2003 SATURN ION Electrical Systemignition Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that less than a minute after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality, with the power steering failure message was displayed. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P), the contact would wiggle the key around in the ignition before being able to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,350.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY SEIZED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCKSMITH WHO REMOVED THE KEY AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2014 FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL, FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE, AT THE WESELOH CHEVROLET DEALER LOCATED AT 5335 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER GM RECALL NUMBER: 14632 (SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT-UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: (N/A), IN DECEMBER OF 2013 AT SERRA CHEVROLET SAGINAW LOCATED AT 4200 BAY RD, SAGINAW, MI 48603, (989) 790-0800 HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCDONALD GMC LOCATED AT 5155 STATE ST, SAGINAW, MI 48603, (989) 319-4136, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, HOUSING AND KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL (LOCK CYLINDER/IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT/ IGNITION KEY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PROVIDED HER WITH THE WRONG KEY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DEALER ON MAY 27, 2015 WHICH STATED THAT, AS PART OF THE REPAIR, THE DEALER PROVIDED HER WITH THE WRONG KEY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE KEY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH & IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND IGNITION KEY. CONTACTED THE LOCAL GMC DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS SINCE I CONTACTED THEM. THE GMC DEALER IS: BUICK GMC AT 361 N. SWITZER CANYON, FLAGSTAFF, AZ (PHONE 928-774-1472). LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A POST CARD FROM GMC SAYING THAT THEIR RECORDS INDICATED THAT I HAD NOT SERVICED THE CAR FOR THE RECALL NOTICE. THEY URGE ME TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY INCIDENTS THUS FAR WITH THE CAR. I RIDE THE PUBLIC BUS TO WORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14E021000 (IGNITION SWITCH). THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,111.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO BE RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE WOULD REMAIN POWERED ON WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. DR

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....

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION II. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE PASSLOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING TWENTY MINUTES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DETECTED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS LOOSE. THE TECHNICIAN TIGHTENED THE BOLTS THAT SECURED THE FUSE BOX. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BE REPLACED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS GETTING STUCK INSIDE OF THE IGNITION WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OR REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR THAT FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO COST THEY OPTED TO REPROGRAM THE KEY SO THAT SHE COULD REMOVE IT NO MATTER WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE, THE VEHICLE NEEDED...

FAILURE TO START IN COLD WEATHER, AND KEY STICKING IN IGNITION. *TR

I AM REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THIS PART BREAKING AND GM NEEDS TO FIND A FIX AND RECALL THIS CAR AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FOUND 44 PAGES OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THIS SAME CAR ON THIS WEBSITE: (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/SATURN_IGNITION_LOCK.HTML) I OWN A 2003 SATURN ION SEDAN. MY IGNITION IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SHUT MY CAR OFF IS TO PULL THE FUSE TO THE ECM. THE KEY DOES NOT TURN IN ANY DIRECTION AND WILL PULL OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH THE CAR RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS IGNITION PART CHANGED 4 TIMES ALREADY. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE KEY WOULD PULL OUT WITH CAR RUNNING, THE SECOND TWO TIMES I HAD TO PAY FOR. THE LAST TWO TIMES IT WOULD NOT LET ME START THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. THIS IS THE...

SATURN ION 2003 IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION CYLINDER BAD 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE SWITCH, AT ABOUT $300., EACH TIME. NO ONE BUT A GM DEALER CAN REPLACE THIS SWITCH, WHICH FAILS ONCE THE TEMP. DROPS, BECAUSE OF GM NOT RELEASING THE COMPUTER CODES. THE IGNITION CYLINDER IS BAD, BUT AT A COST OF $100. JUST FOR THE CYLINDER AND ANOTHER COST OF $100 FOR THE LABOR, I HAVE TO LEAVE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AT ALL TIMES IN THE RUN POSITION, SO I CAN START MY CAR. SATURN HAS ADMITTED TO THESE BEING FAULTY PARTS, BUT REFUSES TO RECALL THE CARS, SO THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE SAME REPAIRS. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. DURING "COLD DAYS" MY CAR DOES NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT ION 2003-2007 HAVE, SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING. *TR

MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD. IT IS DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE IGNITION SWITCH/PASSLOCK ERROR. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK, END EVERY MORNING IT IS BELOW 34 DEGREES. I HAVE HAD A NEW BATTERY, FUEL FILTER AND STARTER REPLACED IN THE PAST WEEK. AFTER TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES IT STARTS, BUT TODAY AFTER FORTY FIVE MINUTES IT STILL DID NOT START. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION THAT WONT START IN COLD WEATHER DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. SATURN DEALER WANTS $100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT ON A COMPUTER BUT MANY FORUMS HAVE INFORMATION STATING THAT THE DEALER ALREADY KNOWS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. *TR

2003 SATURN ION HAS PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD. MULTIPLE WEBSITES DOCUMENT DOZENS OF CASES OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ALL RELATING TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH SYSTEM. PROBLEM OCCURRED SPORADICALLY THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS BUT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE COMMON. SATURN IS WILLING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT AT MY EXPENSE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT OF THE CAR. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION THAT HAS EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE HAD THE STARTER REPLACED BY OUR MECHANIC WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN 2006 BUT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM 12-15 TIMES SINCE THEN. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WILL START IF YOU WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES OR SO BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT TO DO SO. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS SATURN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY SATURN AS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSLOCK IGNITION SYSTEM BUT CAN ONLY REPAIR IT FOR A FEE. *TR

MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST THING I HAVE EXPERIENCED HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING ON VERY COLD DAY BELOW 32 DEGREES. I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED LAST YEAR AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLD HERE IN INDIANA I HAVE BEGUN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR JUST WILL NOT START ON VERY COLD DAYS AGAIN BELOW 32 DEGREES. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION AND FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS MY VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLD. I HAVE HEARD AND READ HUNDRED OF PEOPLE HAVING TO REPLACE THEIR IGNITION SWITCH ON THEIR IONS. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MANY OCCASSIONS IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT. SATURN HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IS JUST BANKING IN THE CASH FOR US TO REPLACE THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES AND GET OUR COMPUTERS REPROGRAMMED. SINCE SATURN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ITS CUSTOMERS THEN I FEEL IT IS SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF LOCK UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE OCCURS WEEKLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS I NEEDED TO GET A NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND A NEW IGNITION CYLINDER THIS IS THE 2ND IGNITION CYLINDER I HAVE HAD TO GET SINCE PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR PARTS ONCE MY CAR RAN WITH OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION!!! *TR

PURCHASED AN 03 SATURN ION MAY 17, 2008. MAY 28 IGNITION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN PAST THE ACCESSORY SETTING. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS ANTI THEFT SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND SUDDENLY LOCKS UP PREVENTING THE START OF THE CAR. CANNOT LOCATE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, PEOPLE SEEM TO JUST BE REPLACING THE IGNITION LOCK EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. SATURN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN TO ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH SATURN AND I FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED ON CARFAX OR VERBALLY BY THE SATURN DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A CAR WITH A CHRONIC DEFECT THAT WILL LEAVE MY CHILD AND MYSELF STRANDED ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

IGNITION PROBLEM - ENGINE WON'T START, PASSLOCK PREVENTS IGNITION. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND IT'S RARELY THAT COLD IN THE MORNINGS, EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IT HAS BEEN A COLD WET BLUSTERY DAY BUT NOT FREEZING. CAR ACTS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DEAD, BUT FREQUENT MANIPULATION OF THE PASSLOCK REMOTE WILL EVENTUALLY CLEAR THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, AND IF SATURN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THE 5 YEARS THAT IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING, THEN THEY SHOULD BE HELD CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION AND THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM, AND REPLACE OR REPAIR THE CONTROL MODULE AT NO COST. MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK, AND IN SPEAKING TO OTHER OWNERS I CAN EXPECT A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE COMING MONTHS. *TR

WHEN THE OUTSIDE WEATHER IS COLD, MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. *TR

2003 SATURN ION III DISENGAGES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AS IF GEARS HAVE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AT SPEEDS FROM BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH, SO THAT THERE IS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT SUDDENLY AND THEN RE-ENGAGES. ALMOST REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO CAR WILL NOT START IF TURNED OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND KEY LOCKS IN IGNITION. GEARS WERE RE-CALIBRATED AND IGNITION REPLACED, BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUE. *TR

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 SATURN ION AND WON'T START WHEN IT IS COLD. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN I DO. WILL THIS CAR GET A RECALL. SOME OF THE OWNERS ARE SAYING THAT IT IS THE LUBRICATE THAT SATURN USED ON THE IGNITION THAT IT CAN FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. IS THIS THE CASE. HELP IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 ION 2 WHICH I BOUGHT NEW IN MARCH 2003. STARTING IN DEC 2007, MY CAR WOULD NOT START UP IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. 10-15 MIN LATER I WOULD TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND IT WOULD START UP LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAD SATURN LOOK AT IT, THEY STATED THAT THEY "COULD NOT REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IN JANUARY 2008, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS, SO I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THE BATTERY WAS CHARGING FINE AND COULD NOT PIN POINT A PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED PUTTING IN A NEW STARTER WHICH COST ME $300. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT MY PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, BUT NOW IN FEB 2008 ( ONE MONTH LATER)IT IS NOT STARTING UP IN THE MORNINGS AGAIN ON REAL COLD DAYS (0-20 DEGREES), BUT 10-15 MIN LATER, IT...

WHEN TEMPERATURE GETS LOW, MY 2003 SATURN ION WON'T START. IT MUST SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START UP. *TR

VEHICLE WILL START SOME DAYS AND NOT START OTHERS. WOULD HAVE TO TRY OVER AND OVER AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. NOT THE BATTERY! *TR

CAR WON'T START ON MORNINGS WHEN TEMP IS BELOW 50 DEGREES. ONCE TEMP WARMS UP, CAR STARTS FINE. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON TO GO TO WORK! I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE STRANDED WHILE WORKING (I DO HOME NURSING). *TR

ON COLD MORNINGS (35 AND BELOW) MY 03 SATURN ION WILL NOT START. I TURN THE KEY AND THE LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES AND IT TELLS ME TO "SERVICE VEHICLE". IF I WAIT ABOUT 10-20 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START. (WHICH CAUSES ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK) I'VE REPLACE THE BATTERY BUT CANNOT AFFORD 200+ TO CHANGE OUT THE STARTER AND/OR OTHER PARTS. I'VE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF OTHER ION OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM (HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_97727.HTML). *TR

WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, AND I GO TO START MY CAR IN THE MORNING, IT STARTS TO TURN OVER BUT THEN STALLS AND DIES. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORK, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLINKS "SERVICE VEHICLE". I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO START MY VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE SECURITY FEATURE OF THE IGNITION. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN BELOW FREEZING..... *TR

SATURN ION 2003 FAILS TO START WHEN COLD OUT. REFERENCE NHTSA #10007431. SATURN DOES NOT ADMIT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. BUT WILL CHARGE YOU AND ARM AND A LEG TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO ALLDATA WEB SITE AND THE SHOW NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 SATURN ION BUT GM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A PROBLEM. *TR

CAR WOULDN'T START, BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED OK. FINALLY CHECKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR AND THE COLD WEATHER PROBLEM WITH THE STARTED IS A KNOWN ISSUE. WAITED AN HOUR OR SO TO TRY AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED. *TR

2003 ION WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, MY CAR WILL NOT START, I WILL TRY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I WILL WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL START LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS COMPLETELY FINE. IT WILL TURN ON ALL ELECTRONICS, TELL ME TO SERVICE ENGINE, THEN IT WON'T TURN OVER. NEXT I WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT STARTS. AND RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN FIRST ATTEMPTING TO START IS IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES IT WILL FINALLY START WHEN ATTEMPTING AGAIN. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT SATURN HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SOME TIME. *TR

VEHICLE WON'T START - NO CRANK, NO START. IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LOW USAGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IN COLD WEATHER. MUST PLAY WITH IGNITION SWITCH MANY TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAUSES HER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 TIMES TO RELEASE THE KEY. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WILL OPERATE NORMALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT THEN THE FAILURE RECURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

2003 SATURN ION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR ON COLD MORNINGS PASS LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES AND LOCKS CAR FROM BEING ABLE TO START FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN COLD WEATHER SEVERAL TIMES, LATEST BEING DATE JUST BELOW. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER ISSUE. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN WITH THE STARTER SWITCH, AND IS IS APPARENTLY KNOWN TO SATURN CORP.*AK

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS ANY TIME THERE IS COLD WEATHER, WHICH HAS BEEN EVERY DAY BECAUSE IT'S THE WINTER, MY 2003 SATURN ION 2 WON'T START FOR ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD SOME WORK DONE; FUEL INJECTION CLEANING, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, ETC. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED AND I TOOK IT BACK. THE CAR STARTED FINE AND FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE WE WERE HAVING MILD WEATHER I HAD NO PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS THE WEATHER HIT 30 DEGREES IT STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR IT TURNS OVER BUT THEN DIES. 5 OR SO MORE TIMES AND IT AGAIN TRIES TO TURN OVER BUT NOTHING. EVENTUALLY AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO THE CAR WILL START. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED....

1. TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 2. GREASE IN IGNITION SWITCH THICKENS AND CAR WILL NOT START. IT NORMALLY TAKES 10 - 15 MINUTES TO WARM THE IGNITION ENOUGH FOR THE CAR TO START. 3. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TO REPAIR THE CAR AND BILL THE MANUFACTURER BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR IT. 4. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE (USUALLY AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES) THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO START. THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPER KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. GM HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY (# 04-08-45-005D) DATED 15 MAR 2006 IDENTIFYING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SATURN DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PASSLOCK MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST $250.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN PERFORMANCE OF MY DUTIES AS A FEDERAL OFFICER I RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO START WHEN I NEED IT TO. I AM OFTEN DISPATCHED TO REMOTE AREAS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC. HAVING A VEHICLE THAT WILL NOT START BECAUSE...

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. THIS WILL BE A RECALL ITEM ONCE WE GET TOGETHER AND SUE SATURN FOR THIS OBVIOUS NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND IS CONTINUAL. PERHAPS WHEN SOME UNFORTUNATE SOUL IS STRANDED IN THE WILDERNESS AND DIES, THEN THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS COLD WEATHER START PROBLEM. THE PUBLIC IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SO IS SATURN. IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH IT FOR THE CORPORATE OFFICE TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND DECIDE TO RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. 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 PASSLOCK KICKS...

SATURN 2003 ION WILL NOT START IN COOL TO COLD WEATHER. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES CAR WILL NOT START, BUT WILL THEN START AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER SATURNS. *JB

2003 SATURN ION QUAD LEVEL 3, WILL NOT START WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS, OR STARTS AND IMMEDIATELY STALLS. THE PASSLOCK ICON BLINKS AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYS SERVICE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP VERBALLY STATED TO TURN KEY ON FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES TO RESET THE PASSLOCK, THEN TURN OFF, REMOVE KEY, AND TRY THE START SEQUENCE AGAIN. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE, FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, CAR IS CURRENTLY IMMOBILE IN A PARKING LOT ACROSS TOWN. AN INTERNET SEARCH STRONGLY SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THAT ALL SATURN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT FOR RELIEF. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE WOULD START AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS OR NOT START AT ALL ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE NON SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE TO FIX IT.