APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS NOT FAVORABLE AND I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE TRANNY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED TO BE THE TRANNY AND THEY TRIED TO PUT A BANDAIDE ON IT BY FLUSHING IT AND CHANGING THE FLUIDS. ONE WEEK LATER SAME NOISE ONLY LOUDER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANNY. 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR; THE NOISE RETURNED, THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS, IN THE TRANNY THEY JUST PUT IN IT. JUST OVER 12,0000 MILES LATER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANNY WAS AGAIN REPLACED, THAT WAS JUST UNDER 12,0000 MILES AGO AND THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING AGAIN, ONLY NOW THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE SAY I AM OUT OF FUNDS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT REPAIR A VEHICLE BEYOND IT'S WORTH. I HAVE HAD THE AXLE REPLACED TWICE AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN, EXTENDED WARRANTY AGAIN SAY'S THEY ARE DONE PAYING OUT ON THIS CAR EVEN THOUGH MY TIME OR MILEAGE IS NOT EXPIRED ON THE WARRANTY. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT FAILED TO START AND BECAUSE I HAD READ THIS WEB SITE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS CAR I KNEW TO WAIT 5-15 MIN AND TRY AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT SO FAR IT EVENTUALLY STARTS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON CREDIT JUST OVER A YEAR AGO TO GET A RELIABLE VEHICLE BECAUSE I WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK OUT OF MY CAR AND IT IS BECOMING A NIGHTMARE NO-ONE WILL WAKE ME UP FROM. AND BECAUSE I AM UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LO
2004 Saturn Ion complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE STEERING LIT UP AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED MY CAR AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE FOLLOWING DAY MY VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING). THE ESTIMATED COST OF JUST THE PART IS $1200. I DID NOT ASK ABOUT THE COST OF LABOR. I HAVE STARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT AND SOMETIMES THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT ON AND THE POWER STEERING WORKS FOR A FEW MINUTES. ULTIMATELY THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING FAILS AGAIN WITHIN 5 MINUTES. AT OTHER TIMES I HAVE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS NO POWER STEERING.AS I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED ON ITS OWN WHILE TRAVELING 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE THE STEERING HAS FAILED EVER TIME THE VEHICLE IS USED. I HAVE HAD NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER, INCLUDING THE SAFETY RISK, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,926.
WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I AM NO TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT IF IT KEEPS GOING OUT I DON'T WANT TO WRECK. I HAVE CALLED MANY MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING ME THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. TODAY IT HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. WHEN I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR IT WILL WORK FOR AWHILE. I HAVE SEEN MANY ARTICLES ABOUT THIS I FOR ME THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. NOW THAT SATURN IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS WHAT AM I TO DO? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,314.
THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING NEARLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS USED. IT FAILS WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. MAKING TURNS REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR CAN STILL BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, BUT ONE WOULD HARDLY CALL IT SAFE. *TR
THE LITANY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE VEHICLE IS LONG AND VARIED. MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, ETC.. GM AND SATURN KNEW OF THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES CONCERNING THE VTI TRANSMISSION, YET THEY CHOSE TO CONTINUE TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK BY DENYING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REAL WAY, IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT IS TO FULLY RECALL AND REPLACE THESE VEHICLES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN LATE 2003 AND CONTINUES TO BE A HAZARD. PLEASE FORCE GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BUT WOULD HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,343.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE LIGHT WENT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,354.
WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE I INSPECTED THE BELT- IT WAS INTACT- AND THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE- THERE WAS NO FLUID LOSS. STEERING THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE REQUIRED GREAT EFFORT. PROCEEDING ON THE ROAD, THE POWER ASSIST SEEMED TO RETURN. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE THE POWER ASSIST SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE WITH A SHARP LEFT TURN, BUT NOT AT ALL ON A SHARP RIGHT TURN. FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD, WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE POWER ASSIST SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. ALSO NORMAL POWER ASSIST WAS EXPERIENCE ON A LEFT TURN. I OPERATED THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MORE SHORT TRIPS, STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE- THE PROBLEM DID NOT REPEAT ITSELF, BUT I HAVE READ ONLINE AND IN NEWS REPORTS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER SATURN OWNERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME STIFF. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS RESET TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,817.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A WARNING BELL WOULD SOUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED IT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,383.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS CAREFULLY MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE A FAILURE IN WHICH IT WOULD NOT START. WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD SUCCESSFULLY START. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. CAR WOULD NOT START. A NEW KEY HAD TO BE CUT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2004 THE POWER STEERING LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD CAME ON WHILE I WAS ENGAGING IN A CURVE ON HIGHWAY 15, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE NO TO CRASH ON THE CONCRETE MIDDLE DIVIDER AND HAD TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE, STOP THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME FEW TIME PER YEAR OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS BUT NOW I AM AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR
POWER STEERING WENT OUT. STEERING GOT HARD TO TURN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AFTER THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD THEN BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUEVER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.
THE KEY OF MY SATURN ION WILL NOT COME OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IN PARK, THE KEY TURNS BACK TO OFF BUT WILL NOT COME OUT. THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITION SWITCH WE'VE HAD PUT IN THIS CAR, AND THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED SALVAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
2004 SATURN ION WITH 118K MILES. THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS BEGAN TO OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 90K MILES BUT GM REFUSED TO REPAIR. WHEN IT ORIGINALLY HAPPEN IT WOULD OCCUR ABOUT ONCE A MONTH BUT NOW HAS PROGRESSED TO A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. THE ON BOARD SCREEN NEXT TO GAUGES WILL SHOW "PWR STEER" AND BEEP LOUDLY. THIS MEANS THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT. CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED OR ROAD TYPE. CAR WILL BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE POWER STEERING BACK IS TO RESTART THE CAR BY TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. *KB
I HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 2004 SATURN SINCE DAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. TAKE TO DEALER AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY CAUSE THAT IS WHAT A MECH SAID TO DO NEED LARGER SIZE. LAST MONTH EVERY TIME NEVER FAILED YOU GET IN VEHICLE TURN KEY ON . SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO START, BUT NO YOU HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN THEN TURN KEY AND IT STARTS. COLD OR WARM WEATHER DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER. I WAS TOLD MAYBE STARTER! SO I TOOK IT TO A NEW MECHANIC THAT I HAD A DEALING WITH ON ANOTHER ISSUE DIFFERENT VEHICLE. HE DID TESTING AND REPLACED THE PASS LOCK KEY . SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ALARMING SYSTEM. SO KNOCK ON WOOD.. THIS LAST WEEK STARTS EVERYTIME ITS WORKING. TOTAL COST FOR PART IS 250.00 PLUS YOU NEED TO HAVE NEW KEY MADE AND CODED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY PLASTIC WINDSHIELD WIPER HINGE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. RK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE APPROXIMATELY 113,900.
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. I BOUGHT IN THE WINTER OF 2007. IT IMMEDIATELY PRESENTED WITH THE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING IN REALLY COLD WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BOUGHT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT HE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO WAIT UP TO 30 MINUTES FOR MY CAR TO START IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER. ABOUT 6 OR 8 MONTHS AGO THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN WHEN IT WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH, SOMETIMES THE KEY ALMOST COMING OUT TOTALLY BEFORE IT WILL TURN OVER. TODAY IT TOOK 15 MINUTES TO FINALLY GET IT UNLOCKED AND TURNED OVER TO START. *KB
ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING FAILS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME PEOPLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *KB
2004 SATURN ION 2 POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, AND ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK FILED REPORT 71948037911 AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 58,000.
2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH FAULTY IGNITION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES OR LONGER, BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED AN IGNITION HOUSING PROBLEM WAS COMMON WITH HER VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/23/11
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. I HAD MY TWO KIDS IN THE BACK AND DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP FROM GOING INTO THE OTHER LANE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT VIGOROUSLY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD MOMENTARILY INCREASE AND THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A WIRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND THE PWR STR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I SAFELY EXITED, I READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND IT SAID THIS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I WENT DIRECTLY TO A FIRESTONE DEALER BUT THEY WERE NEAR CLOSING AND COULD NOT PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTICS AND ASKED ME TO RETURN IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY RETURNED. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED GM TO RECALL OTHER GM VEHICLES IN MARCH 2010, BUT NOT THE SATURNS. WHILE THE PROBLEM MAY BE TEMPORARILY RESOLVED BY REPLACING 2 FUSES, THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR WHICH IS A RATHER EXPENSIVE ITEM. I BELIEVE THE SATURNS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL GM ISSUED. *TR
I OWN A SATURN ION 2004 AND I AM EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. GM RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE ALL SATURN IONS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS ISSUE. THE SATURN IONS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY RISK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3 COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE HARD AND DISPLAYED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. HE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,640.
MY 2004 SATURN ION IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT WHILE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT RESETS IT, AS IT IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND KEEPS GETTING WORSE. IT WILL TURN OFF ABOUT 10 TIMES IN A MILE ON AVERAGE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND IT HAS CAUSED 14 DEATHS IN OTHER INSTANCES. AFTER CALLING THE DEALER, THEY SAY IT IS NOT A RECALL, AND WILL NOT HELP ME OUT. A FEW GM CARS LIKE THE COBALT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN. I AM IN THE PROCESS TO FIND THE PARTSAND REPLACED THEM, BUT THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. HERE IS A LINK ON A DISCUSSION FORUM FOR THIS TOPIC. HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/1695/SATURN-ION-POWER-STEERING-ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY BECAME WEDGED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC YET THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING AND MOTOR MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HER POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON HER 2004 SATURN ION. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. APPARENTLY MY WIFE'S CAR HAS THE SAME STEERING AS THE CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE VERY SAME THING. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CONSUMERS THAT DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING THIS CAR AND THAT THEIR STEERING CAN GO OUT ON THEM AT ANY MOMENT? THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! *TR
THIS COMPLAIN HAS TO DO WITH A SATURN 2004 ION, MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL, IT WAS HARD TO MAKE LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, AS DRIVING WITH A STEERING WHEEL THAT IS HARD TO MOVE IS REALLY DANGEROUS. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING TO A FAR PLACE, BUT I HAVE BEEN ONLINE CHECKING THE RECALLS ON THE SATURN ION 2004, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY WILL NOT RECALL THESE CARS, I KNOW THAT IS A LOSS ON MONEY BUT HONESTLY IS GOING TO BE YOUR FAULT IF SOMEONE GETS HURTS WHILE DRIVING WITH DEFECTS ON THE SATURNS, THEY WILL BE SUED . SO DON'T THINK ABOUT THE MONEY , THINK ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE, SO IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPENED TO ME, I WILL SUED THIS COMPANY . *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN REVVING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE WENT UNDER HIS HOOD AND PLACED THE THROTTLE BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. IT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.
I JUST BROUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION 2 A COUPLE DAYS AGO. TODAY I GOT UP AND READY FOR WORK AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR AND STILL NOTHING BUT THE LIGHTS AND RADIO ETC COME ON. I WAS LOOKIN FOR A RELIABLE CAR TO GET ME AND MY SON BACK AND FORTH BEING AS THOUGH WE HAVE NO FAMILY THAT LIVES CLOSE BY;;; TURNS OUT I THINK I MIGHT HAVE MADE A WRONG DECISION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 WEEKS NOW AND IT ALREADY IS TURNING INTO A NIGHTMARE. I AM HESITANT ON PUTTING MY SON IN THIS CAR BECAUSE IF I DO GET IT TO TURN ON AND THIS HAPPENS AGAIN WHAT ARE WE TO DO? IT IS FREEZING OUTSIDE! *TR
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLD. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND KEEP UP ON THE MAINTENANCE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS MISINTERPRETING A THEFT AND LOCKING UP THE FUEL . I READ THAT CHANGING THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT SATURN (GM) HAS KNOWN OF THIS COMPLAINT FOR SOME TIME NOW. THEY HAVE A NEW IMPROVED PART TO REPLACE THIS BAD ONE BUT I DON'T FEEL IT IS WORTH $400.00+ TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT WHEN IT IS A QUICK FIX AND IT IS THEIR FAULT TO START WITH. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE COLD WAITING AND PRAYING FOR THE CAR TO START SO THAT I CAN GET TO WORK ON TIME AND BACK HOME. IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 42,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
WITHOUT NOTICE, THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL START AND RUN LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED TOO, BUT AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANTS WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN. THE BATTERY IS NOT DEAD, ALL THE LIGHTS, GAUGES AND HORN WILL WORK, BUT NO POWER GOES TO THE STARTER. AFTER A EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, TEN MINUTES OR MORE, THE CAR WILL START. THIS IS A RANDOM CONDITION, THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS OF WHEN IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS EITHER A GLITCH IN THE SECURITY PROGRAM OR THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GREASE IN THE STARTED SWITCH. *TR
MY 2004 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START ON MANY COLD MORNINGS. IT STARTED INITIALLY, I DROVE IT TO THE GAS STATION, THEN IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE BATTERY WAS FINE, BUT I REPLACED IT ANYWAY. THIS ISSUE PRESENTS IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS: TURN KEY AND GET NOTHING, OR TURN KEY AND HEAR AN INITIAL CRANK AND THEN IT SHUTS OFF. LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK. CAR WILL EVENTUALLY CRANK AND TURN OVER AFTER 10-20 MINUTES. *TR
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION2. AT FIRST, I ONLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING. IF I WOULD WAIT FOR ANY UNGIVEN LENGTH OF TIME, IT WOULD MAGICALLY START. NOW, MY KEY HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE IGNITION FOR TWO WEEKS. (STILL STUCK) I WENT TO A SATURN DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE SOLENOID, THE HOUSING UNIT, OR EVEN BOTH. I WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY MAY HAVE WORN DOWN, OR A PART IN THE HOUSING MAY HAVE SCRATCHED THE INNER SURFACE OF THE HOUSING CAUSING THE KEY TO BE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO THE "COLD" WEATHER ISN'T A FACTOR HERE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS WHO RIDE WITH ME EVERYDAY, AND I FEAR THAT WE WILL GET STRANDED IN GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE. IF MY CAR IS STOLEN BECAUSE THE KEY IS ALWAYS IN THE IGNITION, IF IT GETS STOLEN, WILL MY INSURANCE EVEN PAY FOR MY LOSS??? I THOUGHT SATURN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY GOOD WITH PROBLEMS INVOLVING THEIR AUTOMOBILES. I GUESS THAT IDEA ONLY APPLIED TO THEIR COMMERCIALS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS. GM CLAIMS THAT THE CAR CAN STILL BE DRIVEN WITH EXTRA EFFORT. THAT'S BULL!!!! I AM A 200 POUND 6FT TALL MAN. AND I CANNOT STEER THE CAR INTO INTO A DRIVE WAY TO EXIT THE ROADWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED WITH 96000 MILES ON IT. HOW DOES THE SORRY EXCUSE FOR A RECALL FROM GM HELP ME?!!!!! 10 YEAR OR 100K MILE. MY CAR NOW HAS 150K MILES ON IT. PLEASE MAKE GM DO A FULL RECALL ON THESE VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLES. *TR
I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 36 DEGREES THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE IGNITION LOCKS ME OUT UNTIL THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE RESETS AND I CAN TRY AGAIN. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY OTHERS EXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLVE OR RECALL BY GM, I HAVE BOUGHT A SMALL ELECTRICAL HEATER TO SET ON MY FLOOR BOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WARMS UP THE IGNITION INSIDE THE CAR AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. UNTIL I FOUND THIS SOLUTION I WAS LATE TO WORK, LATE FOR APPOINTMENTS AND ONCE STRANDED IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2004 Saturn Ion → · Every Ion year → · How the figures are calculated →