17 problems related to battery have been reported for the 2006 Saturn ION. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the ignition failed and as a result, he was unable to turn the ignition to the off position. The contact mentioned that in order to turn off the vehicle he had to disconnect the battery. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the ignition lock cylinder and the ignition lock housing needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 62,000.
My key is locked in the ignition in the on position, and will not turn to off, the only way to turn off the vehicle is to stall it , and disconnect the battery wires to keep the battery from draining down too much.
The ignition lock cylinder in my vehicle seized up - my car was running, and I was unable to turn the key or turn the car off, though I can remove the key and the car stays running. The key is still stuck to "on" and the only way I'm able to turn the car off is to stall it (manual transmission) and pull the battery fuse. From reading forums on this problem I know this is a very, very common problem for Saturn Ions. This part absolutely needs to be recalled. In the meantime, to save hundreds at the dealer I will have to replace the part myself.
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the key would become stuck in the accessory position and the vehicle could not be turned off. The contact stated that the only way to turn the vehicle off was to disconnect the negative cable from the battery. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileages were 100,000.
Today was the second time the ignition has seized up when trying to turn off the car when parking. The first time (a few months ago) we had a new ignition installed. It already is doing the same thing. When putting the car in park, the key/ignition will not move at all so we were unable to turn off the car. We had to block the airflow to the engine to stop the car and also remove unattach the battery because all of the electrical components were still on.
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the key would not turn in the ignition to shut off the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was immediately taken to an authorized dealer where the battery was disconnected and a diagnostic test was performed. A part was ordered and the vehicle would be repaired upon availability. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 35,256. Updated 10/27/bf.
On 4/26/11, I took my car in for repairs and the dealer replaced the fuel pump, which was covered by a recall. At that time, I purchased an extended warranty that had a 30 day and 1,000 miles waiting period. On 5/22/11, I drove home and went to turn my key off and it would not turn off. I had to call aaa to come out and they pulled a fuse to get the engine to shut off. Then they disconnected the battery and put the fuse back in. I had to hook the battery back up to drive the vehicle to the dealership. They had to replace the cylinder lock and housing for a cost of $594. 00. This problem should be cosidered a safety issue and be subject to a recall! I have seen 138 complaints just on this issue alone. What does it take?.
For the past 5 months, the Saturn Ion 3 power steering will intermitently go out. When I first start the car the power steering works fine, and then at any random time the car makes a ding,ding noise and then there is no power steering. If the car is shut off and turned back on the power steering is fine. Then a few miles down the road it turns off again, almost every day. This makes it very difficult to turn corners. The next problem is if it is damp or cold (below 60) in the morning at 8am the car will not turn over or start, until the sun comes out and warms up the car, by noon the car starts just fine. I can get it started if I place two warm blankets on the battery and motor and wait a few minutes, then the car will start. The drivers side windows have also stopped working.
Driving with traffic, the car dies and the steering gets very hard to turn then battery light comes on. Car will restart with no further problems. This will happen at least once a week. Took to the dealer they fixed the gas tank leak and other recall parts. This continues to happen almost caused several accidents. Do not know if it is the steering or electrical. It doesn't matter what speed your going or if your going straight or turning. Please look into this problem. I have had the battery checked the thermostat, checked the fuse box checked. The dealer checked and fixed the other 3 things from recall as stated. The ignition sometimes gets stuck when the steering goes out you can not get the key to do anything until you turn the steering wheel that has no power then you can restart the car. Also the car heat gauge never goes above half way so car is not over heating.
I have a 2006 Saturn Ion on with 43,000 miles (a well-maintained vehicle at that). The problem (a common one from everything I've read/heard): recently, I was unable to shut my vehicle off; that's correct. . . I could not turn my car off. The key was locked in the ignition with the vehicle running. After several hours, my husband and I were able to determine the best course of action (get it to a dealer, disconnect the fuel pump fuse and battery, and spend $451 to have the ignition cylinder completely replaced; the mechanic said it was defective). Not being able to shut off a vehicle is a major safety concern (for so many reasons); you can't simply leave a vehicle running, and you certainly can't leave a running vehicle unattended (although some people probably have. . . How dangerous is that?).
1. No abnormal circumstances, simply turned off at night, and returned in the morning to a car with perfectly working electrical but will not react when turning the car further. 2. It occurs randomly, the consequences are that my car is useless at the time that I need it most, the morning before work. 3. Absolutely nothing. . . It is a Saturn Ion. The issue is all over the internet, and the fix is complicated, leaving your car on for 10 minutes to get around the pass lock. If your battery survives your car will work afterward.
I purchased my brand new Saturn Ion 2 coupe in June of 2006. In the winter of 2006 I had the ignition to lock up on me and I could not get my key out and it wouldn't turn at all. Thankfully my car was under warranty and I had it towed immediately to the nearest Saturn dealer. I was told that the ignition housing and its components had to be replaced. The service guy continued to tell me that this has been a common problem. I didn't think anything else about it because mine was fixed. Now in oct of 2009 I am faced with the same problem but my key was in the on position and running. The only way to turn my car off was to stall it out because its a five speed and disconnect the battery. My car is no longer under warranty so therefore I am faced with a mechanic bill that is outrageous and I am a college student. I further investigated this problem on the internet to see if there were similar problems like mine and to my surprise there are numerous unsatisfied Saturn customers that have had to deal with the same problem. I feel that these ignitions should be investigated and recalled because they have caused so many problems. This is a hazard because this leaves drivers stranded on the side of the road, in an empty parking lot, or in unknown territory. As a female, I was stranded in a parking lot not knowing what to do and scared. I was very disappointed that the Saturn customer service man could not help me on the telephone and very unaware of customer safety.
After coming out of carwash I attempted twice to start car. On the third try it started & then key would not turn off w/engine running when I reached my destination. I then proceeded to Saturn dealer who fortunately was open and disconnected battery to stop engine. Housing, key assembly, & cylinder had to be replaced at the expense of $598. 06. Dealer could not explain why or how situation occurred so as to prevent recurrence in future. Mileage was 40,071.
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. While driving 75 mph, the cruise control stopped working. The power steering, battery, and coolant warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact also noticed that the vehicle would no longer accelerate. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The contact did not notice any differences beforehand. The current and failure mileages were 51,000. Updated 10/16/08 the consumer also stated the key became stuck in the ignition. Updated 10/21/08.
In 2008 my key was stuck in the ignition not allowing my car to shut off. After several hours in the blazing son with my son, a tow truck came and had to disconnect my battery and take out the ignition relay just to get my car to stop running. My car almost over heated and ran out most my gas. The ignition cylinder and switch was replaced costing over seven hundred dollars. Now in 2012 the same thing has happened again. I was quoted another six hundred and eighty dollars to replace it again. Since I do not have the funds to replace such a costly unexpected repair I am forced to live with a car that I can not drive. My key is stuck in the ignition not allowing me to lock my doors which leaves my car open for anyone to destroy it or rob it. Since you can only access the battery by the truck and the trunk can only be opened by key or automatic key ring. I can no longer access my battery to hook it back up. This is because the only other way to get to open the trunk is by having the seats down in the back and climbing through the trunk to open it. Even if someone else does open the trunk. Connecting the battery and disconnecting the battery in hundred degree weather is not acceptable. Since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder I can no longer due such thing. If connected I can start my vehicle. Actually after replacing the ignition relay it starts itself. I see online that the ignition or its parts is an ongoing problem with my vehicle. When is it going to become a recall?.
Cold weather / around freezing temperature. Car does not start at all in cold weather. Have replaced battery and it has repeated the same problem.
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The vehicle would not shut off and the contact disconnected the battery. The following morning, the trunk that housed the battery would not open. The vehicle will be towed to the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 44,000.