Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Saturn Ion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH THE HOOD'S LATCH ARM BROKE OFF CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE METAL AROUND THE ARM APPEARS TO HAVE RUSTED ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FAILURE.
MY HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE PART OF THE HOOD THAT GOES INTO THE LATCH BROKE OFF THE HOOD. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY HOOD FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND FILING A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE MY CAR WAS DETERMINED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I HAVE SUFFERED EMOTIONAL DISTRESS DUE TO THE TRAUMA OF MY HOOD SUDDENLY FLYING OPEN AND SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD. WHEN MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP I WAS INCHES AWAY FROM A TELEPHONE AND WAS BARELY MISSED BY A SEMI-TRUCK THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME DUE TO HAVING TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES BECAUSE THE HOOD WAS ON MY WINDSHIELD. I AM ALSO SUFFERING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT BECAUSE I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR, THE INSURANCE HAS TOTALED MY CAR, AND I HAVE NO MEANS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE CAR IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION WITH NO RUST EXCEPT AT THAT PART OF THE HOOD.
THE HOOD CATCH DETACHED FROM THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. THE HOOD SLAMMED BACK INTO THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING THE GLASS. THE HOOD WAS RUSTY AROUND THE MOUNTING POINTS OF THE CATCH AND THE CATCH BROKE FREE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CATCH REMAINED IN THE HOOD LATCH. I DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ACCIDENT OR INJURY.
ENGINE CRADLE LEFT FRONT RUSTING AND HOLES NOW NOT PASSING VERMONT STATE INSPECTION AND I HAVE HAD AND LIVED IN THE SALT BELT FOR 11 YEARS. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL SECONDARY TO SAFETY ISSUES???
COUPLE MONTHS AGO I BROUGHT MY CAN TO GM BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. LAST WEEK I GOT A CALL FROM GM THAT MY CAR WAS DONE AND READY TO BE PICK UP. I NOTICED THAT THE POWER OF MY CAR WASN'T THERE, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS GOING DOWN (WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF AT GM IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN), AND MY CAR CHARGER WASN'T WORKING (WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF IT THE CAR WAS CHARGING MY PHONE SAME CHARGER SAME PHONE). 2:00AM TODAY I HIT A DEER ON MY WAY TO MY PARENTS HOUSE (IM OKAY BUT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE DEER) BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
IN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND SMASHED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND WE WERE LUCKY TO SAFELY SLOW DOWN, CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC BY LOOKING OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW AS OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY.. JUST THE HOOD. IN INSPECTION WE NOTICED THAT THE LATCH WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED AND DETATCHED FROM THE TOP PLATE LEAVING NO HOOD SECURITY. THE TOP LATCH IS STILL LOCKED IN PLACE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT BUT GOD WAS DEFINITELY BY OUR SIDE! *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BOULEVARD, I WAS DOING 40 MPH THERE WAS A POLICE CAR IN FRONT AND THERE WAS MAYBE ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTH DISTANCE FROM HIM. THE LIGHT HIT YELLOW AND I SAW HIM BRAKE SO I STARTED BRAKING AS WELL BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED INCREASING, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP. MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE POLICE CAR WITHIN SECONDS. MY CAR WAS DESTROYED. MY HOOD WAS BENT IN HALF, MY FRONT BUMPER SCRATCHED & PEELED. THE BUMPER STOOD ON THE CAR ONLY BECAUSE I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT IN AN ANGLE WHERE IT WENT UNDER THE COPS CAR. BOTH MY SIDE FENDERS CRACKED AND MY FRONT LIGHT WAS DESTROYED. THE WHOLE CAR FRAME IS DESTROYED AND I WAS HELD AT FAULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. MY INSURANCE WENT UP, I DIDN'T GET NO MONEY TO HELP FIX MY CAR NOR CHECK THE PROBLEM. IF THERE IS WAY I CAN GET ANY TYPE OF HELP I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE IT. 5 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT WAS PARKED. IT WAS JUST ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I LEFT IT PARKED FOR A WEEK AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON IT WAS FINE. IM SCARED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *TR
WHEN IT RAINS OR SNOWS, MY DRIVER SEAT AND FLOOR GETS WET. THERE ARE NO WATER STAINS AROUND THE SUN ROOF NOR IS THERE ANY WATER DAMAGE ON THE DRIVERS' DOOR. IN NEW ENGLAND, THE CAR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL IN THE WINTER AND SPRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO FIX IT. 2) I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT TURN SIGNALS 3 TIMES IN 1.5 YEARS. I AM ALMOST CONVINCED IT IS A SOCKET PROBLEM AND NOT A LIGHTBULB PROBLEM. 3) I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. IN THAT TIME. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN 17,000 MILES. ONCE IS UNDERSTANDABLE. TWICE IS EXPENSIVE AND RIDICULOUS. *TR
HOOD LATCH BROKEN, IGNITION SWITCH SPARKS AND THE CAR DOESN'T START, LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT END, TRANSMISSION IS QUIRKY WHILE SHIFTING(AUTOMATIC) DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE PARTS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT TO TAKE THE CHILD OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE IGNITION RUNNING. THE DOORS LOCKED, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET HER CHILD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY UPON EXITING DRIVER'S SIDE. ADDITIONAL SERVICE INCLUDE, THE A/C AND HEATER FUNTION FAILED DUE TO FAULTY CONNECTION FROM SWITCH TO RESISTOR CARD, COLLAPSE OF HORN COVER CAUSING LOSS OF AIRBAG. IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE SIGNAL AND RUNNING LAMPS WERE INOPERATIVE. *BF
DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS ADJUSTED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. HOWEVER, DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE TAKES 2-5 MINUTES FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN FROM 2500 RPM'S. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEFOSTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HOOD WOULD NOT ALWAYS CLOSE PROPERLY.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK OPENED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. *TC *JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LEAKS AT THE TOP. CONDENSATION GATHERS ON THE UPPER INSIDE OF THE DOOR AND DRIPS ON THE DRIVERS LEG, AS WELL AS ON THE POWER WINDOW/LOCKS SWITCHES, WHICH COULD CAUSE CORROSION OR A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*AK
2003 SATURN ION 1. DURING COLD WEATHER THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FROSTS. THE CONTROLS ARE SET FOR DEFROST, AIR ON AND BLOWER MEDIUM HIGH. EVEN WITH THE BLOWER ON HIGH THERE IS VERY LITTLE AIR COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DEFROST OUTLET. A CO-WORKER HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HIS ION. THE DEALER SAID THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. 2. THE HOOD LATCH FREEZES AND THE HOOD CANT BE OPENED TO ADD WINDOW WASHER FLUID. SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THE HOOD OPEN BUT YOU CANT RELATCH THE HOOD COMPLETELY WITHOUT PUSHING THE HOOD RELEASE HANDLE DOWN. A CO-WORKER HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HIS ION. 3. SOME THE EDGES ON INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS ON THE ARE VERY SHARP. THE WORST IS THE COMPARTMENT DOOR TO THE LEFT DRIVERS LEG. THIS POPPED OPEN AND HAD A SHARP ROUGH EDGE. AS I EXITED THE CAR I CUT MY LEG. I FIXED THIS MYSELF BY FILLING THE EDGE. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 69 MPH, CONSUMER HIT A RACCOON AND DAMAGED THE UNDERBODY, RADIATOR ,AND THE FRONT END. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER AND THE HOOD OPENED. *AK *JB
THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS BLEW OUT 11 TIMES. FIRST THE DEALER TOLD ME THE BULBS WERE BAD, THEN TOO MANY AMPS FOR THE TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT. THEY DID SOME "CONVERSION" 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE BULBS BLEW OUT LESS FREQUENT BUT STILL OCCURRING. THE DRIVER FRONT BULBS BLEW 3 WEEKS AGO. THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO MALFUNCTION WHENEVER I PLUG THE CELL PHONE CHARGER INTO THE POWER OUTLET. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE TURN SIGNAL.
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD 3 ON 6-12-2003. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE BEGINNING. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. A TECH FROM SPRING HILL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. TRYING TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS A NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL IS CRACKED AND BEING REPLACED. THE REAR BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF SCRATCHES FROM THE TRUNK RUBBING. THE FRONT BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF RUNS IN THE PAINT. NONE OF THE BODY PANELS SEEM TO MATCH UP. THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO FIX A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THEY'RE REPLACING THE DR SIDE GLASS BECAUSE IT IS SEVERELY SCRATCHED. IT SOMETIMES RUNS ROUGH AT FIRST CRANK.
ELECTRICAL; DOOR SEALS LOOSE; CAR RETURNED UP TO 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE ON 7/13/03. SATURN ION 3 COUPE--TURN SIGNALS BURNED OUT W/IN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER; REQUESTED CHECK OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. JULY 26, 2003 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED. COMPLAINED ABOUT DOOR SEAL AT SAME TIME & SERVICE DEPT DID NOT CHECK IT OUT UNTIL THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX ON JULY 31. REQUESTED TO RETURN VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD "IT WOULD BE FIXED TO MY SATISFACTION". DOOR SEAL WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY & I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR A FOURTH TIME TO GET THIS REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. *PH
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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