Table 1 shows one common unknown or other related problems of the 2004 Saturn ION.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other problems |
Whilst driving, my car would accelerate on it's own going almost 45-50mph. Pressing the brakes would barely do anything. It won't start when it thinks it's too cold outside, I've had the battery tested multiple times and it is fine. Also, when trying to stop the car and take the key out of the ignition it resists a lot. Happens multiple times a week.
Without notice, the car will not start. The car will start and run like it was designed too, but after the car has been turned off, there have been instants where the car will not start again. The battery is not dead, all the lights, gauges and horn will work, but no power goes to the starter. After a extended period of time, ten minutes or more, the car will start. This is a random condition, there are no warning signs of when it will not start. I have been told that there is either a glitch in the security program or there is a problem with the grease in the started switch.
Approximately one week after I purchased the vehicle I noticed a grinding noise that was not favorable and I was pretty sure it was the tranny. I purchased an extended warranty with the car so I took it to the dealer for diagnostics and repair. It was confirmed to be the tranny and they tried to put a bandaide on it by flushing it and changing the fluids. One week later same noise only louder. They replaced the tranny. 30 days after the first repair; the noise returned, they replaced some parts, in the tranny they just put in it. Just over 12,0000 miles later I was attempting to back up and the car would not go in reverse. I had it towed and the tranny was again replaced, that was just under 12,0000 miles ago and the tranny is slipping again, only now the extended warranty people say I am out of funds because they will not repair a vehicle beyond it's worth. I have had the axle replaced twice and it needs to be done again, extended warranty again say's they are done paying out on this car even though my time or mileage is not expired on the warranty. About a month ago it failed to start and because I had read this web site on consumer complaints for this car I knew to wait 5-15 min and try again. This has happened several times but so far it eventually starts. I purchased this car on credit just over a year ago to get a reliable vehicle because I work 7 days a week out of my car and it is becoming a nightmare no-one will wake me up from. And because I am upside down on the loan I cannot even trade it in for something that is reliable. For the amount of complaints I have seen there should be some recourse to the consumer. I have had the tranny replaced twice and fixed twice, the axle has been done twice and need it again. Chevy bought this company out and should have to honor the standards for a safe vehicle or stop selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
I have a 2004 Saturn Ion and on yesterday my car would not turn off. Although I could still remove the keys from the ignition, the car would still not turn off. In 2009, I received a recall letter informing me about the recall on my electronic transmission. I don’t know if this ignition switch has anything to do with that issue, but I would like to find out. When I called chase Chevrolet here in stockton, CA, on March 30, 2010 at 7:10 am, the repair man told me that it has been a lot of Saturn cars that had to repair this same type of problem. And that either the car would not turn off or turn on and in my case, the car wouldn’t turn off. This incident happened yesterday at exactly 6:00 pm when all dealerships were closed. I was in sacramento, CA and had to drive all the way to stockton, CA just so I could turn my car off by the ignition switch that took a family member two hours to figure out. Now I have to pay over $300. 00 for the repair, but if this is happening to a lot of Saturn’s, I feel it’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Thank you for you time and your gratitude toward our safety.
In cold weather(temp under 32f), my wife's Saturn will not start. This is the fourth time this season. When trying to start the car, nothing happens. She has light, radio but turning the key everything goes dark and no turn over of the engine. I checked online and found the a lot of other people are having the same problem. The part seems to be the ignition switch has a problem with the passlock. I called the dealer and he even said the same thing about people having this problem.
On four different occasions while driving my 2004 Saturn Ion on the highway, after hitting an unusual bump or dips in the road, I?ve experience a complete shutdown of the car?s systems, including loss of power, loss of steering and any ability to accelerate, brake or navigate the car. The car slows to a complete stop. From my past experience I've learned that the car will need to come to a complete stop and then shifted into park. The car key will then physically need tp be removed and reinsert the key to get the vehicle restarted. (trying to start the car without removing the key will not work. ) on all occasions this has presented an extremely dangerous situation as other cars traveling on the highway at speeds of 55-75 mph are forced to maneuver around my stalled vehicle, which does not even have the power or control to be pull off to the side of the road. The car was taken to the Saturn dealership on October 17, 2007 after the first 3 incidents, however diagnostic tests could not identify or replicate the problem. The dealership adjusted a fuse box in the under carriage of the car. But could not neither assure me the problem was resolved, or would not happen again. The situation recurred recently on oct 4, 2009 while on interstate 95. The severity of the situation could have easily resulted in a fatal accident as I sat stranded in the fast-lane of the highway. The car is presently at another Saturn dealership where they again say they are unable to identify or replicate the problem. I am no longer confident in the safety of this vehicle and seek the NHTSA assistance in resolving the matter.
Recently I experienced a problem with my car failing to start. I was advised by the mechanic that Saturn issued a technical service bulletin addressing this issue. The reference numbers is 04-08-45-005c, date of issue December 4, 2006 affecting 2003-2006 Saturn Ions built up to and including VIN breakpoint 6z147837. I was told by the mechanic that my car had both diagnostic trouble codes listed in this bulletin.
- the contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion . While driving at 8 mph with the road condition being extremely poor the vehicle slid on some ice, causing the vehicle to bounce of the side of the curb. The contact noticed that the right wheel was pushed back to the fender. The right drive axle broke inside the transmission. The cv joint was still undamaged,not even a tear in the boot. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealership. The failure mileage was 22000, and the current mileage was 22500. A mechanic wrote that he had not seen so much damage which involved a low speed curb impact. Updated 03/13/07.
I am the owner of a 2004 Saturn Ion 3. I have now had it for three winters in which I have had starting problems every winter. I have replaced the battery all three winters, to find that was not the problem. After many reading many blogs and websites I have found that Saturn uses an ignition switch that freezes in the cold. Saturn also does not claim to this issue. We have taken our car to the local dealership with this problem, but no mechanic knew what the problem was. I live in a place that is known for cold winters so I know now (especially after reading complaints about this on the net) that the mechanics have to be aware of this situation with the cars. My husband has replaced the ignition switch to find that it did not help (obviously if we are using the same freezing part)! this is not listed as a recall, because it is not a safety issue. I am sorry, but if I get stuck out at a rest stop on some highway by myself or with my young child in below 30 degrees, that becomes safety issue to me!!! another safety issue that has presented itself in the Ion is my seat belts. They do not lock or retract. There has been no tampering or changing of anything that would cause this to happen.
My car hesitates when shifting from first to second gear. Once the clutch is out and you apply the throttle the car goes then looses power and then goes again. This car was is in the shop the last 26 of 39 days for 4 seperate attempts to fix it. The dealer states they can not fix it and that Saturn corporate has no idea what is wrong with it either. No one from Saturn customer care has once asked me for my side of the story or the 6 pages of documentation on how I was treated and told would be done to repair my car. The dealership that I purchased it from has told me there is nothing they would do to repair my car. My car is now at another dealership the day after I was told to pick it up because the service engine light came on in approximatley 60 minues after pick up from the original dealer that I purchased it from. It seems there are mant Saturn Ion redlines with this same problem on the internet. . .
Car will suddenly stall and shut down.
I purchased my 2004 Saturn Ion in April, 2004. In June, 2004 my right turn signal stopped working, causing my running light on that side not to work either. In July, 2004 when opening up the hood to refill windshield wiper fluid, the hood latch inside the car came off in my hand. On Dec 22, 2004, the brakes on my 2004 Saturn Ion failed to work cause me to go through a stop sign, which resulted in a accident with another car. Both cars were only moving about 15 - 20 mph, but on impact the whole right (passenger side) side bumper broke up and was on the ground. Leaving a big gapping hole on the right passenger side of the car. No recalls have been placed on defective brakes, as of this date. In February, 2005, when coming out to start car after work, the car would not start, the key locked in the ignition, the hood and the trunk locked and couldn't get them open to get a jump from the tow truck. I had to have the car towed back to the Saturn dealership. Battery was replaced. The same day I picked the car up from the dealership, went into a store when I came out the car would not start again. This time the key didn't lock in ignition so I was able to get a jump. This has happened on about 4 different occasion, with the dealership not able to give me any solution to the problem.