2005 Saturn Ion complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11014 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OFF WAS WHEN WE WERE ENTERING A HIGHWAY. THE ELECTRIC ALARM WENT OFF AND THEN I FOUND THE STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. IT WAS DANGEROUS AND VERY HARD TO PULL OVER WHEN CARS BEHIND ARE ACCELERATING TO GET INTO THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AFTER A RESTART, EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY. THEN ON OUR WAY BACK HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED FOR 4 OR 5 TIMES. WE HAD TO DRIVE IN THE RIGHT LANE AT A LOW SPEED TO GIVE OURSELVES ENOUGH SPACE FOR SAFTY. *TR

MY 2005 SATURN ION WILL NOT START WHEN IT'S COLD, I REPLACED THE STARTER, I REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, I WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED. I CUT THE WHITE WIRE AFTER ROLL STARTING AS MY CAR IS A MANUAL AND TAPED OFF WIRES, CAR NOW STARTS ANYTIME I NEED IT TO, GM / SATURN NEED TO RECALL THIS ISSUE AND QUIT BEING CHEAP AND FIX THERE MISTAKES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON THIS CAR REPEATEDLY FAILS. AS SOON AS YOU START THE CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR. *KB

I HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROX. 2 HOURS OF A 11 HOUR TRIP WHEN I SAW A MESSAGE REPLACE THE ODOMETER ABOUT THE POWER STEERING. I LEFT I95 USING EXIT 98 AND PULLED OVER IN A GAS STATION. THE MANUAL STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS ELECTRIC, SO NO STEERING FLUID TO CHECK. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MAGICALLY THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND MY TRIP ODOMETER WAS MAGICALLY SET TO ZERO. I DROVE AROUND THE FRONTAGE ROAD AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. 22 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE NEXT EXIT, SHUT THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED IT AND MAGICALLY AGAIN IT WAS FIXED WITH NO RESET OF THE TRIP ODOMETER. AGAIN I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN 23 MILES LATER, AT WHICH POINT I REPEATED THE STOPPING/RESTARTING PROCEDURE AND TURNED AROUND HEADED FOR HOME. WHILE DRIVING HOME IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES, THEN ONCE MORE IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I WAS BACKING UP. SO A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES WITHIN A 5 HOUR PERIOD AND NO PRIOR HISTORY (SINCE I'VE OWNED IT) OF THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER MAY 28 2011 WITH APPROX. 46500 MILES. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM I'VE HAD IS THE KEY NOT WANTING TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AFTER I'VE TURNED THE CAR OFF; AFTER I PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE THEN BACK INTO PARK, THE KEY WILL COME OUT; SOMETIMES I CAN HEAR A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXES ITSELF AND THEN THE KEY WILL COME OUT, ALSO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

ON 6/13/11, WHEN I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK I STARTED MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY MY PWRSTR MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND COULD NOT HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP CAUSE I RECEIVED A BULLETIN LETTER. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 6/14/11, THEY SAID THEY PUT IN A NEW PS MOTOR. ON 11/6/11 THE PWR STR CAME UP AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THEM ON 11/7/11, THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND COST WAS $897.WHICH THEY SAID THEY REPLACED. ON 11/15/11, THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED AND COULD NOT STEER THE WHEEL. THIS IS AFTER SUPPOSEDLY THEY REPLACED THE PS MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN. GOING BACK TODAY 11/16/11, TO SEE WHAT CRAP THEY ARE GOING TO TELL ME.WHY DOES THIS KEEP ON HAPPENING?? GM NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOT PUT A BAND AID ON IT, BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS, AND EVIDENTLY THEY ARE NOT. BY THE WAY HOW DO I KNOW THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE REPAIRS, IF THE PROBLEM KEEPS COMING BACK AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR IS SO MEAN. PLEASE HELP!! THERE IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND WE & ARE FAMILIES ARE BEING PUT AT RISK EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN ION AT 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM SOUNDED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED POWER STEERING FAILURE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND RAISED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE FUSES. THE FUSES WERE GOOD, SO I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING DISPLAY WAS CLEAR. I DROVE A FEW MORE MILES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON SATURN ION AND OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR MANY DRIVERS WHEN THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING! IT IS HARDER TO STEER THE SLOWER YOU DRIVE. *TR

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. PWR STR MESSAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND AT A STAND STILL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED A MECHANIC WHO REFERRED HER TO NHTSA BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE OF WHAT THE FAILURE WAS. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,484.

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING. *TR

LOST OF POWER STEERING STARTED SOME TIME IN 2009,I HAVE NO RECORD OF THE DATE,BUT IN ONE OF THE INCIDENTS 06/10/2011 I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE DASHBOARD SHOWING THE DATE AND MESSAGE ON THE SPEEDOMETER. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPEN TO GET IT BACK TO POWER STEERING .THEN I HAD A SITUATION WHEN I LOST SPEED AS I WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY AVENUE. THE CAR LOST SPEED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 35 MPH,IT MADE A ALARM OR WARNING SOUND AND DROP DOWN TO 10MPH AND I COULD NOT GET BACK TO 35MPH,I STOP THE CAR AND I RESTARTED THE ENGINE,THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD RECOVER THE POWER ON THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENS TWO OR THREE TIMES IN ONE MONTH. *TR

MY POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND I LOOSE POWERSTEERING. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND I HAVE STEERING AGAIN. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN LIKE ONCE A WEEK, NOW IT HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY. *TR

I HAVE A SATURN ION 05 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING ONCE ALREADY AND NOW HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. ALSO THE TURN SIGNAL ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE ONLY WORKS WHEN MY HAZARDS OR HEAD LAMPS ARE ON HAVE TESTED ALL FUSES AND REPLACED BULB TWICE THIS IS A COMMOM COMPLAINT WHY ISNT IT BEING FIXED? *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. TWO YEARS AGO THE IGNITION WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECCURRED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

MY 2005 ION LOST POWER STEERING AT 45MPH. PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF THEN IT CAME BACK. BEEN HEARING REPORTS THAT HIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF THESE CARS. REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AS IT SEEM TO BE EXPENSIVE. IF I HAD KNOWN, I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. HOPE A RECALL IS ON IT, CAUSE THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN A CORNER THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING DID NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CORNER. THIS RESULTED IN STRIKING THE MEDIAN AND A TREE LEAVING ME FACING ON COMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC.

SATURN 2005 ION 3 WITH INTERMITTENT LOW POWER LIGHT AND FUNCTION AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING.AFTER TURNING CAR OFF TURN BACK ON AND LIGHT FOR LOW POWER OFF AND POWER STEERING LIGHT OFF RESUMES NORMALLY...HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE, CONTACTED SATURN AND TO GO TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH HAVE HAD IN PAST WITH NO CODES??/SHOULDN'T BE MY EXPENSE AND RECALL FOR MY MODEL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

KEY CAN GET STUCK IN IGNITION OF SATURN ION CARS. ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN BUT KEY WILL NOT EJECT FROM IGNITION. TO RELEASE KEY IT IS REQUIRED TO POP OPEN IGNITION COLUMN AND PRESS COMPRESSION SWITCH TO RELEASE KEY. THIS ALSO CAUSES INTERIOR LIGHTS TO TURN ON, EVEN IF CAR IS OFF. TRIGGERING THE ANTI-LEFT SYSTEM. THE THEFT SYSTEM USING THE LIGHTING TO DETERMINE IF THE DOORS HAVE OPENED. SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ON IONS FROM 2003-2007. BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE 2008. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DEACTIVATE AT ANY TIME. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF; THE KEY HAS TO BE SHAKEN SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 46,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM REMOVING THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,159.

ALERT SOUNDS ALONG WITH "PWR STR" MESSAGE. POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS OCCURRED DURING BOTH CITY AND INTERSTATE DRIVING. SEEMS MORE FREQUENT IN WARMER WEATHER. POWER STEERING RESETS AND WORKS FINE WHEN CAR IS SWITCHED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. MECHANIC CHECKED ON THE ISSUE AND FOUND THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM TO BE FAULTY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,060 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. .UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGED.UPDATED 09/26/11

JUNE 12-MY CAR RECEIVED COMPLIMENTARY MAINTENANCE. AT WHICH POINT, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE BODY CONTROL WAS REPLACED. AFTER MOVING OVER 1800 MILES, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. JUNE 16-HAD IT SERVICED AGAIN AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE CAR HAD BEEN DAMAGED DURING SERVICING AT DEALERSHIP ( DROPPED OFF FOOT JACK AND DAMAGED RADIATOR AND AC CONDENSER). JUNE 17-AFTER COMMUTING 80 MILES AND THE PASSING OF 9 HOURS, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THEN AFTER 3 HOURS, IT STARTED ( AS I WAS IN AN UNFAMILIAR LOCATION). JUNE 21-ITS 8 AM AND I AM ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT STARTED 3 HOURS LATER, RIDING IN ANTI-THEFT MODE. LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND HAD TO GET A RENTAL. JUNE 24- PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ISSUE AND ASSUMED THAT IT HAD BEEN ABSOLVED. JUNE 30- 7 AM. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR 4 HOURS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ISSUE. MY CAR HAS YET TO BE FIXED AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN A NUMBER OF UNFAMILIAR PLACES. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE POWER OF THE CAR COMES ON, BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT COMMUNICATE TO COME ON. *TR

I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWERSTEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE IS BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY. CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER STATED THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. HAVE APPT WITH DEALER ON THURSDAY FOR REPAIR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE TWICE AN ON REGULAR ROADWAYS TWICE IN LAST MONTH. HAVE APPROX. 70,000 ON CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE CONTACT HAS TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE POWER STEERING AND THE DEALER STATED THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME I STOP MY CAR AND TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY, IT STAYS LOCKED IN THE ACC POSITION. SOMETIMES I CAN NOT EVEN TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN FF THE ENGINE AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE SWITCH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,227.

POWER STEERING STOPS DURING DRIVING. WARNING CHIMES COME ON AND PWR STRNG MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN ODOMETER WINDOW. IT FIRST OCCURRED 5/20/11 AND HAS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. OFTEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE DAYS IT HAPPENS (5 X YESTERDAY 5/29/11ALONE) BUT SO FAR NOT EVERY DAY . IT HAPPENS UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS (NEVER THE SAME) (CITY, HWY, HOT, WARM, COLD ETC.) *TR

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO GO BACK TO THE 'LOCK' POSITION WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER JIGGLING THE KEY IT WOULD EVENTUALLY COME OUT - UNTIL THIS PAST SUNDAY WHEN THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN AT ALL AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TO REMOVE THE IGNITION FUSE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $390 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME HOW IT WOULD BE FIXED BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY IGNITIONS DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A WEB-SITE (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML) WITH 88 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. GENERAL MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR OVER 5 YEARS (AT LEAST) AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RE-CALL NOTICE. HOW MANY CONSUMERS DOES IT TAKE TO GET THEM TO BE A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY? I CONTACTED GM AND VOICED MY CONCERN. THE TWO INDIVIDUALS I SPOKE TO WERE RATHER SNIPPY. THEY WERE ALSO LESS THAN CORDIAL WHEN THEY SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP - WANTING TO KNOW WHY I WAS GIVEN THEIR PHONE NUMBER. I TOLD GM THAT I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THIS HAS BEEN AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN LINE AND THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT SO MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS WHY HAVEN'T YOU ISSUED A RE-CALL. THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'WE CAN'T ACCEPT THIRD PARTY DOCUMENTATION

IT WAS ABOUT 25 F AT ABOUT 8 AM VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR CRANK. THE PASS LOCK LIGHT CAME ON, WHICH WHEN I RESEARCHED SAID THAT I WAS STARTING WITH THE WRONG KEY. UPON MUCH MORE RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 2003-2006 ION. AFTER MANY IGNITION SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AND EVEN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD RECUR. THE BEST SOLUTION I FOUND CAME FROM AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC. BE SURE THE IGNITION IS OFF. HE SAID TO SPRAY LPS ELECTRO CONTACT CLEANER (ANY PURE ALCOHOL CONTACT CLEANER WILL WORK) INTO THE IGNITION. SATURATE IT. WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO DRY THEN SPRAY SEA FOAM DEEP CREEP PENETRANT AND LUBRICANT INTO IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WORKED FOR 2 YEARS FOR ME. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS PAST MARCH OF 2011. I REPEATED THIS PROCESS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE. THIS WORKS BY CLEANING OUT THE OLD STIFF LUBRICANT GM USED DURING MANUFACTURE AND PUTTING IN A LIGHTER LUBRICANT. TOTAL COST FOR BOTH SPRAYS WAS UNDER $20.

EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: UPON ENGAGING THE CLUTCH (PRESSING ON THE PEDAL AS USUAL) I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK NOISE AND THE PEDAL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR VERY EASILY. DATE/TIME/PLACE OF FAILURE: ON 4-19-2011 AT 9:20 AM WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT. THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DUE TO A BRACKET OR SOME OTHER PART OF THE ASSEMBLY'S BREAKAGE. THIS BRACKET HOLDS A PISTON IN PROPER PLACE TO ACTUATE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AS THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE BRACKET IS BROKEN, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE FULLY, IF AT ALL. I HAVE TEMPORARILY PLACED DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE WHERE THE BRACKET USED TO BE ON THE PEDAL SO THAT THE PISTON ROD CAN REMAIN SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO ITS ORIGINAL MOUNTED POSITION - SO THAT I MAY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR - PRESUMABLY DUE TO THE PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. THIS BRACKETS FAILURE PRESENTS A LOSS OF CONTROL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER; WHEN COMING TO A STOP EARLIER TODAY, I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP - WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHIN A 5 TO 10 MINUTE TIMEFRAME, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD TO TURN BACK AND FORTH. CAR GOT DOES THIS ONCE IN A WHILE.

2005 SATURN ION, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY I NEED TO PUSH A BUTTON UNDERNEATH AND INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, IT PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING AND DRAINS THE BATTERY, I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN ONE YEAR. *TR

POWER STEERING MESSAGE COMES ON AND CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER. IF I STOP AND RESTART THE CAR THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK. AT FIRST THIS HAPPENED ONCE EVERY FEW WEEKS. NOW IT IS BECOMING A DAILY OCCURRENCE; EVEN MORE THAN ONCE PER DAY. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SATURN IONS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT INHERITED SATURNS TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO BE SERVICED YET. *TR

2005 SATURN ION .88 K MILES.SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. FUSES REPLACED. RESETS ITSELF WITH RESTART BUT RECURS FREQUENTLY. VERY HARD TO STEER AND DANGEROUS WHEN OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED BUT THEY DENY A GENERAL RECALL. NOT HELPFUL. THE VIN IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION AND WHEN ITS COLD, CAR WON'T START. THE PASSLOCK ILLUMINATES AND SOMETIMES TAKES 30 MINUTES TO RESTART. I HAVE SPENT OVER $700 TRYING TO FIX IT LIKE CHANGING IGNITION AND STARTER AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE BEEN LATE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR WORK AND WAS STRANDED THE OTHER NIGHT FOR 30 MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN MINUS 20 DEGREE WEATHER. ( THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.) I AM FED UP AND CAN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR

2005 SATURN ION I POWER STEERING RECALL I HAD THE RECALL NOTICE - CALLED SATURN OF COOL SPRINGS - AND THEY POINT BLANK ASKED "IS IT DOING IT NOW" I SAID "NO" AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT". ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, A LIGHT (A WARNING LIGHT) CAME ON MY DASH, THEY NEXT THING I KNOW THE STEERING JERKED AND I CROSSED OVER 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL HEAD ON. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING AS IT WAS LOCKED. GM STATES THE RECALL IS FOR ONLY GOING AT LOW RATES OF SPEED - I THINK THAT IS A COP OUT FROM GM. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2005 SATURN ION JUST SHUT OFF ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING. IT NOW SHUTS OFF AT LEAST ONCE PER TRIP. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. WE HAVE ALREADY TRIED REPLACING THE FUSE AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

2005 SATURN ION. FRONT AND BACK BLINKERS WILL NOT BLINK. I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS AND ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INSPECTABLE BECAUSE IT HAS TO HAVE ALL LIGHTS WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH AN AUTO MECHANIC/ELECTRICIAN FOR OVER 2 WEEKS NOW AND IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND UNACCEPTABLE. SATURN HAS TO FIND A WAY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION. NOT ONLY HAVE I HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SATURN AND THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING REPAIR PARTS, BUT TO FIND SOMEONE WILLING TO WORK ON THEM IS NOT EASY EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING EXPENSE THAT APPEARS TO BE NEVER ENDING . THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROADS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED AND UNKNOWING EVENTS OF WHEN AND WHAT WILL MALFUNCTION AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I ALSO FEEL THAT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REFUNDED TO EACH CUSTOMER AS AN "ALLOWANCE" TO PUT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A SAFER VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO THE FULLEST BY THE NHTSA IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NO AIRBAGS CAME OUT OF A INBACK ON PASSENGER DOOR OR ANYWHERE IN THE CAR. *TR

TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH INSTRUMENT PANEL *DINGED* THE PWR STR* CAME UPON THE PANEL. AT THAT TIME I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE TRAVELING FULL SPEED AND HAD A HARD TIME PULLING OFF THE EXIT. ONCE OFF THE EXIT CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 HOURS.

PASSLOCK LIGHT BLINKING VEHICLE WILL NOT START IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BELOW 30 F REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE EGRESS IS NEEDED FROM AREA. *TR

CAR WONT ALWAYS START, HAVE TO WAIT 10-20 MINUTES FOR IT TO START AND NOT ALL OF US HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, PEOPLE HAVE PLACES TO BE, THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS AND HAS NOW HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN ONE WEEK AND THE CAR SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE OTHER DAY AS WELL AS GETTING STUCK FOR 20 MINUTES IN THE COLD AT THE GAS STATION WAITING FOR IT TO START. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE AND THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL IS RIDICULOUS! HAVE READ SO MANY DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHAT TO REPLACE AND I DON'T WANT TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON POINTLESS PARTS!! *TR

IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 29 DEGREES, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. PASSLOCK LIGHT WAS BLINKING FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN STOPPED. AFTER THAT, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR KIT AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON 1/9/10 THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50-55MPH DURING A RAIN STORM CAUSING THE WIPERS TO BECOME ENTANGLED. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND THE PART WAS PLACED BY THE APPROPRIATE SATURN WIPER TRANSMISSION, WHICH FAILED ON 1/18/11 UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS.

LEFT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK EVEN WITH NEW BULB. *TR