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 2006 record →
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING THROUGH INDIANA ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN A NOTIFICATION SOUNDED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO LOCK UP AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MANEUVER. WE CHANGED THE FUSE IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL BOX, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND THE POWER STEERING DISABLES WHILE DRIVING. *TR
ON JUNE 21, 2013 PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN ENGINE OFF. KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO REMOVE KEY BUT COULD NOT. CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. IN ORDER TO TURN CAR OFF HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE PLUG FROM THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE EVERYTHING ELSE CONTINUE TO RUN AND KILL THE BATTERY. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE KEY IGNITION BUT NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START. SEEMS LIKE ITS AN ELECTRICAL OR SECURITY PROBLEM WITHIN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. CAR IS STILL IN SHOP WITH MECHANIC HOPING TO GET IT STARTED. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE THRUWAY. I STOPPED AT THE NEXT REST AREA AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE MORE ON MY TRIP DOWN AND THREE TIMES ON MY WAY BACK HOME, FOR A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. STEERING WAS VERY HARD AT LOW SPEEDS AND I ALMOST HIT THE WALL TO A PARKING GARAGE WHEN I STOPPED AT A REST AREA. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED AND STEERING BECAME HEAVY. I HAD TO USE LOT OF FORCE TO PULL OVER. I CALLED FOR HELP THEY RESTARTED THE CAR AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. IT CAME BACK AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND THE DAY AFTER. ITS CONSISTENTLY COMES AND GOES. *TR
I HAVE A SEVERE GAS LEAK IN MY CAR. THE GAS SMELL WAS FAINT AT FIRST. THEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR IN MORNINGS OR EVENINGS. THEN THE GAS BECAME UNBEARABLE & YOU COULD SEE A CONSTANT DRIP OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. I FELT SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT THAT I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST PLACE. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FUEL PUMP. I CALLED SATURN & THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME $100 TO SEE IF IT'S THE ACTUAL "SPECIAL POLICY" THAT'S ON MY CAR. *TR
KEY BECAME STUCK IN IGNITION. COULD NOT REMOVE, CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. EMERGENCY IGNITION RELEASE DID NOT WORK. TOOK CAR TO AUTHORIZED GM DEALER, WAS TOLD THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND HOUSING HAD FALLEN APART AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT IT IS FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH THIS CAR MODEL. TOTAL REPAIR COST $569.97. *TR
IN AUGUST OF 2008 AT APPX 37000 MILES, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED IN THE 'RUN' POSITION. SINCE THE CAR WAS A MANUAL, I STALLED IT OUT AND CALLED A LOCKSMITH, WHO COULD NOT REMOVE OR TURN THE KEY EITHER. HE DISCONNECTED THE CAR FROM THE BATTERY SO THAT IT WOULD NOT DRAIN DUE TO THE ACCESSORIES STILL BEING ACTIVE. HE TOLD ME HOW TO RECONNECT THE BATTERY SO THAT I COULD DRIVE IN FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL YESTERDAY (JUNE 2013) AT APPX 100000 MILES. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN BEYOND THE ACCESSORIES POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, KEY POSITIONS, CLUTCH POSITIONS, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO A REPAIR CENTER. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAULTY IGNITION PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE FROM BOTH SIDES (COULDN'T TURN OFF AND COULDN'T TURN ON). *TR
MY SATURN ION HAS HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION AND OR THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE 29,000 MILES .IT CURRENTLY HAS 143,000 MILES AND HAS ISSUES ONCE AGAIN. EACH TIME EITHER THE KEY WOULD CLICK BACK ONLY ONE NOTCH AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF AT ALL DUE TO THE KEY BEING "FROZEN" IN THE CYLINDER OR THE KEY WOULD NOT SPRING BACK FROM THE STARTING POSITION TO THE RUN POSITION THUS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AFTER CAR STARTED. THE LAST DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO GM AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR OTHER CAR OWNERS BEFORE, BUT WITH NO RESULT. EACH TIME IT HAS COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $350. TO $700.00 NOT INCLUDING TOWING AND RENTING OF AN ALTERNATE VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TECHNICALLY NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND RECALLED SO IT DOES NOT BECOME ONE WHEN A LITTLE KID CLIMBS INTO A CAR THAT CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF OR THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF IT WILL RETURN. IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND INTERMITTENT. *TR
THE IGNITION WOULDNT TURN OFF, THE KEY CAME OUT, LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING. I TRIED WIGGLING THE KEY, CHECKING THE SHIFTER, EVERYTHING, THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IVE SEEN AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, GM IS LOOSING A LOT OF BUSINESS DUE TO NOT SOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED OR RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE BATTERY AND FUEL SENSOR WAS DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO POWER THE VEHICLE OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WORKED FINE. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE/MORE FREQUENT. I CAN HEAR A CLICK WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2 UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS 5/6/13. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT MOVE. THE IGNITION WAS LOCKED. I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE ION. I DROVE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I PAID $292.68 FOR A NEW IGNITION LOCK AND IGNITION CYLINDER. I SEE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE YET AT NO POINT DID GM NOTIFY ME OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM NOR OFFER TO FIX IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE REMAINED POWERED ON AND THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT A WIRE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,117.
THE KEY STICKS IN IGNITION AND THE CAR CAN'T BE TURNED OFF UNLESS THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED OR THE FUEL PUMP IS DISCONNECTED. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE AVERAGE USER, LIKE MYSELF, WHO ISN'T AWARE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE POSES THE RISK OF BEING SHOCKED OR BURNED TRYING TO TURN OFF THE CAR. *TR
MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE FREEWAY, SHE CALLED ME HYSTERICAL. SHE COULDN'T STEER THE CAR. SOMEONE HELPED HER PUSH IT TO THE SIDE. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD WHAT HAPPENED WAS VER RARE AND DANGEROUS. MY MAINTENACE PERSONEL WHO HAS WORKED FOR BMW FOR 17 YEARS SAYS HE'S ONLY SEEN THIS ONCE IN HIS LIFE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO FH DAILEY IN SAN LEANDRO, AND THE TOTAL COST WAS $965.00 A FEW DAYS LATER MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY HORN WOULDN'T BLOW NOR WOULD MY CRUISE CONTROL WORK. AGAIN I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED I WASN'T GOING TO TAKE THE CHANCE AND DRIVE IT WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. THE COST FOR THAT REPAIR WAS $172.57 I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE $240 BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY LOWER. I'VE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RE-CALL. I AM ASKING FOR A FULL REFUND. *TR
2006 SATURN ION MANUAL TRANS. KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. TO TURN CAR OFF, NEED TO STALL ENGINE (POP CLUTCH), THEN DISCONNECT BATTERY SINCE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS REMAIN ON. REPAIR WAS IGNITION LOCK REPLACEMENT BY DEALER (APPROX $400). BASED ON COMMENTS AT NHTSA AND OTHER SITES, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE TYPE. *TR
ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CAR HAS HAD MOMENTS WHEN IT WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I MAY ACCELERATE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ONE DAY I'M JUST DRIVING DOWN A PARKWAY AT ABOUT 40MPH, AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE RADIO STAYED ON BUT THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. LUCKILY NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME AT THAT POINT. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAID IT MAY BE THE BATTERY. WE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THAT DIDN'T STOP THE PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY, I PULLED OUT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN, AT THAT MOMENT, MORE THAN 10MPH AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WITH CARS RAPIDLY SPEEDING UP ON ME AND MY CAR NOT MOVING. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION REGARDING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS CRASH, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
THE POWER STEERING STARTED GOING OUT END OF DEC 2012, THE OUTAGE OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTH INCREASED UNTIL IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. USUALLY WITHIN 10 MINUTES. *TR
MY KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT TURN WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. I HAD TO PULL THE FUEL INJECTOR FUSE AND DISCONNECT MY BATTERY TO TURN THE CAR OFF. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT TONS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR IGNITION CYLINDERS. I BELIEVE SINCE THIS IS SUCH AN EXPENSIVE AND COMMON PROBLEM, THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL MADE ON THIS PART. *TR
MY SON LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR HITTING A POLE HEAD ON AND THEN THE CAR SPUN THREE TIMES IN A 360 AND THEN A 180... AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND HE AND THE PASSENGER ARE BADLY INJURED. THE AIR BAGS COULD HAVE SAVED THEM FROM SEVERAL INJURIES... *TR
MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD IT HAS TO WARM UP BEFORE IT WILL START RIGHT UP NOW WHEN IT IS WARM OUT SIDE NOT COLD IT STARTS RIGHT UP. THEN MY KEY GOT STUCK IN THE ON POSITION AND COULD NOT CUT THE CAR OFF. HAD TO LOOK ON GOOGLE FOR OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED HE WAS ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 02/14/13*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THAT A FOREIGN OBJECT HAD BECOME FRACTURED INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION 2.2. THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON DECEMBER 14TH I WAS GOING ABOUT 45MPH. THE THIRD TIME IT WENT OUT I WAS GOING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FIRST TIME I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD BE $61.00 TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR. I DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTRA CASH AT THAT TIME SO I DECIDED TO WAIT. ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2012, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN THAT DAY. THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. ON MY WAY TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY JANUARY 2, 2013 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST $61.00 TO HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC RAN. I FEEL AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO OTHER ACTION BECAUSE I CAN NOT KEEP DRIVING THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION. I, HOWEVER, DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WHEN GM KNOWS THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING. I FEEL THAT THE CONSUMER IS BEING TAKEN BY GM. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED GM VEHICLES BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE MY LAST ONE. I REALIZE THAT MY CAR HAS OVER 70,000 MILE ON IT BUT IF GM KNOWS THERE ARE ISSUES THEN WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO READ OTHER POSTS THAT STATES THIS COULD ALSO BE ELECTRICAL. IF GM KNOWS THAT IT MAYBE ELECTRICAL THEN WHY ARE THEY NOT TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS THAT I OWNED THIS CAR I HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION REPLACED 5 TIMES. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME IN T
KEY LOCKS UP IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION. KEY IS STUCK AND WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION. TO GET KEY OUT CAR MUST BE TURNED TO ON POSITION AND BACK OFF AGAIN. FRIENDS OF OURS ALSO HAD A SATURN ION FROM 2005 AND THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE KEY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO START THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF (SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES) TO GET THE KEY OUT. OUR WORRY IS THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BECOME MORE EXTREME AND DANGEROUS WHERE WE CANNOT TURN THE CAR OFF (AS I HAVE READ IN OTHER COMPLAINTS) AS WELL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO EVENTUALLY FREE THE KEY. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO INITIATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BEGAN EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE PWR SRG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING SEIZED. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD TOWED TO GARAGE WHERE I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE POWER ASSIST MOTOR. *TR
PUT THE KEY IN AND NOW IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF....HAD TO PULL FUSE...KEY WILL NOT TURN BACK AND CAN NOT GET IT OUT. *TR
WHEN I TRY TO TAKE OUT MY KEY I CAN NOT REMOVE IT. I AM ABLE TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR, BUT THEN THE KEY IS STUCK IN THAT POSITION AND I CAN NOT REMOVE IT. I AM CONCERN THAT THEY KEY COULD STICK IN THE POSITION WHERE THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING OR THAT IT WON'T COME OUT AT ALL.. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO STAY IN MY CAR FOR 2-3 MINUTES, SO THAT I CAN REMOVE THE KEY. I KNOW I CAN REMOVE THE KEY WHEN THE CAR MAKES A CERTAIN SOUND. IT IS A SOFT CLICK, AS IF SOMETHING IS RELEASED. IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO THE WHEN YOU UNLOCK YOUR CAR DOORS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH, BUT QUIETER. THE KEY STICKS 1-2 TIMES/WEEK AT LEAST. (I USE MY CAR TWICE A DAY, TO AND FROM WORK, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AT THE TIME IT HAD MAYBE 40,000 MILES. NOW IT HAS 82000 MILES. *TR
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND DRIVEN VERY LITTLE. PROTECTED IN CLOSED IN GARAGE. DROVE TO COLORADO SPRINGS FOR VACATION AND WENT TO VISIT RELATIVES. PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF RELATIVE HOME AND THE KEY COULDN'T BE TURNED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A NEIGHBOR OF MY RELATIVES THAT NEW HOW TO SHUT IT OFF BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY CABLES. TO START THE CAR THE CABLES HAD TO BE HOOKED BACK UP. DROVE TO FERGUSON BUICK GMC IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND THEY CHECKED IT. THE TUMBLER CAME APART, WON'T TURN OFF , REPLACED IGNITION LOCK. WAS CHARGED FOR HOUSING KIT (15857948), CODE CYL, CYLINDER KIT (20869121), LABOR AND COST OF PARTS TOTALLED $614.22. WITH ONLY 16, 607 MILES FROM 2006 TO 2012 THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. TODAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012, I WENT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH AND MESSAGE ABOUT STEERING OFF TRAC KEEPS FLASHING AND IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT STEERING FLUID, BRAKES AND THE LIGHTS WERE GOING CRAZY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SO I DROVE IT BACK INTO MY GARAGE. COULDN'T DRIVE IT LIKE THAT. NOW WHAT IS WRONG. THIS VEHILCE HAS BEEN PAID FOR SINCE 2008 AND ONLY HAS 19, 000 MILES ON IT. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME THIS VEHICLE AS A SURPRISE AND LITTLE DID HE KNOW HE WOULD GET PANCREATIC CANCER THE FOLLOWING YEAR. HE WANTED ME TO HAVE A DEPENDABLE EXTRA VEHICLE. I CANNOT KEEP PAYING MONEY TO FIX A VEHICLE THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. MAY GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE. I WOULDN'T FEEL IN GOOD CONSCIOUS TO EVEN SELL IT TO ANYO
NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AFTER DRIVING AND WHEN PARKED COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER. DEALER FOUND A FRACTURE IN THE PLASTIC HOSE OF THE FUEL PUMP, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM IN OTHER STATES BUT MY STATE WAS NOT INCLUDED. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE. A FUEL LEAK IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
2006 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FUEL LEAK. *SMD THE CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HIS SISTER, WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE GAS LEAK WAS ABOVE THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE MECHANIC DROPPED THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR HOSE. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP WITH A GM PUMP. *JB
SYNOPSIS: MY SATURN ION EXPERIENCED A POWER STEERING FAILURE FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY. GM DECLINED TO REPLACE THE STEERING MOTOR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MILEAGE EXCEEDED ITS "SPECIAL COVERAGE" LIMIT BY 9,000 MILES. EVENT: I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROADWAY, ELEVATION 9,000 FEET, AT ABOUT 35 M.P.H. WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDED IN MY 2006 SATURN ION. THE DASHBOARD NOTED A "POWER STEERING FAILURE," WHICH I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE, AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TURN IT LESS THAN A CENTIMETER IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER SO I PARKED THE CAR IN THE LANE, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE WARNING WENT AWAY. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING BECAUSE OF WHERE I WAS. THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WITHIN 25 MINUTES DURING MY DRIVE BEFORE I WAS OFF THE MOUNTAIN. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE NOTED I WAS IN CONSTANT FEAR OF ANOTHER FAILURE AS I DROVE THE WINDING DOWNHILL ROAD WHERE QUICK STEERING WAS REQUIRED. IN JUNE 2012, GM MAILED ME NOTIFICATION THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN "SPECIAL COVERAGE" BULLETIN 10187-2, BUT THAT BULLETIN STATES: "DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO YOUR GM DEALER AS A RESULT OF THIS LETTER UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS THE CONDITION AS DESCRIBED." I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, O'RIELLY CHEVROLET, AND TOOK THE CAR IN THE MOMENT THE DEALER OPENED. GM ASSIGNED ME CASE NUMBER [XXX], AND ULTIMATELY DECLINED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR OR OFFER COST ASSISTANCE B
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT ASKED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP), BUT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,900.
AFTER SMELLING GAS I PARKED MY CAR AND DISCOVERED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM MY CAR. SATURN ADMITTED THAT THE FAULTY PART WAS THEIR FAULT, BUT INFORMED ME THAT I HAD GONE OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE AND CLAIMED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AT THAT TIME. IF THEIR PART WAS DEFECTIVE AS THEY STATED I FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE NO MATTER WHAT! I ALSO FEEL THAT THE LIVES OF ME AND MY FAMILY WERE IN DANGER!! *TR
MY DAUGHTER'S CAR STARTED TO LEAK FUEL. WE TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND WERE TOLD IT IS A "FREQUENT" PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMPS ON SATURNS. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. UPON A "GOOGLE" SEARCH I FOUND AN EXISTING RECALL BUT ONLY FOR CERTAIN STATES???? WE LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WERE NOT A STATE THAT IS COVERED BY THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND THE RECALL SHOULD BE REVISED TO SUCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY AREA CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,002.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AFTER WAITING TEN MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FAULTY ANTI THEFT PASS LOCK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET IT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. HAD IT REPAIRED ON 08/28/2012 AND HAPPENED AGAIN ON 10/20/2012. *TR
POWER STEERING REPEATEDLY SHOWS UP ON THE DASH AND THE POWER STEERING DOES SEEM TIGHT AND ITS A LOUD CLUNK WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FOURTH SLOWLY. ITS COMMON AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL IN SOME STATES A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT THIS PAID FOR AND ITS 1200 TO FIX. *TR
I HAVE HAD A SLIGHT PROBLEM WITH MY SATURN ION SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT FROM MY DEALERSHIP. THE KEY WILL GET STUCK EVERY OTHER TIME I HAVE TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF. IT WAS A MINOR INCONVENIENCE AT THE MOST. BUT YESTERDAY I HAD MY KEY GET STUCK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING! I HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED AND PULL A FUSE JUST TO GET IT TO SHUT OFF. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND FOUND OUT IT IS MOST LIKELY THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SATURN IONS DOING THIS I WAS SHOCKED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. I AM FRUSTRATED AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYING IT WILL BE $90 JUST TO LOOK AT IT, AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE. ONLINE I HAVE SEEN THAT THE AVERAGE COST PAID TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS $300-$500. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND MORE OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY IF THIS IS CLEARLY THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT? IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS I WILL HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN PEOPLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE KEY HAD BECOME STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE OFF HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOCK ASSEMBLY AND THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,459. UPDATED 12/11/12*LJ UPDATED 12/1212
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE RESERVOIR LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL MODULE AND PLASTIC RESERVOIR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,752. UPDATED 11/27/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS CRACKED FUEL LINES AT THE FUEL MODULE AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT, THE RECALL WAS NOT HONORED BECAUSE OF THE STATE THE VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED IN. THE LOCAL DEALER WOULD CHARGE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD BE OVER $1000. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 12/11/2012 *JS
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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