NHTSA Complaint #10267979 — 2003 SATURN ION

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10267979
Vehicle	2003 SATURN ION
Component	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date of Incident	February 18, 2009
Date Filed	May 7, 2009
Mileage	78,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	OH

Consumer Description

2003 SATURN ION. THE CAR RUNS PERFECTLY FINE HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION INVOLVING THE IGNITION SWITCH. MOST OF THE TIME INVOLVES ME BEING LATE FOR WORK BUT TWICE I WAS LEFT IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. ONCE TRYING TO LEAVE A SPORTING EVENT LATE NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND THE CAR WOULDN'T START, TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES FINALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES OF THAT THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. ANOTHER TIME WITH MY 85 YEAR OLD MOM (WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S) AFTER BUYING GAS THE SAME THING AND IT TERRIFIED MY MOM. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT SATURN IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND THAT PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE ARE VERY COMMON AND VERY FRUSTRATING TO SATURN OWNERS WHO ARE FORCED TO PAY NEARLY $300.00 FOR A NEW IGNITION SWITCH ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REOCCUR A FEW MOTHS LATER. SATURN ADMITS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSE IN COLD WEATHER. IF PEOPLE ARE STRANDED IN FRIGID WEATHER UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND HAVE HEAT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ELDERLY PERSON OR CHILD IN THE CAR, SERIOUS INJURIES COULD DEFINITELY OCCUR. *TR

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