Anti-theft Controller problems of the 2004 Saturn ION

I couldn't start my car. I had it jumped and the problem went away. I got a new battery thinking this would fix everything, which it did not. I came to learn it was not the battery, but the passlock system. It is a safety issue for the following reason: when this happens I'm required to sit for ten minutes to wait for it to clear out the passlock system. This happened the other night at midnight, which is a very dangerous situation to be in a parking lot with no one else around. After a little research I find that many people have experienced this. Seems unfair that Saturn is aware of this costly issue and is not being held responsible for the cost of fixing it. Especially since I've read that some people have the same issue after they've spent $300+ to get it fixed.

I own a 2004 Saturn Ion. For the past two years when the temperature is below 36 degrees the vehicle fails to start. The ignition locks me out until the anti theft device resets and I can try again. After reading about many others expensive solutions to this issue without resolve or recall by gm, I have bought a small electrical heater to set on my floor board on the drivers side of the vehicle. This warms up the ignition inside the car and it starts right up. Until I found this solution I was late to work, late for appointments and once stranded in frigid temperatures.

Saturn Ion 2004 will not start in cold weather. The symptoms is sporadic and unpredictable and linked to faulty security module (anti-theft) which disables the car in cold weather. This is a well known problem documented in various forums as well as well known to Saturn dealers. Yet gm did not make a recall on this issue for more than 5 years. I have had this problem since 2005 and advised the dealers and Saturn customer service several times with no success.

I purchased my vehicle in March of 2004 and have had numerous problems since. I have had the ignition switch replaced previously and now just paid $630 to have the body module replaced because the anti-theft system locks the whole car down making it impossible to start it. Initially it was thought to be a cold weather problem back when I first had the car ignition switch replaced. This recent incident is still not yet resolved because I have been having difficulty getting the keys out of the ignition once the car is turned off. It appears that the body module is still not registering that the key is in off position because the ignition switch is still faulty. I am at a loss for what to do next because I don't have money for these kind of repairs especially once every week.

I have been having a problem with the anti theft/passlock system on my Saturn Ion. Today is not the first time it has happen and after reading complaints from other consumers I see I am not the only one having the issue. The car will turnover but nothing will happen. All the lights come on the display as well as a service vehicle indicator. At first it would take 5 or 10 minutes to start and has progressively gotten worse. Today for example I waited a half hour for the car to start. I called the Saturn dealership here in my town only to end up in a argument with the person that sold me the piece of crap. I dont know how Saturn is still in business. I spent a pretty penny on the vehicle and no one wants to help. To know that a vehicle that you sell is causing so many customers so many problems and do not even want to help them resolve the issue is just pathetic to me. I am at the point of taking the car back to the dealership and taking a voluntary repo. I will never buy a car from Saturn or gm again.

On several occassion while it has been cold out, my vehicle would not start. As a matter of fact the vehicle would not even attempt to roll over. The only way I could seem to resolve the situation was by "jump starting" my Saturn with another vehicle. This has happened so many times in the winter that I finally got sick of it and parked the Saturn and drove a different vehicle. I am so sick of my car that I am ready to sell it. I recently found out about this site. After reading the first 20 some results and seen that everyone was having the same issue I was. I can not believe that there is not a recall on this part. I read other complaints too and am glad that I have not ran into their problem yet. If Saturn does not fix this problem really soon, I will sell my car and I will never buy a Saturn again. They are really making a bad product that they will eventually never sell again. After all these complaints, why has nothing been done to recall the problem. To anyone who reads this, never buy a Saturn. It is not just the Ion. I have heard several other issues with other vehicles.

Car will not start in cold weather. Must wait between 5 and 10 minutes after each start attempt. Posted bulletins relate the problem to a faulty passlock switch/ignition switch.

This is the third time I've had to push this Saturn into the street to get our other drivers off to work. The first time it was only a few months old and was towed to the dealer. They said my floormats were too thick and not genuine Saturn parts and caused it not to start(no kidding, they said this). A few weeks later it once again failed to turn over. Another tow to the dealer and this time they re-coded the key and ignition switch. Several times over the past few years it has failed to start. If I wait 20 minutes, the anti theft module re-sets and it will start. This morning I slipped on ice while pushing it into the street and fell. My back is killing me right now and I'm very angry. This is an obvious problem that Saturn is ignoring. No self respecting thief would steal a Saturn in the first place. I see no need for an anti-theft device on this awful car.

My 2004 Ion won't start. The problem started in November with cold weather, but has occurred when it was not cold out and has gotten progressively worse until I can't start it at all and its because of the passlock security system. I have read probably more than a hundred complaints from others about this problem. Saturn obviously doesn't care about people's safety. What is the point of a car payment when you can't drive the car or leave in an emergency? I used to be able to wait ten minutes for the passlock to deactivate, although it might take several tries of doing this before I ever got anywhere, but now nothing. The car is ok otherwise. Mechanics don't know what to do.

Whenever the temperature is at 30 degrees f or below my 2004 Saturn Ion will not start due to the passlock system. This is a known problem and could lead to a very dangerous stranded situation.

On numerous occasions this year, my 2004 Ion would not start despite the fact that the battery was charged. My own mechanic told me to have it serviced by a Saturn dealership because the problem was related to the anti theft controller and could only be worked on by the dealership. He had seen this problem numerous times before. The problem was confirmed and repaired (for $214. 00). The parts were only $40. 00. As your own website(and others)confirm,this is an inherent problem that many Ion owners eventually will encounter. Despite this "defect", general motors takes no responsibility doesn't seem to be a logical strategy to hold on to an already dwindling number of loyal customers.

I have a 2004 Saturn Ion which was recently purchased. One morning I went to start the car. All the interior lights came on, the electrical system worked fine, but the engine would not turn over (nothing happened at all). When I returned home that evening, the car started immediately, ruling out a dead battery. This failure re-occurs mostly on cold mornings. I discovered on the web that Saturn has a problem with the ignition switch pass lock system when it is cold. Saturn is aware of the problem but refuses to do anything about it. I took the car to a local mechanic and asked him to replace the switch. He made a special trip to the Saturn dealer (30+ miles) to get a new switch, however he discovered that the switch needs to be programmed and only a Saturn dealer can do that. The Saturn dealership failed to mention this to him when he bought the part. Now, I have to pay to have the car towed to the Saturn dealer to have the switch programmed, as well as for nearly a week of wasted time, money, and convenience.

At the begining of may I took the car into the dealer because I could remove the key from the ignition while the car was still on. They replaced the ignition lock cylnder. I thought all was well. On may,29 2007, I was taking my wife out to dinner for her birthday. When I parked the car I tried to turn the car off and found out that I could not pull the key out nor could I turn the car off. I called Saturn and was told to try to disconnect the battery to turn off the car. This did not work. I instead had to remove the cars fuse for the fuel relay pump. I took the car into the shop the next morning. After sitting at the dealer for over 4 hours I was told the anti theft device and ignition column couldnt be reprogramed because the computer had gone out. I ended up buying a new car.

My 2004 Saturn Ion occasionally will not start (will not crank). The battery is in good condition and a good state of charge. In general the problem is "cured" by waiting 10 minutes or so, and trying to start it again. Then it might be several weeks of months before the problem occurs again.

Numerous no-start conditions associated with faulty ignition switch 2004 Saturn Ion with 49,000 miles. If current ignition switch replaced it will be the third since car was new. Anytime vehicle is exposed to 32 deg. Or less temperature for more than a few hours ignition switch faults and engages anti-theft system. Usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to ?? to get vehicle started. Being in upstate NY where temps and weather push the extremes possibility of vehicle leaving someone stranded is imminent. I cannot rely on this vehicle during cold weather months. I have researched issue on internet and found numerous complaints for Saturn Ion with same exact problem. Saturn needs to re-design and repair all associated vehicles ignition switches.

My car will not crank when the key is turned to start. It has complete power. The battery is well within the normal limits. The instances when this occur all seem to be when the car has been outside and not running for at least 2 hours in temperatures in the 20 degrees fahrenheit range or colder. All the dash lights are on, and all the accessories work when the key is turned to start, but the starter does not even attempt to turn. The "service engine" message flashes. I pulled all the electrical relays in the fuse box and the engine will now start with no problem. It is a recurring problem when the weather is cold. The same fix works each time. There is most likely a fault in the ignition switch or the passlock system. Should be recalled.

'04 Saturn Ion fails to start in cold weather. Security system prevents starting. Must warm key/ignition, and after 15 minutes car may start.

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!!!!!!!!!!.

I have the same issue as many others with the anti-theft/electric system of my 2004 Saturn Ion. The manufacturer has refused to remedy the problem without me paying for their shoddy work. I am about to get a lawyer and see if he can get my car issue resolved with gm. When it is cold/wet the car will not start. It will crank 1 time and then nothing for 10 minutes. After waiting inside the car on a very cold morning I can attempt to try my car yet again. It may or may not work and the cycle may need to be repeated. I am very unsatisfied and have offered to gm an opportunity to correct the situation and was met with utter indifference. They want me to pay to replace their bad work and I will not.

I purchased my car new in 2004 and I have had an ongoing problem with it starting. It happens at random times and generally after 10 minutes to 30 minutes it will start up. I m not sure if the fact that I can remove my keys from the ignition while im driving down the road has something to do with it or not. It does seem like it does it more in cold/rainy weather than other times. There are still several incidents where it has been warm and sunny and it wont start. I am a single mom with two kids and I hate the thought of being stuck in my car w/ my kids and unable to go anywhere. I have been stuck in parking lots late at night after I get off work and one time it wouldn't start on my way to the hospital. No one seems to know how to fix it and everyone pretty much agrees it has something to do w/ the antitheft device put on the car. So how do we fix it and why wont Saturn do anything about . Today's economy is to bad to be loosing customers and my children are too important to me to be stuck in a car (at any given time) with no way to move. In the future I will be looking for a more dependable safe car.

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. When the pass lock/ anti-theft warning light illuminates on the instrument control panel , he cannot start the vehicle. Usually he has to wait 12 minutes to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician replaced the cd player and adjusted the cruise control switch. The repairs did not remedy the failure. The manufacturer was notified, and he was referred back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 2,000. The current mileage was 136,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. When the pass lock of the anti-theft system warning light illuminates on the instrument control panel, the vehicle will not start. He usually has to wait for 12 minutes to start the vehicle. A technician from the dealer replaced the cd player and adjusted the cruise control switch. The repairs did not remedy the failure. The manufacturer was notified, and he was referred back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 2,000. The current mileage was 136,000.