Sway Bar problems of the 2004 Saturn ION

Four problems related to sway bar have been reported for the 2004 Saturn ION. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Sway Bar problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2009

After 5 years my 2004 Saturn Ion will not start when the temperature is below +10f. There is power ( new battery ) and no fuel issue ( clean fuel system and filter ), but after 10 to 15 minutes and a couple of hesitant engine turns, it starts. No one needs an unreliable vehicle where winter temps last several months. After replacing the anti-sway bar, both headlight assemblies as well as other annoying problems ( instrument lights out, cabin fan noisy ) I will never ever buy another Saturn . I took the problem ( out of warranty of course ) to Saturn of rochester and was told it was a faulty ignition switch, a common problem for this make and model year. Since it is not a safety issue, no recall was issued and I would have to pay at least $275 unless "something else" came up. Being late for work ( public safety and volunteer fireman ) or my wife and children is not an option for me. Please force gm to make the recall on this ignition part for the financially stressed new york consumers. Thank you.

2 Sway Bar problem

Failure Date: 05/30/2005

The contact states that while in reverse the brakes make a loud noise, the brakes are not functioning properly. While driving forward the brakes do not function, but do not make any noise. There was a shimmy at 60- 65 mph and there was noise coming from the front end. The sway bar links and bushings were replaced.

3 Sway Bar problem

Failure Date: 05/11/2004

There is a thumping sound in the front end which send a vibration through the body of the car while going over dips and steering at low speeds. It has been in the shop 5 times and the current diagnoses is that it's a normal noise. Confirmed with other dealers that the noise is not normal. Visit 1: replaced sway bar bushings. Visit 2: replaced right lower control arm visit 3: replaced right front strut visit 4: replaced power steering gear assembly and both torsion bar supports visit 5: "it's a normal noise" I've test driven other new cars and the noise is not present. I will be persuing the lemon law at this time.

4 Sway Bar problem

Failure Date: 11/12/2003

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.




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