Saturn ION owners have reported 39 problems related to automatic transmission (under the power train category). The most recently reported issues are listed below.
My daughter bought a Saturn Ion iii. She has recently had trouble with her automatic transmission. Saturn has acknoweldged a hard shifting problem from 2nd to 3rd, but since a high number of vehicles exhibit this problem, and they don't know what is causing it, it is being considered normal operation. My daughter's car exhibited this problem, but it has now begun to be a way more serious concern because it will completely slip, (lose all power), for what seems to be an ever increasing longer interval and more frequently. She has had this happen while trying to make a left hand turn with oncoming traffic. She now tries to avoid any situation at low speeds that might cause her injury, (she tries to make as many right hand turns to get to and from work as possible). Saturn has had two service employees witness the problem, albeit in a straight line driving situation. They still refuse to repair/replace or admit a problem beyond the hard shifting. My daughter lives in mesa, az. Her phone number is 480-577-3113, and name is elysia beckendorf. I mention mesa because of the unusual streets there. The majority of main city streets are six lanes wide with 45mph speed limits. That is a very scary scenario to be making a left hand turn in and lose power.
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I purchased my 2003 Saturn Ion in January 2003. It has been a nightmare. The vehicle has been into the dealership a total of 6 times and a grand total of 18 days in service. The transmission downshifts when I try to accerlerate. The service techs at Saturn have been able to duplicate this problem several times. They have recalirberated and replace the transmission; however the vehicle is still down shifting when accerlerating. I am terrified that I will be hit because of this problem. It has now gotten to the point that it will stop for a few seconds when the failure occurs and then take off agian. This is very dangerous. They should not be able to sell vehicles with defects. I have filed a compliant with the bbb and currently have a case pending. I want to be refunded in full for this vehicle.
Purchase Saturn Ion iii in March. Transmssion had hard shift then slip problem almost immediately.
When tires spin transmission disconnects. Then. Vehicle has to be towed. This normally happens when it is snowing. Also, steering wheel turns from left to right on its own.