ON MORNINGS WHEN IT IS COLD AND HAS BEEN DURING THE NIGHT AS WELL, MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP IN ORDER FOR IT TO DIAGNOSE THE REASON IT IS NOT STARTING. THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE TBS THAT IS OUT ON THE NO CRANK, NO START FOR THE IGNITION. THE OLD PART IS STILL CURRENTLY IN MY CAR. *TR
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 →
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WEATHER BECAME EXTREMELY COLD SHE WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. SHE STARTED TO NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WAS TO PLACE A HOT TOWEL AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 162,000.
I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS, STOPPED TO GET GAS (CAR WAS WORKING FINE), WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE GAS STATION I HEARD THE WARNING CHIMES AND THE DASH FLASHED "PWR STR". IMMEDIATELY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY TURNS, BUT STILL POSSIBLE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A MINUTE, TURNED IT BACK ON. FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE STEERING FELT FINE AND I HAD NO WARNING CHIMES OR LIGHTS, THEN AS I PULLED OUT INTO THE STREET, THE CHIMES AND THE PWR STR WARNING CAME BACK AND I WAS ON MY OWN AGAIN. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND LATER IN THE EVENING TRIED TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST A FLUKE, BUT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED I IMMEDIATELY HAD THE WARNING. THIS JUST HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY SO I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. *TR
WHEN PARALLEL PARKING OR PARKING IN A CONVENTIONAL SPACE, STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT. AT FIRST IT WAS EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, NOW IT IS BECOMING MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A MONTH. IT LAST HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. WHILE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, IT IS A PROBLEM NONE THE LESS. TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER CRANKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT OR OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. ITS AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING WHEN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM RESULTING FROM RESISTANCE FROM A CURB, NOR IS IT FROM LACK OF THE VEHICLE MOVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN REVERSE AND BACKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. TYPICALLY COINCIDES WITH A FULL CRANK OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH I AM UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ON A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT OF DUPLICATION. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT TO BE AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I WAS TEACHING A FRIEND HOW TO DRIVE IN MY CAR, AND HE WAS SAYING THAT THE WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST GOING THROUGH THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A PERSON LEARNING TO DRIVE. SEEING HIM LABOR MORE OVER THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO GET IT TO TURN. I HAD HIM STOP THE CAR AND I SWITCHED WITH HIM. I STARTED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PARALLEL PARK. I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE AS HIM WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM WAS RE-DESIGNED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO START. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,641 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
I HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND MY STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD AFTER DRIVING FOR SO LONG AND IN THE MESSAGE CENTER PWR STR COMES ON. IN THE MORNING DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER MY CAR WILL NOT START AND WILL SAY SERVICE VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY; THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
I LIVE IN MINNESOTA WHEN THE TEMP DROPS BELOW 30 DEGREES MY 2004 SATURN ION2 WON"T START. THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING LAST WINTER, I HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THAT. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY LAST WINTER. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SATURN DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. USUALLY IT TAKES FROM 15MINUTES TO HALF A HOUR FOR CAR TO START. BUT TODAY WAS DIFFERENT WENT OUT TO START MY CAR BECAUSE THE TEMP WAS 28DEGREES THIS MORNING I TRIED TO START MY CAR FOR OVER A HOUR I WAS ALMOST LATE FOR WORK STILL NO START. THEN I TRIED STARTING MY CAR WHEN I GOT OFF WORK STILL NO START. I SPOKE WITH A COWORKER SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SHE REPLACED BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR AND HER DOES NOT START WHEN IT RAINS. WHY IS THERE NOTHING BEING DONE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS SOLD BY SATURN IT HAS GM PARTS. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS. *TR
2004 SATURN ION VTI TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PULLING OUT OF A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS A POORLY MADE GM PRODUCT; SATURN WAS AWARE OF IT, GM HAS BEEN AWARE. RECALLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RIP OFF THE BUYER WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT FAIL WITHIN 66,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY. THERE WILL BE NO MORE GM PURCHASES WITH MY DOLLARS. MY WORK IS WORTH A BETTER PRODUCT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ALARM SHUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 SATURN ION VIN# [XXX]. AND THE POWERSTEERING GAVE OUT 2 YEARS AGO A COUPLE TIMES BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL CAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND IT IS NOW IT DOES INTERMITTENTLY . I KNOW THE POWER STEERING FOR THE ION IS ALL ELECTRIC SO I LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT AND IN MY OPINION A DEFECT. IF YOU COULD PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CHECK INTO THIS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2004 SATURN ION WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING IN DRIVE WHILE TURNING ONTO THE FREEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD. NOTHING WAS DONE BECAUSE THEY WANT $5,000 TO FIX THE CAR. FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET NHTSA#10032327, STATES THAT SATURN GM WILL PAY 50% OF COST OF REPLACEMENT, SATURN DEALER WILL NOT HONOR SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO ALLOW THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO RESET INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OFF IN MY CAR. THE CAR WILL DING AND A MESSAGE WILL FLASH THEN ALL THE SUDDEN YOU CANT TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. *TR
CAN'T REMOVE KEY FROM SWITCH SATURN ION 04 CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF NOR CAN YOU REMOVE THE KEY HAD TO PULL THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT CAR OFF. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY A POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING A SPECIAL WARRANTY COVERAGE UP TO 100,000 MILES FOR THE POWER STEERING BUT THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
POWER STEERING IN 2004 SATURN ION INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND STAYS OFF UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. I AM A SMALL PERSON, I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THIS CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF ROADS TO RESTART CAR, OR I WILL EVEN RESTART THE CAR AT A STOPLIGHT IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE COSTLY REPAIRS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THEIR SATURN ION POWER STEERING. *TR
THE CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OR MOIST OUT. THIS IS WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY. BUT, IF YOU WAIT 15 TO 20 MINUTES IT WILL START WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STANDING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND REACHING FOR AN OBJECT IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE REAR LIFTGATE CAME DOWN ABRUPTLY ON HER HEAD AND SHOULDERS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE LIFTGATE AND IT WOULD NOT REMAIN UP IN THE OPEN POSITION WITHOUT HOLDING ONTO THE LIFTGATE MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,300. UPDATED 12/23/10*LJ UPDATED 01/04/11
CAR HAS 70000 MILES, POWER STEERING GOES ON AND OFF, INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. FUSES WERE REPLACED, THE MOTOR SEEMS TO BE BAD, AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER SATURN CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN MY 2004 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME APPEARED. I LOST POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN MY VEHICLE AROUND AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. I IMMEDIATELY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY IN PLACE FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE REPAIRED BUT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES (118,000) IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD ONLY BE LIABLE FOR ONE HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FULL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
CAR PARKED BESIDE BUSY THOROUGHARE OVERNIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHEET METAL PART FORMED INTO A RECTANGLE SHAPE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL AND THE FRAME WORKING AS A TYPE OF ARM TO CONNECT THE WHEEL TO THE FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART CORRODED AND THAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE PART AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE DEALER AND THE POLICE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 45000.
MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. IT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE LAKE ONE DAY AND WAS DRIVING DOWN A CURVY ROAD AN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT! IT TOOK ALL THAT I HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL SO I WOULD NOT GO OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN THE HILLS SIDE! THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AFTER A LOT OF TURNING. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF THAT IT WILL RESET IT'S SELF, BUT THIS IS STILL VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. A WEEK AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING THAT IF I HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT IT COULD BE FIXED AT ANY GM DEALER, BUT WHEN I MADE MY APPOINTMENT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE MY CAR IS PRIOR SALVAGED AND THIS IS NOT A RECALL! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS IT WILL COST $600 TO $1000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ECONOMY IS BAD ENOUGH WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY OR NEED TO BE PAYING FOR GM'S MISTAKES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AN IT NEEDS TO BE TAKING CARE OF! *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND HEARD A CHIME SOUND. THIS WAS AROUND 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE AFTER THAT. NOW I HAVE ABOUT 123,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR MY SATURN ION BUT NO RECALL. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHEVY COBALTS HAVE THE SAME PART , BUT THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,020.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE HEARD A CHIMING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. HE LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND STATED THAT HE CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH DIFFICULTY TO HIS DESTINATION. FOUR HOURS LATER HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED. HE HAD TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE VEHICLE TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON THE WAY HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WITH OTHER 2004 IONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
SATURN NOTIFIED ME IN AUGUST OF 2010 THAT THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TO 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILES. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PART WENT OUT A FEW YEARS AGO AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO. MY CAR IS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES. HAD I BEEN INFORMED BEFORE THE INTITIAL WARRANTY RAN OUT, I WOULD'VE HAD IT FIXED. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT AND SOUND POPS UP ON DASH. POWER STEERING GOES OUT. VERY SCARY. AT HIGHWAY SPEED NOT TOO BAD UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO EVADE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. AT LOW SPEED VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER TURNS OR AROUND OBJECTS IN THE ROAD INCLUDING CHILDREN AND PETS. TURN CAR OFF, TURN BACK ON AND STEERING RETURNS FOR A WHILE AND THEN HAPPEN AGAIN, AND AGAIN. *TR
AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER IN THE STREET OR A CAR WASH, THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON, IT WON'T START. YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO START IT UNTIL THERE IS NO NOISE AT ALL EXCEPT FROM THE DASH BOARD. LET IT SIT FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES AND THEN IT WILL START AGAIN, AT LEAST UNTIL ANOTHER RAIN STORM OR CAR WASH. HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN PARKING LOTS, AT HOME BEFORE WORK, AND MANY OTHER TIMES. I JUST HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS IN AN EMERGENCY. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THREE OF THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS NOT OPENING OR CLOSING, INCLUDING THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE DRIVER WINDOW BEING STUCK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AT THE BANK, DRIVE THRUS, AND COULDN'T ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO COOL THE CAR OFF. ALL THREE WINDOWS WERE NOT WORKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WINDOW'S START WORKING AGAIN. THE POWER STEERING WHICH IS POWERED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WOULD HEAR A ?DING,? THE DASH BOARD WOULD READ ?POWER STEERING? AND THEN IT WOULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR. COOLANT LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL, THE TEMP IS RIGHT, AND FLOAT IS WORKING. THE DEALER WANTED $350 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK. I SAID FORGET IT AND PUT UP THE CONSTANT ?DING? FROM THE DASH BOARD EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR. IF SOMETHING SHOULD EVER REALLY GO WRONG WITH IT, I WOULDN'T KNOW. THERE APPEARS TO BE A HUGE NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS WITH SATURN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 10 MPH, CAUSING LIMITED ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD RESET ITSELF AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
MY 2004 SATURN ION WILL NOT START ON COLD DAYS. I LIVE IN VERMONT SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF COLD DAYS. IT USUALLY TAKES ME ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO1/2 HOUR TO GET IT STARTED, IF IT STARTS. WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS I HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUNNING SO THE ENGINE WILL WARM UP BECAUSE IF I DON'T I HAVE TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE! EVERYONE I'VE BROUGHT IT TO DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT COULD DEFINITELY DO WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM! *TR
POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN 2004 SATURN ION AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (2008). TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $1000. COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND BEGAN LOOKING ONLINE FOR OTHER ALTERNATIVE. FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED SATURN BY PHONE, MAIL, SIGNED PETITIONS. NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. RECENTLY FOUND OUT GM RECALLED THE SAME PART FOR THE CHEVY COBALT, BUT NOT SATURN. FINALLY SEEN WHERE YOU COULD TAKE THE SATURN IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. I FOUND OUT ONLINE, SATURN NEVER SENT ME NOTIFICATION. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID I HAD 2,000 MILES OVER WHAT THE "SPECIAL WARRANTY" WOULD COVER. CONTACTED THEY SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY OPENED AN INVESTIGATION AND CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO THE 2,000 MILES AND WHEN I ASKED FOR SOMEONE HIGHER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOWHERE HIGHER THIS WAS GM'S FINAL DECISION BUT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THIS WAS A HAZARD. I ASKED AGAIN FOR A SUPERVISOR OR ANYONE ELSE HIGHER THAN HER SHE AGAIN SAID THERE WAS NO ONE HIGHER AND THIS WAS GM'S FINAL DECISION AND REMAINED ON THE LINE SILENT THEN FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE CALL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN REFUSE TO LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE HIGHER AND FURTHERMORE REFUSE TO COVER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
WHILE DRIVING FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES, THE CAR DINGED AND THE PWR STR LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE WHEEL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL AND WAS CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND SHE HAD TO HOLD ON TO THE SHIFTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUAL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE LOCAL MECHANICS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HAS REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT SHE NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO LOCKED IN GEAR AND SHE COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT 9,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THIRTY SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS NEVER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CONTACT WOULD NOT PAY $500.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
THE KEY IN THE IGNITION OF THE SATURN ION 2004 WILL NOT COME OUT AND THE CAR CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF . JUST LAST MONTH THE KEY WOULD NOT FO INTO THE IGNITION OR START THE CAR. BROUGHT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP HAD TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER PUT IN A MONTH AGO. TODAY I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION HOUSING. THIS IS NOT JUST MY CAR. 90 % OF THE 2004 AND 2006 HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IF NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY THE CAR COULD OVERHEAT .AND EVEN CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY STOPS WHILE DRIVING. INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES IT'LL STOP 5 SECONDS AFTER DRIVING, SOMETIMES IT'LL WORK FOR A FULL HOUR DRIVE. I ALMOST GOT INTO A COUPLE BAD INCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION . WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING CHIME SOUND ALERTED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A USED STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHEN THE CHIME ALERTED HIM AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THERE WERE FRONT END DAMAGES AND NO INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67000.
1) MY SON DROVE OUR 2004 SATURN ION3 OFF THE ROAD WHEREIN THE FRONT OF THE CAR HIT A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH (ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTICS FROM THE ON BOARD COMPUTER). 2) THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. 3) GM WAS QUERIED AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. GM PROVIDED THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS OF THE INCIDENT BUT DID NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER/EXPLANATION DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. *TR
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS TOO COLD, MY CAR DOES NOT START. I EITHER HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TO START THE IGNITION EVERY 5 MINUTES AND THEN IN HALF AN HOUR IT STARTS OR I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE SUN COMES OUT FOR MY CAR TO START. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW AND I ONLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM FROM NOVEMBER-FEBRUARY. THESE ARE THE COLDEST MONTHS AND EVERY MORNING DURING THESE MONTHS I HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START MY VEHICLE. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE RENDERS VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND JUST PLAIN DANGEROUS. MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON 3 OCCASIONS THIS WEEK AND WOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, ANYWHERE FROM TWO MINUTES TO TWENTY MINUTES LATER, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND DOES NOT CORRECT UNTIL THE ENGINE IS RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY,UP TO 5 TIMES A DAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AND THEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FUSES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 POWER STEERING KEEPS ON FAILING. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON IT AGAIN AND IT WORKS AGAIN. IT APPEARS FROM THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND THAT THE COBALT WITH THE EXACT SAME STEERING COLUMN AND ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS RECALLED BUT THE ION WAS NOT. THIS IS SCARY WHEN DRIVING AND YOUR POWER STEERING JUST GOES OUT. IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE ON ME AND IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY. *TR
SATURN ION 2004 2.2LTR L4 WITH 28K MILES. AFTER DRVING 3 OR 4 BLOCKS ONLY, "PWR STR" INDICATOR LIGHTED UP ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE STEERING GOT REALLY HARD, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. THIS HAD HAPPENED LIKE 1 OR 2 YEARS BEFORE WHILE DRIVING IN MY PARKING, BUT IT WAS GONE THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO REPORTED FAILURES OF POWER STEERING LOSS IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. MY VEHICLE'S 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT APPEARS QUITE FREQUENTLY. I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECK OUT OVER A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. FOR A YEAR, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP. LAST NIGHT, MIDWAY AROUND A BEND, MY VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND STRAIGHTENED MY WHEEL- PUTTING ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I COULD HAVE DIED AND KILLED ANOTHER DRIVER. THIS MORNING, AFTER CALLING AROUND TO DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS AND DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL IS UNDER EVALUATION FOR A RECALL CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING. THIS "EVALUATION" WAS ONLY RECENTLY STARTED THIS PAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PUBLIC WARNINGS AND GM IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. MANY DRIVERS ARE DRIVING WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING FIXED BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TAG OF THE REPAIR AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR A RECALL REGARDING SATURN IONS?! THE DEATH OF A SATURN DRIVER? THIS IS BECOMING ABSURD AND I BELIEVE WORSE THAN THE TOYOTA ORDEAL. THEY ARE SWEEPING THE ISSUE UNDER A RUG, ALONG WITH OUR MONEY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SAFETY OF SATURN DRIVERS' LIVES. I HAVE BEEN CONVERSING WITH OTHER SATURN DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, WE ARE FURIOUS AND PARANOID THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME WE MAY DIE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SEVERE LEAK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CEILING ON ONE OCCASION YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 545 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION (RED LINE). IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE THAT MONTH AND DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL JUNE OF THIS YEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT (OVER 90 DEGREES). OTHER THAN THAT, THERE IS NO SET CIRCUMSTANCE. IT CAN JUST GO OUT AT ANY TIME. I CONTACTED SATURN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, BUT THE WAY THE CAR IS MADE, THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE THE PART, BUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WOULD COST BETWEEN 700.00 AND 800.00 BEFORE LABOR. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM ON SATURNS PART AND THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU TAKE THESE COMPLAINTS INTO CONSIDERATION. *TR
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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.
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