2003 SATURN ION Electrical System Problems

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE FIRST IN 2005 WITH APPROX 12,000 MILES AND AGAIN IN 2010 WITH APPROX 52,000 MILES. NOW VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND IS HAVING SAME ISSUE,WHICH DRAINS DOWN BATTERY. NO OTHER KEYS ARE ON KEY RING. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND INCLUDED IN GM RECALL AS MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING AS AFFECTED, AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO ME AGAIN AS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, WITH NO CRUISE CONTROL OPTION, IT'S UNSOLVED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE WORKS WHILE IT'S HAPPENING, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, THE MOST RECENT TIME I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, I COULD SMELL THE TRANSMISSION, I TURNED VEHICLE OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WENT TO OVER 5 RPM STILL, TURNED BACK OFF, SAT AND WAITED, IT WAS 2AM SO I COULDN'T CALL ANYONE. AFTER 10 MINUTES IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THAT WAS THE MOST SEVERE, IT'S HAD SLIGHTLY SIMILAR ISSUES AT LEAST 4 TIMES. FIRST MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, THEN I TOLD HIM I WAS LEAVING SINCE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL. DON'T WANT HIM WORKING ON IT. 2ND ONE RAN COMPUTER CHECK, NO...

MY CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. THE KEY WAS STUCK AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT. I'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 NEW ONES DONE SINCE THEN. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT GM ARE RECALLING SOME CARS BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HEARD A THING ABOUT IT AND THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR 11 YEARS NOW AND HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS MYSELF, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE SINCE I'VE LEARNED ABOUT 7 PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. SO I'M VERY UPSET THAT I HAD THIS CAR FOR ALL THIS TIME AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW DANGEROUS MY CAR REALLY IS. *TR

WIFE AND CHILDREN RIDING DOWN ROAD WHEN CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF AND LOOSES ALL POWER. SHE WAS LUCKILY ENOUGH TO MERGE ACROSS 2 LANES AT A COAST WITH NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THEN IT TOOK UP TO 30 MIN OF SITTING ON THE SIDE OF VERY BUSY I-16 TILL THE SECURITY LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND SHE COULD CONTINUE HER WAY HOME WITH MY 2 AND 8 YEAR OLD KIDS IN THE CAR. NOW ALL THE CAR WILL DO IS FLASH THAT PASSLOCK LIGHT AFTER I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH,STARTER,BATTERY,ALTERNATOR AND MANY FUSES ALSO FOLLOWING THE RELEARN PROCEDURE EACH TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY RECUR DURING COLDER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM WAS RE-WIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,710.

SATURN ION 2 MODEL YEAR 2003 WAS SERVICED FOR 2004 TURN SIGNAL RECALL BACK IN 2005; IN THE PAST 16 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB CHANGED 4 TIMES BECAUSE IT STOPS WORKING, AND HAVE CHANGED IT 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE THE MOST RECENT SERIES OF INCIDENTS. AS OF TODAY I CHANGED IT A 5TH TIME AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION PARTICULARLY SINCE IT FAILS REPEATEDLY. NOW I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR HUNDREDS OF SATURN OWNERS; THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE RE-OCCURENCE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT. *TR

MY SWITCH WILL NOT TURN BACK TO RELEASE MY KEYS. AT TIMES TRYING TO START THE CAR THE SWITCH WILL NOT TURN, AS WELL. EVENTUALLY IT WILL TURN, FOR NOW. *TR

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT LUCKILY IN A PARKING LOT AT A SHOPPING CENTER IN OCTOBER 2012 THE MOTORS WERE REPLACED PREVIOUSLY BEFORE SATURN WENT DEFUNCT BACK IN APPROXIMATELY 2006 AND AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THESE ARE EXACTLY THE SAME MOTORS THAT A RECALL WAS PROPOSED ON THE CHEVY CRUZ AND GM SAYS THEY ARE NOT COVERED OR NO COVERED UNDER THE SATURN PROGRAM. NOW OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH GM KNOWS HAS PROBLEMS HAS SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILE DRIVING AND NOW IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE IT LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY NOT ALLOWING THE DISENGAGING OF THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF AND PARK. AGAIN GM SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL BUT THEY HAVE RECALLS ON OTHER GM VEHICLES. I HAVE SPENT UPWARDS OF $700 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS AND BATTERIES AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I'VE READ OF THE MANY NIGHTMARE ON THE INTERNET...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION L3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE DID NOT START, BUT THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY ALSO BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW WIRE HARNESS FOR THE ALARM SYSTEM AND A NEW IGNITION LOCK TUMBLER WITH THE DIELECTRIC GREASE IN IT. THIS FAILURE ACROSS MORE OFTEN WHEN COLD. UPON MAKING SHORT ERRANDS, THE VEHICLE MUST BE LEFT RUNNING IN ORDER TO AVOID SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES....

2003 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MALFUNCTION OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND DOOR LOCKS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DOORS UN-LOCKED, THE FLASHER STARTED TO FLASH AND THE AIR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NEARBY GARAGE AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE SOLUTION AT THAT TIME WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN RE-START IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 16TH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PART REQUIRED WAS A SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AT A COST OF $ 399.99. HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE MECHANIC, THAT A PART TRY TO BE LOCATED AT A JUNK YARD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER THE VEHICLE OFF. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD INTERMITTENTLY BE REMOVED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN POWERED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED PASS THE ACCESSORY MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM, CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS STARTING THEN DOESNT, I WAIT TEN MINUTES THEN IT WILL START. IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM

YET ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ON THE SATURN ION. SINCE IT APPEARS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL?? CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. GM WHAT IS THE DEAL??? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING AND WOULD NEED NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE SUCCESSFULLY STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE PARK AND NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

IN VERY COLD WEATHER THE CAR WILL NOT START. *TR

THE CAR'S HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS SHUT OFF. WARNING LIGHTS SUCH AS "CHECK ENGINE", "ABS", AND "THEFT LOCK" ALL CAME ON AFTER PARKING THE CAR. THE HORN WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET HORN TO STOP. ATTEMPTED TO START THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND WHILE RECONNECTING THE BATTERY THE HORN CAME ON AGAIN AND THE LISTED ABOVE LIGHTS STAYED ON. CAR HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING COVERED BY A WARRANTY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONTACT NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ON VARIOUS MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAME MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

RANDOMLY, MY 2003 SATURN ION-3 REFUSES TO START DUE TO THE WIDELY KNOWN YET UNRESOLVED IGNITION SWITCH PASSLOCK PROBLEM. THE OCCURRENCES HAVE STEADILY INCREASED IN FREQUENCY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PREVALENT ISSUE ARE BEING OVERLOOKED, AND IT SHOULD BE FORMALLY INVESTIGATED. ADDITIONALLY, IT RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FAULTINESS IN OTHER CRITICAL COMPONENTS. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE UNFAIR TO US CONSUMERS FOR THIS ADMITTEDLY FAULTY PART; IT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY RECALL. *TR

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TURNING OFF CAR. ALOT OF THE TIME MY KEY WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF ALL THE WAY SO MY KEY GETS STUCK. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT MAYBE 10 MINUTES BEFORE I WILL HEAR A CLICK AND FINALLY TURN IT OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY AND IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY FIVE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THERE WERE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,165. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,500.

THE ISSUE IS IN CONNECTION WITH A 2003 SATURN ION. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING, THERE APPEARS TO BE A CLICK COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR, MOST LIKELY COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CLICK, THERE IS THREE DINGS FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE ON THE DASH "PWR STR". AFTER THIS HAS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE LOSES ITS POWER STEERING ABILITIES, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT MORE FORCE TO BE USED WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. TYPICALLY THIS IS FINE WHEN ON A STRAIGHT ROAD BUT OFTEN THIS IS NOT THE CASE AS I DRIVE ON ROADS WITH SHARP CURVES LEADING TO THE RISK OF SIGNIFICANT DANGER IF I WAS TO LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE TAKING ONE OF THESE TURNS. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF WHILE IN MOTION AND THEN TURNED ON AGAIN THE POWER STEERING DOES BEGIN TO WORK AGAIN ALTHOUGH OFTEN THE EVENTS OCCUR AGAIN AND THE CAR LOSES...

2003 SATURN ION-3 PURCHASED NEW BEGAN NOT STARTING IN 2009. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES THE CAR STARTS UP. TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE CAR NOT STARTING. WENT ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN ION OWNERS REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. WROTE A LETTER AND SENT COPIES OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS TO GM IN JANUARY 2009. A SERVICE REP. CALLED ME SAYING THEY HAD NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BY GM. STARTING HAVING MANY MORE INCIDENTS OF THE CAR NOT STARTING IN 2010, BUT WAITING THE 10-15 MINUTES AND THE CAR THEN STARTING. SENT AN E-MAIL TO GM REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AGAIN A SERVICE REP. CALLED AND SAID DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR I SHOULD TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED...

2003 SATURN ION IGNITION SWITCH BROKE; BECAME INOPERATIVE & COST $600.00 TO REPAIR & COULD HAVE BEEN ACCIDENT CAUSAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION LEVEL 2 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PASS LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS REPAIRING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE KEY WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED WHO WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2003 ION SATURN WILL NOT START ON COLD MORNINGS. THIS STARTED 2010 IN JANUARY. I HAVE TAKEN TO FIRESTONE TO FIX. WASN'T COLD ENOUGH. CAR STARTED. NOW WEATHER IS COLDER AND CAR WILL NOT START. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN NOTHING. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME TYPE THAT I AM HAVING. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. NEW BATTERY PUT IN JAN 2010. CAR MECHANIC SAID CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM UNTIL CAR WON'T START FOR THEM. VERY FRUSTRATING. THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION. WANTED TO KEEP CAR FOR A LONG TIME. AFTER THE WEATHER GETS WARMER DURING THE DAY, CAR WILL START RIGHT UP. RECALL??? *TR

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALER, 2003 SATURN ION HAD CONTINUOUS HIGH ENGINE IDLE AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE(PCM) COMPUTER RESET IT SELF. SATURN DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE BY RE-PROGRAMMING THE PCM( 10/21/10) AS PER A ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN OF 4/2004 . THIS DID NOT WORK. THEN THEY ADVISED A SPRING IN THROTTLE BODY (ENGINE) WAS BAD AND REPLACED SPRING ( 10/28/10). THIS ALSO DID NOT WORK, ENGINE STILL HAS HIGH IDLE AND I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK ON 11/2/10 TO THE SERVICE DEALER.. SERVICE DEALER THEN HOOKED UP CAR TO COMPUTER AND HAS SER TECH DRIVE VEHICLE FOR OVER 25 MILES, 2 TIMES ; AND THENFOUND ANOTHER PROBLEM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER HAD A SHORT AND CAUSED A BURNED OUT COMPONENT IN THE COMPUTER. SINCE THE SATURN IS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCES, THE COMPUTER...

2003 SATURN ION, THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITION SWITCH TO BE REPLACED IN THIS CAR. ON THIS OCCASION THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE SWITCH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH SATURNS..WHY NO RECALL? *TR

2003 SATURN ION3 WONT START WAIT 10MIN AND IT WILL START.... I WAS AT A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND WAS THERE WITH MY CHILD WHEN WE WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE FOR 4 DAYS. WE GOT IN TURNED THE CAR OVER AND NOTHING BUT SERVICE ENGINE. @ HOURS AWAY FROM HOME WITH A SICK CHILD THAT JUST GOT RELEASED CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME HELP HE TRAVELED 2 HRS TO COME TO ME WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE CAR AFTER SITTING AT THE HOSPITAL WAITING IT STARTED JUST FINE. FIRST TIME IT HAD EVERY DONE THAT TO ME. BUT NOW IT HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN AT THE GROCERY STORE AT THE DRS. TRYING TO LEAVE HOME TO GET TO WORK AND AT WORK WHEN IT HAS DONE IT. I WILL TRY TO START IT AND IT TELLS ME SERVICE ENGINE AND THEN...

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION. THE KEY "JAMMED" IN THE "ON" POSITION LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING. TO SHUT IT OFF YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE HOOD, PULL A FUSE, THEN GO TO THE TRUNK AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ME BECAUSE THE CAR IS DRIVEN BY A COLLEGE, FEMALE. GAS STATIONS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND SMALL CHILDREN LEFT IN CAR, ETC... ARE A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CAR IS RUNNING. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHIFTER, AND NOW THE IGNITION ($463) PLUS TAX FOR A LOCK CYLINDER ! *TR

THE CAR WONT START AND I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR TESTED AND STARTER BOTH PASSED I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR THE IGNITION SWITCH CLICKS THEN STALLS, SECURITY SYSTEM KICKS IN READS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" AFTER ABOUT 20MINUTES THE CAR STARTS, HEAR RATTLING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME FOR THE PAST YEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN ION 2 AND IT WILL PERIODICALLY LOCK OUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT 8-10 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. WE HAVE REPLACED, THE IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, BATTERY, AND A FEW OTHER PARTS TO NO AVAIL. IT WAS ONCE IN JAN. OF 2010 AND THEN AGAIN IN MARCH, BUT NOW IN JUNE IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. I READ ON A FORUM THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES DURING WINTER, BUT HAWAII IS A MODERATE CLIMATE YEAR ROUND, NO EXCUSE. *TR

2003 SATURN ION. SEPTEMBER 09. DROVE CAR. PARKED. COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WAITED 10 MINUTES. KEY CAME OUT. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AT SATURN DEALER. NEXT WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN.(AT MY EXPENSE). KEY CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY STICK IN THE IGNITION. I CAN NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR UNTIL I GET THE KEY OUT. LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK_P5.HTML NO WONDER GM CLOSED OUT THE SATURN LINE. JUST AS BAD AS TOYOTA. THE MECHANICS AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY OFFERED NO PERMANENT FIX. THIS IS WHY I DON'T TRUST AMERICAN MADE CARS. *TR

2003 SATURN ION COUPE WILL NOT START IN COLD HUMID WEATHER. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND IT HAS THE SAME STARTING PROBLEMS REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS WEBSITE. ON COLD DAYS, THE CAR WILL NOT START AT TIMES. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT THE MOST IMPORTUNE TIMES AND LOCATIONS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS NO NOISE AND NO CRANKING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY ON. HOWEVER, WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR ABOUT 5 TO 15 MINUTES LATER, IT STARTS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE ALTERNATOR CHECKS OUT FINE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE, BUT THAT IS A GUESS ON MY PART BASED ON THE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS BY OTHER SATURN OWNERS. THERE IS ONLY ONE AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALER/SERVICE FACILITY LEFT IN THE HOUSTON. THE TECHNICIAN THERE TOLD ME HE HAS SERVICED NUMEROUS SATURNS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT REPLACING...

I'VE BEEN HAVING COLD STARTING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIX BY DEALER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST. AT 620.00 A POP THAT'S HARD . NOW AFTER TALKING TO A TECHNICIAN THAT USED TO WORK FOR SATURN BEFORE THEY CLOSED ,THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY OIL THAT RELEASES FROM THE PART WHEN COLD AND LEAKS DOWN FROM THE IGNITION TO THE PASS LOCK SWITCH THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL BEFORE THIS BURNS SOMEONE UP AND KILLS THEM . THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX ALL THESE CARS .DO IT RIGHT AND STOP CHARGING PEOPLE FOR SOMETHING THAT REALLY CANT BE FIXED SIMPLY BY REPLACING A PART THAT WILL CONTINUE LEAKING OIL WHEN COLD. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THIS HASN'T ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. I CAN ONLY WAIT TO SEE IF THIS HAPPENS THEY NEED TO PAY ,I CANT AFFORD TO GO BUY A CAR WITH WORK...

CAR HAS FREQUENT INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS (ABOUT ONE IN 4 STARTING ATTEMPTS IS A NO-GO). INTERNET RESEARCH BRINGS UP MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH SENDING THE WRONG SIGNAL TO THE COMPUTER WHICH IN TURN ACTIVATES THE SECURITY SYSTEM (PASSLOCK, IN GM SPEAK) AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. GM RECOGNIZES THE ISSUE IN TSB #3493A WHICH RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE TO GM, I BELIEVE THE SWITCH REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE DONE AT THE MANUFACTURER'S COST, NOT THE CONSUMER'S COST. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE AND CONSUMERS ARE FORCED TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR'S COMPUTER (BCM) HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED AFTER THE SWITCH REPLACEMENT. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START SECURITY LIGHT TURN ON AND WON'T START FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK. ITS HORRIBLE BEING STRANDED OUT IN THE COLD WHEN IS BELOW ZERO FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES. SATURN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING OUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. THIS BEGAN 3 MONTHS AGO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WINTER SEASON, UNFORTUNATELY THE FIRST DAY OF A NEW JOB. THIS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES UNTIL I WAS LET GO FOR SHOWING UP LATE TO WORK (APPARENTLY, A CAR THAT PROBLEMATIC WAS INCONCEIVABLE). I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, BUT MOSTLY IN THE EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING WHEN IT'S COLDEST OUTSIDE. THIS PAST WEEK ALONE, MY CAR WOULDN'T START 3 TIMES. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM IN SATURN ION'S (2003-2006 MODELS). SOME COMPLAINTS HAVE SUGGESTED IT'S THE IGNITION, THE PASSLOCK KEY, OR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND MY MECHANIC IS LOOKING INTO THE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC DOESN'T READ A PROBLEM IF THE CAR IS STARTING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE...

2003 SATURN ION WILL NOT START DUE TO THE PASSLOCK TIMING ME OUT. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES AND YESTERDAY I HAD TO WAIT 3 HRS FOR MY CAR TO START. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND WANTED TO FILE A WRITTEN COMPLAINT. *TR

CAR WON'T START WHEN THE TEMP IS BELOW 20 F, HAVE TO WAIT 10 MIN FOR ANTI THEFT TO RESET AND THEN TRY AGAIN. SOME TIMES HAVE TO TRY 3 OR 4 TIMES. DEALER SAY IT'S A KNOW PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

MY 2003 SATURN ION REFUSES TO START WHEN IT IS COLD BUT AFTER 10 MINS IT WILL DECIDE IT WANTS TO START. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND PUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANIC NOT SEEING THE PROBLEM. PUT A NEW IGNITION SWITCH IN THE CAR AND STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB MANY SATURN OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND SATURN IS REFUSING TO DO SO. *TR

2003 SATURN ION. THIS CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR WILL STALL. I HAVE READ THAT THE DIFFICULTLY MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A TYPE OF LUBRICANT ON THE STARTER, WHICH HARDENS IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE CAR STALLS AS A RESULT, AND THEN THE PASS-LOCK KICKS IN. AFTER 8 MINUTES, THE CAR MAY START, OR ONE MAY HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 8 MINUTES (OR MORE) FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOOSEN UP ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR MAY STALL YET AGAIN---AND SET OFF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM YET AGAIN. *TR

2003 ION, WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE ERROR NOTED ON THE DISPLAY NOTES THEFT INTERLOCK, IF YOU WAIT 10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START. AT TIMES THE KEY WILL STICK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT, AT TIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THIS INTERLOCK NEEDS TO BE A SATURN RECALL. *TR

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION STARTING IN THE COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HAD MY STARTER CHECKED ALONG WITH SEVERAL BATTERY REPLACEMENTS, YET THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A STOP TO THIS ISSUE. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE FOR SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE AND UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS A SOLUTION ONLY COMPLAINTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF SATURN ION'S AND GM DOES NOT SEEM TO FEEL THE NEED TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I HAVE READ ABOUT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN BEING STRANDED BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO START THEIR SATURNS IN THE COLD WEATHER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYONE IN THE VICINITY TO HELP THEM OUT. THE CAR USUALLY TAKES ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO START AFTER INITIALLY TRYING - WHICH NO CAR SHOULD HAVE TO DO. PLEASE...

PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS (GENERALLY COLD CONDITIONS) PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING FOR TEN (10) MINUTES PRIOR TO NEXT ATTEMPT. THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD/RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THE NEED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT (IE., WOMAN IN LABOR) OR AN INDIVIDUAL FLEEING A DANGEROUS SITUATION (IE., MANDATORY EVACUATIONS). THIS IS A SECURITY FEATURE AND NOT REQUIRED FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AS SUCH; IN LIEU OF THE NUMBER OF MALFUNCTIONS WITH SAID SYSTEM, THE OWNER OF SAID VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING SAID SYSTEM DISABLED AT THEIR DISCRETION INCURRING LITTLE OR NO COST BY THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THESE PEOPLE(HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/SATURN/ION/R97727/COMMENTS/) HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS STARTED NOV. 2008 WHEN I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD MAKE NO NOISE WHAT SO EVER OR IT WOULD START AND STALL...AFTER 10 TO 20 MINUTES IT WOULD START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS...THEN IT WAS 2 DAYS...THEN 3 WEEKS...THERE WAS NO PATTERN. IN DEC. 2008 I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THEY REPLACED THE STARTER...I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE MECHANIC AND I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN IT WOULD HAPPEN THEY COULDN'T HELP. THIS STOPPED IN APRIL AND I HAD NO TROUBLE UNTIL NOV. 27, 2009...