2004 Saturn Ion complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400 4305 /B12 TIRES (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BUT IT WAS STILL ABLE TO HOLD AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHEN STARTING THE SATURN ON A COLD MORNING, THE IGNITION FAILS TO START THE CAR. I GET A SERVICE MESSAGE. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AS IF THE SECURITY WAS RESETTING ITSELF. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. GM WILL NOT OWN UP TO A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT LEAVES SATURN OWNERS COMPLETELY STRANDED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES, EVEN ON WARM DAYS. A RECALL MUST BE APPROVED FOR THIS MASSIVE SAFETY PROBLEM. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY THE CARS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SIT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN MINUTES OR STALL OUT IN UNSAFE AREAS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THIS IGNITION SWITCH INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED BASED ON HUNDREDS OF TESTAMENTS. I HAVE REPLACED MY STATER AND BATTERY BEFORE REALIZING THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THE UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE OF DEALING WITH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY POWER ASSIST STEERING WILL GO OUT SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING. AT FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY BUT NOW IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WILL COST OVER $1500 TO REPLACE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH IONS FROM THAT YEAR, BUT THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL. *TR

I STARTED MY CAR, PULLED FORWARD THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, DIDN'T REVERSE. HEADED DOWN WESTHEIMER AT ABOUT APPROX. 35 MPH. I DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE WHEN I HEARD THE WARNING CHIME AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT. LUCKILY I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD BEING IT WAS ABOUT 1 AM. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON SUDDENLY IT WAS BACK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO HOW LOOSE THE WHEEL WAS WHEN IT WAS COMING DOWN FROM THE LIFT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER LEAVING THE SHOP AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE LEFT TURNS AND WOULD BE EXTREMELY EASY TO MAKE A RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,400.

WHEN I WAS GOING SOUTH ON I-95 IN GEORGIA I HEARD A WARNING TONE FROM MY SATURN AND SAW A WARNING ON MY DASH THAT WAS FOR THE POWER STEERING. IMMEDIATELY I COULD TELL I HAD LOST MY POWER STEERING BECAUSE CHANGING LANES FELT SLUGGISH AND A BIT DIFFICULT. (NOT PHYSICALLY DIFFICULT BUT MORE DIFFICULT THAN USUAL) THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. THEN IT IS LIKE NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. AT SLOWER SPEEDS THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT IS REQUIRED TO TURN. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS NOT FOR ME BUT FOR MY WIFE WHO CANNOT PHYSICALLY CONTROL THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AS THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WE HEARD A TONE INDICATING SOMETHING WAS WRONG, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND WE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON. THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER AND WAS UNABLE TO QUICKLY MANEUVER. WE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER TRAVELING A FEW MILES. WE WERE ABLE TO GET HOME AND NOW THE POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN EVERY FEW MINUTES. CAR IS UNSAFE ON PUBLIC ROADS IN REGARDS TO BEING ABLE TO MAKE QUICK MANEUVERS AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. CHEV. & PONT. CARS WITH SAME EQUIPMENT AND COMPLAINTS WERE RECALLED. SATURNS SHOULD BE ALSO. THERE IS AN OPEN ACTION NUMBER OF EA11014. *TR ..UPDATED 12/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SATURN VOLUNTEERED TO REPLACE A PORTION OF THE STEERING THAT CONTROLLED THE POWER STEERING AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 12/12/12

THE IGNITION WOULD NOT ENGAGE COULD NOT START THE CAR AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AT 400.00 COST. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE KEY NOW WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULD NOT TURN OFF. AFTER MORE THAN 30 MINUTES, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATING WE WERE ABLE TO PULL ENOUGH FUSES TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THEY SAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE SAME SYSTEM AGAIN. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS FROM GM. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS SYSTEM AGAIN AT A COST OF 400.00 PLEASE HELP ME WITH. *TR

OUR CAR, 2004, SATURN ION3, CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY ON IT'S OWN ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER IT WAS DRIVEN HOME ON 4 NOV 2011. NO DRIVER - NO KEY IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. I SUBMITTED AN INITIAL REQUEST FOR REVIEW TO GM CLAIMS ALONG WITH ALL DOCUMENTATION THAT WE HAD VIA EMAILS AND OUR CLAIM WAS DENIED. *TR

OUT OF THE BLUE, THE CONSOLE MADE ALERT NOISES AND THE "PWR STR" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE STEERING BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, AS THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND NOT THE HIGHWAY, INTERSECTION OR OTHER DANGEROUS AREA. *TR

EXCESSIVE BRAKE CHATTER IN FRONT BRAKES WHEN WET FROM A HARD RAIN OR RAIN PUDDLES. HARD TO STEER CAR, CAR SHUDDERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE WARNING CHIME BEGAN TO SOUND. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE MONTH LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO EXIT THE ROADWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT HOWEVER, EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,755. AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,756.

WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON THE PARKING LIGHTS AND FRONT TURN SIGNALS STARTING BLINKING REALLY QUICK LIKE STROBING. I CAN TURN MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND IT WILL BLINK INSIDE HEARING THE NORMAL TICKING. IF I TURN MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ON IT THE ARROW ON THE INSIDE BLINKS SLOWER AND MAKES NO TICKING SOUND.IF I PUSH ON MY BRAKE THE LIGHT WORK PROBABLY AND THE TICKING SOUND ON THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INSIDE STARTS. IF I PUT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ON IT WORKS PROPERLY. THE STROBING OF THE FRONT OUTSIDE PARKING LIGHTS STOP. IF I TURN MY PARKING LIGHT ON AND DRIVE WITH THEM ON EVERYTHING WORKS PROPERLY. I KNOW THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. IT IS EFFECTING MY CAR SO BAD THAT MY RADIO DISPLAY LIGHT BLINKS ALSO. SO IT IS GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I HAVE A WRECK. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 2 CHILDREN. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKE. TODAY WE UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. WE HAD TO REMOVE FUSES TO KILL THE ENGINE AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE WERE STUCK IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START. IN BOTH CASES WE HAD TO BREAK THE IGNITION LOCK IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE LOCK CYLINDER. WITH THE CYLINDER REMOVED WE CAN USE A SCREW DRIVER TO START THE CAR. THE SCREW IS MUCH MORE RELIABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING RUBBER AND PLASTIC. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND AT DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS AND POWER LOCKS HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED FOR THE WINDOWS AND THEY BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. A PERSONAL MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE NEW FUSE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED TO ENSURE THAT NO ELECTRICAL FIRES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,500.

POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME UP. VERY HARD TO STEER NO POWER ASSIST. TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND POWER STEERING IS BACK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING EVENT SINCE 6/2010. *TR

TODAY 8/8/12, I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 SATURN ION AT 5PM AFTER WORK & IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT TURN MY WHEEL AS I EXITED THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO SWERVE HARD TO MY RIGHT TO BY AVOID A COLLISION WITH TWO CARS FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I WAS TERRIFIED! MY DISPLAY SHOWED "PWR STR" I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, I LEFT MY CAR DIAGONALLY PARKED, SINCE IT WOULD NOT MOVE WENT FOR ASSISTANCE, A PASSERBY LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD FOR A WHILE THEN TURNED MY CAR ON AND THE DISPLAY WAS BACK TO MILEAGE AND MY WHEEL WAS WORKING FINE!! I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IT COULD BE AND HOW I COULD FIX IT, I FIND OUT THAT THEIR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING! I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTERS AT ALL. MY CAR HAS BEEN RELIABLE UP UNTIL NOW. IT HAS CLOSE TO 150K MIL (MILEAGE IS AN ESTIMATE ON THIS FORM) SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A GM PROBLEM, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? THANK YOU *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN AN ALLEY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST MY POWER STEERING (I WAS ALERTED WITH A MESSAGE). UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. SINCE THIS INITIAL INCIDENT, MY CAR HAS LOST THE POWER STEERING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, IN MULTIPLE SCENARIOS AND AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SPEEDS. IT HAS FAILED ON THE FREEWAY MULTIPLE TIMES, FORCING ME TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND COMPROMISE MY SAFETY. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED NO LESS THAN 20 TIMES SINCE MAY 17TH (IT IS NOW AUGUST 7TH). THIS DEFECT IS NOT ONLY UNACCEPTABLE, IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR

STARTED LEAKING GAS FROM FUEL FILTER AND I CHECKED ON LINE FOR RECALLS AND WAS ONE FOR THAT VEHICLE I CALLED SATURN THEY SAID THERE WASN'T. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD TO STOP AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,623.

DRIVER WAS TURNING RIGHT AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN IMMEDIATELY AND RAMMED INTO THE MEDIAN. DRIVER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION AT MEDICAL FACILITY. IN 2008, POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON VEHICLE - A WARNING WOULD SOUND AND THE PWR STR MESSAGE WOULD FLASH. DEALER REPLACED STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY IN USE. POWER STEERING AGAIN WENT OUT, SAME SYMPTOMS, ON JULY 20, 2012. CURRENTLY THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MAKING THE CAR VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. PROBLEM NOW RECURS WHENEVER I DRIVE THE CAR, BEGINNING SHORTLY AFTER I START DRIVING. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE MANUALLY DISCONNECTED SO THE ENGINE COULD SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,750 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,800.

BELOW A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE IF THE CAR IS NOT WARM OR THE IGNITION IS NOT WARM WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE; THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM TURNS ON. ONCE THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS ON I CANNOT START THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. USUALLY MAKING ME LATE FOR SOMETHING. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED AND WOULD LIKE COMPENSATION IF POSSIBLE. *JS

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVERS SIDE WIPER WENT PAST THE A POST THEN JUMPED BACK TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND "PWR STR" NOTICE WAS DISPLAYED. CHANGED FUSE BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX IT. I FOUND THE NHTSA RQ10004 INVESTIGATION IN AN INTERNET SEARCH. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS SATURN ION REDLINE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM SATURN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS REPORTED IN VARIOUS INTERNET ARTICLES/ BLOGS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT START. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THE POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM. AT ANY SPEED, AT ANY TIME, "PWR STR" DIS DISPLAYED ON THE OBD DISPLAY, SIMULTANEOUSLY AS THE MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING, FORCING ME TO UNEXPECTEDLY MANUALLY STEER THE CAR UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS CYCLED AND THE SYSTEM RESET. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS 1-7 TIMES A DAY. I HAVE PERSONALLY CAME CLOSE TO HAVING A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO POWER ASSIST FAILURE WHILE CURVING. THERE ARE NO OTHER PREVIOUS FAILURES OF THE STEERING EQUIPMENT LEADING UP TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST WAS FAILING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,394. UPDATED 6/6/12 *CN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON 05/22/12. UPDATED 06/11/12

POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THIS VEHICLE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME POWER STEERING CONTROL FAILED. MANUAL STEERING WAS USED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND UPON RESTARTING, POWER STEERING RETURNED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.

MULTIPLE FAILURES OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. GAUGES DROP TO ZERO, THE ENGINE MAY OR MAY NOT STOP RUNNING, THEN THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS ( IE OIL WARNING LIGHT, ECT ) COME ON, AND THEN DASH RETURNS TO NORMAL. IF THE CAR IS MOVING THE ENGINE STARTS RUNNING AGAIN. ONE STEERING WARNING MESSAGE DURING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER INTO AND OUT OF THE CORNER. I AM WILLING TO TURN MY CAR OVER TO HAVE THE STEERING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OUT. SATURN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS USED TO CHECK THIS ISSUE OUT AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HOWEVER AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

WHEN STARTING THE SATURN ON A COLD MORNING, THE IGNITION FAILS TO START THE CAR. I GET A SERVICE MESSAGE. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AS IF THE SECURITY WAS RESETTING ITSELF. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. GM WILL NOT OWN UP TO A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT LEAVES 100S OF PEOPLE STRANDED. AS TIME GOES BY THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES, EVEN ON WARM DAYS. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL APPROVED FOR THIS MASSIVE SAFETY PROBLEM. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY OUR CARS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SIT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN MINUTES OR STALL US IN A POTENTIALLY BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THIS IGNITION SWITCH INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED BASED ON HUNDREDS OF TESTAMENTS. I WANT TO ADD THAT MY SATURN WHEN IT WAS NEW HAD OTHER RECALL ISSUES LIKE THE AUTOMATIC LIGHT SENSOR. ALSO, ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING WHEEL RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE DATES OF WHEN WE NOTICED THE PROBLEMS. SO FAR I HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 04 ION'S FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CHEAPLY MADE PLASTIC WIPER LINKAGES THAT BREAK EASY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SO FAR BECAUSE THE PART FAILS AND YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR, AND MOST RECENTLY I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO ASK ABOUT A "CLUNKING" NOISE IT MAKES WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN FOR A KNOWN STEERING LINKAGE OR STEERING MOTOR (EPS) PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ON THESE CARS THE STEERING LINKS/MOTOR HAVE TENDANCY TO BREAK! IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD RESULT IN DEATH! I'VE ALSO DONE SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND MANY FORUMS/ARTICLES WITH OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL. ONE COMMENT I READ THE PERSON SAID "THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!" MINE AND MANY OTHER'S 04 SATURN ION'S HAVE ALOT OF KNOWN YET SERIOUS ISSUES BUT SATURN STILL HAS NO RECALLS FOR THIS CAR!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM! -CONCERNED/FRUSTURATED SATURN OWNER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL WAS EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEAT WAS SOAKED WITH FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTER WERE RUSTED, CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE REAR SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW FUEL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,100.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING ABILITIES. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE STEERING WOULD RESETS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS AUTOMATIC AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SEVERE LEAK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,030. *TR

WHILST DRIVING, MY CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN GOING ALMOST 45-50MPH. PRESSING THE BRAKES WOULD BARELY DO ANYTHING. IT WON'T START WHEN IT THINKS IT'S TOO COLD OUTSIDE, I'VE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT IS FINE. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT RESISTS A LOT. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. *TT

POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/25/12. I FELT STEERING BECOME DIFFICULT AND SAW MESSAGE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY. BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE, SATURN WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS UNDER THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY". A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES. *TR

WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND GATHERING SPEED, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR REACHED 85MPH. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME (10 MILES) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2004 SATURN ION SUDDENLY FAILED. AS WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD, WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THAT LIKELY COULD HAVE OCCURED IF WE HAD BEEN TURNING. UPON RETURNING HOME, I PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE 3 FUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT ALL WERE FINE. IT APPERAS TO BE THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR ITSELF THAT FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AT THE TIME OUR STEERING FAILED, MY 3 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE GM IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE? PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL SO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED. IT MAY BE A "NUMBERS" GAME TO SOME, BUT TO THE REST OF US IT IS OUR SAFETY! *TR