Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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
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?
WAS GUARANTEED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I ORIGINALLY GOT A 2007 FORD ESCAPE BY TRADING IN MY VEHICLE AND 500 CASH. THEY WANTED ME TO PUT DOWN AN ADDITIONAL 900 DOWN WHICH I ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO DO. SO THEY OFFERED TO PUT ME IN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS CHEAPER AND I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY ON. THE 2004 SATURN ION I RECEIVED ON 08/23/2016 NOT ONLY HAD CLUTCH ISSUES WHICH I SAID I WOULD FIX, BUT THE BATTERY LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR MECHANICALLY. WE DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. SO NOW THE CAR SITS IN MY YARD AND I AM OUT MY ORIGINAL VEHICLE AND THE 500 CASH I USED ORIGINALLY PLUS TOWING CHARGES AND A VEHICLE I HAVE TO PAY ON THAT I CANNOT DRIVE. I WANT THEM TO COME GET THE CAR AND GIVE BACK THE 500 I WASTED ON TWO JUNK VEHICLES. I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE 2007 FORD ESCAPE. I WAS PRETTY MUCH STUCK TAKING THIS VEHICLE SINCE I LIVE TWO HOURS AWAY AND HAD NO OTHER WAY HOME.
THE WIPER ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTING FLOPPING--IT WAS NO LONGER SEATED FULLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS MISSING SOMETHING SIMPLE, LIKE A PIN. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED IT WASN'T THAT SIMPLE. I WAS QUOTED P&L FROM THE DEALER @ $364. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IN 50 YEARS OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER SEEN A WIPER ARM POP OUT. ONE DAY IN A DELUGE, THE ARM HYPER-EXTENDED OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND I HAD TO LEAVE THE ROAD BLIND WONDERING IF I WAS GOING TO RUN INTO A DITCH. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THE REASON THIS HAPPENED IS DUE TO USE OF PLASTIC PARTS BY GM AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR WIPER ASSEMBLY MORE THAN ONCE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND PLACES A GRAVE DANGER ON USERS OF THESE AUTOS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE!
AFTER HAVING MY EMISSIONS TESTED IN WI IN WHICH IT PASSED AT THE TIME ON OR ABOUT MAY 27, 2015. ABOUT A WEEK LATET, I BEGAN TO SMELL A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE DIIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, AFTER I DROVE IT AND THEN PARKED IT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING DRIPPING FROM THE CAR TO THE GROUNC, I NOTICED THAT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE BECAME MORE AND MORE PREVALENT UNTIL ABOUT JUNE 17, 2015 WHEN THE SMELL WAS SO GREAT AND I HADNT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR WELL OVER A WEEK BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID SOMETHING WAS LEAKING OR WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. MY BROTHER SMELLED IT ALSO WHEN I BACKED UP AND PULLED FORWARD. WE CHECKED UNDER HOOD, BUT NOTHING AND NO SPOTS ON THE GROUND. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC AND OWNER SAID THAT THE FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER, ETC. NEEDED REPLACING AND R WHICH COST APPROXIMATELY $263 .. I ALSO LOOKED UP INFORMATION BY A MECHANIC WHO STATES THAT EVERY SIGNGLE COBALT AND ION HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM SINCE THE CARS WERE BUILT. HE GAVE A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT TAKES TO REMOVE AND REPLACE FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER, ETC. WHENEVER I TOOK OUT THE CAR, THAT CAR COULD HAVE EXPLODED OR STARTED AN ENGINE FIRE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE INVOLVED THE LOSS OF NOT ONLY THE VEHICLES, BUT PEOPLES LIVES. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES ON RECALL FOR THIS VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION OF THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINES AND BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS ON THE CARS AFFECTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS SITUATION.
I WAS DRIVING AND MY SUNROOF FLEW OFF. THE GLASS SHATTERED COMPLETELY. IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY, UNTIL ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING IT DETACHED.
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
MY CONCERN IS IN RELATION TO THE ONGOING MALFUNCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. I HAVE NOT A HAD PROPER FUNCTIONING WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM SINCE 2011 WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40MPH ON THE INTERSTATE DURING A MODERATE SNOWFALL WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM SEEMED TO GO OFF TRACK AND FORCEFULLY OVEREXTEND TO THE LEFT, COMPLETELY OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT STAYED IN THAT POSITION UNTIL I COULD PULL OVER AND PLACE THE WIPER BACK ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT'S NOT BEEN RESOLVED AS THE ASSESSMENTS HAVE BEEN CONFLICTING, I.E. LOOSE BOLT/NUT, NEEDS NEW MOTOR, OR REPLACE ENTIRE SYSTEM. I HAD BOTH BLADES TIED TOGETHER SO THEY WOULD STAY ON COURSE BUT THAT HAD ITS OWN EFFECT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM. IT'S BECOME SO BAD THAT I CANNOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN/SNOW DUE TO NO VISIBILITY WITH INEFFECTIVE WIPER. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AND JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVERS SIDE WIPER WENT PAST THE A POST THEN JUMPED BACK TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE DATES OF WHEN WE NOTICED THE PROBLEMS. SO FAR I HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 04 ION'S FRONT SUSPENSION, THE CHEAPLY MADE PLASTIC WIPER LINKAGES THAT BREAK EASY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MAKING IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SO FAR BECAUSE THE PART FAILS AND YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR, AND MOST RECENTLY I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO ASK ABOUT A "CLUNKING" NOISE IT MAKES WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN FOR A KNOWN STEERING LINKAGE OR STEERING MOTOR (EPS) PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ON THESE CARS THE STEERING LINKS/MOTOR HAVE TENDANCY TO BREAK! IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD RESULT IN DEATH! I'VE ALSO DONE SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND MANY FORUMS/ARTICLES WITH OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL. ONE COMMENT I READ THE PERSON SAID "THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!" MINE AND MANY OTHER'S 04 SATURN ION'S HAVE ALOT OF KNOWN YET SERIOUS ISSUES BUT SATURN STILL HAS NO RECALLS FOR THIS CAR!! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM! -CONCERNED/FRUSTURATED SATURN OWNER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY PLASTIC WINDSHIELD WIPER HINGE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. RK
MY DRIVER WIPER IS INOPERABLE. THE ENTIRE ARM PIVOTED 180 OPPOSITE OF ITS RESTING POSITION WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING 50MPH TO CLEAN MY WINDOW. INITIALLY MY PASSENGER SIDE WASN'T WORKING AT NORMAL SPEED. IT SEEMED 'SLUGGISH'. SO I INCREASED THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS UNTIL IT REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVEL. THIS OCCURRED 1 DAY AFTER ABOUT 8 INCHES OF SNOW FELL INCLUDING ICE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY. AFTER I REACHED MY DESTINATION I REMOVED THE BLADE FROM THE ARM SO THE ENTIRE WIPER WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH TRAFFIC. AN AUTO MECHANIC STATED THE PIECE IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I AM FIGHTING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO REPLACE THE PIECE AT NO CHARGE. THEY STATED THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE WIPER MOTOR, BUT NOT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. READING OTHER REVIEWS, OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER DOING A RECALL OR FIX FOR FREE. OCCURRED AT 54K MILES ON CAR. JAN 16, 2010. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A SNOW STORM, MY WIPER ON THE DRIVER SIDE BEGAN ACTING FUNNY. THEN WENT UP PAST MY WINDSHIELD KICKING THE WIPER COMPLETELY OFF ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE ANYTHING. I FOUND IT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR ASSEMBLY. WHICH I AM NOW TRYING TO GET A NEW ONE. EVERY JUNK YARD I HAVE GONE TO SAYS THE SAME THING...EVERY PART THAT I NEED THEY PULL OUT AND IT IS ALSO BROKEN ON THE SAME MODELS. SATURN HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PART. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL IF IT IS BROKEN IN EVERY SATURN!? *TR
KNOB FOR THE DEFROSTER/AIR/HEATING FAILED TO WORK. SWITCH DOESN'T CHANGE IT TO DEFROST/FRONT/FLOOR LIKE ITS SUPPOSE TO. IT JUST COMES OUT FRONT,CAN'T SWITCH. DOESN'T CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FROST,ICE,FOG,ETC. *TR
FAILURE OF A WIRING HARNESS IN A FRONT DOOR THAT CONTROLS WINDOWS, MIRRORS AND DOOR LOCK. A 2004 SATURN ION WITH 25, 106 MILES HAD 5 BROKEN WIRES IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HAS NO POWER AT THE WINDOW SWITCH. THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW THAT FORCES TINY WIRES TO BEND 2 TIMES AT 90 DEGREES AND BE SLAMMED BY A DOOR!! THINK OF THE SAFETY OF UNLOCKING A DOOR IN A PANIC SITUATION OR DRIVING WITH A WINDOW DOWN IN RAIN, SLEET, COLD, ETC., AND A FUSE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE WIPER ARM WON'T MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH WINDSHIELD FLIPS UP IN THE AIR WHOLE ARM ASSEMBLY SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILED. DRIVER'S SIDE PIVOT ARM IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE SUDDENLY! CANNOT USE THE WIPERS AT ALL. DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM!!!!!! *TR
FOLLOWING SEVERAL WEEKS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 SATURN ION FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO CLEAN OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE CAUSED A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF SALT RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION AND SAID THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY "ICE LOADING" AND CAUTIONED ME TO MAKE SURE AND CLEAR AWAY ICE AND SNOW BEFORE ACTIVATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *TR
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
NO SPECIFIC ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF WHAT APPARENTLY IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE DRIVER-SIDE OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR CANNOT BE ADJUSTED (ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY) OVER THE ANGLE RANGES NEEDED FOR SAFE DRIVING AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. THE MIRROR CAN BE ADJUSTED SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN SEE WELL BACK INTO THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS WORTHLESS) AND ONLY OUTWARDLY TO THE POINT THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR IS STILL VISIBLE. ADJUSTMENT TO ALLOW VISIBILITY OTHER THAN STRAIGHT BACK IS NOT POSSIBLE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT A PHYSICAL STOP INSIDE THE HOUSING PREVENTED ANY MOVEMENT FURTHER OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. ENTERING A FREEWAY THIS WAY IS VERY HAZARDOUS SINCE THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC IN THE NEAR LANE CANNOT BE SEEN. IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW THE SERVICE PERSON HOW IT SHOULD WORK WE WENT TO ANOTHER MODEL OF SATURN AND THE RESULTS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME INDICATING THAT (AT LEAST) MORE THAN ONE MODEL OF SATURN HAS THIS SAME VISIBILITY PROBLEM. *NM
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
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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