2004 SATURN ION Electrical Systemignitionswitch Problems

2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL AND DURING AN AUTO ACCIDENT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *LD *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT OTHER UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. ... UPDATED 03/19/15*BF UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 14V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 14V153000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND PLACED THE CONTACT ON A WAITING LIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH EVEN THOUGH REPEATED ATTEMPTS WERE MADE HOWEVER, ONLY AFTER AWAITING A HOUR UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN THE KEY RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 09-03-14 *BF..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTAC STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NO REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL) AND HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E021000 (IGNITION SWITCH). THE CONTACT STATED THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

I USED TO OWN ONE OF THE GM VEHICLES IN THE NEWS LATELY REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE CORRECTLY. MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SIMPLY SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE YEARS I HAD OWNED IT, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE KEY BEING MOVED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION AS IS INDICATED ON MANY OF THE NEW REPORTS. I THOUGHT IT WEIRD, BUT THOUGHT I MAY HAVE BANGED SOMETHING, LET THE OIL GO FAR TOO LONG, OR NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS. ADDITIONALLY, IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE YOU'LL FIND MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE FREQUENTLY HAVE A KEY SWITCH ISSUE WHERE AN ATTEMPT TO TURN ON THE CAR RANDOMLY WILL ACTIVATE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WHEN TRYING TO TURN ON THE CAR DESPITE HAVING A PERFECTLY VALID AND WELL...

12/14/2006 - 03/2014 - IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS OFF/ON - CAR WON'T START. FIRST TIME WON'T START, WAIT 15 MINUTES MOST OF THE TIME WILL THEN START IF NOT THEN WAIT 30 MINUTES THEN WILL START. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES THAT IT WILL START THEN "DIE" THEN START AFTER PARKING AT A STORE (GROCERY, LIBRARY, ETC... NOT AT AN OVER NIGHT WAIT). WHEN CHANGE OIL AT A DEALERSHIP I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. IT HAPPENS OFF AND ON. MOST OF THE TIME THAT HAPPENS WHEN WEATHER IS COLD BUT HAS HAPPENED IN WARM WEATHER TOO JUST NOT AS MUCH. AGAIN, DEALERSHIPS NEVER FINDS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS OFF AND ON FOR THE LIST EIGHT (8) YEARS! SO AT 60 YEARS OLD I COULD BE STUCK IN VERY COLD OR VERY HOT WEATHER FOR 15 - 45...

WHEN STARTING THE SATURN ON A COLD MORNING, THE IGNITION FAILS TO START THE CAR. I GET A SERVICE MESSAGE. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AS IF THE SECURITY WAS RESETTING ITSELF. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. GM WILL NOT OWN UP TO A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT LEAVES SATURN OWNERS COMPLETELY STRANDED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES, EVEN ON WARM DAYS. A RECALL MUST BE APPROVED FOR THIS MASSIVE SAFETY PROBLEM. IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY THE CARS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SIT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN MINUTES OR STALL OUT IN UNSAFE AREAS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THIS IGNITION SWITCH INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED BASED ON HUNDREDS OF TESTAMENTS. I HAVE REPLACED MY STATER AND BATTERY BEFORE REALIZING THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH THAT NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS...

I HAVE A 2004 SATURN ION 2. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THESE VEHICLES. MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN COLD AND DAMP OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWITCH IN MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL GET THE SAME PROBLEM IN TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LIVE IN MO WHERE IT GETS VERY COLD AND NOT ALWAYS SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP WHEN THE CAR DIES. SO I AM LEFT STRANDED IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES. SATURN KNOWS VERY WELL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THIS. PLEASE SEE THAT A RECALL TAKES PLACE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR

I PURCHASES A 2004 SATURN ION IN 2006. IN OCTOBER OF 2007, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, MY VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER WHILE I WAS VISITING RELATIVES 2 HOURS FROM MY HOME WHICH DETAINED ME ON MY TRIP BACK HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP IN HARRISBURG, PA TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (THEY REPLACED IT). TWO YEARS LATER IN DECEMBER, 2009 THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME ON MY WAY TO WORK ON AN EXTREMELY COLD WINTER MORNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED ANOTHER IGNITION SWITCH TO REPLACE THE ONE THEY HAD REPLACED 2 YEARS EARLIER. AFTER READING ABOUT SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS AND...

AFTER OWNING MY 2004 SATURN ION FOR 8 MONTHS, IT DEVELOPED A RANDOM STARTING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START NORMALLY AND OTHERS NOT AT ALL. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, STARTER, AND IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE IGNITION SWITCH SAID IT IS COMMON TO NEED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. AFTER ALL OF THOSE NEW PARTS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A FORUM WHERE DOZENS OF OTHER ION OWNERS WHERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REMEDY THAT SEEMED TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM WAS TO DISABLE THE VEHICLES ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM BY CUTTING THE PROPER WIRE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS ALLOWS THE CAR TO START EVERY TIME, BUT ALSO GIVES AN ERROR MESSAGE ABOUT THE DISABLED SYSTEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURS FOR ION OWNERS IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY FRUSTRATED GM OWNER OUT THERE. THIS IS REGARDING MY 2004 SATURN ION WHICH IS MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS... WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO START NOTHING HAPPENS. NO CRANK, NOTHING. AFTER VIEWING SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM OTHER SATURN OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING, I QUICKLY KNEW IT WAS MY IGNITION. ONE WOULD THINK THAT LIVING IN CALIFORNIA THE WEATHER WOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM, BUT ALMOST EVERY DAY NOW FOR THE LAST MONTH MY CAR WILL NOT TURN ON IMMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES I WOULD WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND IT WOULD TURN OVER, SOMETIMES I WOULD WAIT OVER 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO TURN OVER AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN LATE NUMEROUS TIMES TO WORK AND HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED TWICE TO A MECHANIC WHO ULTIMATELY COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON PARTS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM....

IT SEEMS THAT WITH THE SATURN IONS, THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS A DEFECT WHEREIN ABOUT EVERY TWO YEARS IT WILL FAIL TO START WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING (DUE TO THE "CONNECTION" BETWEEN IT AND THE CARS SAFETY FEATURE). NOT A PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE A HEATED GARAGE, OR EVEN A GARAGE PERIOD, OR LIVE SOMEWHERE WARM. BUT GOD FORBID YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS COLD WEATHER. THE LAST ESTIMATE I GOT FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE IGNITION FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS OVER $200. *TR

CAR OFTEN WILL NOT START. SEEMS TO BE IGNITION SWITCH, AND/ OR RELATED CIRCUITS. LEAVES MOTORIST STRANDED, USUALLY IN BAD WEATHER. REPLACED BATTERY AT 18 MOS., WHICH WAS NOT PROBLEM. REQUIRED 'RESCUE' FROM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MANY TIMES, IN LIEU OF TOW SERVICE. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASSION WHILE IT HAS BEEN COLD OUT, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO ROLL OVER. THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEEM TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION WAS BY "JUMP STARTING" MY SATURN WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES IN THE WINTER THAT I FINALLY GOT SICK OF IT AND PARKED THE SATURN AND DROVE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I AM SO SICK OF MY CAR THAT I AM READY TO SELL IT. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE. AFTER READING THE FIRST 20 SOME RESULTS AND SEEN THAT EVERYONE WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE I WAS. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS TOO AND AM GLAD THAT I HAVE NOT RAN INTO THEIR PROBLEM YET. IF SATURN DOES NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM REALLY SOON,...

CAR BEGAN FAILING TO TURN OVER BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONTINUING TO TRY WOULD EVENTUALLY SUCCEED. SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (EXCESSIVE MILEAGE) THE FAILURE REQUIRED SERVICE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WAS 'STICKING' AND CAUSING A SECURITY LOCKOUT. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN! AFTER TRYING SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF IT FINALLY QUITS. I AM AFRAID THAT SOME DAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START WHEN THE TEMP. IS VERY COLD. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO MISS WORK AND TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED THAT WERE IN WORKING CONDITION. RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. AFTER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS THE CAR STARTED. *TR

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD TO PUSH THIS SATURN INTO THE STREET TO GET OUR OTHER DRIVERS OFF TO WORK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID MY FLOORMATS WERE TOO THICK AND NOT GENUINE SATURN PARTS AND CAUSED IT NOT TO START(NO KIDDING, THEY SAID THIS). A FEW WEEKS LATER IT ONCE AGAIN FAILED TO TURN OVER. ANOTHER TOW TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY RE-CODED THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH. SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IT HAS FAILED TO START. IF I WAIT 20 MINUTES, THE ANTI THEFT MODULE RE-SETS AND IT WILL START. THIS MORNING I SLIPPED ON ICE WHILE PUSHING IT INTO THE STREET AND FELL. MY BACK IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW AND I'M VERY ANGRY. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT SATURN IS IGNORING. NO SELF RESPECTING THIEF...

CAR DOES NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS STUCK OUT IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH WARMED UP ENOUGH TO START. I WILL HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED, BUT I AM WAITING TO SEE IF IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. *TR

MY CAR WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START. IT HAS COMPLETE POWER. THE BATTERY IS WELL WITHIN THE NORMAL LIMITS. THE INSTANCES WHEN THIS OCCUR ALL SEEM TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN OUTSIDE AND NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS IN TEMPERATURES IN THE 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT RANGE OR COLDER. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ON, AND ALL THE ACCESSORIES WORK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO START, BUT THE STARTER DOES NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" MESSAGE FLASHES. I PULLED ALL THE ELECTRICAL RELAYS IN THE FUSE BOX AND THE ENGINE WILL NOW START WITH NO PROBLEM. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THE SAME FIX WORKS EACH TIME. THERE IS MOST LIKELY A FAULT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

HE SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AGAIN WHEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS RESET. PROBLEM IS IN THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF 2004 SATURN ION. CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS COLD OUT AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNS. VERY DANGEROUS -- CAN STRAND DRIVER IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES. SATURN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE FOR 4+ YEARS BUT CONTINUES TO RISK THE LIVES OF DRIVERS. *TR

MY 04 SATURN ION WILL NOT START IN COLDER WEATHER. AFTER INVESTIGATING MANY WEB SITES, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. I READ THAT SOMETIME IN 04 THEY STARTED USING A DIFFERENT SWITCH AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NO WARNING ABOUT ISSUE TO COME BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THE FIRST COLD MORNING THIS WINTER MY WIFE'S 2004 SATURN ION-2 FAILED TO START. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR INTERMITTENTLY TRYING TO START IT, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY MORNING WHERE IT FELL BELOW 40DEG THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR NUMEROUS TIME TO MECHANICS TO DIAGNOSE. ORIGINAL ANSWER WAS I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH STRONGER BATTERY (HIGHER CCA RATING) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR HAS NEW BATTERY, FULL TANK OF GAS, AND SITS OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY. CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES DONE AND HAS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS WINTER. MY RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAD PRODUCED NUMEROUS OTHER SATURN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. AND NO AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS (I.E. REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH) GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WITH BE FIXED. *TR

DURING COLD WEATHER (AROUND 32 DEGREES F AND BELOW), CAR WILL NOT START FOR 8-10 MINUTES. ON INITIAL ATTEMPT TO START CAR, ENGINE BEGINS TO TURN OVER FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND, THEN STOPS. A LOCK SYMBOL FLASHES ON THE DASH AND THE MESSAGE READOUT STATES "SERVICE ENGINE". ANY ADDITION ATTEMPS TO START THE CAR WILL RESULT IN ABSOLUTELY NO TURNOVER OF THE ENGINE. AFTER 8-10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ATTEMPS TO JUMP START THE CAR WILL ARE NOT SUCESSFUL UNTIL AFTER THE 8-10 MINUTE PERIOD. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AND FOUND TO BE FINE. I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED A REPAIR YET. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 AND HAS OCCURRED OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. *CN

MY 2004 SATURN ION 3 WILL NOT START AT TIMES ON COLD MORNINGS, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND STILL NO START..IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON AN ONLINE FORUM I SEE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD AND YET SATURN DOES NOTHING TO HELP, IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BCM, AND OR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START BELOW 35 DEGREES AND WILL ALSO STALL AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO IMOBILIZER ACTIVATING. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE CAR WILL START AGAIN WHEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM HAS RESET. PROBLEM IS IN THE GREASE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF MY CAR. IT IS A 2004 SATURN ION. CAR RUNS FINE UNTIL IT GETS COLD OUT AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNS. VERY DANGEROUS DURING DRIVING IF IT OCCURS. *TR

MY CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL IS MADE SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH POTENTIAL TO DO HARM (THINK: BEING STRANDED IN SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES.) . *TR

'04 SATURN ION FAILS TO START IN COLD WEATHER. SECURITY SYSTEM PREVENTS STARTING. MUST WARM KEY/IGNITION, AND AFTER 15 MINUTES CAR MAY START. *TR

MY 2004 SATURN ION OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT START (WILL NOT CRANK). THE BATTERY IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND A GOOD STATE OF CHARGE. IN GENERAL THE PROBLEM IS "CURED" BY WAITING 10 MINUTES OR SO, AND TRYING TO START IT AGAIN. THEN IT MIGHT BE SEVERAL WEEKS OF MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. *JB

RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR FAILING TO START. I WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT SATURN ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THE REFERENCE NUMBERS IS 04-08-45-005C, DATE OF ISSUE DECEMBER 4, 2006 AFFECTING 2003-2006 SATURN IONS BUILT UP TO AND INCLUDING VIN BREAKPOINT 6Z147837. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT MY CAR HAD BOTH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LISTED IN THIS BULLETIN. *JB

MY 2004 SATURN ION II WOULD NOT START IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF THIS OCCURRING THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD AND THEY HAD BEEN SEEING THIS ON MANY VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH FREEZES UP WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. HAD TO GET THE CAR JUMP STARTED WHEN IT WAS -10 DEGREES OUTSIDE. SATURN SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE DEALING NEAR ME, THERE WAS ABOUT 70 CARS THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD. *NM

IN COLD WEATHER (USUALLY BELOW FREEZING), THE 2004 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL GO INTO A PASSIVE LOCK SITUATION UPON INITIAL ATTEMPTS TO START IT, THEN WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO START FOR AROUND 10 MINUTES. OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT START EVEN AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER WILL CHARGE AROUND $300.00 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THE LOCK OUT. *NM

WHEN VERY COLD, CAR WILL NOT CRANK OR START- PASSLOCK SECURITY BECOMES ENABLED. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION FROM THE DEALER IN 2004. IN THE COLD WEATHER, 30 DEGREES AND LOWER, IF THE CAR SITS IT WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES, LAST WEEK I GOT STRANDED AT WORK AT 2:00 AM WITH A CAR THAT WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE TURNS OVER ONE TIME BUT DOES NOT START. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT LOOKS LIKE IGNITION SWITCH GREASE HARDENS AND SATURN KNOWS ABOUT IT AND EVEN CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY BUT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF US THAT OWN CARS BEFORE THIS CHANGE ARE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD! *JB

NUMEROUS NO-START CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH 2004 SATURN ION WITH 49,000 MILES. IF CURRENT IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IT WILL BE THE THIRD SINCE CAR WAS NEW. ANYTIME VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO 32 DEG. OR LESS TEMPERATURE FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS IGNITION SWITCH FAULTS AND ENGAGES ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. USUALLY TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 30 MINUTES TO ?? TO GET VEHICLE STARTED. BEING IN UPSTATE NY WHERE TEMPS AND WEATHER PUSH THE EXTREMES POSSIBILITY OF VEHICLE LEAVING SOMEONE STRANDED IS IMMINENT. I CANNOT RELY ON THIS VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ISSUE ON INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR SATURN ION WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. SATURN NEEDS TO RE-DESIGN AND REPAIR ALL ASSOCIATED VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCHES. *JB

I OWN A 2004 SATURN ION 3. I PURCHASED THIS FEB, 2006. DECEMBER OF 2006 MY CAR FAILED TO START. I CALLED FOR HELP AND BY THE TIME IT ARRIVED, THE CAR STARTED ON ITS OWN. ON FEB 7TH, 2007, THE CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN. IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE A BATTERY FAILURE. I FOUND THE TSB 040845005 ONLINE. I CALLED CORPORATE SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY "LOGGED MY COMPLAINT". THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL AND SIMPLY DIRECTED ME TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALER. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS. THE ISSUE WAS INDEED THE SAME ISSUE IN THE TSB, WHICH IS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. BECAUSE THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, THEY ALSO NEED TO RESET THE PASSLOCK. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD COST ME $291.00. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY...

TRIED TO START CAR NOTHING, SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT COMES ON. REPLACED BATTERY AND NEXT DAY SAME THING NO START. AFTER WAITING 10-15 MINUTES CAR STARTS LIKE NOTHING EVER WRONG . CALLED DEALER TOLD ITS GOING TO COST $175 FOR NEW SWITCH. *NM

I WENT TO START MY CAR 12-4-06 AT 6 AM CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LATER THAT DAY AT 9:45 AM CAR DID TURN OVER. CALLED CAR DEALER AND SPOKE TO HEAD OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT HE SAID THAT SINCE CAR WAS STARTED PROBLEM MIGHT NOT SHOW UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. ON 12-5-2006 SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE MORNING CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER. HAD THE CAR TOWED IN AND SAT THE FOR A FEW HOURS TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS AN IGNITION SWITCH.(IN THERE WORDS THE GREASE THAT IS INSIDE GELS UP IN VERY COLD WEATHER AND DOES NOT MALE CONTACT TO TURN THE CAR ON. I FEEL THAT A DISSEVICE IS BEING DONE TO ANYONE THAT OWNS A SATURN ION. THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE RUNNING INTO A LOT , BUT WE THE CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT. IF YOUR CAR DOES NOT...

WE OWN A 2004 SATURN ION. EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS INTO THE BELOW 30 F, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY IS GOOD. SATURN HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS SO WIDESPREAD AND PERVASIVE OF A PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF SATURN/GM, AND THE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ON THE PART OF SATURN/GM. IN ADDITION, PUTTING A SMALL ELECTRIC HEATER IN THE COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR TO KEEP THE CAR WARM, SO THE CAR WILL START WHEN IT IS COLD, PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION (FIRE, PROPERTY DAMAGE, ETC) OWNERS OF AFFECTED SATURN'S SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ENDURE. *NM

CAR WOULDN'T START WHENEVER TEMP GOT BELOW 35 DEGREES. THIS HAPPENED TWICE.........THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THE STARTER SWITCH NEEDED REPLACED! THIS ON A CAR THAT HAS FEWER THAN 60K ON IT. THEY ALSO HAD TO REPROGRAM THE BCM. APPARENTLY, I'M ONE OF 100'S THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM! SATURN DEALER WAS VERY NICE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING............BUT IS THIS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE TEMP IS REALLY FRIGID AND YOUR CAR NEEDS TO START TO KEEP WARM?? *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V547000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL. SHE HAD THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THREE SEPARATE TIMES. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. AFTER THE LAST REPAIR, SHE BELIEVED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE COSTS FOR THIS REPAIR. *AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/29/05. **JB