2004 SATURN ION Power Train Problems

1. THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE...SOMETIMES AFTER MOTOR IS TURNED OFF AND CAR IS IN PARK THE CAR MUST BE TURNED BACK ON FOUR OR FIVE TIMES BEFORE THE IGNITION WILL ENGAGE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY...IN THE PARK POSITION....KEY WILL LOCK INSELF AND NOT DISENGAGE. THE CAR WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IT BEGAN TO OCCUR FIVE MONTHS AGO...NOW IT HAPPENS AT LEAST TEN TIMES A WEEK. 2. ALL ELECTRICAL SYMBOLS ON DASHBOARD SAY: COOLANT...BUT WHEN CHECKED THE COOLANT IS FINE.

MY CAR HAS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THE END OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS PLASTIC AND IT BROKE AT THE JUNCTURE WHERE IT MEETS THE TRANSMISSION. UNBELIEVABLY, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT TOOK NO REMEDIAL ACTION. COMPLAINT LETTERS ON THE INTERNET CLEARLY SHOW GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR AWHILE BUT TAKEN NO ACTION. IT COST ME $609.74 TO HAVE THE SAFETY PROBLEM FIXED. I REPORTED IT TO GM AND ASKED TO BE REIMBURSED. THIS IS DANGEROUS: I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS & ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY OTHER MOTORISTS WHEN THERE WAS A DELAY IN LOCATING THE NEXT GEAR. GM SHOULD TAKE ACTION ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

TRANSMISSION IS BURNT. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. THE RPMS THEN REV AND THE CAR FAILS TO CONTINUE TO GO AT SPEED AND WILL NEED TO BE PULLED OVER. THIS ISSUE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58499 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AT AAMCO AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SPEED INDEPENDENTLY REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARK, THE ENGINE CAN BE SHUT OFF BUT THE KEY STAYS IN A ACCESORY MODE AND CAN NOT BE TURNED TO OFF OR REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE POWER TRAIN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE PARKING, THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO GO INTO PARK AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERLOCK PARKING MECHANISM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,648.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH IT BECAME SEIZED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,006.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AFTER THE GEAR WAS PUT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - SHORTLY AFTER THE 2004 SATURN ION HIT 100K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE DEALER FOR A COST OF $4,620.93. IN DOING RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT FAILING 2004 SATURN ION TRANSMISSIONS ARE WIDESPREAD AROUND THE 100K MILE MARK. *TR

WAS TRAVELLING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND A FOX DARTED OUT IN FRONT OF ME IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. I SWERVED SLIGHTLY TO MISS THE FOX AND THE POWER STEERING IN THE CAR WENT OUT. I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL AND THE CAR WENT INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN AND ENDED UP FACING THE OTHER DIRECTION FLIPPED UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CRAWLED OUT OF THE DRIVERS WINDOW. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. HAD I NOT BEEN WEARING MY SEATBELT, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND IF TRAFFIC HAD BEEN COMING, I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE ELSE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V153000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN CHANGING GEARS THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND RATTLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL BUT NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL HAD RAISED EIGHT INCHES FROM WHERE IT NORMALLY WAS, PREVENTING HER FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE MASTER CYLINDER, SLAVE CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,362 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,810.

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH THANKFULLY HAS A RECALL ON IT BUT I WANT THE POWER STEERING TO BE RECALLED AS WELL BECAUSE IT HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND MULTIPLE NEAR MISSES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,500 AND THE CURRENT MILE WAS 77,590. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN UPDATED 8/4/17*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES. THE STEERING WAS ROUGH AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN THE WHEELS WERE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE MID APRIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175. THE MILEAGE OF 175 WAS REAFFIRMED BY THE CONTACT. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES 2 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WOULDNT START, IT HAD HIGH IDLING PROBLEMS, AND MOST RECENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE....

I PURCHASED 2004 SATURN ION 3 IN 2013 AND WITHIN 30DAYS I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT AND BEGIN TO HESITATE AROUND 35MPH. I STARTED INQUIRING ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON INTERNET AND OBSERVED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'M GETTING NO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WITH GM DEALERSHIP. WITH ALL THE OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE SATURN ION THERE SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL TO FIX TRANSMISSION DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE.(CVT OR VTI TRANSMISSION). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE SEAT BELT ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BROKE CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO LIE ON THE NECK INSTEAD OF ACROSS THE CHEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A CLICK WAS HEARD WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

I STARTED MY CAR, PULLED FORWARD THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, DIDN'T REVERSE. HEADED DOWN WESTHEIMER AT ABOUT APPROX. 35 MPH. I DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE WHEN I HEARD THE WARNING CHIME AND MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT. LUCKILY I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD BEING IT WAS ABOUT 1 AM. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON SUDDENLY IT WAS BACK. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THE POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM. AT ANY SPEED, AT ANY TIME, "PWR STR" DIS DISPLAYED ON THE OBD DISPLAY, SIMULTANEOUSLY AS THE MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING, FORCING ME TO UNEXPECTEDLY MANUALLY STEER THE CAR UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS CYCLED AND THE SYSTEM RESET. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS 1-7 TIMES A DAY. I HAVE PERSONALLY CAME CLOSE TO HAVING A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO POWER ASSIST FAILURE WHILE CURVING. THERE ARE NO OTHER PREVIOUS FAILURES OF THE STEERING EQUIPMENT LEADING UP TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS NOT FAVORABLE AND I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE TRANNY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED TO BE THE TRANNY AND THEY TRIED TO PUT A BANDAIDE ON IT BY FLUSHING IT AND CHANGING THE FLUIDS. ONE WEEK LATER SAME NOISE ONLY LOUDER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANNY. 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR; THE NOISE RETURNED, THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS, IN THE TRANNY THEY JUST PUT IN IT. JUST OVER 12,0000 MILES LATER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANNY WAS AGAIN REPLACED, THAT WAS JUST UNDER 12,0000 MILES AGO AND THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING AGAIN, ONLY NOW THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE SAY I...

THE LITANY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE VEHICLE IS LONG AND VARIED. MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING, ETC.. GM AND SATURN KNEW OF THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES CONCERNING THE VTI TRANSMISSION, YET THEY CHOSE TO CONTINUE TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK BY DENYING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. THE ONLY REAL WAY, IN MY OPINION, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT IS TO FULLY RECALL AND REPLACE THESE VEHICLES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN LATE 2003 AND CONTINUES TO BE A HAZARD. PLEASE FORCE GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TT

ENGINE STARTED A FAINT SQUEALING NOISE ON 24 NORTH DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND MANAGED TO GET OVER AND PULL OUT OF THE LANE, HOWEVER THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SHOULDER AND IT WAS NOT SAFE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, MY TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT, HAD TO DRIVE ON THE EDGE OF THE SHOULDER TO THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS APPROX 11 MILES BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE PLACE, TRAFFIC GOING APPROX 80 MILES PER HOUR AND CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 50 MPH, AS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION BYSTANDERS PUSHED CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. HAD IT TOWED HOME, WAS TOLD TENSION ROD SEIZED AND TIMING CHAIN BROKE. HAD TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE FOR 5K, CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND...