Whenever it is damp or cold outside the vehicle will refuse to start. Once the vehicle has refused to start I must wait a minimum of 10 mins before starting the vehicle. On certain occasions this process repeats and I may have to wait upwards of 20 mins to start my vehicle and drive. This issue has been traced back to a faulty ignition switch and implementation of gms passlock vehicle protection system. The manufacturer refuses to acknowledge fault and replace the ignition switch without the consumer incurring substantial costs.

- Saint Peters, MO, USA

Car will not start in cold weather. Faulty iginition switch.

- Bedford, PA, USA

I own a 2003 Saturn Ion and have experienced starting problems the past two winters. I've had a mechanic check the battery, fuel, and clutch button, but due to the intermittent happenings, nothing was found to be wrong. My battery was rechecked and cords were cleaned, fuel line was cleaned, etc. The problem would go away and then happen again. I finally noticed the pattern of not starting when it was cold. I also noticed that it would restart about ten minutes after. I had a mechanic check during my inspection this year but again he was not able to help due to it not actually happening. On 3/15/07 I did a search on the internet and found numerous other Saturn customers who have this same problem. I made an appointment with my dealership to fix it, but being that my car is no longer under warranty, I was told I would have to pay. I do not think I should pay for a problem I did not have control over. (except that I trusted Saturn when I purchased my 2 car from them). Saturn should pay for the repairs and show they are responsible and can be trusted to fix their mistake.

- North Versailles, PA, USA

I drive a '03 Saturn Ion and have been having problems for the past year where the car wouldn't start, mostly on cold mornings, and would leave me stuck in different areas of town. Most of the time if I waited a couple minutes it would start up with no problem. This past Sunday my wife was driving and pulled into the driveway and she couldn't get the car to turn off or turn the key. So now I'm driving around with my key in my ignition and my steering column off so it looks like I stole my car, the only way I can start and stop the car is by plugging and unplugging the ignition switch. I did some research and from what I've read there have been many others that have had the exact same problem and it has ended up costing them hundreds of dollars for an obvious manufacturer defect. I just paid $200 for the ignition cylinder along with the housing unit and I come to realize that I shouldn't have to pay for this at all.

- Waller, TX, USA

2003 Saturn Ion component: Electrical system:ignition:switch no crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) B2960 and or B3033 are set.. went to start it in cold weather, heard a click and noticed service vehicle on the dashboard. Car would not turn over after turning key in ignition several times. I let it sit for 10 minutes or so and it finally started. I replaced the battery as advised by an auto mechanic and it still did the same thing a couple days later. I also found a message board discussing this issue at: www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html.

- Jackson, MI, USA

2003 Saturn Ion-3 fails to start in cold weather. This appears to be a known manufacturer defect in the ignition switch. (reference Saturn tsb 040845005 of Nov 2005 or NHTSA 10007431 of March 2006). It appears that Saturn is counting on warm winters to get the cars out of the warranty period (which happened to me) and then hit you with a $40 part and $156 labor charge to fix an item they mis-manufactured.

- Columbus, OH, USA

My Saturn Ion (2003) has had a lot of problems this winter with intermittent starts. I try to start the car in the morning, and it just won't crank over. I have missed work, and been stranded in the freezing cold. A recall needs to be issued on the starter switch. I have had multiple diagnostic tests done, and had the battery replaced. I cannot afford a $200 repair on something that should be replaced by Saturn. This is a case of negligence.

- Rochester, MI, USA

The ignition switch frequently fails to move into the locked position after the engine is turned off. This requires repetitions of starting and stopping the engine. The dealer failed to correct the problem.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Car routinely will not start in cold weather due to faulty ignition switch. A new ignition switch must be installed and is not covered under warranty.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

My car was having problems starting in the cold weather, it would almost start then nothing would happen. It would take about 15 minutes of trying before it would start up. Also the service vehicle message would flash and various lights on the dash would flash also. I took it in for servicing at the Saturn dealer where they charged me 200 dollars to diagnose and fix the problem which ended up being the ignition switch.

- Garden City, MI, USA

I have a 2003 Saturn Ion 2, and it has had intermittent starting problems since 2004. I always thought it was the battery, but I would change the battery and test the old one, and it always tested fine. Once the weather got cold this winter, it started having more frequent starting problems. Sometimes it would start after waiting 20-30 minutes. Last wkend, I was unable to start it at all and had to have it towed. I was lucky to have it at a friend's house when this happened. The ignition switch is being replaced, since the dealer says this is a very frequent problem. Please recall these ignition switches! so many people have problems with them - check the internet! just type in '2003 Saturn Ion starting problems' in google and you'll see many sites come up with people in the last month alone having the same issues. Costs about 200 bucks to fix, and that's ridiculous if Saturn knows there's an issue.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

In cold temperatures my 2003 Saturn Ion 2 would not start. All of my lights would come on but when I attempted to start the car the security light would come on and I would be locked out of starting my car for the next 8-10 minutes due to a faulty ignition switch. I took my car to the dealership that I purchased it from and codes B2930 B3033 were found in the system. The ignition switch sn 10392423 was replaced. The old part was kept by Saturn.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

Frequent inability to start vehicle due to ignition cylinder wear. Saturn claims security system is activated due to internal ignition switch not being able to "read" chip in Saturn vehicle key. Failure of such process results in operator of vehicle having to wait until security system "resets" (10-15 mins.) Saturn will not honor the fact that this may be a design flaw, and holds owner responsible for $200 repair. This owner is just glad the steering wheel hasn't fallen off the dashboard yet. Good car !

- Alton, NY, USA

Intermittently, car will not start in cold weather. No crank or start. After 10 minutes, car sometimes starts with another key. Car eventually starts, but requires 10 minute pause between each attempt for security lock-out to be bypassed.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

Saturn Ion cold start problem* the consumer stated the ignition switch clicked and the vehicle stalled. The security system will activate, and a security light would blink and the odometer screens would read service engine soon. The vehicle would not re-start for 8-10 minutes as the security system resets. The consumer believed the grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch can not engage. The consumer stated the ignition switch and grease should be recalled.

- 99999, DC, USA

My 2003 Saturn Ion fails to start in cold weather because the ignition switch does not properly read the key and the passlock system locks out the ignition. This has been an ongoing problem with the vehicle and in March 2006 GM issued a technical bulletin identifying the ignition switch as the source of the problem. Saturn however refuses to correct this defect with my vehicle. As this failure only occurs in cold weather it is a safety concern of mine as I work late hours and I rely on my vehicle starting so that I can turn on the heat. Sitting in the freezing cold in a vehicle that has an identified defective part that will not start is completely unacceptable. The Saturn dealership told me that they would do nothing for me because a recall has not been ordered. As Saturn will not step up and take care of its customers I ask that a safety recall be issued to correct this problem.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

Car will not start in the cold weather. Then I get a service engine message and the security light flashes. The car will not start for 10 minutes after. However, the car always starts when it is not cold. This has happened several times over the last three weeks.

- Chambersburg, PA, USA

I have a 2003 Saturn Ion which I purchased new from the dealer. When it gets cold outside (usually at or below 32 degrees) the car intermittently fails to start. The passlock system activates, preventing the car from starting, because the ignition switch fails to recognize that the proper key is in the ignition. GM has issued a technical advisory (# 04-08-45-005D) dated 15 Mar 2006 identifying the ignition switch as the cause of this problem. The Saturn dealership confirmed that the ignition switch was the cause of the passlock malfunction on my car and informed me that it would cost $250 to replace the ignition switch. In performance of my duties as a federal officer I rely on my vehicle to start when I need it to. I am often dispatched to remote areas in inclement weather to assist the public. Having a vehicle that will not start because of a recognized defective ignition switch is unacceptable; being told that I have to pay for repairs because of a manufacturing defect is insulting. The faulty ignition switch is not only a safety concern of mine, it impacts the safety and security of the american public that I have sworn to protect. Finally it is a safety concern for every Saturn Ion owner who depends on their car to start in 30 degree weather when there is no other warm environment available.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

I have a 2003 Saturn Ion which I purchased new from the dealer. When it gets cold outside (usually at or below 32 degrees) the car intermittently fails to start. The passlock system activates, preventing the car from starting, because the ignition switch fails to recognize that the proper key is in the ignition. GM has issued a technical advisory (# 04-08-45-005D) dated 15 Mar 2006 identifying the ignition switch as the cause of this problem. The Saturn dealership confirmed that the ignition switch was the cause of the passlock malfunction on my car and informed me that it would cost $250 to replace the ignition switch. In performance of my duties as a federal officer I rely on my vehicle to start when I need it to. I am often dispatched to remote areas in inclement weather to assist the public. Waiting 10-30 minutes for the passlock system to time out before I can start the car has made me late for assignments on more than one occasion. Having a vehicle that will not start because of a recognized defective ignition switch is unacceptable; being told that I have to pay for repairs because of a manufacturing defect is insulting. The faulty ignition switch is not only a safety concern of mine, it impacts the safety and security of the american public that I have sworn to protect. Finally it is a safety concern for every Saturn Ion owner who depends on their car to start in 30 degree weather when there is no other warm environment available.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

Will driving down the road the transmission in my Saturn Ion lvl 3 slips and I have to let my foot off the gas and then kick the gas pedal for it to go into gear. It does this all the time when I am driving it. Also when I go to park the car, I put it in park and pull up the emergency brake and I go to remove the key and it will only go as far as acc mode. It will not release. I have to wait 20 to 30 minutes until it releases automatically. I have read online this is a known problem with Saturn and I have been told that they will not fix it. It does this almost every single day.

- Clemmons, NC, USA