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AS I DROVE ON THE CITY STREETS. ON TUESDAY I CALLED SATURN TO HAVE THEM FIX MY CAR. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 100 CALLS OF THIS KIND THIS WEEKEND AND THAT THIS WAS A RESULT OF SNOW GETTING INTO WHERE THE TIRE-WHEEL IS. IT WAS SUGGESTED I GO TO A CAR WASH AND THAW OUT THE SNOW AND WAS TOLD THEY'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR ME. PART OF WHY I CHOSE THIS CAR IS BECAUSE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS COMPUTERIZED HANDLING THAT WOULD FACILITATE MY DRIVING. OBVIOUSLY, I AM DISSATISFIED. WHEN THE SNOW MELTED OFF, THE CAR DROVE WELL. HOWEVER, I LIVE IN MN, WHERE THERE IS SNOW HALF OF THE YEAR. I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT MY CAR WOULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I CANNOT HANDLE THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE. *AK

3 DAYS IN A ROW 2004 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START. AFTER WAITING 10 MIN I TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUR TEMP.HAVE BEEN AVERAGING -4 TO 13 DEGRESS.WILL BE GOING INTO THE DEALERS TUES.THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE PASS LOCK SENSOR SINCE I HAVE READ ON ANOTHER SITE ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS IS CAUSING WITH SATURN NOT STARTING. *JB

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THERE WAS A PULSING WHICH WOULD MAKE IT HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LINE. THE BRAKES WERE USELESS. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

I LIVE IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA AND HAVE HAD MY ION FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH. THAT IS UNTIL THIS WINTER. 4 TIMES I HAVE CAME OUT OF WORK AT NIGHT ON COLD NIGHTS TO START MY CAR ONLY TO HAVE IT NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 15 - 25 MINUTES OF TRYING MY CAR FINALLY STARTS UP. AFTER I HAVE SAT IN THE COLD. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY IT DECIDES NOT TO START. ANYWAY I NEVER LEFT ANYTHING ON , NO DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN,NOTHING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BATTERY BEING LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR OR NOT. EVERYTHING ELSE IS FINE AND IT RUNS FINE AFTER I DO GET IT TO START. WE ARE EXPECTING SOME COLD DAYS AHEAD WERE IN LIVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SO I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WE I LEAVE WORK EVERYONE AROUND ME HAS NO PROBLEM STARTING UP THERE CAR DIFFERENT MAKES AND YEARS NO PROBLEM. I WILL BE GIVING MY DEALERSHIP A CALL TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP BUT I AM SURE AS MOST DEALERSHIPS ARE THEY WON'T. ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM? *NM

I BOUGHT MY 04 ION2 IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR. ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WOULD DOWNSHIFT WHILE BRAKING DOWNHILLS, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE RPMS TO ACCELERATE EXTREMELY HIGH. THE CAR WOULD THE JERK ITSELF BACK INTO THE GEAR IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE IN. THIS WENT ON FOR MONTHS AND IS STILL OCCURING. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO SATURN OF SPRINGFIELD COUNTLESS TIMES. AT ONE POINT I WAS IN THERE MUTLIPLE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. NOT ONLY DID IS ACCELERATE GOING DOWNHILL BUT IT WON'T SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR GOING UP HILL, AND TO TOP IT OFF WHEN I ENTER THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WONT SHIFT INTO 5 GEAR WHEN I AM ACCELERATING, I HAVE TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT. SATURN HAS TOLD ME COUNTLESS TIMES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I ONLY AVERAGE ABOUT 16 MILES TO THE GALLON NO MATTER IF IT IS THE HIGHWAY OR CITY. I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WERE SATURN CALLS ME THE NEXT DAY AFTER EVERY SERVICE CALL. OH AND I JUST HAD TO HAVE MY POSTIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T STAY ATTACHED TO THE BATTERY WHICH WOULD'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START.*AK

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. MY PARENTS BOUGHT A SATURN ION 2, IT IS ONLY ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLD. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO THEIR LOCATION AND TURNING IT OFF, THEY CAME BACK TO THE CAR (MAYBE 2 HOURS LATER), TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES ON THE REMOTE. AFTER ABOUT 20 PUSHES THE CAR WAS FINIALLY ABLE TO BE STARTED. THEY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED ONLY TO HAVE SOMEONE TELL THEM THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT DID NOT START. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, SPOKE WITH SOMEONE IN THE SHOP AREA AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP THEM OUT BUT IF THEY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SHOP, IT WOULD HAVE TO LEFT OVER NIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND ANY PROBLEMS. WE TRIED TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE AS WE WERE TOLD LAST TIME TO DO THIS - IT DIDN'T WORK THIS TIME. AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR FINIALLY DID START. ALSO ON TWO OTHER SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, ON THE DASH PANEL, THE MILEAGE WOULD DISSAPPEAR AND WORDS WOULD APPEAR. I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT, BUT WHEN THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE SHOP THEY SAID NOT TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THAT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO THEM. ON BOTH OF THESE OCCASSIONS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED AGAIN, THE WORDS DISAPPEAR. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS? *AK

THE CONSUMER SLID ON A PATCH OF ICE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE HITTING THE CURB. UPON IMPACT THE TIRE FOLDED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S HOME. THE CONSUMER JACKED THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE UP AND NOTICED THAT THE METAL PIECE THAT THE HUB WAS MOUNTED TO ALONG WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD CAME APART AND FOLDED DOWN. *JB

ENGINE SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER ROAD BUMPS. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS SHOWED NO APPARENT PROBLEM. *AK

PROBLEMS: A. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . B. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSE AND DENT REAR-ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING. UPON IMPACT SEAT FLEW BACK, HIT BACK SEAT AND DENTED. OUR STOPPED CAR WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT. OUR CAR WAS SMASHED AT FRONT AND BACK AND NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO SKID MARKS REPORTED AND NO BRAKES APPLIED BY OFFENDING CAR SO OUR 2004 SATURN ION TOOK THE FULL IMPACT AND WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN A CAMRY FROM BEHIND AND A GMC JIMMY IN FRONT. WOMAN IN JIMMY TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL SINCE SHE WAS PREGNANT. MY SON DRIVING THE SATURN HAD HIS WIFE PICK HIM UP AND PROCEEDED TO E/R WHERE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL STRAIN. DRIVER OF CAMRY HAD HER HUSBAND PICK HER UP. ALL 3 VEHICLES WERE TOWED. OUR SATURN WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALED. WE TOOK PICTURES AS DID THE POLICE IN SPOKANE, WA.. *AK

THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO MANEUVER. THE BRAKES SHOOK ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

VEHICLE VIBRATED/SHOOK DURING BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO NOTICED RUST ON THE LEFT ROTOR, WHICH WAS TURNED, AND BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND READJUSTED. *AK

RECEIVED FIRST SATURN ION 04 AND WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE CAR WAS DISPLAYING CLEAR SIGNS OF EITHER AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. WAS REPLACED WITH A SECOND ION O4. NOTICED A STRANGE CLUNKING SOUND. BROUGHT CAR IN AT 3600 MILES, AND IT WAS TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AXELS, AND BREAK ROTORS. CAR WAS RETURNED WITH A BROKEN PIECE IN THE INTERIOR, AND SMELLING OF BURNING PLASTIC. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE, AND SATURN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THAT I SHOULD BE ISSUED A REFUND, DUE TO FAULTY CONSTRUCTION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH WAS NOT BOLTED DOWN, CAME OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE SHOE AND IT WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE FLOORBOARD AND THE PEDAL. THERE WAS NOTHING THERE TO SECURE THE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO END CAPS TO KEEP THE PEDAL IN PLACE. CONSUMER ASKED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE EQUAL IN VALUE TO THE ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED. DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A VEHICLE OF LESSER VALUE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ONE OF THE SAME VALUE. *AK

USUALLY I CHARGE MY CELL PHONE AT HOME OVERNIGHT. BUT ON MONDAY 9/20/04 I HAD FORGOTTEN TO CHARGE THE PHONE AND USED THE CELL PHONE CHARGER IN MY NEW 2004 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN. I NOTICED THAT MY TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR WAS FLASHING QUICKLY. I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT WORKING AND THE NORMAL DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I WENT TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALER. HE SAID I NEEDED UPGRADED RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS TO HANDLE MY CELL PHONE CHARGER. THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTEE IN 2 HOURS. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAPPENS WITH SOME BUT NOT ALL CELL PHONE CHARGERS. THE SATURN FACTORY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND PUT IN THE BETTER RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS TO HANDLE CELL PHONE CHARGERS IN CARS MADE AFTER 5 MONTHS AGO. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH NON WORKING FRONT TURN SIGNALS, IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO WONDER IF PEOPLE WITH THE OLD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MIGHT SUFFER DAMAGE TO THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH CELL PHONE CHARGES OVER TIME WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN MY CASE I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S CELL PHONE CHARGER DOESN'T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS BUT JUST STRAINS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LEADING TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. *AK

SATURN ION 2004 I4, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WAS LOOKED AT ON 19TH SEPT 2004 BY DEALERSHIP. ON SEP 20TH I WENT TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR AND I COULD NOT. GAS SPILLED OUT OF THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR, AS IT WILL NOW ALLOW ME TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR. I WAS STUCK AT HOME AFTER RETURNING FROM GAS STATION.*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED WHILE RUNNING THE VEHICLE IDLING HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGN. *NM (POSSIBLE VALVE STICKING) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THEN TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN REVERSE AS WELL. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS WOULD ALMOST OCCUR. THERE WOULD BE HIGH RPM'S OF 6000 PLUS. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: WIND NOISE WHEN SUNSHADE WAS CRACKED, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT CANCEL ON TURNS AND THE CHIME WOULD GO OFF AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH SEEMED LOOSE AND OR MISALIGNED, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOW. *SC

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION , AND GRINDING SOUND WHEN VEHICLE WAS COLD . CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP WAS DOING NOTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING, FEARING THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK

THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 28-32 MPH. AT ALL OTHER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IS QUIET. *NM THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW. NO ONE COULD GIVE THE CONSUMER AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MOTOR FAILED. THIS MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW SATURN ION-2 ON 11 AUG 04 AT 6:30 P.M. FROM THE SATURN OF FAYETTEVILLE, NC DEALERSHIP. ROVE THE VEHICLE TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ON 12 AUG O4. 12 AUG 04, MILAGE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT: 56 MILES HILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN, THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT CAME ON. IT REMAINED ON FOR 10-15 SECONDS. AFTER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES PER HOUR, THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND REMAIND ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS. 3 AUG 04. VEHICLE MILAGE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT: 87 MILES THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP FOR A SERVICE CHECK, THE AIR BAG READY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND REMAINED ON FRO APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS.. VEHICLE MILAGE :102 AT TIME OF SERVICE THE SATURN SERVICE DEPATEMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NO INDICATION THAT THE LIGHT EVER CAME ON, BUT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THEN BRING IT BACK.*AK

WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD FEEL AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE RPM WOULD GO UP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND NO PROBLEM WOULD BE FOUND BY THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONSUMER HAD ALMOST EXPERIENCED 2 REAR END COLLISIONS AND 1 BROADSIDE COLLISION. *SC *JB

IN OCTOBER OF 1993, I BOUGHT A 2004 ION 2 QUAD COUPE FROM SATURN OF LARCHMONT. I TRADED IN MY 1997 SC1 FOR THIS CAR. IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, I NEEDED TO HAVE THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT BULB REPLACED BECAUSE IT BURNED OUT. IN JANUARY, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE AND TWO RECALLS. IT ALSO TO MADE A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH. THIS FIRST TIME, THE LINK AND TORSION BAR SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED. I RETURNED ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER WITH THE RATTLE AND AN ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT. THE CAR HAD STALLED WHILE DRIVING IT. I WAS TOLD THAT A BOOK UNDERNEATH THE SEAT WAS MAKING THE RATTLING NOISE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE STALLING COULDNT BE DUPLICATED, SO THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. I RETURNED ONE WEEK LATER WITH THE SAME RATTLING PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND DROVE IT OVER SIXTY MILES. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS. FINALLY, THE NOISE STOPPED! IN JULY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS. THE CAR HAD STALLED AGAIN AND STARTED STUTTERING WHEN STEPPING ON OR RELEASING THE GAS PETAL. AGAIN NO CODES WERE FOUND TO INDICATE WHY IT STALLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE STUTTERING WAS NORMAL FOR THE VTI ENGINE BECAUSE OF ITS NEW TECHNOLOGY. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, THE RATTLING STARTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS AGAIN. TWO DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT, THE RADIO HAD RESET ITSELF. ON THE DAY OF MY APPOINTMENT, THE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE CAR OUT AND SAID HE HEARD NO NOISE AND FELT NO RAT

THE AIR BAG LIGHTS WERE ON. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HE IS CALLED. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE WITHOUT AIR BAGS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER BRAKED SUDDENLY TO AVOID A COLLISION AND HEARD A DISTURBANCE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE GUARD ON THE SEAT SEPARATED, AND THE CHILD WAS LYING AGAINST THE FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE CHILD WAS NOT INJURED BY THE MISHAP.*AK

I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 2 IN JANUARY SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE ONLY GOT AN AVERAGE OF 22.5 MPG THAT IS 270 MILES PER 12 GALLON TANK (AND IT STILL CONTINUES). IN MARCH AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD, IT LURCHED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT BOGGED DOWN, AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 50MPH AND WAS EXTREMELY SLUGGISH, FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING A GOLF CART. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE RECALLS ON THE FUEL FILTER AND COMPUTER SYSTEM WERE COMPLETED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPEATED. JUNE 10TH, THE CAR REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN, THEY DID THE 6,000 MILE SERVICE ON IT. PER MY RECORDS, EVERYTHING "CHECKED OUT". THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPEATED. THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED . 3 WEEKS LATER, DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR ONCE AGAIN, LURCHED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WENT FROM 65  40 MPH. THANKFULLY I DID NOT GET REAR-ENDED. I EXITED THE FREEWAY, HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT, THEN DURING A LEFT HAND TURN HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR FINALLY CORRECTED ITS PROBLEM, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP YET AGAIN, THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED MY VALVE BODY AND NOW MY CAR IS RUNNING WORSE THEN IT WAS BEFORE. I STOPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP A DAY AGO, AND TALKED TO THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER, AND HE STATED THAT HE HOPES THEY REPLACE THE CAR, SINCE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. MY CAR

WE OWN A 2004 SATURN ION3 QUAD COUPE, IT HAS A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION THEN THE OTHERS. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 31, 2003. IT HAD 91 MILES ON IT. WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HESITATE A LITTLE GOING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR IT'S FIRST OIL CHANGE IN MARCH, WE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY REPORTED BACK THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR A 4 CYLINDER TO ACT THE WAY IT WAS. ASSUMING THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WE LEFT IT AT THAT. WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN FOR PAINT DAMAGE THEY HAD CAUSED WHEN THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE OIL CHANGE, AND AGAIN ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION (ONLY ABOUT A WEEK LATER). THEY AGAIN REPORTED THEY TEST DROVE AND IT WAS FINE. NOW THIS PAST WEEK FOR IT'S SECOND OIL CHANGE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 29TH, WE AGAIN ASKED THEM BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. THEY AGAIN REPORTED IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. NOT A WEEK AFTER THAT REPORT ON SUNDAY, JULY 4TH AMIDST OUT 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION WE DROVE A BLOCK AND A HALF FROM HOME AND TURNED A CORNER ONTO THE MAIN ROAD. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR REVVED AND DIDN'T SWITCH INTO SECOND GEAR. IT FOUGHT TO GO FASTER IN FIRST GEAR, BUT NEVER SWITCHED. WE NOTICED IMMEDIATELY AND TRIED PARKING AND AGAIN MOVING INTO DRIVE, THINKING MAYBE IT HAD DROPPED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL. AGAIN THE SAME THING, WE SLOWLY TURNED THE CORNER AND PUTTED OUR WAY BACK DOWN THE BLOCK TO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MILES AN HOUR SO AS NOT TO FURTHER DAMAGE THE ENGINE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE

ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM:RAVALING AT INTERSTATE SPEED - DESIGN FLAW.ESIGN FLAW RESULT - LOST CONTROL OF CAR DUE TO SUDDEN JERK OF WHEEL TO AVOID COLLISION WITH MOTORIST COMING INTO OUR LANE. DID 270 DEG SPIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAME TO STOP AGAINST MEDIAN GUARDRAIL AFTER CROSSING TWO LANES.PEED 65 MPH WITH TRAFIC FLOW. MISC. NOTES: 1) CAR OCCUPANTS = 3EA. 2) IT IS PREDICTED THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW IS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXPOSED TO NEWS REELS DETAILING FLAW RESULTING IN DEATHS, SATURN WILL BE FORCED TO RECALL. TIME TO GET BUSY TO MAKE RECALL EFFORT REALITY.*AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN 2 INCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DAUGHTER WAS HIT BY A HARLEY DAVIDSON F150 TRUCK IN THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE SHE TURNED AND THE HARLEY HIT HER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DAUGHTER DROVE 4 MILES, AND PARKED, THEN FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. THE BRAKES HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHUT OFF. *SC *JB (DUPLICATE REPORT - SEE ODI REF. NO. 10074368 *MJJ)

I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 ON THURSDAY JUNE 10, 2004. ON SUNDAY JUNE 13 THERE WERE SUBSTANTIAL RAINS IN THE ATLANTA AREA AND I NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK WAS FULL OF APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES OF STANDING WATER AROUND THE TIRE AND BATTERY. THE BOX OF BOOKS IN THE TRUNK ALONG WITH SOME OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE WATER. ON MONDAY JUNE 14, AFTER HAVING HAD THE CAR IN MY POSESSION FOR ONLY 4 DAYS I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ADVISED ME ON TUESDAY JUNE 15 THAT THE HOLE WHERE THE WATER IS SUPPOSED TO DRAIN OUT OF IF THE CAR HAD A SUNROOF WAS LEFT UNPLUGGED DURING MANUFACTURING RESULTING IN THE FLOODING OF THE TRUNK. I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP MY CAR ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY JUNE 16. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AS I WAS USING THE POWER OUTLETS IN THE CAR THE TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ORDER FOR MY TURN SIGNALS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO WORK I MUST UNPLUG WHATS IN THE POWER OUTLET AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. WHEN I RESTART THE CAR THEY ARE OPERABLE AGAIN, BUT IF I NEED TO USE MY POWER OUTLETS I MUST USE THEM KNOWNING THAT I WON'T HAVE TURN SIGNALS OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I EITHER HAVE TO GIVE UP THE USE OF MY POWER OUTLETS OR MY TURN SIGNALS AND RUNNING LIGHTS.*AK

THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, 3 TIMES. THE SATURN DEALER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WHICH SEND A VIBRATION THROUGH THE BODY OF THE CAR WHILE GOING OVER DIPS AND STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND THE CURRENT DIAGNOSES IS THAT IT'S A NORMAL NOISE. CONFIRMED WITH OTHER DEALERS THAT THE NOISE IS NOT NORMAL. VISIT 1: REPLACED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. VISIT 2: REPLACED RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM VISIT 3: REPLACED RIGHT FRONT STRUT VISIT 4: REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND BOTH TORSION BAR SUPPORTS VISIT 5: "IT'S A NORMAL NOISE" I'VE TEST DRIVEN OTHER NEW CARS AND THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT. I WILL BE PERSUING THE LEMON LAW AT THIS TIME.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THEY DID NOT CLOSE FULLY, THEY STAYED AJAR, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DOOR FLYING OPEN WHEN TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THEIR PRESENCE. *JB

VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHEN I ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THE CAR DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT BUCKS THEN PUSHES ITSELF. THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD. SOUNDS LIKE GRINDING OR WHIRRING. THEY HAVE HAD TO CALIBRATE THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES IN THE 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN TODAY. (3RD TIME). *AK

VTI TRANSMISSION CAUSES SUDDEN VEHICLE DECELERATION. *AK

A BRAKE PAD FELL OFF THE TRAILER IN FRONT AND STRUCK HIS VEHICLE DAMAGING THE TIRE.

BRAKES FAILURE