Ignition Switch problems of the 2003 Saturn ION - part 2

2003 Saturn Ion. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice and states no longer owns vehicle. The consumer no longer owns the vehicle. It was declared a loss, by his insurance company.

2003 Saturn Ion ignition switch. I can't get my key out of the ignition after I have parked the car and turned my key to the off position. I often have to sit in my car for up to 10minutes before it will release and let me have my key. When I am able to get my key out of the ignition my car with ding. . Like the sound it makes when you leave your lights on, and it will not let me lock my car using my power locks. I have taken it to a gm dealership and they have said that it is the faulty ignition switch seen recurrently in Saturn's cars. Even getting the ignition switch replaced I was back to where I first started about a week later. This is dangerous and needs to be recalled!!! I can't believe that after all these years that this still to this day has not been recalled. . . This is absolutely ridiculous!.

2003 Saturn Ion, this is the second ignition switch to be replaced in this car. On this occasion the key will not release from the switch. This appears to be a major problem with Saturns. . Why no recall?.

Car has frequent intermittent starting problems (about one in 4 starting attempts is a no-go). Internet research brings up many complaints of the ignition switch sending the wrong signal to the computer which in turn activates the security system (passlock, in gm speak) and prevents the car from starting. Gm recognizes the issue in TSB #3493a which recommends replacing the ignition switch. Since this is a known failure to gm, I believe the switch replacement should be done at the manufacturer's cost, not the consumer's cost. It is an expensive procedure and consumers are forced to go to the dealer for the repair because the car's computer (bcm) has to be reprogrammed after the switch replacement.

My 2003 Saturn Ion refuses to start when it is cold but after 10 mins it will decide it wants to start. I have been stranded and put hundreds of dollars into this problem with the mechanic not seeing the problem. Put a new ignition switch in the car and still has the problem. After doing some research on the web many Saturn owners are having the same problems. This needs to be a recall and Saturn is refusing to do so.

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. When attempting to start the vehicle, the engine would hesitate before it turned on. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the ignition switch was replaced. The repair did not remedy the failure. The current and failure mileages were 115000.

I've been having cold starting problems with my 2003 Saturn Ion. I've had this problem fix by dealer 3 times in the past. At 620. 00 a pop that's hard . Now after talking to a technician that used to work for Saturn before they closed ,that the problem is caused by oil that releases from the part when cold and leaks down from the ignition to the pass lock switch this should have a recall before this burns someone up and kills them . They should have to fix all these cars . Do it right and stop charging people for something that really cant be fixed simply by replacing a part that will continue leaking oil when cold. I am really surprised this hasn't already been recalled. I can only wait to see if this happens they need to pay ,I cant afford to go buy a car with work slow so Saturn and gm should be held responsible. All this is in the ignition switch inside the car and if a fire starts with you in it at the wheel you lose a car and possible a life or more if in heavy traffic and this locks down your car. It's not only me its my kids and others on the road at danger it's all who drive a Saturn Ion 2003.

2003 Saturn Ion service bulletin # 040845005. Nhtsa item #: 10007431. No crank no start when ambient temperatures when cold. Had this car for 6 years with minor issues beginning as described above last winter season in 2008. Now the issue is frequent, multiple times a day if weather is cold. I live in the north east it gets cold here often. I have been unemployed for 14 months and can not afford the $270 Saturn is claiming to repair this situation. After doing some research I found that this is a common problem with people owning the Saturn Ion, Saturn is aware of this and it is a design defect. Why can't this be recalled? it leaves me stranded in awkward and unpleasant weather conditions. I currently have to heat up my car key with a lighter to make it warm enough to heat up the ignition switch and the grease inside. Is there anything you can do? thank you.

2003 Saturn Ion. September 09. Drove car. Parked. Could not get key out of ignition. Waited 10 minutes. Key came out. Had ignition switch replaced at Saturn dealer. Next week the same thing happened. Had ignition switch replaced again. (at my expense). Key continues to intermittently stick in the ignition. I can not get out of my car until I get the key out. Look at the website and read all the complaints about this problem. . Read more...

My 2003 Saturn Ion keeps having ignition switch issues. I was first told by Saturn that I needed to replace my battery. Did that but the problem still happens. The ignition won't turn over but will after several minutes. Being a woman, this makes me very nervous because just yesterday when I stalled my car while on route I had to have my husband push me over to the side of the road where I had to wait until I could start it again. I could have been all by myself and had to rely on total strangers for help. :-(.

The ignition switch does not work. During "cold days" my car does not start. I have to wait between 10 to 20 minutes to start the car. This is a problem that Ion 2003-2007 have, Saturn knows about it. However, they have not done anything about fixing the problem. Thousands of complains about the ignition switch, they need to do something.

During the winter months when temperature is 30 or below my 2003 Saturn Ion is unable to start. I must wait 20 minutes and then try again. There seem to be a faulty ignition switch. Which can be extremely dangerous in inclement weather.

My 2003 Saturn Ion refuses to start sporadically on cold mornings. This has been going on since early fall. My car repair shop assures me that the battery in my car is fully charged and capable of starting. They tell me that they have seen 5-6 of these issues with Saturn Ions in the past month, and that I must take it to the Saturn dealership because it is a known ignition switch issue. I live in a fairly small town, the fact that my shop has seen this many issues with Saturns is astounding. I have small children and the temps in indiana have been below zero. I fear that I will have them out somewhere and be unable to start my car in sub-zero temperatures, or that I will be unable to pick them up from school because I cannot get my car started. I have read on the web this morning, that I am not alone in my issues with my Saturn Ion. I realize that no one has died or been injured in my particular situation, but if small children are stranded in my car in sub-zero temps because my car won't start, it seems that, at the very least we have a potential safety issue here.

Car has problems starting up in cold weather, but it's sporadic - sometimes it will start, sometime it won't. Believe it has something to do with a "white" wire that is in the steering column and connected to the ignition switch.

The temperatures in fort wayne have been below freezing lately (wind-chill was -35 today), and my 2003 Saturn Ion has had a lot of trouble starting. When I turn my key in the ignition, it turns over but won't start. After letting it sit for a minute, I try to start it again, only now it won't even turn over; it just clicks. I thought my battery needed to be replaced, but I haven't had much help today in dealing with it. I searched the internet for advice, and I came across a car review website with several reviews and comments complaining about the same 2003 Saturn Ion problem I'm having. From the reviews and comments, I figured our problems are one in the same- the cars have faulty ignition switches. I tried to get my car fixed when I first bought it last year, and the dealer told me it was an ignition problem. I'm just now discovering that it's a problem with all 2003 Ions- not just mine. As far as I know, Saturn is doing nothing to help its customers in their greatest time of need. Thank god my car died in the parking lot at work and not in some location where I would be stranded in the frigid temperatures.

Car has starting problems. Intermittent starting in cold weather and now stalls while driving. Dealer installed new ignition switch one week ago for $230, but stalling is once again a problem. This is a safety issue when you are stuck in a car in the middle of traffic!.

My Saturn Ion has been having intermittent problems starting in cooler weather. I have replaced the battery and found out online that the ignition switch either goes bad or the wrong switch was installed at the factory. The problem has to do with a key code and voltage. This has occur at least once a week for a month now.

We have a 2003 Saturn Ion that wont start in cold weather due to ignition switch problems. Saturn dealer wants $100 just to diagnose it on a computer but many forums have information stating that the dealer already knows that the ignition switch is faulty.

I have had numerous incident during the last 14 months regarding my Saturn Ion iii not wanting to start in cold weather & the ignition switch not allowing me to release the key. This has caused me to take my vehicle to a mechanic to try to diagnose, new battery, towing etc.

2003 Saturn Ion. Consumer writes in regards to faulty ignition switch recall and seeks reimbursement for repairs.

I want to file a complaint about my Saturn Ion 2003 in hopes that we can recall the car. My car is outside uncovered all night. Right now it is 27. 1 degrees outside. My Saturn Ion 2003 has a hard time starting when it is below 32 degrees. . Read more...

2003 Saturn Ion ignition switch problem. Car won't start, then interlock prevents car from being started for 8-10 minutes. This has occurred approximately a dozen times at various temperatures.

If the Saturn vehicle is exposed to temperatures at or approaching 32 degrees f for several hours when the engine is not running (usually 6-10 hours), then when you attempt to start the vehicle, the ignition switch clicks and the car stalls. The security system kicks in. The security light blinks and the odometer screen reads: service engine soon. ¿ fuel will not be sent to the engine. The vehicle will now not start for about 8-10 minutes as the security system resets. After 8-10 minutes, the security light will stop blinking and then go out. ¿the service engine soon scroll light will stop and also go out. Now, you may attempt to start the vehicle again. . However, if the ignition switch grease has not adequately warmed, then the process will begin again. A signal that the vehicle will likely start after the present lock-out will be when the ignition seems to crank a bit more than just a click, before locking out again. Remedy:1. The grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch can not engage. The dealer must recall all of these vehicles and replace the ignition switch and grease. They apparently have a redesigned switch, which certainly can be construed as an admission to the faulty design. Of course, this type of remedial measure cannot be used in court, but is certainly helpful to those of us consumers who are the victims of the faulty design. Saturn must openly acknowledge the mistake and fix it, before someone is stranded in the cold, in an area with no cell phone service. Service bulletin:040845005 NHTSA item number:10007431 mfg bulletin date: 20060301 component: electrical system:ignition:switch bulletin summary: no crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) b2960 and or b3033 are set.

I have a 2003 Saturn Ion and for the past 2 years my vehicle has had problems starting in the cold. I have heard and read hundred of people having to replace their ignition switch on their Ions. It has left me stranded on many occassions in the morning and at night. Saturn has not offered to fix this problem and is just banking in the cash for us to replace their ignition switches and get our computers reprogrammed. Since Saturn will not do anything to help its customers then I feel it is someone to investigate this ongoing problem.

Car would not turn over until several attempts were made key would not come out of lock until after several attempts were made occurs weekly for several months I needed to get a new ignition switch and a new ignition cylinder this is the 2nd ignition cylinder I have had to get since purchasing my vehicle, obviously something is wrong with their parts once my car ran with out the key in the ignition!!!.

Faulty ignition switch in 2003 Saturn Ion.

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that on multiple occasions she experienced difficulty in removing the key from the ignition switch. The contact also stated that while attempting to shut the engine off, she was unable to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 60,000.

When it is below freezing outside, my 2003 Saturn Ion has issues starting up. . Read more...

I regrettably own a 2003 Saturn Ion 2 sedan. Several times, when temperatures are below freezing, the car fails to start. After speaking to the service manager at the local dealership and doing extensive online research about the problem I have found that it stems from a faulty design in the ignition switch. The switch leaks lubricant onto the wires in the ignition system. When it is cold enough for the lubricant to freeze, it impedes the signal required to override the passlock security system (standard on my car) and prevents the car from starting. Saturn will replace the ignition switch (at the cost of the owner if the vehicle is not under manufacturer's warranty, about $300 to $400). The new switches will inevitably have the same problem, after they leak the lubricant. Saturn knows of the problem and has published technical service bulletin #040845005. They, however, refuse to admit responsibility and devise a reliable remedy to the problem. Meanwhile, we are all freezing in the cold weather while we wait for our cars to start. I believe Saturn is criminally negligent in this respect.

Wont start in sub freezing weather for at least 15 minutes.

I bought a 2003 Saturn Ion about 6 months ago, and as soon as it became cold here in colorado my car started having a problem starting. I was stranded in the middle of no where with no cell phone coverage in the freezing cold. I have now come to find out that this is a problem with all 2003 Saturns and that they refuse to recall them and fix the problem because it is not a safety issue. The ignition switch and the grease needs to be replaced. This is a safety issue! I was stranded in the middle of no where in the freezing cold with my young daughter. I want this problem to be addressed and fixed by Saturn. There is no reason for them to not recall this problem.

My wife was having problems with her Saturn just before the date of 12/24/07, the car would shut off for no reason or she would have a hard time starting it. We made an appointment with, at the time, Saturn of eatontown, NJ, and they told us that the ignition switch would have to be replaced. It cost $324. 30 to replace the part. There was a recent delayed recall about the ignition switch from gm, 13 people were killed due to this defect, I feel gm should refund this money to me since they knew there was a problem with it back then. I have the reciept for this repair if you need copy.

This is an ongoing problem with my Saturn Ion 2003. It won't start when it's cold and it has left me stranded on several occasions. By the multiple complaints that I see from other people online, this is a big problem. It has something to do with the passlock security system and the ignition switch. It gets very cold here in colorado and I just don't want to be stranded again. . Read more...

Saturn Ion 2003 problem with starting the car around/below 32`f, this is second cold season I am having occasional problem with start the engine process, after extensive online research I am finding "the big family" of Saturn owners with the same problem related to ignition switch/passlock sensor.

Hood latch broken, ignition switch sparks and the car doesn't start, loud clanking noise in front end, transmission is quirky while shifting(automatic) do not have any of the parts.