NHTSA Complaint #10427049 — 2007 SATURN ION

THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, IN THE RUN POSITION. I COULD NOT SHUT THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FROM THE COMPUTER ASSEMBLY TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. FORTUNATELY, AT THE TIME, THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THROUGH THE DEALER, THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EXCESS OF $500.00. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE, NOW, A YEAR LATER AND AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS (DIFFICULTY REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF) AS WERE EXPERIENCED BEFORE THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED LAST TIME. THIS PROBLEM, AFTER MUCH ON-LINE RESEARCH, IS AN ISSUE WITH SATURNS FROM 2005-2007. AS MOST INDIVIDUALS NOTED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, SIX MONTHS OR MORE AFTER REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, THROUGH THEIR DEALERSHIP. MECHANICS ARE NOTING THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY, IN THAT EACH TIME THE KEY IS TURNED SMALL BITS OF METAL FROM THE KEY ARE FLAKING OFF INTO THE ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO LOCK UP, TYPICALLY IN THE ON POSITION. THANKFULLY, FOR ME, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED CLOSE TO HOME. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR I AM AGAIN ANTICIPATING WILL TAKE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL BE DOING MYSELF OR SEEKING THE SERVICES OF A 'SHADE TREE' MECHANIC, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTED ON-LINE THROUGH EDMONDS AND OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINT SITES, I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY PARTS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THIS POOR ENGINEERING SHOULD NOT BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ANY CONSUMER. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. HOWEVER, GM INFORMED HIM, THE VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WAS COVERED. THE CONSUMER DISPUTED THAT, SAYING HIS VEHICLE DID HAVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. UPDATED 09/29/14