Owners/service Manual Problems of Saturn ION

I was leaving a local grocery store, started my car and proceeded to drive out of the parking lot to the main road, route 611, a fairly busy thoroughfare. As I turned right and attempted to accelerate, the check engine light came on as well as the 'reduced engine power light'. Despite pressing on the the gas pedal to accelerate safely into the flow of traffic (around 40 mph), my car would not accelerate past 10 miles per hour. I am so very lucky that I was not in an accident. I followed the instruction in the Saturn Ion manual which says to turn off the car and the error should clear itself after 10 minutes. I did this and the 'reduced engine power light' went out but not the check engine light. I took the car immediately to my local mechanic who ran a inconclusive diagnostic test. They cleared the check engine light and the car ran fine until yesterday, 4 weeks after the first instance. While I was driving my children home from the dentist, in the flow of traffic, at close to 40 mph, the dash board chimed, check engine light and 'reduced engine power light' lit up and immediately my car would not accelerate over 10 miles per hour. Luckily, we were very close to home, and were not in an accident. Again, I let the car rest, and 12 hours later started the car, both lights cleared themselves. Within in 5 miles of driving to the gym from my home, while driving in the flow of traffic, this issue happened again. This reduced power issue should be a recall. One simple online search shows there are thousands of gm/Saturn cars with this very dangerous issue. Among so many other manufacturer safety issues! this car has had 3 other recalls, one of which my local gm dealer has failed over 3 times to fix. I have to manually put my finger into the steering column to release the ignition key. Hold gm accountable and please make this issue a recall.

See all problems of the 2006 Saturn ION 🔎.

Was traveling at approx 35mph power steering assist was lost, turned into manual steering. I am a fairly new driver, 21, so I didn't really know how to react. It happened very quickly. Hit a center island, for a lack of a better term. Called gm, they had someone inspect the car. Said there was no dtc codes detected. So there for they are calling me a liar. My parents also had this experience with this same vehicle shortly before I purchased the car. Gm refuse to make damage repairs. Only do recall repairs. I only bought the car one week before all this happened.

See all problems of the 2004 Saturn ION 🔎.

I received a letter from Saturn today 12/29/2014 with the letter stating December 2014. In the letter it states the following " this letter is intended to make you aware that your vehicle's transmission shifter may not properly transmit an electrical signal that allows the ignition key to be turned counter clockwise past the accessory mode to the "lock" position after the vehicle has been shifted into park. If this occurs, the ignition key cannot be removed from the ignition cylinder without depressing the manual release plunger located on the underside of the steering column as described in the owners manual. A key left in the accessory position for an extended period of time may result in severe battery drain and a possible no start condition.

See all problems of the 2003 Saturn ION 🔎.

Manual transmission vehicle. Was accelerating onto the highway and merging into fast moving traffic (approximately 60-70 mph traffic). I shifted into 5th gear and then depressed the accelerator pedal all the way to gain enough speed to safely merge leftward. When I lifted my foot away from the pedal it stayed fully depressed (fully accelerating). I hit the brakes moderately, and it was still accelerating, then I hit the brakes harder to decrease my speed (from 70+ down to 60) as I shifted into neutral. I kicked down hard on the accelerator and it released back to the default position.

2006 Saturn Ion manual trans. Key got stuck in the ignition in the on position. To turn car off, need to stall engine (pop clutch), then disconnect battery since electrical circuits remain on. Repair was ignition lock replacement by dealer (approx $400). Based on comments at NHTSA and other sites, this is a very common problem for this vehicle type.

I backed in, my 2004 Saturn Ion, in my driveway, put the gear shift in park and turned off the ignition switch. The doors did not unlock automatically as usual, the key would not go past acc position. I restarted the car and tried again to no avail. After many tries it some how vent to off. Couple days later I took the car to Saturn - Chevrolet dealer to get it fixed. The dealer came back with an estimate of $615. 00 listing as follows: check out - code fee, ignition cylinder 15785084, npc, key 22679805, , adjust shift cable, reprogram, labor 3 hr. I did not get it fixed so they charged me $129. 57 for their estimate. When the recall came through I figured that my problem was part of the switch. Wrong. Today the dealer completed the recall and the problem did not go away. This time it is blamed on gear shifter and would cost me $462. 76, no listing of parts or labor but just scribbled on back of my recall bill of $0. 00. Also informed me that those parts were on back order and not available at this time. I have found a way to get the key out manually with my left land thumb through an opening under the steering column.

Key becomes stuck in the accessory position after turning vehicle off, approximately 90% of the time I drive it. When this occurs, I have two options: allow the battery to be drained and jumpstart the next time I use my car, or attempt to locate the manual release inside the steering column. I've had the recall maintenance done on my car, and it did not fix the problem. Gm told me that I would need to have the gear shifter assembly replaced (cost to be paid by me). In the meantime, they suggested that I continue to release the key manually. Every time I use my car, I feel unsafe - I am putting myself at risk of electrocution constantly, whether by jumpstarting the dead battery or manipulating the wires under the steering column. Gm is aware of this issue and taking no steps to fix it, much like the other ignition/power steering problems they willingly ignored.

See all problems of the 2005 Saturn ION 🔎.