2004 Saturn Ion Owner Complaints

The car doesn't always want to release the key. I have to stick my finger up in the column to push the little button to release it which is not convenient at all. It seems to do it if the wheels aren't completely straight. But still even with the steering wheel straight, sometimes it wont come out if its on a slight hill. Ive had a new key made and it makes no difference, no check engine light and auto technician said the ignition looks fine. Ive read tons of reports like this on the 2004 saturn ion 2-why isn't this being addressed?

NHTSA ID

11696981

Incident

Mar 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the ignition switch and the ignition lock cylinder; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) and 14V171000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11530643

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

230,000 mi

The drivers side windshield wiper linkage failed at the junction of the metal rod and the plastic wiper mount causing the wiper to stop working. And the wiper arms are almost impossible to remove, even with a puller. Obviously this condition is a safety issue, and other GM vehicles have been recalled for the same issue. Why not the 2004 Saturn Ion?

NHTSA ID

11528394

Incident

Jun 19, 2023

Airbags did not deploy

NHTSA ID

11528201

Incident

Jun 19, 2023

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to maneuver the steering wheel on several occasions. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he replaced the electric power steering motor; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic for additional diagnostic test or repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11497233

Incident

Dec 8, 2022

My car started getting a strong odor of gas. A fuel pipe leak is causing the odor

NHTSA ID

11446156

Incident

Sep 8, 2021

Hi I am a kind of new owner of an 04 saturn ion, this is actually the second complaint I've filled out. Last July I had a mechanic friend look at my fuel filter and he had said the fuel line needed to be cut off becuase of how rusted on to the original fuel filter I'd got it with was and I didn't believe him so I replace it myself and when I got it off I had cleaned up the metal fuel line the best I could and put a new filter on. Well now it leaks gas right where the hook up is and very strong fuel smells come from there too, I've gotten numerous comments about how un safe that is to be driving it but I need to have a way to work and then someone had mentioned to check for recalls and I seen on there that this car did have a recall for faulty fuel filter gas lines. If you could get back to me as soon as possible about an inspection if needed or whatever else you'd need on my behalf. Please and thank you for your time

NHTSA ID

11432589

Incident

Jul 18, 2020

TRIED TAKING FUEL FILTER OFF LAST JULY TOOK A WHOLE WEEKEND OF USING PENATRATING OIL AND FREEZE OFF THEN I FINALLY GOT THE TABS TO COME LOOSE, I THOUGHT MAYBE I MESSED UP THE NEW FILTER OR DIDNT GET ENOUGH RUST OFF THE FUEL LINE AND THAT'S WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS ND POOR PERFORMANCE BUT CHANGED IT AGAIN AND STILL THAT SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW THERES A LEAK. THE CAR WAS ON BACK TIRE RAMPS THE GIRL FUEL FILTER CHANGE THEN THE 2ND ONE WAS DONE WITH A HOIST AND CURRENTLY THIS CAR IS THE ONLY THING I CAN COUNT ON TO MAKE IT TO WORK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

11398818

Incident

Jul 7, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING, GM REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE VIN ISN'T ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL, BUT THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR SAYS IT HAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM AND PUMP.

NHTSA ID

11390624

Incident

Dec 29, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

FUEL LEAK ON REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY. IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE THE DATE AND MILEAGE STATED BELOW BUT THAT'S WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE FUEL LEAK.

NHTSA ID

11378021

Incident

Nov 24, 2020

Mileage

167,573 mi

POWER STEERING STICKS. I TAKE A 55MPH CURVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T COME BACK TO CENTER. IT WANTS TO TAKE ME OFF THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ID

11377365

Incident

Nov 30, 2020

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,639.

NHTSA ID

11325424

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

172,639 mi

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION THE PAST FEW DAYS. AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THEN MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPINS IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE AND DOES NOT TURN THE WHEELS. I WAS IN MOTION IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

11322453

Incident

Apr 27, 2020

WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVED FROM THE CAR THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH STAY ON. CAR IS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

11319583

Incident

Mar 3, 2019

Mileage

159,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VERA CADILLAC LOCATED AT (300 S UNIVERSITY DR, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33025, (954) 417-8998) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 244,000.

NHTSA ID

11318552

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

244,000 mi

IT LOOKS LIKE MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE OR FUEL PUMP BUT I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ON MY CAR BUT IT'S NOT SHOWING UP ON MY VIN NUMBER

NHTSA ID

11317140

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, IT WILL NOT ALWAYS REGISTER THAT IT IS PARK; THEREFORE, IT WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OF MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, IT WILL EVENTUALLY ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. IT STARTED WITH JUST A FEW DAYS A WEEK, BUT IS NOW HAPPENING AT LEAST ONE TIME A DAY.

NHTSA ID

11258409

Incident

May 25, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION 1 FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE THE ELECRTIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE DEALER IN MY AREA SAYS THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR MAY 2019 USED EVERY DOLLAR I HAD TO BUY IT. IM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4, I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN THERE IS NOTHING FOR JOBS HERE. I WORK PART TIME AT A FAST FOOD RESTURANT AND CAN BARLEY AFFORD TO FEED MY FAMILY. I JUST SPENT 2000.00 ON THIS CAR AND CANT RISK DRIVING IT NOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE. I HAVE KIDS TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL AND A JOB TO REPORT TO EVERYDAY I NEED MY CAR FIXED ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11255013

Incident

Sep 5, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITHOUT POWER STEERING ABILITY TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED SCHUMACHER CHEVROLET OF DENVILLE (LOCATED AT 281 US-46 E, DENVILLE, NJ 07834, (973) 644-7584) TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,800.

NHTSA ID

11221011

Incident

Jun 14, 2019

Mileage

17,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING). WHILE REVERSING, THE CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ID

11207896

Incident

Apr 17, 2019

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THREE TIMES AND THE BATTERY AND CRANK SENSOR WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11186249

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STOPPED. IT STIFFENED UP AS IF THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CRASH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK THEM TO CONSIDER REPAIRING THE PROBLEM BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY (400,000 SATURN IONS ON THE ROAD) COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. GMC TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS NO RECALL; THEY COULD NOT REPAIR MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11182157

Incident

Feb 16, 2019

Mileage

163,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING WITHOUT NOTICE .WHEN YOU ARE TRUNING IT IS HARD,ALSO THE BEARING AND STRUTS ARE ALSO VERY RUFF.ALMOST HAD A WRECK WHEN TURING

NHTSA ID

11176627

Incident

Oct 10, 2018

Mileage

117,525 mi

WHILE ON A NEIGHBOR HOOD DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH I STEERING WHILE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THEN LOCKED ITSELF IN STRAIGHT POSITION. IT IS PARKED NEXT TO HOME ON CITY CURB SIDE.

NHTSA ID

11165466

Incident

Jan 5, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, "POWER STEERING" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11141056

Incident

Oct 1, 2017

Mileage

111,000 mi