2004 SATURN ION Vehicle Speed Control Problems
21 NHTSA complaints on file
Vehicle Speed Control Issues in the 2004 SATURN ION
21 vehicle speed control complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 SATURN ION. Of these, 1 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Vehicle Speed Control Complaints
THE CAR ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATED AT A STOP SIGN AND I HAD TO AIM FOR A SNOE ENBANKMENT TO NOT GO INTO TRAFFIC. IF NOT FOR THE SNOW I COULD HAVE WENT ON TO THE SIDEWALK ANS POSSIBLY HIT SOMEONE.
THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE INTO CROSSING TRAFFIC WITH MY FEET FIRMLY ON THE BREAKS. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES.
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.
ON 3/16/2015 I WAS MERGING ON THE FREEWAY IN MY 2004 SATURN ION AND I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY DUE TO ANOTHER DRIVER CUTTING ME OFF, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY SATURN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND REACHED HIGH RPMS BETWEEN 4K AND 5K AND CAR LAUNCHED AT A HIGH SPEED. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE YET MY SATURN STILL CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD I REACTED FAST AND STEERED TOWARD THE EMERGENCY LANE PULLED MY E BRAKE UP AND THREW MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT MY CAR OFF YET WHEN IGNITION WAS ALL THE WAY TURNED OFF MY CAR WAS STILL ON FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 4 SECONDS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR AGAIN. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN A FATAL CONCLUSION. I FIND MYSELF VERY NERVOUS AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE (SATURN ION) BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS MY...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A FIRST CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER THAT IS A NEW DRIVER. I HAS BEEN OFF THE ROAD MORE THAN ON THE ROAD FOR RECALLS. THE FIRST IGNITION RECALL COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MY DAUGHTER..AS WE WERE AWAITING PARTS, WE WERE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS OF NO WEIGHT ON KEY RING AND ONLY KEY IN IGNITION. THE INCIDENT STILL HAPPENED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF SPEED. AS A NEW DRIVER THIS INCIDENT SCARRED HER AND SHE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR UP FOR SALE. THEN ANOTHER RECALL, THE EPS WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND CAUSES SPEED LOSS. SO, BACK TO GARBER AND WE JUST DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME ON JANUARY 2, 2015. SEEMED TO START OUT FINE, THEN LOSS OF SPEED AND THE CAR ONLY DROVE AT 35 MPH WITH A LOT...
TURNED VEHICLE ON AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS IN PARKING LOT, THE CAR REVVED UP TO ABOUT 4,000RPM WHICH IS UNUSUALLY HIGH. I WAITED FOR THE CAR TO CALM DOWN AND WHEN IT DID, I PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR TO DRIVE. MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO 40MPG THROUGH THE PARKING LOT BEFORE I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS AS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR; APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 TIMES A MONTH. *TR
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO IS WHEN I HAD MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH SPEED ACCELERATION WITH MY SATURN. I LEFT WORK AND TURNED ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE AN HOUR TO GO HOME ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND I WASN'T PRESSING THE GAS. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POP MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET HOME BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS. WHEN I WOULD TURN THE VEHICLE ON WHILE IT WAS STILL IN PARK THE RPM'S WOULD GO CRAZY AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY AUTO SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD...
MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 40 45 MPH AND THE LIGHT UP AHEAD CHANGED YELLOW TO RED JUST BEFORE I COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, MY CAR ACCELERATED I HELD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR KEPT WANTING TO INCH FORWARD ITSEEMED AS IF I HELD THE GAS PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR I GOT WITHIN 2 OR 3 FEET FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME OUT OF INSTINCT I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF HAD I NOT I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I THEN WAITED A MINUTE OR TWO TOPS PUT IT IN PARK AND STARTED IT, IT ACTED NORMAL I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS AND OBJECT OR SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE SLIPPED BY MY FEET WHILE DRIVING OR MY FLOOR MAT MOVED THERE WAS NOTHING THERE .THERE HAS...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AS THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
WHILST DRIVING, MY CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN GOING ALMOST 45-50MPH. PRESSING THE BRAKES WOULD BARELY DO ANYTHING. IT WON'T START WHEN IT THINKS IT'S TOO COLD OUTSIDE, I'VE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT IS FINE. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT RESISTS A LOT. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. *TT
WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND GATHERING SPEED, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR REACHED 85MPH. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME (10 MILES) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN REVVING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE WENT UNDER HIS HOOD AND PLACED THE THROTTLE BACK IN ITS PROPER PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. IT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.
OUR 4 CYLINDER 2004 SATURN ION HAS HAD UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM A PATENT HOLDING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ENGINEER AND I CAN STATE ABSOLUTELY AFTER OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OVER AT LEAST 4 YEARS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND/OR A SENSOR ISSUE AND NOT A STICKING MECHANICAL CONTROL. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO EVEN TOUCH OR MOVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, EITHER SOME SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS OR SOME CONNECTOR BECOMES INTERMITTENT OR THE SOFTWARE MISREADS SOMETHING. AT STARTUP THE ENGINE RUNS AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH IDLE (~800 RPM), AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD HARD AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID HAVING IT RUN AWAY WITH YOU - ALL THIS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR...
WHILE SLOWING AND PREPARING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, RPM'S INCREASED EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR. VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP AND REQUIRED MORE THAN NORMAL FOOT PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. ONCE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE KEY. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES RANDOMLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. ON ALL OCCURRENCES, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. *TR
I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2004 BRAND NEW. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A HIGH IDLE CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I MUST RESET THE BATTERY ONCE A WEEK TO RESTORE IT TO NORMAL. IT SEEMS TO BE FINE FOR A WEEK AND HIGH IDLE COMES BACK. I HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I MUST TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON TO WARM UP THE BATTERY BEFORE TRYING TO START CAR. SATURN WAS NO HELP. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP! *TR
2004 SATURN ION 1 THE CAR REVS IT'S ENGINE TO OVER 3000 RPMS WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND IDLE. IF YOU SHUT OFF THE CAR IT IS OK, BUT IF YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR THE CAR THE LURCHES FORWARD UNSAFELY. *TR
MULTIPLE EPISODES WITH THIS CAR OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAS HAD TO START CAR FOR ME 2 TIMES. ANOTHER TIME THE CAR STALLED WHILE IDLING 4 TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTE DRIVE. TONIGHT THE CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SATURN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS ON THEIR COMPUTER. I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT THIS WITH THE LEMON LAW BUT I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW THAT I WANT TO JUST GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB
DT: 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST NO POWER. THE RPMS WENT TO THE RED AREA, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONSUMER COASTED OFF THE ROAD, AFTER A BLOCK OR TWO SHE GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO IT UNTIL MONDAY. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2005. *AK (11/15/05) *SC
WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED WHILE RUNNING THE VEHICLE IDLING HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGN. *NM (POSSIBLE VALVE STICKING) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THEN TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS WOULD ALSO OCCUR IN REVERSE AS WELL. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN ACCIDENTS WOULD ALMOST OCCUR. THERE WOULD BE HIGH RPM'S OF 6000 PLUS. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VTI TRANSMISSION. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS: WIND NOISE WHEN SUNSHADE WAS CRACKED, TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT CANCEL ON TURNS AND THE CHIME WOULD GO OFF AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH SEEMED...
Other 2004 SATURN ION Problem Areas
Steering
323 complaints
Electrical System
233 complaints
Electrical Systemignition
47 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
44 complaints
Air Bags
42 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
36 complaints
Power Train
26 complaints
Engine
23 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
23 complaints
Unknown Or Other
20 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
17 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
15 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionanti Theftcontrol Module
14 complaints
Exterior Lightingturn Signal
14 complaints
Steeringelectric Power Assist System
13 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
11 complaints
Exterior Lighting
10 complaints
Suspension
10 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
9 complaints
Equipment
9 complaints
Service Brakes
9 complaints
Steeringcolumn
8 complaints
Visibility
7 complaints
Visibilitywiper
7 complaints
Wheels
7 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionmodule
6 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
6 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
6 complaints
Power Trainmanual Transmission
5 complaints
Structure
5 complaints
Tires
5 complaints
Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System
4 complaints
Suspensionfront
4 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
4 complaints
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher
4 complaints
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
3 complaints
Seat Belts
3 complaints
Structurebody
3 complaints
Structurebodydoor
3 complaints
Electrical Systemstarter Assembly
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
2 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
2 complaints
Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Arm
2 complaints
Wheelsrim
2 complaints
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
1 complaint
Child Seat
1 complaint
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Electrical Systemhorn
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiring
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiringfuses And Circuit Breakers
1 complaint
Electronic Stability Controlautomatic Asc
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
1 complaint
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalanti Theft Devices
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
1 complaint
Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift
1 complaint
Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingheadlights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signalflasher Unit
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblyfiller Pipe And Cap
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherdeliveryfuel Pump
1 complaint
Interior Lighting
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagestrunk Lidlock
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm
1 complaint
Power Trainaxle Assembly
1 complaint
Power Trainclutch Assembly
1 complaint
Power Trainclutch Assemblypedalhand Levermotorcycle
1 complaint
Power Trainmanual Transmissioncolumn Shift Assembly
1 complaint
Power Trainmanual Transmissionfloor Shift Assembly
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfront
1 complaint
Seat Beltsrearother
1 complaint
Seats
1 complaint
Seatsmidrear Assembly
1 complaint
Steeringcolumn Lockinganti Theft Device
1 complaint
Steeringrack And Pinion
1 complaint
Structurebodybumpers
1 complaint
Structurebodyhatchbackliftgatesupport Devicestrut
1 complaint
Structurebodyroof And Pillars
1 complaint
Structureframe And Members
1 complaint
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontmacpherson Strut
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing
1 complaint
Suspensionrear
1 complaint
Tiressidewall
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
1 complaint
Visibilityrear Window Wiperwasher
1 complaint
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevicesexterior
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasherlinkages
1 complaint
Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds
1 complaint