2005 SATURN ION Electrical System Problems

I HAVE A SATURN ION1. I HAVE 73,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING IT ON DAYS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 35 DEGREES. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AND KEEP IT TURNED UNTIL IT CAN RUN WITHOUT ME HOLDING THE KEY AND REV THE ENGINE TO ATLEAST 3-4 RPMS. I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR 15-20 MIN. UNTIL IT CAN IDOL ON ITS OWN, BEFORE I DECIDE TO DRIVE OR THE CAR WILL NOT REMAIN ON. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL SHUT OFF. NOW IF I MAKE A SHARP TURN IT TURNS OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY I HAD THE IGNITION REPLACE ONCE. I ALSO HAD BEEN TOLD BY SATURN THAT MY KEYS WERE TOO HEAVY, SO I BEGAN DRIVING WITH ONLY THE KEY AND THE KEY RING. THE PROBLEM IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. LUCKILY HAVE BEEN ABLE...

TWO DAYS AFTER MOVING TO NJ FROM FL AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I FOUND THAT IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN THE STEERING IS GOOD FOR MAYBE 20 MINUTES. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSE AND TOOK IT TO A SHOP. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED I DO SOME RESEARCH BECAUSE A CAR THIS YOUNG SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME MODEL. MY CAR IS A SATURN, ION 2005. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 SATURN ION AND IT HAS A HABIT OF NOT STARTING AT TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE OWNED IT. WE TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. WE HAVE TO WAIT ANYWHERE FROM 10-45 MINUTES FOR THE CAR TO START AND IT SOMETIMES CAUSE MY HUSBAND TO BE LATE TO WORK. THIS IS AN EVEN BIGGER CONCERN SINCE WE HAVE A FOUR MONTH OLD SON. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY OR TIME DURING THE WEEK TO GO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE CALLED THE COMPANY WHO HANDLES MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. FROM THE DISCUSSION BOARDS I GATHER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

SATURN ION 2005 PROBLEM STARTING-EVERY THREE OR FOUR STARTS, THE LOCK SYMBOL SHOWS UP AND CAR WILL NOT START, PANEL, HEADLAMPS, ACCESSORIES ARE OPERATING, BUT STARTER SEEMS LOCKED OUT. AFTER 10-20 MINUTE WAIT, IT USUALLY STARTS. *TR

2003 SATURN ION WON'T START WHEN IT'S COLD. *TR

THE CAR WOULD NOT START, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

IGNITION LOCKS. CANNOT GET KEY TO TURN. HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A RECALL RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

3-16-2005 CAR LEAKING RED FLUID: DIAGNOSIS-AXLE NOT SEATED, NEW PARTS ORDERED, CAR REPAIRED 4-7-2005 CAR MAKING THUD SOUND WHEN SHIFTING: DIAGNOSIS-NOT DUPLICATED (NEVER CHECKED TRANSMISSION-JUST DROVE CAR) 9-29-2005 CAR NOT GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEARS SMOOTHLY, CAR NOT STARTING WHEN KEY IN IGNITION, INTERNAL CAR GAUGES NOT WORKING: DIAGNOSIS-INTERNAL COMPUTER PARTS FIXED-COULD NOT DUPLICATE GEAR ISSUES (AGAIN-DID REMOVE TRANSMISSION AND INVESTIGATE) 3-24-2008 PREVIOUS GEAR PROBLEMS PERSISTED, CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR; TOOK CAR TO DEALER, DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE ALTHOUGH PROBLEM WAS REPORTED PRIOR UNLESS I PAID 9-1-2008 CAR WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR 2ND; DIAGNOSIS (PAID FOR AT MY EXPENSE)-TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED (AT MY EXPENSE) 9-11-2008 CAR REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEARS: RETURNED TO DEALER AND FOUND RED FLUID LEAKING FROM VEHICLE: DIAGNOSIS-ADDITIONAL PART IN TRANSMISSION LOOSE. *TR

WHEN I SHUT OFF MY 2005 SATURN ION, THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE KEY WILL COME OUT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING. THE PWR STR COMES ON ALL THE TIME. WHEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF, IT RESETS, BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I TOOK MY CAR TO SATURN OF FAYETTEVILLE (NC) WHEN THE POWER STEERING FIRST STARTED ACTING UP, AND THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE STEERING CONSOLE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST OF FIXING IT? OVER $900. *TR

IN COLD WEATHER MY SATURN ION WILL FAIL TO START. THE IGNITION WILL CLICK A COUPLE OF TIME THEN NOTHING. I WAIT 8-10 MINUTES AND TRY AGAIN SOMETIMES IT WILL ATTEMPT TO START SOMETIMES NOT. THEN I HAVE TO WAIT SOME MORE AND TRY AGAIN, EVENTUALLY IT WILL START. I HAD 2 NEW BATTERIES REPLACED AND STILL PROBLEM PERSISTS. I FOUND A SATURN MESSAGE BOARD THAT ADDRESSED THIS VERY PROBLEM. HOPE YOU CAN GET SATURN TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES. HAPPENED AT 16,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGN. SWITCH. HAPPENING AGAIN AT 43,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY. I DISAGREE. FAULTY SWITCHES SHOULD THE COMPANY'S RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN ION WITH 32 MILES ON IT JULY 11, 2005. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL IN THE RAIN, THE CAR STALLED AND BEGAN TO FILL WITH WATER FROM THE FLOOR UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRON SUNROOF DRAIN HOSE WAS PLUGGED. THEY SAID THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE STALL. THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THEY CLEANED THE DRAIN HOSE AND ALL WAS OK. WELL, WE HAD A HEAVY RAIN, NOT THE FIRST SINCE 11/2005, ON AUGUST 18, 2007. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, BUT IT STALLED RIGHT AWAY. IN ADDITION, THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS WET. THIS OCCURRED ON A SATURDAY AND BY MONDAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS A "POND" OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR....

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BEING PARKED A FEW DAYS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE STARTED OR DRIVEN MORE OFTEN.

THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE ACCESSORY JACK BECAME INOPERABLE, THE RADIO WOULD STOP PUTTING OUT SOUND, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IT OFF THEN THE ABS LIGHT WOULD STAY ON AND THE WARNING BELL WOULD GO OFF. FINALLY THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON. UPON GOING TO MY CAR AFTER WORK IT WOULD NOT START. I THOUGHT IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY SO WE JUMPED THE CAR AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES IT STARTED. 1 WEEK LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AGAIN, BUT AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR IT WENT OUT. AGAIN WHEN I WENT OUT ANOTHER DAY TO START BY CAR AFTER MY LUNCH BREAK THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I CALLED SATURN AND REQUESTED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT AFTER 15 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED. I TOOK IT TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION ON, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR 30 SECONDS. SECOND, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF THE TRACK AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FALL INTO THE DOOR. THIRD, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE HEARD IN THE MOTOR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHT SEAL AROUND THE HEADLIGHT WAS BROKEN ALLOWING WATER TO GET INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ALL REPAIRS WERE MADE.

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL GAUGE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE MOTOR SHUT OFF INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITH THE CONTACT'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE HOOD BUCKLED AND THE GRILL WAS DAMAGED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A LOOSE CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL 10 MINUTES AFTER THE INITIAL START. IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW MODULE. UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN ION 2 IN 12/04. 3 EPISODES OF CAR STALLING WHILE MAKING TURNS AT LOW RATE OF SPEED, TOOK CAR INTO DEARLSHIP IN JUNE 2. SATURN INSTALLED NEW PROGRAMMING. JUNE 13 (213 MILES LATER) CAR STALLS AGAIN. SATURN REPLACES ENGINE WIRING. JUNE 27, THE CAR STALLS IN REVERSE. SATURN RESECURED IGN. FUSE. ON AUGUST 21 CARS STALL TWICE IN ONE DAY. SATURN CURRENTLY HAS CAR. THROUGHOUT ALL THIS TIME HAVE ALSO HAD DASH INDICATORS GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES BUT WILL SELF CORRECT NEXT DAY. *JB

DT: CONTACT PURCHASED A SATURN IN MARCH. SHE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING IT STARTED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS. 3 MONTHS LATER ON 6-28-05 IT STOPPED SUDDENLY ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD INITIALLY TROUBLE TO START THE CAR. IT TOOK 3 TRIES TO GET IT STARTED. .SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. ONE MONTH AND ONE DAY LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT DID START BACK RIGHT AWAY THEN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SATURN WAS SUPPOSED TO COME AND LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY NEVER CAME. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED THE CONTACT A LOANER. THE DEALERSHIP HAD OTHER DEALERSHIPS COME FROM THE AREA TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. SATURN OFFERED THE CONTACT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY...

DT: THE CAR IS LOSING POWER AT 70MPH AND IS SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON JUNE 3 AND IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 4 WITH THIS HAPPENING 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. THE SALES PERSON SAID "STAY THERE AND I KNOW WHAT IT IS, IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE". THE SALES PERSON DID COME AND PICK UP THE CONSUMER. THE SALES PERSON SAID THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE CONSUMER'S KEYCHAIN WAS AT FAULT. THE KEYCHAIN WEIGHED ABOUT AN OUNCE OR LESS. THE DEALERSHIP IS IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. THERE ARE NO INDICATORS LIGHTS COMING ON IN THE VEHICLE. IT JUST LOSES POWER AND DIES. THIS IS A 2005 SATURN ION 2. THE OWNER HAD A SATURN ION 2 WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND CHANGED MIND TO UPGRADE TO ONE WITH ABS, NOW SATURN IS NOT SO EAGER TO HELP...

DT: RELAY VAN. THE REAR SLIDING DOORS INTERMITTENTLY OPEN, AND CONSUMER IS CONCERNED IF IT IS IN AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER COULDN'T GET CHILDREN OUT. THE DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR WITH A HIGHER AMPERAGE ONE. THIS HELPED WITH THE LIGHTS DIMMING PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE INDICATOR ALARM SOUNDING OR THE REAR DOOR PROBLEM. *TT