NHTSA Complaint #10255502 — 2004 SATURN ION

CAR WILL SPORADICALLY NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. STARTS FINE IN WARM SEASON. WAITING 10 MINUTES AFTER INITIAL TRY WILL USUALLY REMEDY THIS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS 5 TIMES A WEEK AND NORMALLY IN THE MORNING. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE STARTER AND BATTER HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASS-LOCK SYSTEM BEING TEMPERAMENTAL. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND CONDENSATION. THE COLD START TRIGGERS AN APPROXIMATE 10 MINUTE WAIT TIME BEFORE THE SYSTEM IS RESET AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER UNTIL AFTER THAT PERIOD. I HAVE READ WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DISABLED THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM TO REMEDY THIS WITH GOOD RESULTS. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH PAYING A MECHANIC TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM OR DOING THIS MYSELF AND FEEL THAT SATURN SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A SPORADIC AND TEMPERAMENTAL PROBLEM IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE.... HENCE THE DOZENS OF ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE REPLACING STARTERS AND BATTERIES WITH NO LASTING RESULTS. I HAVE, WITH MIXED RESULTS, THAT HEATING THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE THE INITIAL START WILL CAUSE A BETTER CONNECTION. I AM GOING TO TRY THIS METHOD. OVERALL THIS IS JUST A RIDICULOUS ISSUE AND I'M TIRED OF BEING LATE FOR WORK AND STARTING MY CAR 10 TO 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING MY CAR UNATTENDED WHILE GETTING READY. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP FIX THE PROBLEM FOR ME AND THE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SUCH STRONG DISSATISFACTION WITH THEIR SATURN VEHICLES. *TR