2005 Saturn Ion Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V17000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10667074

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: UPON ENGAGING THE CLUTCH (PRESSING ON THE PEDAL AS USUAL) I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK NOISE AND THE PEDAL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR VERY EASILY. DATE/TIME/PLACE OF FAILURE: ON 4-19-2011 AT 9:20 AM WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT. THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DUE TO A BRACKET OR SOME OTHER PART OF THE ASSEMBLY'S BREAKAGE. THIS BRACKET HOLDS A PISTON IN PROPER PLACE TO ACTUATE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AS THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. SINCE THE BRACKET IS BROKEN, THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE FULLY, IF AT ALL. I HAVE TEMPORARILY PLACED DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE WHERE THE BRACKET USED TO BE ON THE PEDAL SO THAT THE PISTON ROD CAN REMAIN SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO ITS ORIGINAL MOUNTED POSITION - SO THAT I MAY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR - PRESUMABLY DUE TO THE PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. THIS BRACKETS FAILURE PRESENTS A LOSS OF CONTROL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I FEEL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER; WHEN COMING TO A STOP EARLIER TODAY, I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP - WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396818

Incident

Apr 19, 2011

Mileage

92,138 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO ABNORMALLY JERK AND WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO A MISDIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10335222

Incident

Jun 8, 2010

Mileage

61,000 mi

MY CAR KEY GETS STUCK IN MY SATURN ION 2005 AFTER I HAVE SHUT IT OFF, ALSO WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE KEY IT WILL NOT TURN, I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND JIGGLE THE KEY TO GET IT TO START. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE SATURN IONS. ALSO THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN MY CAR, BUT ONCE I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND ON THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM GOES AWAY BUT AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES GIVE OR TAKE THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. SOMETIMES THIS PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT IT COMES BACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS HARD FOR ME TO MAKE SHARP TURNS. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP TODAY, LUCKILY STILL ON WARRANTY, BUT SHAME ON SATURN BECAUSE AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THESE ARE VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH SATURN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SATURN! OH AND MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT WILL COME ON AND I CAN'T DRIVE FAST. THAT HAPPENED FOR A WEEK AND THEN WENT AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW IT IS BACK. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND COULD ONLY GO 35 MPH. THANK GOD IT WASN'T RUSH HOUR. THAT IS BEING FIXED ALSO... *TR

NHTSA ID

10292753

Incident

Nov 15, 2009

Mileage

61,000 mi

I OWN A 2005 SATURN ION AND THE POWER STEERING WAS GOING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE STEERING MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, NOW THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE, BUT MADE ME WAIT A WEEK AND SENT ME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD WITH A CAR THAT HAD POWER STEERING THAT WORKED SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHER TIMES. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED TO FAIL. THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS, THE POWER STEERING WENT AGAIN, AND THE BREAKS WHERE PRETTY MUCH GONE. SO AFTER CAUSING A BIG SCENE THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WENT ON THE CAR. SO THEY REPLACED THE PART AFTER MAKING ME WAIT TWO DAYS TO GET MY CAR BACK. MY CONCERN IS WHY IS A CAR THAT WILL BE TURNING 5 YEARS OLD NEXT MONTH AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 27,900 MILES ON IT IS HAVING ALL THESE BIG PROBLEMS. IN THE MATTER OF ONE MOUTH I HAVE HAS A NEW BRAIN PUT INTO THE CAR. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS AWFUL AND RUDE. THEY ALL TRY TO BLAME EACH OTHER. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP THE SERVICE PEOPLE WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME THEY TOLD ME TO SEE THE CASHIER SHE HAS MY KEYS. I SAID I AM NOT LEAVING HERE UNTIL I TEST DRIVE IT, SHE SAID OK, IT'S PARK IN THE LOT ON THE SIDE SOMEWHERE. I WAS LIKE NICE, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE MY CAR IS ON YOUR LOT. SO IN THE MATTER OF ONE MONTH I HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284408

Incident

Aug 27, 2009

3-16-2005 CAR LEAKING RED FLUID: DIAGNOSIS-AXLE NOT SEATED, NEW PARTS ORDERED, CAR REPAIRED 4-7-2005 CAR MAKING THUD SOUND WHEN SHIFTING: DIAGNOSIS-NOT DUPLICATED (NEVER CHECKED TRANSMISSION-JUST DROVE CAR) 9-29-2005 CAR NOT GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEARS SMOOTHLY, CAR NOT STARTING WHEN KEY IN IGNITION, INTERNAL CAR GAUGES NOT WORKING: DIAGNOSIS-INTERNAL COMPUTER PARTS FIXED-COULD NOT DUPLICATE GEAR ISSUES (AGAIN-DID REMOVE TRANSMISSION AND INVESTIGATE) 3-24-2008 PREVIOUS GEAR PROBLEMS PERSISTED, CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR; TOOK CAR TO DEALER, DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE ALTHOUGH PROBLEM WAS REPORTED PRIOR UNLESS I PAID 9-1-2008 CAR WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR 2ND; DIAGNOSIS (PAID FOR AT MY EXPENSE)-TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED (AT MY EXPENSE) 9-11-2008 CAR REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEARS: RETURNED TO DEALER AND FOUND RED FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE: DIAGNOSIS-ADDITIONAL PART IN TRANSMISSION LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244037

Incident

Mar 16, 2005

Mileage

3,051 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HEARING A NOISE IN THE CAR SINCE THE ODOMETER REACHED 500 MILES. AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEARS A NEW TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN PUT ON THE CAR. THE NOISE STILL EXIST. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT. CONTACT BELIEVES THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS BAD WHEEL BEARINGS EVEN THOUGH HE HAS BEEN TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD A WARPED LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND THAT THE CAR HAS A BOUNCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE TRUE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10176606

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

1,000 mi

9/21/06, MY SON WAS DIVING HIS 2005 SATURN ION REDLINE HOME FROM WORK. CAR HAD 20,000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW. HE SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. HE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND DISCOVERED A LARGE FLUID LEAK WITH NO ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. CAR TOWED TO SATURN OF DANBURY. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD LITERALLY "EXPLODED" (THEIR WORDS) AND UPON INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION CASE BLOWN APART, SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED BY "EXCESSIVE RPM". THE CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR FREE: TRANSAXLE ASSY & MOTOR ASSY, STARTER,2 PLATES, FLYWHEEL, SHAFT ASM I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE REP, WHO TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT PROVE IT WASN'T A DEFECT, AND WOULD THEREFORE COVER IT UNDER A "GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT, BUT NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN WHY THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RPM- ENOUGH TO BLOW UP THE TRANS CASE. I WAS ASSURED THAT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS ANYTHING MY SON HAD DONE TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE. GRANTED, AT 20 YEARS OLD, I AM CERTAIN HE ISN'T A MODEL DRIVER, BUT HE IS ALSO A VERY RESPONSIBLE KID AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW BADLY HE COULD HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR TO CAUSE THIS. THEIR REPAIR TICKET STATES THAT THE "FAILURE APPEARS TO BE FROM AGGRESSIVE DRIVING". COME ON! THE CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED TO SATURN THIS MORNING, DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH STARTING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME WE COULDN'T START IT EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH, THE DIALS BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH, AND THE ERROR READS "POWER START". WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, BUT AFTER READING NUMEROUS THREADS RE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, I AM LEARY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING COMMON THAT PERHAPS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173019

Incident

Sep 21, 2006

Mileage

20,176 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS STARTED AFTER ONE HALF HOUR AND MOVED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE WHERE AN UNDETERMINED PART WAS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED.

NHTSA ID

10168833

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

Mileage

18,400 mi

VEHICLE: 2005 SATURN ION RED LINE I WAS DRIVING IN COLUMBUS, OH AREA TO MEET SOME FRIENDS AND I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN I LEFT THE RED LIGHT I WENT THROUGH THE GEARS TO GET UP TO SPEED AND AS I CAME TO 4TH GEAR THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO IN. SO I LET OUT THE CLUTCH AND TRIED TO GO BACK IN. AS I PRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AGAIN IT IMMEDIATELY FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL AT ALL AND I COULD NOT SELECT ANY GEARS. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE REALLY BAD SO I PULLED OVER AT THE WALGREEN'S A FEW YARDS AWAY. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I NOTICED HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKING FROM THE CAR AND IT WAS SHAKING BADLY. SO I CALLED MY FRIENDS AND THEY CAME TO LOOK. MY CLUTCH HAD GIVEN UP BUT WE WERE NOT SURE HOW BADLY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP NEARBY THAT ALSO SPECIALIZED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE FRICTION DISC IN THE CLUTCH HAD RIPPED COMPLETELY APART WHICH IN TURN SCORED AND WARPED THE FLYWHEEL. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE SLAVE CYLINDER TO OVER EXTEND WHICH IS WHERE THE FLUID LEAKED FROM AND DEBRIS FLYING AROUND WITHIN THE BELLHOUSING HAD CONTACTED THE FLUID FEED LINE TO THE SLAVE CYLINDER AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN IT. NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THEY CONSISTED OF THIS: 1 NEW FLYWHEEL, 1 NEW CLUTCH FRICTION DISC, 1 NEW CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE, 6 NEW CLUTCH PLATE TO FLYWHEEL BOLTS, 1 NEW SLAVE CYLINDER, 1 NEW THROW OUT BEARING, 1 NEW CLUTCH FLUID FEED LINE, 5 QUARTS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID, AND 1 QUART OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TOTAL LABOR CHARGED WAS FOR 8 HOURS OF WORK. THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS FOR LABOR AND PARTS CAME TO $1,752. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS PLATFORM OF VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE CLUTCH FAILURE ISSUES. I DO STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS FOR INSPECTION. I UPGRADED TO NEWER, STRONGER PARTS TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN IN 4,500 MILES WHICH IS WHERE THIS HAPPENED. 4,500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. HERE IS THE VISUAL OF WHAT HAPPENED. HTTP://WWW.INTENSE-RACING.COM/PICS/CHRISD/PAGE_01.HTM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152505

Incident

Feb 24, 2006

Mileage

4,748 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SATURN ION2 AND THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH ON MY 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND ALLOWED AIR INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BRAKES AND CLUTCH HAVE A SHARED HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIR. I COULDN'T DOWNSHIFT BECAUSE THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I COULDN'T BRAKE BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED. THE WARNING SYSTEM FAILED BECAUSE THERE WAS STILL SOME FLUID IN THE SHARED RESERVOIR. THE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OUT OF FLUID NOT WHEN IT IS RUNNING LOW. SCARY STUFF... I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED OTHERS. LUCKY FOR ME I WAS NOT GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND/OR ON A BUSY STREET. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP...*NM

NHTSA ID

10151235

Incident

Feb 8, 2006

Mileage

7,700 mi

DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT A 2005 SATURN ION ON 12-10-04. THE FIRST 50 MILES HE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALER FIXED THE CRUISE CONTROL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAD TO GET A NEW COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE CAR. SINCE THEN HE HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR SPUTTERED AND DIED SPORADICALLY. THE LAST TWO TIMES WAS ON 9-26-05 AND ON 9-30-05, AND ON 9-26-05 THE DEALER REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BODY CONTROL, TCM, AND POWER TRAIN MODULE. REPAIRED ALL WIRING AND CONNECTORS. DURING TEST DRIVE, THE SERVICE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. HE BELIEVED THE DEALER RESET THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE CAR ON 9-29-05, AND ON 9-30-05 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE CAR ON 10-03-05. HE HAS ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR ONCE SINE THEN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT YET COME BACK ON. THE CONTACT HAS TALKED TO A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FROM SATURN SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE TOLD HIM TO GOT TO THE OK DMV.*AK

NHTSA ID

10139844

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND MY SHIFTER KNOB FELL OFF IN MY HAND. THE SHIFTER FAILED TO GO INTO SECOND AND FOURTH GEAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE WHOLE SHIFTER SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131772

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

1,023 mi

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 2005 SATURN THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AND SHIFTED BACK INTO GEAR WHILE GOING OVER 40 MPH. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CONSUMER TO BE INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE CAR IN 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT HANGS IN GEAR AND SHIFTS HARD. *TT

NHTSA ID

10122331

Incident

May 20, 2005

Mileage

7,413 mi