Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 20 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
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.
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
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
AT APPROXIMATELY 3:50 P.M. FRIDAY JANUARY 23 2015 I WAS SLOWING DOWN FROM 35 MPH TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. BEFORE I TURNED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE. AFTER LIMPING THE CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT I GOT OUT AND THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED. I NOTICED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES. THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER EVEN MENTIONED HE HAD NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHENEVER SHE MADE A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,447. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER, THEY KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SWITCHES STARTED GOING HAYWIRE , ALONG WITH DIFFERENT WARNING SIGNS.. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SOLENOID WAS DAMAGED. A MONTH PRIOR, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. ALSO, WHEN THE CONSUMERS SON ATTEMPTED TO USE THE JACK, TO CHANGE THE TIRE, THE JACK BENT AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST COLLAPSED ON HER SON'S FOOT. UPDATED 11/19/14 UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN
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
I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. I BOUGHT IN THE WINTER OF 2007. IT IMMEDIATELY PRESENTED WITH THE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING IN REALLY COLD WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BOUGHT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT HE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO WAIT UP TO 30 MINUTES FOR MY CAR TO START IN FREEZING COLD WEATHER. ABOUT 6 OR 8 MONTHS AGO THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN WHEN IT WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH, SOMETIMES THE KEY ALMOST COMING OUT TOTALLY BEFORE IT WILL TURN OVER. TODAY IT TOOK 15 MINUTES TO FINALLY GET IT UNLOCKED AND TURNED OVER TO START. *KB
AFTER ONLY 9 MONTHS OF OWNING MY ION I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE AND CAN HAPPEN 8 TIMES IN A WEEK THEN NOT AT ALL FOR MONTHS. HOWEVER WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT IS A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE AS I AM USUALLY DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE CAR WILL BE "LOCKED" INTO 4TH FOR EXAMPLE AND WHEN I TRY TO SHIFT TO 5TH I CAN NOT GET IT OUT OF 4TH. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP A MINIMUM OF 20 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I THEN TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECH TOOK THE CAR HOME FOR 1 WEEK, EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF, AND TOLD ME ALL HE COULD DO WAS REPLACE A WIRE AND HOPE IT HELPED BECAUSE SATURN WOULD NOT LET HIM INVESTIGATE ANY MORE OPTIONS. IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP MY CAR. AND SINCE THE LAST TIME MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP MY POWER STEERING NOW GOES IN AND OUT. APPARENTLY THEY BUSTED A SEAL AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT TO ME, SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT, BUT ALSO LOSING MY POWER STEERING. THEY ONLY SOLUTION I CAN COME UP WITH IS TO TRY MY BEST TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT AND TURN IT OFF AND LET IT SIT. THIS CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH: REVERSE SWITCH GOING OUT, AIRCONDITIONING GOING OUT, POWER WINDOWS NO LONGER WORK, POWER STEERING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT. I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS EVERYDAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME AT MOST TIMES. THIS SHOULD HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE UNDER THE ORIG. WARRANTY, AS IT ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST 6-12 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR. LOL THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR BUYING A GM PRODUCT. *TR
I HAVE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH MY 2004 SATURN OF COURSE I HAVE THE COLD START PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE HAD SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR(WITH ONLY 7 MILES ON IT). ANYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR OVER 30 MILES AN HOUR IT SHAKES HAD THAT PROBLEM FIX 2 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SEAL LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. NEW PROBLEM DON'T THINK I'VE SINCE THIS ONE YET THE TRANSMISSION IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER GOES OUT ND GUESS WHAT FOR ONLY $275 SATURN WILL REPLACE THAT FOR YOU. THIS CAR IS SUCH A LEMON. CLEARLY AS I READ OVER COMPLAINTS OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS LIKE MYSELF, THE TEACHER OR JUST SOMEONE WHO WANT A RELIABLE CAR. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME NEVER BY AMERICAN AGAIN AND DO MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER CAR. THE THING I HATE THE MOST IS THAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CAR. *TR
BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY, NO CRANK/NO START BECAUSE OF FAULTY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SATURN "REBOOTED THE COMPUTER" (SATURNS WORDS). THIS WAS IN MAY OF 06. STRANGELY, THE CAR HAS "DIED" IN AT LEAST 3 DRIVEWAYS AS THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A GARAGE AND HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT WAS FINE. RECENTLY, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE CAR WILL NO CRANK/NO START AND THROW THE PASSLOCK CODE. ON THE DASH, SOMETIMES IT SAYS SERVICE ENGINE IT MAY OR MAY NOT RESET AFTER 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE AS I AM NEVER SURE IF I AM GOING TO GET TO WORK ON TIME OR NOT. I CALLED SATURN LAST WEEK. APPARENTLY SATURN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THEY ARE GOING TO INCONVENIENCE ME TO DRIVE 200 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN CHARGE ME $100 TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR LAND THEN ANOTHER $1000 ON TOP OF THAT TO "FIX" THE CAR' THEY KNOW THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OFF THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME MY CAR CONTINUES TO NOT START IF IT IS ZERO DEGREES. *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE 2004 SATURN ION HAS A MALFUNCTION. THE CAR IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. UPON CALLING THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD, PA THE SERVICE RECEPTIONIST WAS ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I HAD TO WAIT 15 MINUTES TO HALF AN HOUR AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN TO SEE IF IT WILL START. GM AND SATURN KNOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY WHICH IS PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT THE RECEPTIONIST KNEW HOW TO START MY CAR BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRING FOR ME WAS ON NOVEMBER 19TH WHEN I TALKED THE RECEPTIONIST AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON DECEMBER 6, 2008 THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BROUGHT IN TO BE FIXED AND WAS CHARGED TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THIS IS A DEFAULT OF THE CAR. *TR
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD TO PUSH THIS SATURN INTO THE STREET TO GET OUR OTHER DRIVERS OFF TO WORK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID MY FLOORMATS WERE TOO THICK AND NOT GENUINE SATURN PARTS AND CAUSED IT NOT TO START(NO KIDDING, THEY SAID THIS). A FEW WEEKS LATER IT ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO TURN OVER. ANOTHER TOW TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY RE-CODED THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH. SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IT HAS FAILED TO START. IF I WAIT 20 MINUTES, THE ANTI THEFT MODULE RE-SETS AND IT WILL START. THIS MORNING I SLIPPED ON ICE WHILE PUSHING IT INTO THE STREET AND FELL. MY BACK IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW AND I'M VERY ANGRY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. NO SELF RESPECTING THIEF WOULD STEAL A SATURN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I SEE NO NEED FOR AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE ON THIS AWFUL CAR. *TR
IT IS BECOMING APPARENT THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ON THE 2.2L AND 2.4L SATURN ION IS DEFECTIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS ACROSS THE INTERNET. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD MINE REPLACED ONCE AND IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. MY FEAR IS THAT I WILL BE DRIVING AND THAT IT WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT ALLOW ME TO SHIFT, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID PUMP! I LIVE IN LAS VEGAS, SO YOU WOULD NOT THINK THAT THE PUMP MOTOR WOULD GO OUT AFTER ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OF USE BUT IT DID!! CALLED UP THE DEALERSHIP SAID TO BRING IT IN. AFTER UPON GETTING THE ITEM LOOKED AT TOLD ME THAT HEAVY USE OF THE ITEM LEADS TO PUMP MAL-FUNCTION. I THEN TOLD THEM WE LIVE IN THE DESERT! NO RAIN OR SNOW, HOW COULD I HEAVILY USE THIS ITEM. SO THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AT A WHOPPING 250.00 DOLLARS. SIX MONTHS LATER... YOU GUESSED IT PUMP OUT AGAIN. THEY THEN GIVE ME THE SAME LINES FROM ABOVE. THEY THEN WANT ME TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AGAIN! I TOLD THEM THAT MAYBE THEY GAVE ME A FAULTY PRODUCT OR THAT IT WAS REMANUFACTURED. THEY TOLD ME NO THAT IT IS A BRAND NEW PART NEVER USED. SO I CANT JUST HAVE NO FLUID ON A LONG ROAD TRIP DURING THE WINTER MONTHS SO I PAID FOR IT AGAIN! THIS SHOULD GO UNDER A RECALL!! THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS PART!!!!!!!*JB
INSIDE OF RIM ON 2004 ION 3 BROKE OFF BREAKING SEAL TO TIRE WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CAUSING A FLAT TIRE. RIM WAS CAST BY DESIGN. *JB
I HAD MY 2004 ION 3 IN TO REPLACE A TIRE ON 11/19, THEN ON 11/30 HAD TIRES ROTATED COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT A RATTLE. PER DEALER THE HEAT SHIELDS WERE CRACKED AND THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER ON THAT DAY THE RATTLE IN THE FRONT SOUNDED WORSE, BUT I WAS TOLD HEAT SHIELDS WERE THE PROBLEM AND I KNEW THEY WOULD BE FIXED SOON. RATTLE PROCEEDED TO GET WORSE, CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT PART INFORMED THEM OF RATTLE GETTING WORSE, GOT APPOINTMENT TO BRING BACK SINCE PART WAS IN (APPT WOULD HAVE BEEN 12/26). DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EVENING OF 12/20, I WAS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED JERKING TO THE RIGHT, HEARD HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END. PULLED INTO GAS STATION, DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING, SOUND QUIETED. WHILE LEAVING GAS STATION I HEARD A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND PULLED OVER IN PARKING LOT, THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD A BLOWOUT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, THERE WAS ONE LUG NUT LEFT IN IT AND ONE LUG NUT HANGING OFF. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE SCREWS HAD SNAPPED OFF THE WHEELS, FORTUNATELY THERE WERE TWO SCREWS LEFT OTHERWISE I DON'T THINK THE TOW TRUCK COULD HAVE TOWED IT. WHEN I ADDRESSED CONCERNS WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE WAS VERY HELPFUL AND FIXED THE CAR FOR FREE, SAID THE STUDS(SCREWS) WERE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE. WAS ADVISED BY HIM THIS IS MOST LIKELY SCENARIO AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE NOT TIGHTENING THE LUG NUTS ON THE 11/30 TIRE ROTATION (BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIM I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE 900 MILES IF THAT WERE THE CASE). THE DEALERSHIP WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP, BUT WORRIED IF ITS A DEFECT THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY POINT TO THE OTHER 3 TIRES. *JB
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING SATURN ION ALUMINUM WHEELS. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL WHEELS DO TO THEM BENDING. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITION LEAKING WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR SATURN ION. WE PURCHASED IT IN 2004, AND WE HAVE HAD THREE BENT ALUMINUM WHEELS AND NOW WE HAVE A BROKEN WHEEL. WE HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK NUMEROUS TIMES TO BE FIXED TO SPACE COAST SATURN, WHERE WE PURCHASED OUR SATURN ONLY TO HERE EACH TIME THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OUR SATURN BECAUSE IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT, IT IS OURS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN. I AM AFRAID THAT WE COULD HAVE A BLOW OUT AND SOMEONE COULD BE HURT. *JB
THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WHICH SEND A VIBRATION THROUGH THE BODY OF THE CAR WHILE GOING OVER DIPS AND STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND THE CURRENT DIAGNOSES IS THAT IT'S A NORMAL NOISE. CONFIRMED WITH OTHER DEALERS THAT THE NOISE IS NOT NORMAL. VISIT 1: REPLACED SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. VISIT 2: REPLACED RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM VISIT 3: REPLACED RIGHT FRONT STRUT VISIT 4: REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND BOTH TORSION BAR SUPPORTS VISIT 5: "IT'S A NORMAL NOISE" I'VE TEST DRIVEN OTHER NEW CARS AND THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT. I WILL BE PERSUING THE LEMON LAW AT THIS TIME.*AK
BRAKES FAILURE
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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