NHTSA Complaint #10250882 — 2003 SATURN ION

IF THE SATURN VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES AT OR APPROACHING 32 DEGREES F FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING (USUALLY 6-10 HOURS), THEN WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS AND THE CAR STALLS. THE SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN. THE SECURITY LIGHT BLINKS AND THE ODOMETER SCREEN READS: 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON.' FUEL WILL NOT BE SENT TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NOT START FOR ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING AND THEN GO OUT. 'THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON' SCROLL LIGHT WILL STOP AND ALSO GO OUT. NOW, YOU MAY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. .HOWEVER, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HAS NOT ADEQUATELY WARMED, THEN THE PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN. A SIGNAL THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY START AFTER THE PRESENT 'LOCK-OUT' WILL BE WHEN THE IGNITION SEEMS TO CRANK A BIT MORE THAN JUST A CLICK, BEFORE LOCKING OUT AGAIN. REMEDY:1. THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FREEZING AND/OR HARDENING SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER MUST RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GREASE. THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A REDESIGNED SWITCH, WHICH CERTAINLY CAN BE CONSTRUED AS AN ADMISSION TO THE FAULTY DESIGN. OF COURSE, THIS TYPE OF REMEDIAL MEASURE CANNOT BE USED IN COURT, BUT IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL TO THOSE OF US CONSUMERS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE FAULTY DESIGN. SATURN MUST OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MISTAKE AND FIX IT, BEFORE SOMEONE IS STRANDED IN THE COLD, IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE. SERVICE BULLETIN:040845005 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10007431 MFG BULLETIN DATE: 20060301 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH BULLETIN SUMMARY: NO CRANK, NO START WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES IS COLD - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) B2960 AND OR B3033 ARE SET. *TR