2003 SATURN ION Vehicle Speed Control Problems

DRIVING ON STAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY CAR STARTED SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH MADE MY DRIVER SIDE CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGHT THE CAR HIT THE WALL SO HARD THAT IT CRACKED MY RADIATOR, MY CAR THEN SHUT OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON

Mileage: 170,000

TAKATA RECALLS..I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION I WAS DRIVING FINE HIT CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON ONCE I WAS AT 55 AN MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND STARTED JERKING LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS COMING ON...I'VE TURNED CAR OFF HIT BRAKES WHICH SHOULD RESET IT BUT IT STILL HAPPENS..THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS DOWN SHIFTING AN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON THE RPMS HUMP REAL HIGH WEN THIS HAPPENS..YOU BE DRIVING DOING 50 MPH AN ALL THE SUDDEN CAR JERKS LIKE ITS TRYING TO STOP U FEEL I T IN GAS PEDAL ALSO...

Mileage: 114,575

ACCELERATOR CAR SPEEDS UP ON ITS ON WHEN I AM DRIVING ON IT'S OWN. RPS GETTING TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL CANT HARDLY STOP CAR

Mileage: 171,127

I WAS DRIVING MY SATURN TONIGHT AND NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AND RPMS WOULD STAY ELEVATED. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-40MPH. I WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION AND IT SIMPLY DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT, LIKE IT WAS PULLING FORWARD. THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNS RED AND I START TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE RESISTING AND IT WAS TAKING A LOT MORE PRESSURE THAN USUAL TO SLOW DOWN. MY CAR WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I WAS GOING ~5MPH RIGHT UP TO THE CROSSWALK. THE CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY LURCHING FORWARD AND STILL, WASN'T COMING TO A STOP. THE RPMS WERE REVVING AND I WAS ABLE TO REACT IN TIME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, KEEP BRAKING, AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF RIGHT BEFORE THINGS WOULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. I KEPT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT ON, AND IT WOULD SHOOT UP IMMEDIATELY TO 4000 RPM. I DIDN'T TRUST THE CAR AT ALL AT THIS POINT AND SAT IN -18 DEGREE WEATHER PROCESSING WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND WHAT TO DO NEXT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I HEARD WHAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL RELEASING OR POPPING BACK UP IN PLACE. THERE WAS NOTHING IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON TO CAUSE IT TO STICK. TERRIFYING. *TR

Mileage: 144,000

COMING TO A STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALARMS AND LIGHTS WENT OFF, THE CAR LOST POWERING AND WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR FINALLY WHEN THE GEAR ENGAGED IT WOULD ONLY STAY IN FIRST GEAR. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY AND GET SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. *TR

Mileage: 136,000

THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IS REALLY SCARY! THE GAS PEDAL STICKING IT GETS REALLY STIFF AND DOESNT WANT TO STOP . THE ONE TIME I WAS GOING 25 MPH AND IT WOULDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO SLAM IT IN PARK AND THE RPMS GOT UP TO 4 . IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT . IT IS NOT LETTING UP AND I AM SCARED FOR MY SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 111,000

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND SHIFT GEARS STRANGELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A WARNING ABOUT THE POWER STEERING. IT DID FEEL A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO DRIVE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION HAD COME UP INSTEAD OF POWER STEERING. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE WHO SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE. ONCE CHECKED, ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF AND CAR DROVE NORMALLY. HAPPENED AGAIN IN MARCH, LOST POWER STEERING FOR A FEW MILES BEFORE IT CAME BACK. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STAYED ON FOR A DAY, AND THEN TURNED OFF. SEARCHED ONLINE FOR OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND FOUND OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS COMPLAINING OF SAME THING, ONLY IT APPLIED TO 2004 AND LATER. MY 2003 IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS THEIR'S. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. REPLACING THE TPS CURED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BOULEVARD, I WAS DOING 40 MPH THERE WAS A POLICE CAR IN FRONT AND THERE WAS MAYBE ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTH DISTANCE FROM HIM. THE LIGHT HIT YELLOW AND I SAW HIM BRAKE SO I STARTED BRAKING AS WELL BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED INCREASING, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP. MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE POLICE CAR WITHIN SECONDS. MY CAR WAS DESTROYED. MY HOOD WAS BENT IN HALF, MY FRONT BUMPER SCRATCHED & PEELED. THE BUMPER STOOD ON THE CAR ONLY BECAUSE I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT IN AN ANGLE WHERE IT WENT UNDER THE COPS CAR. BOTH MY SIDE FENDERS CRACKED AND MY FRONT LIGHT WAS DESTROYED. THE WHOLE CAR FRAME IS DESTROYED AND I WAS HELD AT FAULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. MY INSURANCE WENT UP, I DIDN'T GET NO MONEY TO HELP FIX MY CAR NOR CHECK THE PROBLEM. IF THERE IS WAY I CAN GET ANY TYPE OF HELP I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE IT. 5 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT WAS PARKED. IT WAS JUST ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I LEFT IT PARKED FOR A WEEK AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS FINE. IM SCARED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YRS AND HAVE HAS MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE VEHICLE REVVING AND SPEEDING UP WITHOUT EVER HITTING THE GAS. WHEN THIS OCCURS I HAVE REACHED SPEEDS OVER 25MPH WITHOUT EVER HITTING THE GAS PEDAL WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION. USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN I START THE VEHICLE INITIALLY BUT HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ALSO. THE RPM'S WILL GO HIGH AND IF I PUT IN GEAR THE CAR WILL JUST TAKE OFF. IT SOMETIMES WILL REV DOWN AFTER IDLING FOR A FEW MINUTES OR IF I SHUT OFF AND RESTART AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES. WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING I HAVE HAD TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO A STOP AND SHUT CAR DOWN. THIS IS JUST A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION ALTOGETHER, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 163,000

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 2-3YRS, THE CAR WAS TURNED ON AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 3,500RPM WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. IF I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN (UP TO 25MPH). I'VE HAD MULTIPLE AUTO SHOPS INSPECT AND TRY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT NONE CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER RESTARTING BUT ONLY FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC CLEANED THE THROTTLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, WITH NO CRUISE CONTROL OPTION, IT'S UNSOLVED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE WORKS WHILE IT'S HAPPENING, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, THE MOST RECENT TIME I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, I COULD SMELL THE TRANSMISSION, I TURNED VEHICLE OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WENT TO OVER 5 RPM STILL, TURNED BACK OFF, SAT AND WAITED, IT WAS 2AM SO I COULDN'T CALL ANYONE. AFTER 10 MINUTES IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THAT WAS THE MOST SEVERE, IT'S HAD SLIGHTLY SIMILAR ISSUES AT LEAST 4 TIMES. FIRST MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, THEN I TOLD HIM I WAS LEAVING SINCE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL. DON'T WANT HIM WORKING ON IT. 2ND ONE RAN COMPUTER CHECK, NO ISSUE FOUND. HOPEFULLY GM RECALLS THIS BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE. THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY ISSUES ME AND MY FATHER COULD FIX, IGNITION SWITCH, WIPER BLADE TRANSMISSION, COOLANT LIGHT BUT THIS ONE ISN'T EASY. *TR

Mileage: 133,000

THE GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN PRESSED MORE THAN ROUGHLY 50% OF THROTTLE (~I.E. ACCELERATING TO MERGE OR PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE). WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL, I NOTICED THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I USED THE BRAKE AND STILL COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THEN I PROCEEDED TO REACH WITH MY HAND TO PULL UP THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I COULD NOT. AT THIS POINT, FACING AN IMMINENT CRASH INCIDENT, I QUICKLY TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND LET THE CAR ROLL TO A STOP. I THEN PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP BY HAND AND IT DID NOT WORK. RPMS WERE STILL RUNNING HIGH UNTIL FINALLY AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30 SECONDS, I HEARD A 'POP' AND THE GAS PEDAL CAME OUT. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY, AS LONG AS I DON'T PRESS THE PEDAL DOWN TOO FAR. *TR

Mileage: 112,650

WHEN ACCELERATING TO 35 MPH, MY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FASTER. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY JUST ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO BARELY MAKE IT SAFELY INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR IMMEDIATELY. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING MY CAR AND IMMEDIATELY IT STARTED REVVING AND SPEEDING FORWARD. I THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR FOR GOOD AND CALLED AAA. WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE, APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING OFF MY CAR, I COULD HEAR THE ACCELERATOR RELEASE. THERE WAS NO MAT IN THE WAY BUT IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNAL IN THE CAR MAKING THE ACCELERATE STICK. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THAT TURN INTO THAT PARKING LOT WHEN I DID AND THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS COMING THE OTHER WAY BEFORE I MADE THAT TURN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RPMS RACED EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLAM THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

THE CAR WILL BE RUNNING JUST FINE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATES AND WANTS TO GO FAST. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. THEN THE ACCELERATION STOPS BY ITSELF AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS MISSING A GEAR. IT DOES THIS PROBABLY ABOUT 2 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, MANUALLY DEPRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON AND PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE HAD FROZE IN ACCELERATION MODE AND DISCONNECTED THE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,051.

Mileage: 80,051

WHEN IT IS COLD I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WILL IDLE UP TO 4 AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WILL GO REAL FAST EVEN WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE IT IS HARD TO STOP BECAUSE IT JUST WANTS TO GO. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY AT 60 MPH FOR APPROX 2 HOURS. WHEN FOOT WAS OFF GAS, CAR WOULD MAINTAIN SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH. EXITED ONTO EXIT RAMP ON RIGHT. EXIT RAMP WAS APPROX 0.4 MILES LONG, SNOW COVERED, AND UPHILL. APPLIED THE BRAKE ON & OFF WHILE APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP, CAR SLOWED TO APPROX 20 MPH WITH BRAKE FULLY PRESSED. RPM'S WERE APPROX 4,000 WITH BRAKE FULLY PRESSED. CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING WITH BRAKE FULLY PRESSED. COULDN'T STOP, BUT WAS ABLE TO TURN LEFT AND CROSS BRIDGE OVER HIGHWAY. TRIED PUTTING FOOT UNDER GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK DOWN, BUT IT WAS NOT DOWN. CONTINUOUSLY TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR TO BELOW 20 MPH EVEN WITH BRAKE FULLY PRESSED. ROADS WERE SNOW COVERED. WENT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 MILES ON PRAIRIEVIEW RD. NO CARS WERE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT ON PRAIRIEVIEW AS I APPROACHED. FULLY PRESSED AND HELD DOWN BRAKE RIGHT BEFORE COMING TO RED STOPLIGHT ON PRAIRIEVIEW RD & OAK ST/US-150. CAR WOULD STILL NOT GO BELOW 15-20MPH. TURNED RIGHT TO AVOID CROSSING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND BEGAN SPINNING ON THE SNOW. BRAKE WAS STILL FULLY PRESSED DOWN BUT ACCELERATING AT 3,000 RPM. CAR DID TWO 360'S ON OAK ST/US-150 CROSSING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WENT INTO DITCH ON LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING, CAME OUT OF THE DITCH AND BACK INTO ANOTHER 360 ON OAK ST/US-150. THEN CAR WENT INTO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR HIT WOODEN SIGN IN GROUND IN DITCH, KNOCKED IT DOWN, AND RAN IT OVER. CAR DROVE ANOTHER 20-30 FEET IN DITCH AND GOT STUCK IN BOTTOM OF DITCH. BREAK WAS FULLY PRESSED THE ENTIRE TIME CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. WHEN CAR BECAME STUCK IN DITCH, RPMS WERE STILL AT 3,000. WITH CAR IN PARK IT CONTINUED ACCELERATING AT 3,000 RPMS. TURNED CAR OFF. 5 HOURS LATER BEFORE CAR WAS TOWED, TURNED CAR BACK ON AND RPMS WERE STILL HOLDING ABOVE 2,000 - HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THIS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALER, 2003 SATURN ION HAD CONTINUOUS HIGH ENGINE IDLE AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE(PCM) COMPUTER RESET IT SELF. SATURN DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE BY RE-PROGRAMMING THE PCM( 10/21/10) AS PER A ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN OF 4/2004 . THIS DID NOT WORK. THEN THEY ADVISED A SPRING IN THROTTLE BODY (ENGINE) WAS BAD AND REPLACED SPRING ( 10/28/10). THIS ALSO DID NOT WORK, ENGINE STILL HAS HIGH IDLE AND I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK ON 11/2/10 TO THE SERVICE DEALER.. SERVICE DEALER THEN HOOKED UP CAR TO COMPUTER AND HAS SER TECH DRIVE VEHICLE FOR OVER 25 MILES, 2 TIMES ; AND THENFOUND ANOTHER PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER HAD A SHORT AND CAUSED A BURNED OUT COMPONENT IN THE COMPUTER. SINCE THE SATURN IS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCES, THE COMPUTER WHICH MUST BE REPLACED IS ON BACK ORDER; AND UNKNOWN WHEN PART WILL ARRIVE. THE SATURN SERVICE DEALER ( INGERSOLL AUTO IN DANBURY CT) ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AS IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE THE COMPUTER CONTROLS NOT ONLY THE ENGINE BUT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. AT THIS TIME UNKNOWN WHEN A PART WILL ARRIVE AS IT IS ON BACK ORDER. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PERSON WHO ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER. I BELIEVE THAT GM/SATURN HAS HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS PROBLEM PRIOR; AND AS OTHER OWNERS OF SATURNS ARE HAVING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM THEN GM SHOULD BE MAKING REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THIS COMPUTER MORE AVAILABLE TO SATURN OWNERS. INGERSOLL AUTO IN DANBURY CT HAS ADVISED ME THAT THEY DO NOTKNOW WHEN THE REPLACEMENT COMPUTER WILL BE AVAILABLE AS THERE IS NO PART AVAILABLE IN THE ENTIRE USA. PART WILL HAVE TO BE MADE BY GM AND UNKNOWN WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. SO MY 2003 SATURN ION MUST BE LEFT AT THE DEALER UNTIL A REPLACEMENT COMPUTER IS SENT BY GM , SO MY CAR CAN BE REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 93,254

THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS THIS IS A FREQUENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM PROBLEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE THE CAR WON'T START. EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND CATCHES, ONLY TO STALL. UPON REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR THERE WILL BE NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH; TWICE CAUSING ME TO BE LATE FOR PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS. UPON REPORTING THE PROBLEM TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEIR STAFF HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. THIS HAS BEEN THEIR GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS SEVERAL ISSUES I'VE HAD WITH MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY CAN'T FIND A THING WRONG WITH IT. SATURN SEEMS TO BE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY THE RESULT OF A POOR DESIGN SOMEWHERE ON THEIR PART. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 80 000 KM, AND NOW NEED TO REPLACE STRUTS. I AM HESITANT TO DO THIS THOUGH, AS THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG SATURN ION OWNERS IS THAT BUSHINGS AND STRUTS ARE IN PERPETUAL NEED OF REPLACEMENT ON THESE CARS. AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS MOST PEOPLE FIND THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME REPAIRS AGAIN WITHIN 2 YEARS. FURTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH MY CAR ARE: TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEY, REPLACED WIRES ON BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS AND ONE HEADLIGHT, KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION, ERRATIC TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR (I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT I JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT), SEAT BELT GUIDES BROKEN (FRONT, BOTH SIDES), REAR SEAT BELT "FEMALE" COMPONENT FALLS INTO CREVICE IN SEAT, PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT BUMPER WITHOUT BEING CHIPPED PRIOR, AND A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS HAS TURNED UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE ION OWNERS COMMUNITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE HEATER IS OPERATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE EXTREMELY HIGH. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE FALL OF 2006. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES, THEN NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,300.

Mileage: 33,000

I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR 4 TIMES SINCE I GOT IT IN MAY 2003. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CAR WILL REV AND/OR ACCELERATE (SOMETIMES IN PARK, SOMETIMES IN DRIVE) ON ITS OWN. IT HAS ACCELERATED, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WITH MY TODDLER IN THE CAR. IT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING, & SATURN HAS TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY EACH TIME. THE THROTTLE IS REPLACED EACH TIME, BUT THERE IS A RECURRENT PATTERN EVERY 4-6 MONTHS, AS SHOWN ON RECORD WITH SATURN. I WAS TOLD BY SATURN THAT THEY INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE, ONLY FINDING IT IN ONE OTHER CAR. BEING AS THAT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED WITH THE OTHER CAR, & BEING AS MY CAR WAS JUST FIXED AGAIN, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. TAKEN FOR REPAIR TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME, BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED EVEN AFTER THE COMPUTER HAD BEEN RESET.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS WHEN IT HIT THE OTHER CAR IN FRONT. PUT FOOT ON BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AND IT SURGE FORWARD. *BF *NM

Mileage: 25,000

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. OWNER WAS DRIVING AND HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AT A FOUR WAY STOP. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 3,000 RPM AND SURGED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

Mileage: 28,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK OPENED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. *TC *JB

Mileage: 3,501

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN SURGED FORWARD. *AK

Mileage: 7,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM 5 TO 20 MILES ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB THE DRIVER HAS ELECTRICAL WINDOWS AND LOCKS FAILED. THE WINDOW WOULD ROLL UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD DO THE SAME. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THESE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO OCCURRED AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE DRIVER HAS INFORMED THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND GOING DOWN A HILL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 5,000 RPM'S AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL TWENTY SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE PEDAL. *AK

Mileage: 18,500

THROTTLE FROZE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS WITHOUT CONSUMER FIRST PAYING FOR IT. ALSO, HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE COVERED WITH A FILM THAT MADE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT.*AK ON 3-7-04 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE GAS BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE THEN ROLLED OVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN DOUBLE WHIPLASH AND LEFT SHOULDER MUSCLE SPASMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. ON 6-16-04 THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. *NM

Mileage: 49,000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING VEHICLE WOULD BOG DOWN AND STALL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *MR

Mileage: 90

CONSUMER FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS THE HORNS BUTTON WHEN NEEDED DUE TO ITS LOCATION. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WARN OTHER MOTORIST IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. ALSO, WHEN ACCELERATING ON WET SURFACE TIRES WILL SPIN BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. *AK

Mileage: 10

THE TWO SATURN 2003 IONS I HAVE DRIVEN (INCLUDING MY CURRENT VEHICLE) HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHERE, WHEN ENGAGING IN THIRD GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL "FREEWHEEL" FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING WITH A LURCH. THE PROBLEM CAN BE CREATED BY ACCELERATING AROUND A CORNER WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD. THE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED IN MARCH/APRIL, 2003. *AK

Mileage: 10,600

I BOUGHT A SATURN ION IN EARLY AUGUST OF 2003. I HAVE HAD 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT ON ME AND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR WHAT SO EVER! THE LATEST TIME WAS AT THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WITH AN EIGHT WHEELER TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND ME. HAD I NOT THOUGHT QUICK AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE CAR OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT IT THE REAR BY A SEVERAL TON VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE ENTIRE POWER TO THE CAR DIES !! THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AND YOU THE ENTIRE CAR "SHUTS DOWN" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR W/ ONLY THE PRAYER OF RESTARTING YOUR SATURN ION SO THAT YOU ARE NOT KILLED! THE FIRST PERSON I SPOKE WITH IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HE HAD HEARD OF THIS IN A "COUPLE OF OTHER CARS" THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE "FIRST SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT." I AM OUTRAGED THAT SATURN SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THE CAR TO "DUPLICATE" THIS PROBLEM FOR THEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY OR EVEN EVERY WEEK. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "WE CAN'T FIX WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS BROKEN" I AM GOING TO ASK THAT THE CAR BE RETURNED TO GMAC WHICH IS THE LEAN HOLDER! I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MYSELF AND MY SMALL CHILDREN. "I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM PURCHASING THE SATURN ION !!!! I FEEL AS IF I HAVE BEEN RIDING IN A DEATH TRAP!! *LA OUTRAGED UNFORTUNATE SATURN OWNER OF WINSTON-SALEM. *LA

Mileage: 5,100

I BOUGHT A SATURN ION 3 ON JULY 11, 2003. MY CAR'S ACCELERATOR HAS BASICALLY NOT WORKED AND MY CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY DIED ON THREE OCCASIONS -- ONE OF THEM ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO REPAIRS THREE TIMES TO SATURN PENSACOLA AND SATURN HAS FAILED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" MY CONCERN. I AM MAINLY CONCERNED WITH GETTING THIS CAR FIXED OR IF IT IS NOT FIXABLE FOR ME TO GET A REPLACEMENT CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS AROUND ME! THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR TERMS OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. SATURN CORP REP DIANE WANTS ME TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SATURN FACILITY MYSELF TO GET THIS CAR FIXED. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE THE NEXT NEAREST FACILITY IS OVER 60 MILES AWAY! THEY REFUSE TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO MOBILE OR MONTGOMERY. AND, THEY REFUSED TO LOAN ME A CAR OR TOW MY CAR TO THE PENSACOLA SERVICE CENTER WHEN MY CAR DIED THE SECOND TIME ON SEPT. 13. THE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" AND TREATMENT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY SATURN CORP AND THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY POOR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS A LEMON AS WELL AS THE BETTTER BUSINESS BUREAU, NHTSA, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, GENERAL MOTORS (WHO OWNS SATURN), ETC. I FEEL EXTREMELY LET DOWN BY SATURN BECAUSE I OWNED A SATURN PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS EXTREMELY LOYAL TO THE VEHICLE. A CO-WORKER AT MY JOB IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HER 2003 ION. IN FACT, I WANTED SATURN TO COMPARE MY SATURN ISSUE TO MY CO-WORKER'S ISSUE (WHO IS BRINGING HER CAR IN TODAY) AND SATURN BASICALLY THREATENED ME THAT IF I DID NOT PICK UP MY CAR (WHICH WAS STILL IN THE SHOP) AND RETURN THEIR LOANER (WHICH I STILL HAD) THAT THEY WOULD REPORT THE LOANER AS STOLEN. DO NOT BUY A SATURN ION. SATURN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IS A BIG JOKE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE DRIVER PULLED RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING AND OBJECT IN THE ROAD, AND THE RIGHT WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE IMPACTED A TREE, AND DAMAGED THE A FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Mileage: 6,000