Car has starting problems. Intermittent starting in cold weather and now stalls while driving. Dealer installed new ignition switch one week ago for $230, but stalling is once again a problem. This is a safety issue when you are stuck in a car in the middle of traffic!

- Highland, IN, USA

My 2003 Saturn Ion refuses to start sporadically on cold mornings. This has been going on since early fall. My car repair shop assures me that the battery in my car is fully charged and capable of starting. They tell me that they have seen 5-6 of these issues with Saturn Ions in the past month, and that I must take it to the Saturn dealership because it is a known ignition switch issue. I live in a fairly small town, the fact that my shop has seen this many issues with Saturn is astounding. I have small children and the temps in Indiana have been below zero. I fear that I will have them out somewhere and be unable to start my car in sub-zero temperatures, or that I will be unable to pick them up from school because I cannot get my car started. I have read on the web this morning, that I am not alone in my issues with my Saturn Ion. I realize that no one has died or been injured in my particular situation, but if small children are stranded in my car in sub-zero temps because my car won't start, it seems that, at the very least we have a potential safety issue here.

- Greenfield, IN, USA

My Saturn Ion has been having intermittent problems starting in cooler weather. I have replaced the battery and found out online that the ignition switch either goes bad or the wrong switch was installed at the factory. The problem has to do with a key code and voltage. This has occur at least once a week for a month now.

- Pinckney, MI, USA

The problem has existed since I purchased the car. My car does not cold start in temperatures under 30 degrees. Many Saturn owners with same problem. Car is no longer under warranty but when it was I brought it in many times for diagnostic tests and service. Dealer replaced ignition switch twice and starter once. Problem has never been fixed. Its worse now then ever before in these cold dayton Ohio winters. Now they say they need to replace the mother board for my car after doing another diagnostics test for a total of @ $500. I feel Saturn is not only giving me the run around but will gladly still take my hard earned money. Please help. Im about to be a father and don't want to be stranded in the cold with my child by a company that just got millions loaned to them by our government. Not fair, please help hold them accountable for their wrongdoings.

- Kettering, OH, USA

Car will not start when all components are good. Faulty anti theft device.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

The temperatures in fort wayne have been below freezing lately (wind-chill was -35 today), and my 2003 Saturn Ion has had a lot of trouble starting. When I turn my key in the ignition, it turns over but won't start. After letting it sit for a minute, I try to start it again, only now it won't even turn over; it just clicks. I thought my battery needed to be replaced, but I haven't had much help today in dealing with it. I searched the internet for advice, and I came across a car review website with several reviews and comments complaining about the same 2003 Saturn Ion problem I'm having. From the reviews and comments, I figured our problems are one in the same- the cars have faulty ignition switches. I tried to get my car fixed when I first bought it last year, and the dealer told me it was an ignition problem. I'm just now discovering that it's a problem with all 2003 Ions- not just mine. As far as I know, Saturn is doing nothing to help its customers in their greatest time of need. Thank god my car died in the parking lot at work and not in some location where I would be stranded in the frigid temperatures.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. In cold weather conditions, the vehicle would not start. Usually after repeated attempts of turning the key in the ignition, the vehicle will start. The vehicle has not been taken to the dealer for inspection to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000 and current mileage was 48,000.

- Omaha, NE, USA

I drive a 2003 Saturn Ion 3 - and every winter I go through the same issue. The car will randomly not start. After about 10-20 minutes of attempting to start the vehicle will finally turn over and start just fine. I began to research this issue last winter and found this: www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_97727_6.html this website has pages and pages of people owning the same car and having the same problem. The problem happens only when it's cold out and it started off happening once in a great while...up until this winter. I live in Wisconsin and it's cold for a good 4 or 5 months. This week my car has not started 5 times resulting in me being late for work and late for scheduled events....5 times. I work for a highly respected company and am an office manager. I am expected to be on time to open the office and get things going in the morning. I'm hoping that with the millions of Saturn customers who are not satisfied that a recall will be issued and I can have this problem fixed. I can not justify paying for a problem that a multi million dollar car company is aware of and is choosing to do nothing about.

- Kaukauna , WI, USA

Only when it's cold outside, my car won't start. I've replaced the starter and found out that it was not the problem. After researching my issue on the internet, I found that thousands of other people have the exact same problem as me. Since the problem is the ignition switch, and everyone that replaces it says the problem persists, I'm not going to waste money on an issue that can't be resolved unless your organization puts a recall on that part. I'm sure you've received numerous of emails regarding this problem, so the only solution would be to recall that item. Since we have given you business by purchasing your vehicles, the only thing to do is to help out your loyal customers.

- Binbrook, 00, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact was able to remove the key from the ignition while the vehicle was in any gear, including drive or reverse. She took the vehicle to the dealer at least twice and each time they stated that there was a different failure. The dealer wants to replace the steering column all the way through the engine to determine the cause of the failure. The key would not turn all the way back to the acc position unless the vehicle had been idling for at least 3-5 minutes. The contact found NHTSA campaign id number 97V055000 (electrical system:ignition:switch) for the same make, but a different model and the previous year. The contact feels that the recall should be expanded for her year, make, and model vehicle. She found hundreds of complaints online regarding this failure. The failure began within a week of purchasing the vehicle. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 41,000.

- Casselberry, FL, USA

My Saturn 2003 Ion continues to have intermittent starting problems(not related to the battery), and problems with the key getting stuck in the ignition cylinder, even after the ignition cylinder was replaced. They cannot detect a problem yet it still keeps happening!

- Glendale, AZ, USA

Car will not start in temperatures near 32 degrees or less. Ignition switch and battery have already been replaced. Car starts to crank then stalls out and service light comes on. Must wait 10-15 minutes to try again. If lucky it will start on 2nd try, otherwise 3rd. This has been going on for past 3 weeks when temps dropped.

- Manassas, VA, USA

Bought vehicle in Apr. 05, Dec 06 problem starting car in cold weather late for work, dealer replaced passlock2 system Dec 06, vehicle fine until Dec 07, problem came about again, Jan 08 called dealer said to bring in for diagnostic, did so dealer said it's the body control module (BCM for short), prior to finding that out replaced starter and battery to try and fix problem. Called Saturn customer support Jan or Feb, they said the electronic failing was my fault and I had to fix problem. Sitting in the cold waiting to start my car has resulted in lose of dexterity and feeling in finger tips due to prolonged exposure to sub-zero temps trying to start car. Saturn has a bulletin #1787659 saying that if owners come in referring to their car not starting in cold weather "no crank, no start with complete power". Saturn knows of the problem and wont fix it cause they deem it "a non-safety issue".

- Wiscasset, ME, USA

I want to file a complaint about my Saturn Ion 2003 in hopes that we can recall the car. My car is outside uncovered all night. Right now it is 27.1 degrees outside. My Saturn Ion 2003 has a hard time starting when it is below 32 degrees. I read on this website www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html that I am not the only one that is having this issue. It seems to be an issue with the ignition switch. This has happened to me 2 times this week, 3 times this year, a total of 6 to 8 times in the 5 years that I've had it. It sounds like the ignition revs, but then it dies and my car has a message "service soon". if I give it a few minutes to sit, then I try it again, sometimes it does the exact same thing, sometimes it gets a little better, but the engine won't turn over completely. Then, when the ignition switch is a little warmer, it will actually start. I usually stay in my car for an average of 15 minutes. Longest I've waited for my car to start was an hour. I have talked to Saturn once about this, but they stated that they will have to reproduce the issue before they can find out what is wrong. If I can get my car to Saturn, obviously they will not be able to reproduce the issue. This is something that Saturn really needs to acknowledge since it is more of a safety issue. We don't want to be stranded in the cold with no phone service waiting for the grease or ignition switch to warm up. It's ridiculous. Thank you for your attention.

- Sandy, UT, USA

2003 Saturn Ion ignition switch problem. Car won't start, then interlock prevents car from being started for 8-10 minutes. This has occurred approximately a dozen times at various temperatures.

- Newtown, CT, USA

My 2003 Saturn Ion 2 will not start in the winter when the temperature is below 32 degrees. This can happen at least once a week all winter long. It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour for my car to start again. I took it to a mechanic who could not find what the problem was and charged me $80 for nothing. This has been happening for three winters and has gotten worse each winter. It has caused me to miss work and be late for work several times.

- Lakewood, OH, USA

Faulty ignition switch. Car will not start for 10-15 minutes when its cold outside. Battery replaced and it did not help.

- Derby, KS, USA

2003 Saturn Ion fails to start. This is leaving my wife and kids stranded in the cold a couple of times a day now. Details can be found at this website as well as many others. This is the perfect description. www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

Faulty design in the ignition switch. The switch leaks lubricant onto the wires of the ignition system. In cold temperatures this lubricant freezes and prevents the electrical signal needed by the passlock anti-theft system from being received by the BCM (body control module). When this signal isn't received the anti-theft system kicks in. It then shuts off the fuel delivery system for a default period of 10 minutes or sometimes longer for up to an hour. This has caused numerous failures with the driver being stranded in cold temperatures. There's numerous documentation in regards to this problem online for several years and Saturn is taking no responsibility to try and remedy this problem, except to charge unreasonable prices to fix. In addition, according to many reviews online this problem resurfaces at a later date...

- Mount Shasta, CA, USA

If the Saturn vehicle is exposed to temperatures at or approaching 32 degrees F for several hours when the engine is not running (usually 6-10 hours), then when you attempt to start the vehicle, the ignition switch clicks and the car stalls. The security system kicks in. The security light blinks and the odometer screen reads: 'service engine soon.' Fuel will not be sent to the engine. The vehicle will now not start for about 8-10 minutes as the security system resets. After 8-10 minutes, the security light will stop blinking and then go out. 'the service engine soon' scroll light will stop and also go out. Now, you may attempt to start the vehicle again..however, if the ignition switch grease has not adequately warmed, then the process will begin again. A signal that the vehicle will likely start after the present 'lock-out' will be when the ignition seems to crank a bit more than just a click, before locking out again. Remedy:1. the grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch can not engage. The dealer must recall all of these vehicles and replace the ignition switch and grease. They apparently have a redesigned switch, which certainly can be construed as an admission to the faulty design. Of course, this type of remedial measure cannot be used in court, but is certainly helpful to those of us consumers who are the victims of the faulty design. Saturn must openly acknowledge the mistake and fix it, before someone is stranded in the cold, in an area with no cell phone service. Service bulletin:040845005 NHTSA item number:10007431 mfg bulletin date: 20060301 component: Electrical system:ignition:switch bulletin summary: No crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) B2960 and or B3033 are set.

- Shreveport, LA, USA