The power steering is failing nearly every time the car is used. It fails within minutes after the car is started. Making turns requires a lot of effort in turning the steering wheel. The car can still be driven without the power steering, but one would hardly call it safe.

- Middletown, NJ, USA

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.

- Mantua, NJ, USA

Key stuck in the ignition. Car would not start. A new key had to be cut.

- Penacook, NH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was carefully maneuvered to the shoulder and shut off. Upon restart, the vehicle operated as normal. The failure had since recurred on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact also stated that the vehicle would intermittently experience a failure in which it would not start. Whenever the failure occurred, the contact would have to wait approximately ten minutes before the vehicle would successfully start. The failure mileage was 145,000.

- Barstow, CA, USA

The key of my Saturn Ion will not come out when the vehicle is shut down. When the vehicle is stopped and in park, the key turns back to off but will not come out. This is the second ignition switch we've had put in this car, and there are literally thousands of people that this is happening to.

- Everett, WA, USA

I have had same problem with 2004 Saturn since day when I bought it. Take to dealer and they don't know what the problem is. Bought new battery cause that is what a mech said to do need larger size. Last month every time never failed you get in vehicle turn key on. Sounds like it wants to start, but no you have to wait 10 min then turn key and it starts. Cold or warm weather didn't seem to matter. I was told maybe starter! so I took it to a new mechanic that I had a dealing with on another issue different vehicle. He did testing and replaced the pass lock key. Something to do with the alarming system. So knock on wood.. this last week starts everytime its working. Total cost for part is $250 plus you need to have new key made and coded.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

I have a 2004 Saturn Ion. I bought in the winter of 2007. It immediately presented with the problem of not starting in really cold weather. I took it to the dealership it was bought from and they told me they couldn't find a problem. I have been told by another mechanic that he couldn't find the problem either. I sometimes have to wait up to 30 minutes for my car to start in freezing cold weather. About 6 or 8 months ago the key wouldn't turn when it was inserted into the ignition. I have to jiggle it back and forth, sometimes the key almost coming out totally before it will turn over. Today it took 15 minutes to finally get it unlocked and turned over to start.

- Troy, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that during cold weather the vehicle intermittently failed to start. During the failure, the engine rpms would momentarily increase and the security warning light would illuminate. The contact stated that the security light indicated that the vehicle did not recognize the key. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told that the failure may be due to a wiring issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 88,000.

- Havertown, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start and the key became wedged in the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

- Cicero, NY, USA

I just brought a 2004 Saturn Ion 2 a couple days ago. Today I got up and ready for work and my car wouldn't start. I tried several times to start the car and still nothing but the lights and radio etc come on. I was lookin for a reliable car to get me and my son back and forth being as though we have no family that lives close by;;; turns out I think I might have made a wrong decision. I have had this car less than 2 weeks now and it already is turning into a nightmare. I am hesitant on putting my son in this car because if I do get it to turn on and this happens again what are we to do? it is freezing outside!

- Paulsboro, NJ, USA

My car will not start when the weather turns cold. I am the original owner of this car and keep up on the maintenance. After researching the problem, I have read numerous complaints on line about the same problem from other Saturn Ion owners and have concluded that the passlock system is misinterpreting a theft and locking up the fuel. I read that changing the grease in the ignition switch will correct this problem and that Saturn (GM) has known of this complaint for some time now. They have a new improved part to replace this bad one but I don't feel it is worth $400+ to pay for replacement when it is a quick fix and it is their fault to start with. Please issue a recall for this problem. I have been stranded in the cold waiting and praying for the car to start so that I can get to work on time and back home. It is not too much to ask. The car only has about 42,000 miles on it.

- Norwalk, OH, USA

Without notice, the car will not start. The car will start and run like it was designed too, but after the car has been turned off, there have been instants where the car will not start again. The battery is not dead, all the lights, gauges and horn will work, but no power goes to the starter. After a extended period of time, ten minutes or more, the car will start. This is a random condition, there are no warning signs of when it will not start. I have been told that there is either a glitch in the security program or there is a problem with the grease in the started switch.

- Hooper, UT, USA

My 2004 Saturn Ion 2 will not start on many cold mornings. It started initially, I drove it to the gas station, then it would not start again. The battery was fine, but I replaced it anyway. This issue presents in two different ways: Turn key and get nothing, or turn key and hear an initial crank and then it shuts off. Lights and radio still work. Car will eventually crank and turn over after 10-20 minutes.

- Richmond, VA, USA

I own a 2004 Saturn ion2. At first, I only had a problem with my car randomly not starting. If I would wait for any ungiven length of time, it would magically start. Now, my key has been stuck in the ignition for two weeks. (still stuck) I went to a Saturn dealer today and was told that the problem could be the solenoid, the housing unit, or even both. I was told that the key may have worn down, or a part in the housing may have scratched the inner surface of the housing causing the key to be stuck in the ignition. I live in Florida, so the "cold" weather isn't a factor here. I cannot believe that there has not been a recall for this problem. I have two young kids who ride with me everyday, and I fear that we will get stranded in god only knows where. If my car is stolen because the key is always in the ignition, if it gets stolen, will my insurance even pay for my loss"?" I thought Saturn was supposed to be very good with problems involving their automobiles. I guess that idea only applied to their commercials.

- Brandon, FL, USA

I own a 2004 Saturn Ion. For the past two years when the temperature is below 36 degrees the vehicle fails to start. The ignition locks me out until the anti theft device resets and I can try again. After reading about many others expensive solutions to this issue without resolve or recall by GM, I have bought a small electrical heater to set on my floor board on the drivers side of the vehicle. This warms up the ignition inside the car and it starts right up. Until I found this solution I was late to work, late for appointments and once stranded in frigid temperatures.

- Goodlettsville, TN, USA

On mornings when it is cold and has been during the night as well, my 2004 Saturn Ion will not start. It has happened three times now. I have already replaced the battery and now I am going to have to take my car to another shop in order for it to diagnose the reason it is not starting. The first mechanic said it is the tbs that is out on the no crank, no start for the ignition. The old part is still currently in my car.

- La Grange, TX, USA

The contact owns 2004 Saturn Ion 3. the contact stated that when the weather became extremely cold she was unable to take the key out of the ignition. She started to noticed the failure when she parked the vehicle outside. She also mentioned that the only way she was able to take the key out of the ignition was to place a hot towel around the steering column. The contact will take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 162,000.

- Johnson City , TN, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the security system was re-designed and caused the vehicle to not be able to start. The dealer replaced the ignition switch but the problem continued. The dealer then stated that the body control module needed to be replaced. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 40,641 and the current mileage was approximately 96,000.

- Woodstock , VA, USA

I live in Minnesota when the temp drops below 30 degrees my 2004 Saturn ion2 won"T start. This just started happening last winter, I had no problems before that. I bought a new battery last winter. I took my car to the Saturn dealer they could not find anything wrong. Usually it takes from 15minutes to half a hour for car to start. But today was different went out to start my car because the temp was 28degrees this morning I tried to start my car for over a hour I was almost late for work still no start. Then I tried starting my car when I got off work still no start. I spoke with a coworker she had the same problem she replaced battery, starter, and alternator and her does not start when it rains. Why is there nothing being done to solve this problem. Even though the car was sold by Saturn it has GM parts. Something is seriously wrong and something needs to be done to correct this.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving various speeds and when the vehicle was parked that the interior lights would not shut off. None of the warning lights illuminated on the instrumental panel. The contact also stated that the alarm shuts off intermittently at night. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

- Mira Loma, CA, USA