NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2004 Saturn Ion (Page 2 of 12)

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

CarComplaints.com Notes: Ahh, the 2004 Saturn Ion: defective transmission, deadly ignition switch, temperamental power steering and a cheap plastic exterior that won’t protect you in a crash. What more could you want?

The 2004 Ion was part of GM’s massive ignition switch recall where it was revealed they waited 10 years – and let 13 people die – before doing anything about it. It also features GM’s now infamous VTi continuously variable transmission. Let me tell you, the only thing the VTi did continuously was fail on its owners. GM scrapped it after only two model years.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,194 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Saturn Ion electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Saturn Ion Owner Comments (Page 2 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #212

Feb 012014

Ion 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle was involved in car accident shortly before recall was issued. Customer needs assistance in getting this matter resolved. The consumer lost control of the vehicle, it slid and rolled over twice and landed upside down. Also, the air bag did not deploy. The consumer suffered serious injuries.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #211

Jan 312015

Ion

  • 185,194 miles
The ignition switch replaced under recall #14063 on July 15, 2014 failed on Jan 31, 2015 by jamming in the off position. Car was towed to a GM authorized Saturn service center where the ignition lock and cylinder were replaced on Feb 2, 2015. Dealer stated that the recall ignition switch installed in July did not have a warranty and charged $275.83 for the service.

- Burnt Hills, NY, USA

problem #210

Feb 112015

Ion

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system), 14V171000 (electrical system), and 14153000 (steering); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #209

Oct 152013

Ion 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2004 Saturn Ion 2 the ignition switch turned off numerous times on me, and the power steering went out probably 10 times a week. The consumer stated he was able to remove the key from ignition, at any time in any gear. The consumer was involved in two accidents due to the vehicle shutting off, during a turn. The second accident occurred in February 2014. While attempting to make a turn, he soon discovered the vehicle had no power steering and was unable to steer the vehicle. Consequently, he ran off the road and struck the right edge of a driveway. The ignition lock cylinder was replaced on September 12, 2014.

- Wentzville, MO, USA

problem #208

Jan 132015

Ion

  • 151,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #207

Aug 012014

Ion

  • 250,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated when she turned the ignition switch, the vehicle failed to turn on intermittently. In addition, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

- Marcellus, MI, USA

problem #206

Dec 112014

Ion

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shut off. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14E021000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #205

Dec 162014

Ion 4-cyl

  • miles
I am the owner of a 2004 Saturn Ion. I have had the ignition swich replaced due to a recall. However the key is still sticking in the ignition. I have had this problem prior to the recall and I still have it. It happens not often but enough to be annoying. I have to move the key back and forth and eventually the key will come out. I would like to know if there is a recall for that kind of problem.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #204

Dec 092014

Ion

  • 137,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the instrument panel and automatic door locks failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,000.

- Big Lake, MN, USA

problem #203

May 262014

Ion

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the key was difficult to remove from the ignition switch. The failure occurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id numbers: 14V047000 (electrical system), 14V171000 (electrical system), and 14V153000 (steering). The contact stated that it had been several months and the parts were still not available to perform the recall repair. The dealer was not able to provide an estimated date for when the parts would become available and placed the contact on a waiting list. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Alpine, UT, USA

problem #202

Aug 142014

Ion

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own two Saturn Ions. One in which I was having issues with the ignition switch before the recall and I already had the ignition switch replaced. The other car did not have any ignition switch issues but I thought I would do the right thing and have it done. What a mistake....... several years ago I had an after market remote start put in my car. After the new ignition switch was installed the remote start did not work. I was told that the dealership that did the recall was not allowed to touch the remote start system. I took the car back to where I had the remote start installed and had incurred an $80 charge to relearn the new ignition switch. Am I ever going to see that $80 back? I called one of your complaint phone lines and was that they were experiencing a high number of calls and that someone would get back to me within 48 hours. That never happened.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #201

Nov 102013

Ion 4WD 4-cyl

  • 96,289 miles
My Saturn 2004 Ion has ignition problems and it started in 2010 after I got the car and my keys would get stuck and the power would go out in my Saturn. I took it back to the dealership but they gave me the run around. I took it to the shop over five times and it still did the same thing so in Nov.2013 the Saturn stop starting and no power at all. Someone know about this problem and sold these cars and putting people in danger. We need justice for all of the people who paid the price for this mess.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #200

Apr 022012

Ion 4-cyl

  • 43,450 miles
I backed in, my 2004 Saturn Ion, in my driveway, put the gear shift in park and turned off the ignition switch. The doors did not unlock automatically as usual, the key would not go past acc position. I restarted the car and tried again to no avail. After many tries it some how vent to off. Couple days later I took the car to Saturn - Chevrolet dealer to get it fixed. The dealer came back with an estimate of $615 listing as follows: Check out - code fee, ignition cylinder 15785084, npc, key 22679805, , adjust shift cable, reprogram, labor 3 hr. I did not get it fixed so they charged me $129.57 for their estimate. When the recall came through I figured that my problem was part of the switch.wrong. Today the dealer completed the recall and the problem did not go away. This time it is blamed on gear shifter and would cost me $462.76, no listing of parts or labor but just scribbled on back of my recall bill of $0. also informed me that those parts were on back order and not available at this time. I have found a way to get the key out manually with my left land thumb through an opening under the steering column.

- New Carrollton, MD, USA

problem #199

Sep 172014

Ion

  • 40,000 miles
The contact the owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shut off and the key became lodged in the ignition. The contact had to make several attempts before the vehicle shut off and the key released. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (electrical system). However, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Victorville , CA, USA

problem #198

Sep 112014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
This is to express my frustration with dealing with classic Chevrolet in houston tx as they have no interest in assisting me with this recall. I have called them 5 times and get on a rotating hold pattern. The one time a service adviser did pick up, he hung up on me when I told him it was in regard to the ignition switch recall. Seems that I can not even order the new switch from them. I also tried to work with them through the online service scheduler and have not received any return contact in the last 3 days. I also called the GM hotline and received absolutely no help. The call was also terminated before I could speak to anyone. The recording advised to start with the nearest dealer. That has obviously not worked. Extremely frustrating in lieu of what american taxpayers have done for GM.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #197

Sep 052014

Ion

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who repaired the vehicle under recall 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system). However this failure continued. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135, 000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #196

Aug 012014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 15,200 miles
We own a 2004 Saturn Ion. The key fails to release from the ignition switch even though repeated attempts are made to release same. We waited from 5mins to one hour before trying same and key finally is released independently. The failure occurs continuously. The vehicle was repaired recently (8-23-14) under the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 14V171000 (electrical system). Dealer was advised of the above problem and we were told this was not associated with same. Dealer advised this was a faulty shifter problem and even though they were aware of this issue we were still responsible for cost ($576) of repairs. Dealer advised that this problem would in fact get worse. This should be manufacturer responsibility especially since dealer admission that they (GM) were aware of this constant problem with malfunction shifter in this type of vehicle.

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #195

Aug 012014

Ion 4-cyl Diesel

  • miles
2004 Saturn Ion. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch and power steering recalls. The consumer is seeking reimbursement in the amount of $ $730.22 for the replacement of the ignition switch and power steering.

- Haymarket, VA, USA

problem #194

Aug 232014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
While traveling approximately 15 mph to make a turn, the steering suddenly stopped and was unable to complete the turn. The vehicle's driver side front tire struck the curb and went up on the curb. This resulting in serious damage to undercarriage. (axle broke). Had knowledge of the recall and the local dealership has not had the parts to fix the steering/ignition.

- Florence, SC, USA

problem #193

Aug 152012

Ion

  • miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the key failed to release from the ignition switch even though repeated attempts were made however, only after awaiting a hour until the engine cooled down the key released independently. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 14V171000 (electrical system) however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was responsible for the repair expense. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable.....updated 09-03-14..

- Middletown, NJ, USA

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