RoadVitals

2004 Saturn Ion Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest Jan 10, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 898 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Saturn Ion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed Jan 10, 2018

THE CAR ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATED AT A STOP SIGN AND I HAD TO AIM FOR A SNOE ENBANKMENT TO NOT GO INTO TRAFFIC. IF NOT FOR THE SNOW I COULD HAVE WENT ON TO THE SIDEWALK ANS POSSIBLY HIT SOMEONE.

NHTSA ID
11061569
Incident
Jan 10, 2018
Mileage
6 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2018

THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE INTO CROSSING TRAFFIC WITH MY FEET FIRMLY ON THE BREAKS. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11061118
Incident
Jan 7, 2018
Mileage
93,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SPEED INDEPENDENTLY REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10956545
Incident
Mar 21, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 22, 2015

ON 3/16/2015 I WAS MERGING ON THE FREEWAY IN MY 2004 SATURN ION AND I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY DUE TO ANOTHER DRIVER CUTTING ME OFF, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SATURN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND REACHED HIGH RPMS BETWEEN 4K AND 5K AND CAR LAUNCHED AT A HIGH SPEED. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE YET MY SATURN STILL CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD I REACTED FAST AND STEERED TOWARD THE EMERGENCY LANE PULLED MY E BRAKE UP AND THREW MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT MY CAR OFF YET WHEN IGNITION WAS ALL THE WAY TURNED OFF MY CAR WAS STILL ON FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 4 SECONDS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR AGAIN. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN A FATAL CONCLUSION. I FIND MYSELF VERY NERVOUS AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE (SATURN ION) BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS MY ONLY WAY TO GET TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10700954
Incident
Mar 16, 2015
Mileage
132,024 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10670894
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jan 3, 2015

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A FIRST CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER THAT IS A NEW DRIVER. I HAS BEEN OFF THE ROAD MORE THAN ON THE ROAD FOR RECALLS. THE FIRST IGNITION RECALL COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MY DAUGHTER..AS WE WERE AWAITING PARTS, WE WERE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS OF NO WEIGHT ON KEY RING AND ONLY KEY IN IGNITION. THE INCIDENT STILL HAPPENED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF SPEED. AS A NEW DRIVER THIS INCIDENT SCARRED HER AND SHE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR UP FOR SALE. THEN ANOTHER RECALL, THE EPS WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND CAUSES SPEED LOSS. SO, BACK TO GARBER AND WE JUST DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME ON JANUARY 2, 2015. SEEMED TO START OUT FINE, THEN LOSS OF SPEED AND THE CAR ONLY DROVE AT 35 MPH WITH A LOT OF EFFORT. I PAID $3500 FOR THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER..STILL PAYING ON THE LOAN AND NOW I CANNOT GET IT TO RUN CORRECTLY OR SELL IT..I AM STUCK WITH A NON-RUNNING VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TO INSURE AS WELL. THIS TOTAL IS COSTING ME OVER $300 A MONTH WHILE THE CAR SITS. I DON'T KNOW IF MY DEALER DID THE RECALL CORRECTLY. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY IMPALA AS WELL WITH RECALLS BEING DONE CORRECTLY. ONE INCLUDING MY AIRBAG RECALL AND A SEAT BELT ISSUE THAT I PAID OUT OF POCKET 100.00 AFTER SEVERAL ISSUES. I FEEL GM SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS VEHICLE AS I CANNOT SELL IT OR DRIVE IT. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT I PURCHASED THIS FROM A DEALER ONLY PAY FOR A NON WORKING VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10669850
Incident
Sep 9, 2014
Mileage
131,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 5, 2014

TURNED VEHICLE ON AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS IN PARKING LOT, THE CAR REVVED UP TO ABOUT 4,000RPM WHICH IS UNUSUALLY HIGH. I WAITED FOR THE CAR TO CALM DOWN AND WHEN IT DID, I PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR TO DRIVE. MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO 40MPG THROUGH THE PARKING LOT BEFORE I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS AS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR; APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 TIMES A MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596406
Incident
Aug 12, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed May 27, 2014

MY CAR WAR JUST REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL IGNITION, HOWEVER, IT IS STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OFF AND ON. THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF TWICE ON MY WAY HOME AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TWICE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY SHOW NOTHING ON THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE MY FAMILY HAS, AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE! I HAVE HAD FILES OPEN SINCE 2008 ABOUT THE POWER STEERING, AND OTHER ISSUES. SATURN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING REPLACED TWICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594307
Incident
May 23, 2014
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 30, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. WAS IN THE PASSING LANE MOVING BACK INTO THE TRAVEL LANE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. NO ALARMS WENT OF WARNING ME SOMETHING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BUT HAD A HARDER TIME MAKING TURNS ON THE SIDE STREETS. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE SUDDENLY AFFECTING MY CAR. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585736
Incident
Apr 22, 2014
Mileage
223,100 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 20, 2014
Crash reported

ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO IS WHEN I HAD MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH SPEED ACCELERATION WITH MY SATURN. I LEFT WORK AND TURNED ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE AN HOUR TO GO HOME ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND I WASN'T PRESSING THE GAS. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POP MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET HOME BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS. WHEN I WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE ON WHILE IT WAS STILL IN PARK THE RPM'S WOULD GO CRAZY AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY AUTO SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS SINCE THEN AND ENDED UP CRASHING EARLIER THIS YEAR. MY VEHICLE SPED UP ON A SNOWY ROAD AND I LOST COMPLETE STEERING FOR MY VEHICLE, I NEARLY ROLLED MY CAR AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A SNOW BANK. MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AFTER I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY THEY WERE SURPRISED WITH THE AMOUNT OF FRONT END DAMAGE I HAD ON MY VEHICLE THAT MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT THEY DID NOT. I KNOW OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING WITH NO APPLICATION OF THE GAS PETAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES LITTLE OR NOTHING TO STOP OR SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10583723
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 7, 2014

MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 40 45 MPH AND THE LIGHT UP AHEAD CHANGED YELLOW TO RED JUST BEFORE I COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, MY CAR ACCELERATED I HELD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR KEPT WANTING TO INCH FORWARD ITSEEMED AS IF I HELD THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR I GOT WITHIN 2 OR 3 FEET FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OUT OF INSTINCT I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF HAD I NOT I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I THEN WAITED A MINUTE OR TWO TOPS PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED IT, IT ACTED NORMAL I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS AND OBJECT OR SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE SLIPPED BY MY FEET WHILE DRIVING OR MY FLOOR MAT MOVED THERE WAS NOTHING THERE .THERE HAS BEEN OTHER TIMES LIKE RIGHT AFTER STARTING IT UP IT REVS TO THE HIGHEST RPM POSSIBLE AS IF ITS GOING TO BLOW UP I HURRY AND SHUT IT OFF WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN, AND ANOTHER TIME I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH AS IF I HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE THAT FEATURE WHICH IS REALLY SCARY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO PLEASE HELP THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10578101
Incident
Feb 11, 2014
Mileage
135,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 5, 2014
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH THANKFULLY HAS A RECALL ON IT BUT I WANT THE POWER STEERING TO BE RECALLED AS WELL BECAUSE IT HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577593
Incident
Sep 17, 2008
Mileage
46,780 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 3, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AS THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID
10478505
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Aug 9, 2012

TODAY 8/8/12, I JUMPED INTO MY 2004 SATURN ION AT 5PM AFTER WORK & IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT TURN MY WHEEL AS I EXITED THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO SWERVE HARD TO MY RIGHT TO BY AVOID A COLLISION WITH TWO CARS FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I WAS TERRIFIED! MY DISPLAY SHOWED "PWR STR" I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, I LEFT MY CAR DIAGONALLY PARKED, SINCE IT WOULD NOT MOVE WENT FOR ASSISTANCE, A PASSERBY LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD FOR A WHILE THEN TURNED MY CAR ON AND THE DISPLAY WAS BACK TO MILEAGE AND MY WHEEL WAS WORKING FINE!! I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IT COULD BE AND HOW I COULD FIX IT, I FIND OUT THAT THEIR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING! I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTERS AT ALL. MY CAR HAS BEEN RELIABLE UP UNTIL NOW. IT HAS CLOSE TO 150K MIL (MILEAGE IS AN ESTIMATE ON THIS FORM) SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A GM PROBLEM, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10469920
Incident
Aug 8, 2012
Mileage
148,158 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 29, 2012

WHILST DRIVING, MY CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN GOING ALMOST 45-50MPH. PRESSING THE BRAKES WOULD BARELY DO ANYTHING. IT WON'T START WHEN IT THINKS IT'S TOO COLD OUTSIDE, I'VE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT IS FINE. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT RESISTS A LOT. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. *TT

NHTSA ID
10445782
Incident
Oct 1, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 3, 2012

WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND GATHERING SPEED, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR REACHED 85MPH. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME (10 MILES) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442299
Incident
Jan 3, 2012
Mileage
91,100 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 27, 2011

THE LITANY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE VEHICLE IS LONG AND VARIED. MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, ETC.. GM AND SATURN KNEW OF THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES CONCERNING THE VTI TRANSMISSION, YET THEY CHOSE TO CONTINUE TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK BY DENYING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REAL WAY, IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT IS TO FULLY RECALL AND REPLACE THESE VEHICLES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN LATE 2003 AND CONTINUES TO BE A HAZARD. PLEASE FORCE GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10433025
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Mileage
1,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 5, 2011

WHILE DRIVING MY SATURN ION 2004 THE POWER STEERING LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD CAME ON WHILE I WAS ENGAGING IN A CURVE ON HIGHWAY 15, I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE NO TO CRASH ON THE CONCRETE MIDDLE DIVIDER AND HAD TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE, STOP THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME FEW TIME PER YEAR OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS BUT NOW I AM AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND IT IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10423819
Incident
Aug 15, 2011
Mileage
108,400 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 24, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN REVVING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE WENT UNDER HIS HOOD AND PLACED THE THROTTLE BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. IT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.

NHTSA ID
10378490
Incident
Jan 24, 2011
Mileage
129,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 25, 2010

OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RUNS AT BETWEEN 3,000 AND 4,000 RPM ON THE TACHOMETER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLOWLY DROPS BACK TO AN IDLE (~800RPM). AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR AGAIN, THE CAR LUNGES ONCE AGAIN - THROW IT IN NEUTRAL - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, SLOWLY RECOVERS. AFTER TWO - THREE MINUTES THE ENGINE STABILIZES AND THE PROBLEM IS GONE. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALL WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR - EVER! THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND USUALLY DURING HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAINY CONDITIONS. IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE THAT I HAVE NEVER SOUGHT HELP FROM A DEALER. IT IS NOT REPEATABLE IN A WAY THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT HAPPENS FAIRLY RARELY (SOMETIMES A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK - SOMETIMES ONCE A MONTH) AND INCONSISTENTLY. IF I WAS AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND IF THIS WAS A MORE POWERFUL CAR, I WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY NOW. I HAVE LEARNED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOTOR WHEN I FIRST START THE VEHICLE. IF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IDLING A BIT FAST THEN I KNOW IT WILL TRY TO RUN AWAY WITH ME WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR SO I JUST WAIT FOR IT TO IDLE DOWN TO NORMAL BEFORE PUTTING IT IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314087
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Mileage
17,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 8, 2009

WHILE SLOWING AND PREPARING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, RPM'S INCREASED EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR. VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP AND REQUIRED MORE THAN NORMAL FOOT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE KEY. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES RANDOMLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. ON ALL OCCURRENCES, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291388
Incident
Nov 6, 2008
Mileage
67,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 12, 2009

I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2004 BRAND NEW. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A HIGH IDLE CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I MUST RESET THE BATTERY ONCE A WEEK TO RESTORE IT TO NORMAL. IT SEEMS TO BE FINE FOR A WEEK AND HIGH IDLE COMES BACK. I HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I MUST TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON TO WARM UP THE BATTERY BEFORE TRYING TO START CAR. SATURN WAS NO HELP. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10265047
Incident
Sep 15, 2004
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 29, 2007

2004 SATURN ION 1 THE CAR REVS IT'S ENGINE TO OVER 3000 RPMS WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND IDLE. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR IT IS OK, BUT IF YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR THE CAR THE LURCHES FORWARD UNSAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10213147
Incident
Dec 22, 2007
Mileage
42,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 29, 2007

SINCE I PURCHASED 2004 SATURN ION III QUAD COUPE IN NOVEMBER 2004 I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE WORST IT DRIFTED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ONE MUST CONSTANTLY STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE DEALER MAINTAINED THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE, AND THAT THE PULL WAS THE RESULT OF RADIAL TIRE DRIFT . NOT SATISFIED , I PAID TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. THEY CORRECTED A MINOR PROBLEM THAT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE DRIFTING PROBLEM. SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT WEARING ODDLY I PUT UP WITH THE DRIFT UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES, BUT THE DRIFTING CONTINUED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT VERY SLIGHTLY. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED THE CAR STILL DRIFTED. I COMPLAINED, AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE DEALER ACCOMPANY ME ON A TEST DRIVE, AND THEY ADMITTED THE VEHICLE STILL DRIFTED. THE REGIONAL ENGINEER FOR SATURN EXAMINED THE CAR, AND RESPONDED AT THIS TIME THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR. BY DESIGN THERE WAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT THEY COULD MAKE TO THE CAR TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REACHED THAT LIMIT, AND DEEMED THIS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THEY TOOK SEVERAL OTHER IONS OUT FOR TEST DRIVES. EVERY ONE THEY DROVE BEHAVED IN THE SAME MANNER. SO AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED MY VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. I HAVE ASKED THAT THEY PUT THIS IN WRITING WHICH THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO. I AM CONTACTING THE NHTSA BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM TO THE VEHICLE AND ITS DESIGN, AND REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU BECOME DISTRACTED IN THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED YOU CAN VERY EASILY FIND YOURSELF IN THE NEXT LANE. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOME IS HURT OR KILLED. BY THE WAY SATURN'S SOLUTION KEEP A GOOD GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10186454
Incident
Mar 29, 2007
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Jan 4, 2006

MULTIPLE EPISODES WITH THIS CAR OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAS HAD TO START CAR FOR ME 2 TIMES. ANOTHER TIME THE CAR STALLED WHILE IDLING 4 TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTE DRIVE. TONIGHT THE CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS ON THEIR COMPUTER. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT THIS WITH THE LEMON LAW BUT I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW THAT I WANT TO JUST GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146924
Incident
Sep 1, 2004

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