NHTSA Complaint #10463441 — 2006 SATURN ION

IGNITION KEY CYLINDER FAILURE: THE KEY WOULD TURN BUT NOT ADVANCE BEYOND "RUN" TO START THE ENGINE. AFTER REPLACING THE KEY CYLINDER THE IGNITION KEY WORKS BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH PASSLOCK SYSTEM WOULD NOT ENGAGE; SATURN WAS FAULTED WITH THE EASE OF THEFT OF THEIR VEHICLES PROMPTING THEIR INITIATION OF THE FAILURE-PRONE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THIS OWNER WORKS IN HIGH RISK/DANGEROUS AREA ON A FEDERAL FACILITY. FORTUNATELY THIS TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT HOME AFTER DRIVING FROM THAT FACILITY. WE NOTED THERE ARE MANY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST GM FOR THIS DEFECT, MANY WITH PERSONAL/PROPERTY RISK AS NOTED HERE, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IF THIS RECURS WITH PERSONAL DAMAGE WE GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST GM WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL; WE ARE SEEKING THE ADVICE OF OUR ATTORNEYS. WE WILL NOT DIVULGE ANY OTHER SUCH OR RELATED INFORMATION AT THIS TIME. WE ADDITIONALLY NOTED TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY GM TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, VIS-A-VIS IN A RECALL OR REFUND FOR TIME/MATERIAL/LABOR OR PERSONAL TIME LOST, OTHER THAN TO DISCONTINUE THE SATURN BRAND. IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND SUITABLE SERVICE OF ANY KIND, MAINLY BECAUSE GM DEALERS REFUSE TO WORK ON SATURNS: "WE HATE THOSE CARS". AT THIS POINT THE REPROGRAMMING FEATURE OF THE DYSFUNCTIONAL PASSLOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED 39 MILES TO A DEALERSHIP. *TR