NHTSA Complaint #10250573 — 2003 SATURN ION

WE OWN A 2003 SATURN ION AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO PRESS A RELEASE BUTTON IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO GET THE KEY OUT. IN ADDITION, THIS APPEARS TO CREATE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE 30 DAY WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY SAID THEY WERE "UNABLE TO REPLICATE" PROBLEM, UNBEKNOWNST TO US THIS WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SATURN IONS. THE "TEMPORARY FIX" IS EVEN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THAT'S JUST WRONG! HOW CAN A COMPANY GET AWAY WITH SELLING SUCH A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT -- AND ESPECIALLY A CAR!!! I FEEL RIPPED OFF AND SATURN SHOULD STAND BEHIND SUCH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE ISSUE. THIS DOES CREATE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START LEAVING YOU STRANDED. THE DEALERSHIP WON'T EVEN OFFER TO GIVE A "FREE ESTIMATE" -- AND NOW THEY TELL ME THERE ARE VARIOUS POSSIBLE FIXES -- IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PART IS BROKEN. SO I HAVE TO GIVE THEM $85 FOR THEM TO TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX. I AM A SINGLE PARENT, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS AFFORDABLE AND I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SATURN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM!!! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE ONLINE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP! *TR