2004 SATURN ION Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE FIRST STARTED HAVING FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, WHICH THE DEALER FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING AND SHE PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER IN JULY 2012, FROM GM STATING THE WARRANTY WAS BEING EXTENDED BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COULD FAIL. ON DECEMBER 16, 2013, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, AS THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT. SHE HAD TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. A TEST REVEALED, THERE WAS INDEED A FAILURE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED GM, SHE WAS INFORMED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON 11/28/13 THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/5/14

2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE FIRST STARTED HAVING FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, WHICH THE DEALER FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING AND SHE PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER IN JULY 2012, FROM GM STATING THE WARRANTY WAS BEING EXTENDED BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COULD FAIL. ON DECEMBER 16, 2013, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, AS THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT. SHE HAD TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. A TEST REVEALED, THERE WAS INDEED A FAILURE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED GM, SHE WAS INFORMED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON 11/28/13 THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/5/14

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, AND ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK FILED REPORT 71948037911 AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION 3 COUPE. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE HARD AND DISPLAYED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. HE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,640.

Mileage: 88,000

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

Mileage: 86,000

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

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR SHUTS OFF, I WAS GOING 20MHP THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT CAME TO A RIGHT HAND BEND IN THE ROAD AND CAR WAS OFF NO ABS, NO PWR STER, THERE WERE CARS SITTING AT THE STOP SIGN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. TO GET THE CAR STARTED I HAD TO PUT IN PARK TURN KEY OFF THEN TURN KEY OVER AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. THIS IS NOW THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME SITTING AT A RED LIGHT CAR WAS RUNNING LIGHT TURNED GREEN GAVE IT THE GAS MID WAY THROUGH INTERSECTION CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN AND DRIFTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH A BUNCH OF CARS HONKING. I THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP AND THAT WAS 3MONTHS AGO. THAT HAPPENED UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO. CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH WARNING, IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE HIT THE BACK END OF THE CAR THAT WAS STOPPED @ A STOP SIGN. 2004 SATURN ION 2.2L I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THIS PART DO TO NO INCOME RIGHT NOW. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE PREVIOUS DAY THE VEHICLE WAS USED TO JUMP START ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RUNS AT BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DROPS BACK TO AN IDLE (~800RPM). AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR AGAIN, THE CAR LUNGES ONCE AGAIN - THROW IT IN NEUTRAL - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, SLOWLY RECOVERS. AFTER TWO - THREE MINUTES THE ENGINE STABILIZES AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR - EVER! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND USUALLY DURING HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAINY CONDITIONS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT I HAVE NEVER SOUGHT HELP FROM A DEALER. IT IS NOT REPEATABLE IN A WAY THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT HAPPENS FAIRLY RARELY (SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK - SOMETIMES ONCE A MONTH) AND INCONSISTENTLY. IF I WAS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND IF THIS WAS A MORE POWERFUL CAR, I WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY NOW. I HAVE LEARNED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOTOR WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IDLING A BIT FAST THEN I KNOW IT WILL TRY TO RUN AWAY WITH ME WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR SO I JUST WAIT FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT IN GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE WERE LOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63270.

Mileage: 63,270

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER ON THE INTERNET SHE DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 . THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 55,000

I TRIED TO START MY 2004 SATURN ION AT ABOUT 11 PM LAST NIGHT AND IT TOOK FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR IT TO TURN OVER. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 28 DEGREES (F). THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, ALWAYS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. I KNOW THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION. I HAVE FOUND REPORTS OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER ION OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY SATURN AS SITTING FOR 10-20 MINUTES OR MORE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES WAITING FOR ONE'S CAR TO START IS NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE!! *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2004 BRAND NEW. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A HIGH IDLE CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I MUST RESET THE BATTERY ONCE A WEEK TO RESTORE IT TO NORMAL. IT SEEMS TO BE FINE FOR A WEEK AND HIGH IDLE COMES BACK. I HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I MUST TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON TO WARM UP THE BATTERY BEFORE TRYING TO START CAR. SATURN WAS NO HELP. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER, IT FAILS TO START. ON OCCASION, HE MUST ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO REST FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. OTHER TIMES, HE MUST JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO START. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER OR A REPAIR SHOP. HE FOUND A RECALL ONLINE PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 70,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE SUCCESSFULLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND I CANNOT RELY ON IT TO START WHEN I NEED IT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN HEADED TO A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS 30 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE IT STARTS. IT IS CRIMINAL FOR SATURN TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY REALIZED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT, BUT I'M ON A FIXED INCOME AND I PUT OUT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK! I THOUGHT SATURN WAS A GOOD COMPANY BUT I SEE NOW THAT DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THEM. *TR

WHILE RUNNING THE A/C, IT WILL LEAK WATER ALL OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. *TR

Mileage: 55,305

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE AND WEATHER ARE TOO COLD, THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO START OR WILL NOT START AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL THAT ENTERS THE ENGINE DOES NOT HEAT UP NORMALLY. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MUST BE DONE MANUALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE STEERING COLUMN TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BECOME WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,899.

Mileage: 111,899

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WOULD LOSE COMPLETE POWER TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD NOT GET ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS, IT WOULD JUST LOSE COMPLETE POWER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT SATURN OF DANVERS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN IN LOANER CARS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE THEY TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I HAVE LOST POWER AT LOW RATES OF SPEED AND ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008 MY CAR LOST POWER ON I-95 N IN WOBURN, MA WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL VEHICLES HAD TO AVOID HITTING MY VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES. I NOTIFIED THE SATURN CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY HAD JOHN CACHURSKI (SP) CONTACT ME, HE STATED I WOULD NEED TO RETURN THEIR LOANER CAR AND GET MY CAR BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITH MY MODEL/YEAR WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION FROM THEIR DEALERSHIPS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP TO TRY TO GET MY VEHICLE UP TO PAR. *TR

POWER STEERING CONTINUOUSLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. FOUND OTHERS ONLINE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. RESTART THE CAR AND IT COMES BACK ON MOST OF THE TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN 2-5 MPH. ALL THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,700.

Mileage: 23,000

TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED ON 2004 STAURN ION AT 62K MILES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BEND VALVES. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING UNABLE TO START. AT THIS POINT THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS IS ~ $2,000.

Mileage: 62,000

MY 2004 SATURN ION COUPE NEVER STARTS IN THE COLD. IT HAS BECOME SUCH A HEADACHE I WARM A TOWEL IN THE MORNING PUT IT ON THE ENGINE BEFORE I START IT. I GET SUCH A MIGRAINE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR. I CALLED SATURN THEY SAID IT WAS A THEFT DEVICE AND MAYBE SOMEONE TRIED TO STEAL MY CAR OR GAS. CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! *NM

VEHICLE RANDOMLY WON'T START. MORE FREQUENTLY DURING COLD AND/OR DAMP WEATHER, BUT NOT ALWAYS. VEHICLE WILL EITHER DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OR START TO CRANK AND STOP OR AFTER REPETITIVE TRIES, START AND RUN VERY ROUGH THEN CUT OUT. I HAVE LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME. IN MOST CASES I HAVE LEFT THE DISABLED VEHICLE SITTING FOR A DAY AND TRIED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY TO HAVE IT EITHER START UP LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED OR START, RUN ROUGH AND EVENTUALLY SMOOTH OUT. MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND JUST CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK AND INCONVENIENCED. TWICE IT HAS LEFT ME STUCK AT WORK SCRAMBLING TO FIND SOMEONE TO PICK MY CHILDREN UP FROM DAY CARE. AND TONIGHT IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE COLD DURING THE MIDST OF AN ICE-STORM AT 11 PM...AND AGAIN, LATE FOR WORK. THESE ARE NOT OLD VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND AFTER READING THE VAST COMPLAINTS, IT IS CERTAINLY NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WILL BE CONTACTING SATURN IN THE MORNING TO ATTEMPT GETTING IT REPAIRED. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY 04 ION FOR ONE AND HALF YEARS NOW, AND LAST YEAR WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET COLD, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE GREASE AROUND THE IGNITION COULD NOT TOLERATE THE COLD WEATHER HERE IN NEVADA. SO I HAD IT REPLACED. PROBLEM SOLVED, UNTIL THIS YEAR. JUST TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, IT DIDN'T START. NOW THE WEATHER HERE HAS BEEN IN THE TEENS FOR THE PAST WEEK, THIS TELLS ME THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE TEMPERATURE, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHAT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *JB

Mileage: 78,000

2004 SATURN ION III LOST 4 OF 5 QUARTS OF OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,000. THE DEALER SAID, TOO BAD". *NM

Mileage: 36,000

SATURN ION 2004. TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 2004. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. SATURN STATED THERE HAD BEEN MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, SO REPLACED IT FOR FREE. (MINUS MY INCURRED COSTS OF TRAVEL). SECOND MAJOR DEFECT: MAY 2006, A CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. SATURN HAS AGREED TO "REPLACE" THE CYLINDER HEAD, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR $800.00 OF THE REPAIRS. A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 79K MILES. I KNOW THAT "REPLACING" THE CYLINDER HEAD WILL GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...AND I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *NM

Mileage: 56,000

SINCE NOV. 2,2005 MY SATURN ION OF 20,000 MI. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP 5 TIMES,TOWED TWICE. I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF NO ACCELERATION OR DROP OF SPEED FROM 60 MPH TO 10 OR 30 MPH WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LAST VISIT TO THE SHOP THEY FOUND "POWDER" IN MY FUEL TANK AND CLAIMS IT TO BE TALCUM POWDER. COULD THIS BE SUCH A THING OR HAS MY CAR BEEN TAMPERED WITH? OVERALL I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE LOST FAITH IN SATURN CARS. *NM

Mileage: 24,000

MULTIPLE EPISODES WITH THIS CAR OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAS HAD TO START CAR FOR ME 2 TIMES. ANOTHER TIME THE CAR STALLED WHILE IDLING 4 TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTE DRIVE. TONIGHT THE CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS ON THEIR COMPUTER. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT THIS WITH THE LEMON LAW BUT I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW THAT I WANT TO JUST GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

2004 SATURN ION 2, CAR STALLS AND DOORS LOCK THE PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THESE 2 ISSUES AND HAS YET TO BE FIXED, CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING AT ANYTIME, SOMETIMES AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY OR TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT OR TURNING A CORNER. *NM

Mileage: 17,000

BY 3500 MILES (AFTER 1500MI WHEN WE COULD HAVE RETURNED IT), THE FRONT PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL BURNT OUT. THE CAR WAS ALSO SPUTTERING WHEN WE STARTED THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACKED HEAD, THAT WE WERE TOLD WAS PROBABLY PRESENT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR; HAD WE KNOWN WE WOULD'VE RETURNED THE CAR. WE WERE GIVEN A RENTAL CAR, BUT HAD TO DRIVE 45 MIN ONE WAY TO GET TO SATURN OF GREEN BAY. WITHIN A MONTH, THE FRONT DRIVER TURN SIGNAL HAD BURNT OUT. THE WIRING WAS REPLACED WHILE WE WAITED 2 HRS WITH OUR 3 YEAR OLD. WE HAD TO DRIVE 1 HR 1WAY TO SATURN OF APPLETON FOR REPAIRS. IN AUG 2004, THE CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE WHEN WE TURNED ONTO A STEEP GRADE. IN MI FOR VACATION, WE HAD TO DRIVE OVER 1 HR 1WAY TO SATURN OF TROY; THE SWAYBAR AND MOUNTING BRACKETS HAD TO BE FIXED. WE WAITED FOR OVER 2 HRS WITH OUR SON WHILE IT WAS FIXED. IN SEPT 2004, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL HAD TO REPLACE THE RESISTOR. WE DROVE 1 HR 1 WAY FOR THE REPAIR, AND HAD TO WAIT 2 HRS WITH OUR SON. WE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE CRUISE MAKING A FUNNY NOISE, BUT IT WAS CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS FINE. IN APRIL 2005, THE CRUISE STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO BE FIXED. IT TOOK OVER A WEEK FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND ALMOST 2 WEEKS FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED AT SATURN OF GREEN BAY. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER 30 MINUTES EARLY, BE DRIVEN OVER TO MY SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH, WALK TO MY SECOND SCHOOL I TEACH AT, AND WAIT FOR A DRIVER TO PICK ME UP (20-40 MIN PAST WHEN I WAS DONE FOR THE DAY). DESPITE EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH A NEW CAR THAT SHOULD NEED MINIMAL CARE AT THIS POINT, WE'VE BEEN BASICALLY TOLD THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THE $2600 HIT TO BUY A NEW CAR WHILE THE DEALER BREAKS EVEN. THIS IS POOR SALESMANSHIP, AND WE WILL NOT BE PURCHASING SATURN PRODUCTS ANY LONGER.

Mileage: 3,500

ENGINE SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER ROAD BUMPS. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS SHOWED NO APPARENT PROBLEM. *AK

IN OCTOBER OF 1993, I BOUGHT A 2004 ION 2 QUAD COUPE FROM SATURN OF LARCHMONT. I TRADED IN MY 1997 SC1 FOR THIS CAR. IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, I NEEDED TO HAVE THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT BULB REPLACED BECAUSE IT BURNED OUT. IN JANUARY, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE AND TWO RECALLS. IT ALSO TO MADE A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH. THIS FIRST TIME, THE LINK AND TORSION BAR SUPPORTS WERE REPLACED. I RETURNED ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER WITH THE RATTLE AND AN ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT. THE CAR HAD STALLED WHILE DRIVING IT. I WAS TOLD THAT A BOOK UNDERNEATH THE SEAT WAS MAKING THE RATTLING NOISE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE STALLING COULDNT BE DUPLICATED, SO THEY DIDNT KNOW WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. I RETURNED ONE WEEK LATER WITH THE SAME RATTLING PROBLEM. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND DROVE IT OVER SIXTY MILES. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS. FINALLY, THE NOISE STOPPED! IN JULY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS. THE CAR HAD STALLED AGAIN AND STARTED STUTTERING WHEN STEPPING ON OR RELEASING THE GAS PETAL. AGAIN NO CODES WERE FOUND TO INDICATE WHY IT STALLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE STUTTERING WAS NORMAL FOR THE VTI ENGINE BECAUSE OF ITS NEW TECHNOLOGY. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, THE RATTLING STARTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO SATURN OF WHITE PLAINS AGAIN. TWO DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT, THE RADIO HAD RESET ITSELF. ON THE DAY OF MY APPOINTMENT, THE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE CAR OUT AND SAID HE HEARD NO NOISE AND FELT NO RATTLING. HE TOOK ME OUT WITH HIM AND SAID WHAT I HEARD WAS NORMAL. AGAIN A TEST WAS RUN AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SATURN OF LARCHMONT ON JULY 30, 2004 BECAUSE THE RATTLING CONTINUED AND THE RADIO RESET ITSELF AGAIN. BOB LINDER, THE SERVICE MANAGER, TOOK HIS TIME AND LOGGED MY ISSUES FOR THE TECHNICIANS TO ADDRESS THEM. THE STABILIZER LINKS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. A NEW RADIO WAS ORDERED TO REPLACE THE ONE IN THE CAR. THE BANGING UNDERNEATH THE CAR HAS RETURNED.

VEHICLE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *AK

Mileage: 1,597