Saturn ION owners have reported 3 problems related to coolant leaking (under the engine and engine cooling category). The most recently reported issues are listed below.
2003 Saturn Ion: buy date 5/03. Nov,2003, Saturn sent bulletin # 03-06-123-001, entitled loss of coolant/no external evident. Sent solely to all parts managers and tech's. Condition: some customers may comment that the low coolant light comes on with no external leaks visible. Cause"this condition may be caused by porosity in the aluminum of cylinder head casting. Car has 34000 mi. Warranty is 100,000 mi, or 5 years. The latter expired may, 2008. I am positive no recall to cust's was sent. Ask that you verify from Nov. 2003 to present that no recall was issued. Problem began about 500 miles ago. After repeated incidents, my local mech. Went on the computer and found the above mentioned bulletin. I am 86 yrs old, have emphysema, on oxygen 24/7. Nearest family member is 400 mi. Away. Car is only mode of travel due to disability. Been warned by local mech. Not to take any trips due to fire danger.
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March 22, 2003 I purchased an Saturn Ion 3. Within the 1st the week there was problems starting the car. The car was in for service 2 times in 2 weeks. Finally the engine light started flashing (3rd time). Supposedly the car was fixed. 3 days later the dealer's service department called me at Saturn corp. 's request to immediately return the car as the engine could blow up. The engine had a cracked cylinder which caused coolant to leak into the engine with about 650 miles. Also, another Saturn Ion with 2500 miles was sitting in the dealer's lot with a cracked cylinder in the engine. I was released from the sale on April 17, 2003. I took a 2nd Saturn Ion 3 on April 17, 2003. This car has jerky steering problems coming out of turns and sever transmission problems. The car kicks when turning on the ignition, engine gets racketing when put into reverse, when changing gears - kicks, slides, and will surge, and bounce through gears between 30 mph to above 70 mph. The service manager said, "all the Ions drive this way. There's nothing wrong with the car". This car has been in for service 4 times. Each time the car is returned worse than the time before.
I bought a 2003 Saturn Ion 3 March 17, 2003. Within 2 weeks the car had a cracked cylinder with coolant leaking into the engine. Saturn corp. Recalled the car. The purchase of 1g8al52f33z149331 was canceled 4/17/03 and I purchased a 2nd 2003 Saturn Ion 3, 1g8al52f83z171972, on 4/17/03. The 2nd car from the beginning had transmission problems shifting between gears, jerking up and down from 30 mph to 70 mph, kicks when started, rattles loudly in reverse, and steering problems coming out of turns. The car has been in service 4 times (bumper to bumper warranty.