2004 Saturn Ion Body & structure Problems

AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION AND PREPARING TO TURN LEFT, THE CAR COULD NOT STEER TO THE LEFT. AS HE CAR DRIFTED FORWARD THE STEERING BECAME EASIER AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN. AS THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED, THE STEERING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL UNTIL APPROACHING ANOTHER 90 DEGREE RIGHT HAND TURN (1/2 MILE AWAY FROM THE STOP IN WHICH IT WAS HARD TO TURN). NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE VEHICLE, HE SLOWED DOWN TO NEGOTIATE THE RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE CAR FAILED TO STEER RIGHT LEADING HIM STRAIGHT THRU AND INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP ONE WEEK AFTER WE PURCHASED IT TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OCCURRED. THERE WAS MUCH DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR AND OUR INSURANCE PICKED UP THE COST OF THE OTHER DRIVERS DAMAGES. THIS WAS OUR SONS FIRST CAR AND A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY GM TO A DEALERSHIP THAT DEAMED THE CAR SAFE. HE SAID THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS RUSTY WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. WE HAD A CLAIM THRU GM DUE TO THE STEERING RECALL AND THEY DENIED US SINCE THE DEALERSHIP THAT LOOKED AT THE CAR DEEMED IT TO BE SAFE. WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE THAT TOLD US THAT IT IS NOT SAFE AND NOT TO PUT OUR SON BACK IN IT UNTIL WE SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CAN BE REPLACED, BUT OUR SON CANNOT!!! HE WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT MORE SEVERE. WE WILL NOT PUT HIM OR ANYONE ELSE BACK IN THAT CAR IF NOTHING IS DONE TO PREVENT IT AGAIN. WE DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S OUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US IN REGARDS TO THIS SITUATION. WE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH GM AND THE DEALER THAT SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE. OUR SONS LIFE IS AT STAKE AND THE POOR DECISIONS OF THE DEALERSHIP AND GM HAVE CREATED A POTENTIALLY CRITICAL SITUATION. THANKS

NHTSA ID

10824612

Incident

Aug 6, 2015

Mileage

167,100 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704222

Incident

Mar 13, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTING IN JUNE '13, I NOTICED MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW PANEL AND DOOR LOCK NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK IS NOW NOT WORKING AT ALL JULY '14 AND THE WINDOW PANEL IS INTERMITTENT. I'M NOTICING THE PANEL IS GETTING WARM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10607396

Incident

Jun 20, 2013

Mileage

64,000 mi

THE OUTSIDE WINDOW WEATHER STRIPPING IS WARPING AND CRACKING CAUSING JAGGED EDGES. IT STARTED TO RIPPLING ON THE FRONT DOORS NOW IT IS STARTING TO DO IT ON THE REAR DOORS. I HAD TO JUST REPLACE WEATHER STRIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563263

Incident

Aug 9, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SEVERE LEAK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,030. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450540

Incident

Sep 9, 2011

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STANDING AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND REACHING FOR AN OBJECT IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE REAR LIFTGATE CAME DOWN ABRUPTLY ON HER HEAD AND SHOULDERS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE LIFTGATE AND IT WOULD NOT REMAIN UP IN THE OPEN POSITION WITHOUT HOLDING ONTO THE LIFTGATE MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,300. UPDATED 12/23/10*LJ UPDATED 01/04/11

NHTSA ID

10357361

Incident

May 15, 2010

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHEET METAL PART FORMED INTO A RECTANGLE SHAPE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL AND THE FRAME WORKING AS A TYPE OF ARM TO CONNECT THE WHEEL TO THE FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART CORRODED AND THAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE PART AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE DEALER AND THE POLICE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 45000.

NHTSA ID

10354659

Incident

Sep 5, 2010

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SEVERE LEAK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CEILING ON ONE OCCASION YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 545 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10343031

Incident

Jun 11, 2008

Mileage

545 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOORS WERE DETACHING FROM THE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE DOORS ARE CURRENTLY NOT ACCESSIBLE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION AND SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE PANEL AND THE DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,844.65. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10237264

Incident

Aug 2, 2008

Mileage

108,000 mi

MY TRUNK HAS STARTED TO GET WATER IN IT. THIS CAUSED MY BATTERY TO FAIL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NOW THAT IT IS WINTER I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY BECAUSE IT FROZE . THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY TRUNK IS DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212048

Incident

Mar 20, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-95 GOING ABOUT 65 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND I SEE OUT OF MY LEFT SIDEVIEW MIRROR, THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUMPER FLIP UP INTO THE AIR. I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SWERVING LEFT AND RIGHT. MY CAR CROSSED OVER THE RIGHT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND INTO A GRASSY AREA JUST NORTH OF THE GLADES ROAD EXIT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO CHECK THE DAMAGE, RIGHT AWAY I SEE LARGE PIECES OF MY TIRE TREAD LAYING IN THE ROAD ABOUT 20 FEET BACK. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUMPER IS SCRATCHED AND TORN FROM THE CAR. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BALD AND THE TREAD WAS PEALED OFF, LAYING IN THE STREET. THE PANEL BETWEEN MY BUMPER AND LEFT REAR DOOR IS SNAPPED OFF AND HANGING BY A SMALL PIECE. I OPENED THE LEFT REAR DOOR AND THE WHOLE INSIDE FRAME IS CRACKED AND IN PIECES. IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF, IT BEAT INTO THE DOOR, SIDE PANEL AND BUMPER AND BUSTED THEM RIGHT OFF. THE TIRE WAS NOT PUNCTURED NOR DID I RUN OVER ANY DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CHANGED MY TIRE AND PUT THE SPARE ON AND DROVE TO A NEARBY SHOP TO HAVE A NEW TIRE PUT ON. I TAPED UP MY BUMPER BECAUSE IT WOULD FLAP AROUND AS I DRIVE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE TIRE AND IT IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE THAT CAME ON MY 2004 BRAND NEW SATURN ION. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION AND MAKE THEM AWARE THAT THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I KEEP MY CAR IN TOP CONDITION, I GET OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES, FILL MY TIRES WITH AIR EVERY MONTH AND I ROTATE THEM EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE AS WELL. OF COURSE, FIRESTONE DENIED MY CLAIM ADVISING THE TIRE HAD OVER DEFLECTION AND THAT IS WHY THE TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. I CALLED FIRESTONE AND SPOKE WITH THE PARALEGAL WHO SENT THE DENIAL LETTER. I ADVISED HER THAT FIRESTONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE OR PAYING MY $250 DEDUCTIBLE TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FIX THE DAMAGE. FIRESTONE DENIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200121

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

47,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LOCKS DEVELOPED DUST AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR DOOR CAME OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED A BUNGY CORD WAS USED TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM OPENING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT THEN CLEANED OFF HEAVY DUST FROM THE LOCKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR SEALS BUT THAT DID NOT HELP*NM

NHTSA ID

10175344

Incident

Oct 30, 2006

Mileage

70,559 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON GRAVEL ROADS, DUST ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM ALL FOUR DOOR SEALS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND SUGGESTED NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON GRAVEL ROADS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, IT WAS DETERMINED DUST ACCUMULATED AROUND THE DOOR SEALS WHICH CAUSED THE DOORS TO OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - DUST ALSO ACCUMULATED IN AND AROUND THE LOCKS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175327

Incident

Dec 6, 2006

Mileage

70,559 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2004 SATURN ION IN APRIL, 2004. IN JUNE, 2004 MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING MY RUNNING LIGHT ON THAT SIDE NOT TO WORK EITHER.*AK IN JULY, 2004 WHEN OPENING UP THE HOOD TO REFILL WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, THE HOOD LATCH INSIDE THE CAR CAME OFF IN MY HAND. ON DEC 22, 2004, THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED TO WORK CAUSE ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN, WHICH RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR. BOTH CARS WERE ONLY MOVING ABOUT 15 - 20 MPH, BUT ON IMPACT THE WHOLE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) SIDE BUMPER BROKE UP AND WAS ON THE GROUND. LEAVING A BIG GAPPING HOLE ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON DEFECTIVE BRAKES, AS OF THIS DATE. IN FEBRUARY, 2005, WHEN COMING OUT TO START CAR AFTER WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THE KEY LOCKED IN THE IGNITION, THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK LOCKED AND COULDN'T GET THEM OPEN TO GET A JUMP FROM THE TOW TRUCK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE SAME DAY I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WENT INTO A STORE WHEN I CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THIS TIME THE KEY DIDN'T LOCK IN IGNITION SO I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 4 DIFFERENT OCCASION, WITH THE DEALERSHIP NOT ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10112773

Incident

Dec 22, 2004

Mileage

6,537 mi

THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 28-32 MPH. AT ALL OTHER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE IS QUIET. *NM THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW. NO ONE COULD GIVE THE CONSUMER AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092554

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED WHILE RUNNING THE VEHICLE IDLING HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGN. *NM (POSSIBLE VALVE STICKING) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THEN TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN REVERSE AS WELL. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS WOULD ALMOST OCCUR. THERE WOULD BE HIGH RPM'S OF 6000 PLUS. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: WIND NOISE WHEN SUNSHADE WAS CRACKED, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT CANCEL ON TURNS AND THE CHIME WOULD GO OFF AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH SEEMED LOOSE AND OR MISALIGNED, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDOW. *SC

NHTSA ID

10082111

Incident

Jul 15, 2004