NHTSA Complaint #10641527 — 2005 SATURN ION

KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF, APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE TIME I DRIVE IT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I HAVE TWO OPTIONS: ALLOW THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED AND JUMPSTART THE NEXT TIME I USE MY CAR, OR ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE MANUAL RELEASE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. I'VE HAD THE RECALL MAINTENANCE DONE ON MY CAR, AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. GM TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE GEAR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED (COST TO BE PAID BY ME). IN THE MEANTIME, THEY SUGGESTED THAT I CONTINUE TO RELEASE THE KEY MANUALLY. EVERY TIME I USE MY CAR, I FEEL UNSAFE - I AM PUTTING MYSELF AT RISK OF ELECTROCUTION CONSTANTLY, WHETHER BY JUMPSTARTING THE DEAD BATTERY OR MANIPULATING THE WIRES UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND TAKING NO STEPS TO FIX IT, MUCH LIKE THE OTHER IGNITION/POWER STEERING PROBLEMS THEY WILLINGLY IGNORED. *TR