NHTSA Complaint #10564404 — 2006 SATURN ION

ON FRIDAY WE GOT OUR 2006 SATURN ION OUT OF THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER HAVING A FROZEN AIR COMPRESSOR AND RIPPED SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED ($1400), ALONG WITH A TRANSMISSION LINE. AFTER DRIVING AND STOPPING THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, BUT IT WAS LOCKED. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT MOVED FINE, BUT WHEN I DROVE BACK INTO PLACE AND TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF AGAIN, THE KEY WOULDN'T BUDGE SO THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. WE DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WANTED TO CHARGE US AGAIN TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. WE ALSO NOTICED THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ALL THE FLUIDS CHECKED TWO WEEKS PRIOR WHEN GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER SAID TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THIS DIDN'T WORK. ANOTHER RELIABLE SOURCE INSTRUCTED US TO DISCONNECT THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP TO AVOID THE ENGINE RUNNING ON THE ALTERNATOR. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIND A DISTRIBUTOR CAP, WE REALIZED THERE WAS NONE. A NEIGHBOR CAME AND DISCONNECTED A FUSE. THE KEY IS STILL LODGED IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR MAINTENANCE: POWER STEERING REPLACED AND THE GAS TANK REPLACED BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE NIPPLE. I AM PETITIONING THAT THIS VEHICLE BE RECALLED AS IT WAS IN CERTAIN "HOT" STATES. THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES EXPERIENCED IN MID-EAST STATES, COUPLED BY INADEQUATE SERVICE AND MATERIALS HAVE CREATED CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE NO LESS THAN THOSE EXPERIENCED IN THE INITIAL STATES WHERE RECALLS HAPPENED. WHAT ALSO SHOULD BE NOTED IS THAT CONSUMER REPORT DOCUMENT 491 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE ISSUES. *TR