2004 Saturn Ion Transmission Problems

2004 SATURN ION VTI TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PULLING OUT OF A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THIS TRANSMISSION WAS A POORLY MADE GM PRODUCT; SATURN WAS AWARE OF IT, GM HAS BEEN AWARE. RECALLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RIP OFF THE BUYER WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT FAIL WITHIN 66,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY. THERE WILL BE NO MORE GM PURCHASES WITH MY DOLLARS. MY WORK IS WORTH A BETTER PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366930

Incident

Nov 14, 2010

Mileage

66,252 mi

2004 SATURN ION WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING IN DRIVE WHILE TURNING ONTO THE FREEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO A SATURN DEALER WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD. NOTHING WAS DONE BECAUSE THEY WANT $5,000 TO FIX THE CAR. FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET NHTSA#10032327, STATES THAT SATURN GM WILL PAY 50% OF COST OF REPLACEMENT, SATURN DEALER WILL NOT HONOR SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365842

Incident

Nov 6, 2010

Mileage

143,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD ONLY BE LIABLE FOR ONE HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FULL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10356106

Incident

Jan 16, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND SHE HAD TO HOLD ON TO THE SHIFTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUAL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE LOCAL MECHANICS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND HAS REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT SHE NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALSO LOCKED IN GEAR AND SHE COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT 9,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THIRTY SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER HAS NEVER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CONTACT WOULD NOT PAY $500.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10349146

Incident

Aug 24, 2006

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10339886

Incident

Jun 21, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10308874

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

Mileage

9,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND CHANGED. THEN ON JANUARY 13, 2010, MY CAR STALLED ON ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND CALLED THE NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS A GENEROUS OFFER TO ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE REPORTS FOR ABOUT 15 SATURN VEHICLES ON RECALL LISTS, THE ION WAS NOT ONE OF WHICH I COULD READ ABOUT. IN SOME CASES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THE SATURN VUE CAN BE A RECURRING PROBLEM; FOR THE SAME CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300050

Incident

Jan 13, 2010

Mileage

98,700 mi

I WAS ONCE A LOYAL GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ' THAT IS UNTIL GM NEARLY KILLED ME. I'M THE UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF A 2004 SATURN ION WITH AN AILING TRANSMISSION THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR, AND I AM NOT ALONE. IN MY CASE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE. THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE FROM 315 N ONTO INTERSTATE 270 E. EXITING THE ENTRANCE RAMP AT THAT INTERCHANGE IS OFTEN A HAZARD UNDER THE BEST CONDITIONS. AS I ACCELERATED INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC, MY CAR SHUTTERED VIOLENTLY AND LOST ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM. I SWERVED BACK TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED BY THE CLOSING TRAFFIC ON 270 E, NEARLY SIDESWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE STILL IN THE EXIT LANE. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR REST FOR A FEW MINUTES I TRIED AGAIN TO GET IT INTO GEAR, ULTIMATELY HAVING TO LEAVE IT IN A PARKING LOT. DESPITE GM AGREEING TO A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ON APRIL 16, 2009, SATURN DEALERSHIPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADVISED TO SUSPEND ALL EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIRS UNDER THE AGREEMENT. SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE, UNDER DIRECT INSTRUCTION FROM GM, HAS TAKE THE POSITION THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE BY GM PRIOR TO THE DECLARATION OF BANKRUPTCY ON JUNE 1, 2009 AND NOW HAS NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. GM ALSO FAILED TO NOTIFY THE 150,000 OWNERS OF AFFECTED VUE AND ION MODELS THAT DUE TO AN ACKNOWLEDGED DESIGN FLAW, THEIR CARS MIGHT DROP IN OR OUT OF GEAR, EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS, POSING SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO OPERATORS, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES HAVE AND WILL OCCUR DUE TO GM'S LACK OF ACTION? LIVES LIKELY HAVE AND WILL BE LOST DUE TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT. GM IS PAYING ROULETTE WITH THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE DRIVERS WHO SHARE THE ROADS WITH THEM. GM HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGAL TERMS OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT, FAILED TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF A POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT AND FAILED TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIRS THEY AGREED IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287468

Incident

Oct 10, 2009

Mileage

94,039 mi

TRANSAXLE GRINDING/WHINING NOISE IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, EXCESSIVE ENGAGEMENT OR DISENGAGEMENT EFFORT WHILE SHIFTING INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO EITHER 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282015

Incident

Aug 8, 2009

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY SATURN 2004 ION HAS BEEN BREAKING DOWN SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2005. THEY HAVE PUT IN 2-3 TRANSMISSIONS AND EVERYTIME IT IS COLD IT WON'T START. A COUPLE TIMES THE WOULD START BUT NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR! THE TECH'S COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG SO MY DAD (WHO DOES NOT WORK ON CARS ) FIGURED OUT IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE! THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS AT LEAST 3 TIMES! THE CARS HEAT AND RADIO WOULD JUST SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON THEY ALSO FIXED THAT A COUPLE TIMES. MY CAR WILL BE PAID OFF SHORTLY BUT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO NOT HAVE A CAR PAYMENT BECAUSE AT ANY MOMENTS NOTICE MY 2004 SATURN ION MIGHT FALL APART!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10255256

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON THE VEHICLE HAS A RETAINER THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER DURABILITY. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE RETAINER DETACHES AND CAUSES THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO RAISE UPWARDS. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY SWITCH GEARS FAST ENOUGH. WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED ON JULY 20, 2007, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDER AXULATOR, MASTER CLUTCH, THE ENTIRE CLUTCH PEDAL, AND THE RETAINER. THE REPAIR LASTED FOR 15 MONTHS. RECENTLY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH HAD ONCE AGAIN LOST THE RETAINER AND CAUSED THE PEDAL TO RAISE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS LOCATED, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,751 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,210.

NHTSA ID

10244295

Incident

Jul 20, 2007

Mileage

59,751 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOCKS UP AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. THE CAR HAS TO SHUT OF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND IT USUALLY WILL UNLOCK THE SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR, UNABLE TO GET TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CANNOT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP, AND SATURN REFUSES TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT IT IN UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242019

Incident

Dec 28, 2004

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ANY DAY THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IT WILL NOT START. SOMETIMES AFTER ABOUT HALF AN HOUR OF TRYING IT WILL START, BUT NOT VERY OFTEN. ALSO IT OFTEN IDLES AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RPM. IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE WHEN IT DOES THIS. ALSO WHEN IT IDLES HIGH IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. IT'S VERY TWITCHY AND JERKY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239937

Incident

Jan 18, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

ON JUNE 25, 2007 THE 2004 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE CAME TO A DEAD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR I WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT SATURN HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON CERTAIN TRANSMISSIONS MINE INCLUDED . WHEN I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL WAS TOLD NO. ALSO, I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE THE CAR BACK BY FRIDAY 6/29/07. LATER THAT DAY I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE VTI TRNSMISSION AND PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. I SHOULD HAVE MY CAR BACK ON FRIDAY, 6/29/07. ON FRIDAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISION WAS GOING TO NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AND THE PART HAD BEEN ORDERED. I WOULD GET THE CAR BACK ON 7/2/07, WEEK SINCE IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT ARRIVED ,AND THAT I WOULD HAVE THE CAR BACK ON THURSDAY SINCE WEDNESDAY. TODAY THURSDAY 7/5/07 I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THE CAR WAS NOT READY, AND THAT IT MAY NOT BE READY TOMORROW. WHY NOT RECALL CARS AFFECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195423

Incident

Jun 25, 2007

THE FAILURE WAS TO THE ARM THAT HELD THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN PLACE ON THE 2004 SATURN ION REDLINE. THE PART BROKE AND THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE ,AS SUCH THE CAR WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. 5 MINUTES EARLIER I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH AT WHICH SPEED I COULD HAVE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH LIVES MAY HAVE BEEN LOST. THE DEAL OFFERED TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC ARM WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC ARM. THE PART THAT REPLACED MINE HAD A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER THAN ON THE ORIGINAL CAR, I WAS NOT SURE IF THIS WAS JUST A NEW PART NUMBER OR IF THE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. IF THERE WAS ANY HISTORY ON THIS PART I WAS NOT ABLE TO GAIN THE INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER, WHO WAS VERY UNWILLING TO COMPLY. THE DAMAGED PART WAS NOT RETURNED TO ME BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD TO RETURN ALL PARTS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10191169

Incident

May 15, 2007

Mileage

32,062 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10188401

Incident

Apr 19, 2007

Mileage

25,000 mi

SATURN ION 2004. TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 2004. IN OCTOBER 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND REQUIRED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. SATURN STATED THERE HAD BEEN MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, SO REPLACED IT FOR FREE. (MINUS MY INCURRED COSTS OF TRAVEL). SECOND MAJOR DEFECT: MAY 2006, A CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. SATURN HAS AGREED TO "REPLACE" THE CYLINDER HEAD, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR $800.00 OF THE REPAIRS. A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE TWO MAJOR DEFECTS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 79K MILES. I KNOW THAT "REPLACING" THE CYLINDER HEAD WILL GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN, BUT IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME...AND I STILL OWE 10,000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157935

Incident

Oct 9, 2005

Mileage

56,000 mi

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

2004 ION 3 QUAD PURCHASED NEW IN 2004 CURRENTLY HAVE 18K MILES ON IT. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT STABILIZER BUSHING, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ALL HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THE ELECTRIC STEERING STILL DOESN'T SEEM CORRECT. SOMETIMES THE CAR PULLS WHEN YOU RAPIDLY ACCELERATE AND IS VERY TOUCHY. I DID READ THAT GM MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE ELECTRIC STEERING FOR 2005 ION, BUT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT (SAYS CAN NOT) MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE 2004. NOW WE HAVE THE LOSS OF POWER PROBLEM. HAS DONE IT WHEN CAR IS COLD AND HOT, USUALLY WHEN ACCELERATING, BUT ONCE JUST DRIVING 35 MPH. IT'S NOT A STALL JUST LIKE A LOSS OF POWER. CAR DOESN'T SHAKE OR JERK. ALMOST LIKE YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS FOR A SECOND. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER ONCE FOR THIS AND THE DEALER RESPONSE IS THE SAME AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED "NO COMPUTER CODES, COULD NOT REPRODUCE, NO PROBLEM FOUND". IT'S AT THE SHOP NOW BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 12/2 AND WE AGAIN COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR LOST POWER AFTER PICKING IT UP THE LAST TIME. THE LAST TIME IT FAILED MY WIFE WAS TAKING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT AND THE GUY BEHIND ALMOST HIT HER WHEN THE SATURN LOST POWER. LOOSING FAITH IN SATURN'S ENGINEERING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144430

Incident

Nov 23, 2005

SHIFTER KNOB IN 04'SATURN ION REDLINE FELL OFF THE COLUMN WHILE SHIFTING 1-2. OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT, ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. ALL GEARS LOCKED OUT DUE TO REVERSE LOCKOUT, WAS ABLE TO REPLACE KNOB BY HAND AND UNLOCK GEARS. ALSO HAVE HAD CAP ON SHIFTER KNOB REPEATEDLY FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TO NO CONSEQUENCE OTHER THAN INCONVENIENCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136878

Incident

Aug 20, 2005

Mileage

13,200 mi

I FIRST TOOK MY 2004 SATURN 3 ION QUAD COUPE TO THE DEALER WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AS I WOULD ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD LOSE SPEED. I NEVER KNEW WHEN THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. AT THE TIME OF MY FIRST COMPLAINT THERE WAS 27,539. I NOW HAVE 33,020 AND FINALLY AFTER 3 MONTHS AND 12 TRIPS TO THE DEALER THEY ARE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. EVERY TRIP TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN MY BEING TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK WHILE THEIR MANAGER DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME EVERYDAY AND HE SAID THE CAR NEVER ACTED UP ON HIM. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT STARTED ACTING UP. I HAD TO CALL THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WROTE THEM 2 LETTERS AND FINALLY WHEN I SENT THEM LEMON LAW PAPERS AND TOLD THEM THEY COULD BUY IT BACK THEY DECIDED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IN THE 3 MONTHS TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED SATURN REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, THE INPUT/OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR AND COVER GASKET, THEN THEY REPLACED THE COVER ASSEMBLY, VARIABLE DRIVE AND DRIVEN PULLEY A AND NOW THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACE. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG AND THEN IT WILL BE FOR SALE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135992

Incident

Jun 7, 2005

Mileage

27,539 mi

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION RED LINE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION (ONLY TRANSMISSION OFFERED). I WAS SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND THE ENTIRE SHIFT KNOB ASSEMBLY CAME OFF IN MY HAND. THE KNOB FELL TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR, CAUSING ME TO LOOK DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE IS THEN DIFFICULT TO SHIFT, AND THE PULL UP FOR REVERSE FEATURE WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON HTTP://WWW.SATURNFANS.COM. THE "FIX" IS TO EPOXY THE KNOB BACK ONTO THE SHIFTER BAR AS IT IS A PRESS FIT DESIGN (NO MECHANICAL LOCK OR FASTENERS).*JB

NHTSA ID

10134682

Incident

Aug 29, 2005

Mileage

17,160 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE, MY VEHICLE JUST DIED - NO WARNING. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAD HAPPENED. THERE IS NO POWER & MUST BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD & RESTARTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION - RAPID DECELERATION ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY COULD BE FATAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER, THEREFORE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. TALKING TO THE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE REP RETURNED THE SAME RESPONSE. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, IT IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND THE CAR IS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD. IT IS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE ANYTHING BECAUSE "NOTHING IS WRONG. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130777

Incident

Jul 21, 2005

Mileage

13,400 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. AT DIFFERENT TIMES IT COULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS TO GO. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND HAPPENED ONCE WHEN VEHICLE WAS GOING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO SATURN DEALER, AND WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE ACTION. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10126677

Incident

Mar 26, 2005

Mileage

3,400 mi

DURING BRAKING, WHEN GEARS SHOULD BE DOWNSHIFTING, MY AUTOMATIC SATURN ION 3 RPMS WOULD SEEM TO BE RACING UPWARDS BY SEVERAL 1000'S. I COMPLAINED ON 2 PRIOR OCCASSIONS TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". ON 05/13/05 I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, CAR SEEMED TO LURCH BACKWARDS. WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT THE RPMS RACED ABOVE 3000. IT LURCHED ME OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE ROAD. PUT IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AND PARK. TURNED IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED. IN PARK CAR WAS IDLING AT 3500 RPMS. RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES WITH SAME RESULT. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE B/C CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOW GUY HAD TO BRAKE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS LOADING CAR ONTO STEEP INCLINE OF TRUCK BED B/C HE SAID CAR WAS QUICKLY MOVING FORWARD AND UP ON IT'S OWN. WAITED W/ SERVICE PEOPLE AT SATURN TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THEY DID. REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. COMPLAINED HARSHLY B/C THIS WAS 3RD TIME IN. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN MARCH B/C IT WOULDN'T START IN THE A.M. TOW GUY COULDN'T START EITHER. OF COURSE SATURN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THAT PROBLEM EITHER AND STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE COLD WEATHER. DON'T LIVE IN ALASKA... MARCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT WARRANT A 1 YR OLD, GARAGE KEPT CAR NOT STARTING. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM OF NOT STARTING OR OF RPMS AND THEY DID NOTHING. SATURN MADE EFFORTS, AFTER THE MAY INCIDENT, TO COMPENSATE. WILL UPDATE WHEN ALL DETAILS ARE WORKED OUT.

NHTSA ID

10121317

Incident

May 13, 2005

Mileage

35,700 mi