NHTSA Complaint #10217995 — 2003 SATURN ION

I REGRETTABLY OWN A 2003 SATURN ION 2 SEDAN. SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING, THE CAR FAILS TO START. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DOING EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT IT STEMS FROM A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE SWITCH LEAKS LUBRICANT ONTO THE WIRES IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM. WHEN IT IS COLD ENOUGH FOR THE LUBRICANT TO FREEZE, IT IMPEDES THE SIGNAL REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM (STANDARD ON MY CAR) AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. SATURN WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH (AT THE COST OF THE OWNER IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, ABOUT $300 TO $400). THE NEW SWITCHES WILL INEVITABLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AFTER THEY LEAK THE LUBRICANT. SATURN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS PUBLISHED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #040845005. THEY, HOWEVER, REFUSE TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY AND DEVISE A RELIABLE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, WE ARE ALL FREEZING IN THE COLD WEATHER WHILE WE WAIT FOR OUR CARS TO START. I BELIEVE SATURN IS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT IN THIS RESPECT. *TR