Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Saturn Ion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BAR FRACTURED THAT HELD THE TRUNK OPEN. AS A RESULT, THE TRUNK LID STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE HEAD AND RIGHT HAND TWICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, A BEEPING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLOSE THE DOORS IN ORDER FOR THE BEEPING SOUND TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK WITH THE REMOTE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (O'RIELLY CHEVROLET INC., 6160 E BROADWAY BLVD, TUCSON, AZ 85711) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-553-6000 AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, OR THE OUTSIDE. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PERSON WITH CHF AND KNEE ISSUES TO EXIT. NOT TO MENTION, IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. APPEARS THE LATCH IS BROKEN
A LOWES BOX TRUCK HIT MY PASSENGER SIDE AND TOOK OUT THE MIRROR AND FRONT PANELS. I'M GETTING REALLY DISGUSTED WITH GM. THEY OWE ME 696.00 FOR MY IGNITION SWITCH I HAD TO REPLACE LONG BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO RECALL ANYTHING. I JUST WANT MY MONEY BACK. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN OR SHUT AND ALL THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND COULD NOT CONTINUE SERVICING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
TRIM PANEL DESIGNED TO COVER WINDOW FRAME ON FRONT DOORS OF THE COUPE BODY STYLE FLEW OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING. PANEL STRUCK VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THE SAME TRIM ON THE OTHER SIDE IS ALSO LOOSE. PHOTO OF WHERE THE MISSING PIECE ATTACHES IS AVAILABLE AT HTTP://I.IMGUR.COM/C5ABKLCL.JPG - THIS PIECE IS LARGE ENOUGH TO EASILY BREAK A WINDSHIELD OR CAUSE INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN IF IT COMES OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME EARLY ONE MORNING AND MY IGNITION HAD SHUT OFF LIKE IT HAD MANY TIMES BEFORE THIS TIME THE WEATHER CONDITIONS BEING SNOWY AND SLUSHY CAUSED ME TO GET STUCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS YANKED INTO THE DITCH. I HAD CALLED THE CLAIMS NUMBER AFTER MY CAR HAD SAT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS MAYBE LONGER AND THEY TOLD ME SINCE THE CLAIM WAS NOT FILED AS OF THE RECALL CAME OUT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THERE IS NOTHING THAT GM CAN DO THEY WILL NOT REFUND ME FOR THE MONEY TO REPLACE MY RADIATOR, CONDENSER, AND COOLING FAN THAT I NEEDED REPAIRED AT THAT TIME TO MAKE MY VEHICLE RUN. I DID NOT HAVE MONEY AT THE TIME TO FIX THE COSMETIC DAMAGE IN THE FENDER AND THE BUMPER SO THAT IS STILL BROKEN. THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME SINCE IT WAS SO LONG AFTER THE ACIDENT THEY COULD NOT CHECK THE VEHICLES RECORDS TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE HAD ACTUALLY SHUT OFF. NOW THE REASON MY CAR IS SITTING AT THE DEALER SHIP IS BECAUSE THIS TIME MY CAR WAS STUCK RUNNING THE KEY IS IN THE ON POSITION AND COULDNT BE TURNED OFF. I WOULD LIKE SOME ACTION TO BE TAKEN OR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME IN ORDER TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED BUT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN ION, AND I KNOW 5 OTHER PEOPLE WITH ONE AS WELL, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS HAD TO SEAL THEIR MOON ROOFS. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 15 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION BARREL SWITCH SEIZED AND WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS FRACTURED. THE IGNITION BARREL SWITCH WAS REPAIRED BUT NOT THE DOOR LATCH FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTIONING DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, DRIVER WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR BECAUSE NEITHER THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD ACTUATE THE DOOR LATCH, OPENING THE DOOR. EXTERIOR, INTERIOR MANUAL, INTERIOR POWER AND REMOTE POWER LOCKS WERE REPEATEDLY ACTUATED TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY, THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED AFTER USING A HANGAR THROUGH THE WINDOW CAVITY TO BUMP ONE OF THE LINKAGE ARMS. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT, THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO A SUCCESSFUL EVACUATION. *TR
NEITHER THE EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL DOOR HANDLES WILL ALLOW ONE OR MORE DOORS TO OPEN. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR JUST STOPPED WORKING FROM THE EXTERNAL/INTERNAL DOOR HANDLES. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY WHERE I MIGHT NEED TO GET OUT OF MY CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE AS I WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT. IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED AND BOTH DOORS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME TIME SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE TO CRAWL OUT THE CARS WINDOWS IN ORDER TO GET OUT. IN THE EXTREME SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND BOTH DOORS AT THE SAME TIME YOU COULD BE TRAPPED IN YOUR CAR UNTIL RESCUE PERSONAL ARRIVED. SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE ON A DOOR HANDLES THAT WOULD CAUSE BOTH THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL HANDLES TO NO LONGER FUNCTION AS REQUIRED AND CAUSE THE DOOR TO OPEN. I HAVE DONE WEB SEARCHES FOR THIS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FIX IS YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE THAT COULD SPEND UPWARDS OF 4 OR MORE HOURS TO GET THE DOOR OPENED BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN START TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF GM/SATURN CAN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN AN ACCEPTABLE MANNER THEN SHOULD AT LEAST COVER THE COST OF FIXING THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHICH SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, KEY CODE PASS SYSTEM, REPLACED THE IGNITION AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR MOTOR. THE IGNITION REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,612 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 12/30/11 *CN
WHEN I FIRST GOT MY 2006 SATURN ION, I WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM THE SATURN DEALERSHIP WITH LESS THAN A 50 MILES ON THE CAR. BEFORE 30 DAYS OF OWNING THE AUTOMOBILE IT QUIT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION ENDANGERING MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO FIX THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE AUTOMOBILE, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THEY THEN REPLACED THE KEY. THEN MONTHS LATER MY ALARM STARTED GOING OFF SPONTANEOUSLY, THE BATTERY WENT DEAD ON THE AUTOMOBILE WHICH I HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT AGAIN I HAD TO REPLACE THAT MYSELF OUT OF POCKET IN MARCH OF 2009. STILL AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY, GETTING THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED TWICE, AND HAVING THE ELECTRICAL PARTS LOOKED AT THE CAR STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IF I GET GAS WHY THE CAR IS NOT CRANKED IT WILL NOT CRANK BACK UP FOR HOURS!!! IT WILL GO DEAD WHILE I'M DRIVING ON A FREEWAY DOES THIS ALL THE TIME! THIS SATURN ION HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT MONEY AND PROBLEMS SINCE I'VE HAD IT I PURCHASED A ADDITIONAL WARRANTY ON THE AUTOMOBILE WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE OR FIX ANY OF THE WORK ON THE AUTOMOBILE WHEN I ONLY HAVE GOTTEN MY CAR SERVICED WITH SATURN THEY DO ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES, AND MAINTENANCE AND CHARGE ME A ARM AND LEG TO MAINTAIN THE MAINTENANCE ON THE AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE HAD TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS AUTOMOBILE FOR MAINTENANCE THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN BE A ISSUE AT THIS TIME MY CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 84K ON IT YET. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO SHAKE WHEN THE CAR SITS STILL, THE CAR QUITS IF THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING WHEN YOU GET FUEL, THE CAR QUITS AT RED LIGHTS, THE CAR POWER STEERING GETS REAL HARD TO TURN WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE SATURN ION IS DEFINITELY A DUD! YOU CAN SMELL GAS SOMETIMES COMING FROM THIS AUTOMOBILE, AND THE BATTERY IS IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR...SO WHEN IT DRAINS MY BATTERY GOES GO DEAD. THE DEFECTS ON THIS AUTOMOBILE WILL KILL SOMEONE ONE DAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WOULD STICK UNLESS BODY PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2006 SATURN ION - DRIVER'S HOOD OF HIS VEHICLE CAME UP CAUSING THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO BREAK WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NJ THE VEHICLE HAD PRIOR DAMAGE DUE TO A CRASH THAT OCCURRED THE SAME DAY. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-0658-91. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH; HOWEVER, THE SPEED HAS VARIED. THE CONNECTING PANEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BETWEEN THE TWO DOORS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FELL OFF ONTO THE FREEWAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08*JB
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AS USUAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED. SUNROOF WASN'T EVEN OPEN AND GLASS WENT ALL OVER THE OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. NO OBJECTS CAUSED THE BREAKAGE, DIDN'T DRIVE UNDER AN OVERPASS WHERE ANYTHING COULD HAVE BEEN DROPPED. NEVER HEARD OF SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODING ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT EVEN IN USE. WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF NEARLY $600 AND ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE TRUNK THAT HOUSED THE BATTERY WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SCION TC. THE MAKE AND MODEL WERE UNAVAILABLE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU AT THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUNROOF COLLAPSED AND SHATTERED ON THE CONTACT. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE DEFLECTOR, IT IS NOT CONSIDERED AN ISSUE. THE DEFLECTOR WAS IDENTIFIED AS DEFECTIVE, NOT THE SUNROOF. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,262.
IT HAS RAINED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE MIDDLE CONSOLE OF MY CAR AND ALSO AROUND MY ROOF AREA AND ALL DOWN THE SIDES. THE FIRST TWO TIME I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED THEY SAID SATURN COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THIS CONTINUED TO OCCUR FOR THE NEXT MONTH UNTIL IT GOT SO BAD TO START DRIPPING OUT OF MY MAP LIGHTS AGAIN. SATURN MECHANICS ASKED IF I WAS PARKING ON ANGLE, WHICH SHOULD NOT MATTER, OR IF I WAS DRIVING ON LARGE ANGLES, AND TOLD ME AGAIN THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIND ANYTHING. SATURN JUST TOLD ME THAT THE SUNROOF HAD A PROBLEM THAT WAS UNFIXABLE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THAT SCARES ME. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TABLE ON HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO COME OUT WITH A FIX BUT THEY WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TEMPORARY THAT SHOULD HELP BUT IF IT DIDN'T FOR ME TO BRING IT BACK IN TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. I FEEL AS THOUGH SUNROOF LEAKING AROUND MY ELECTRICAL PARTS IS DANGEROUS AND THAT THE CONTINUING BUILDUP OF MOISTURE IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY DO MY BODILY HARM. (1) THE WATER COULD LEAK INTO ELECTRICAL AREAS OF THE CAR CAUSING A FIRE AND (2) MOLD COULD BEGIN TO DEVELOP IN THE CAR FROM ALL THE MOISTURE WHICH EMITS VAPORS THAT ARE TOXIC A TEMPORARY FIX HAS BEEN APPLIED WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL FIX IT OR OF A FUTURE SATURN RECALL TO FIX THE SUNROOF. *NM
THE REAR BUMPER IS STARTING TO HAVE OBVIOUS SCRATCHES WHERE THE TRUNK LID COMES DOWN. THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THAT SATURN IDENTIFIED TWO YEARS AGO. DURING THE SERVICE VISIT THE TECHNICIAN REALIZED THAT MY BUMPER WAS MISALIGNED AT ASSEMBLY AND REALIGNED AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. NOW IT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE BUMPER WHERE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO SHAVE THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK LID AND RE-PAINT. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE ADVISOR THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THAT AIR OR WIND RESISTANCE GOES THROUGH THE BUMPER AND PUSHES THE BUMPER AGAINST THE TRUNK LID CAUSING THE SCRATCHES ON THE BUMPER AND BOTTOM OF TRUNK LID. *JB
DURING A WEEKEND OF THUNDERSTORMS MY SUNROOF LEAKED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SOAKED. I GOT THE CAR BACK, AND DURING ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM THE CAR LEAKED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO LEFT MY CAR OUT IN THE RAIN WITH A KNOWN LEAK FOR THREE DAYS ON THE FIRST TRIP TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER REFERRED TO THIS LEAKAGE PROBLEM AS A DESIGN FLAW. *JB
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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