NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2005 Saturn Ion (Page 7 of 9)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Ion still had power steering issues and a defective ignition switch leftover from previous model years, but hey – at least Saturn improved some of its safety rating to marginal, right? Baby steps.

If you had to buy a Saturn Ion – and I would question why anyone would even consider it – I suppose the 2005 could be considered the best of a bad bunch? I mean, GM did finally get rid of that awful VTi transmission, and both the power steering problems and ignition switch defect that plagued owners were recalled. The problem is they waited 10 years to recall the ignition and let over 30,000 warranty claims get filed before they bothered to fix the power steering. So you kind of have to wonder, is GM making these fixes to keep owners safe or just to keep government lawyers from taking all their money? You be the judge.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,471 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.

2005 Saturn Ion electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Saturn Ion Owner Comments (Page 7 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #51

Dec 012009

Ion

  • 20,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that when trying to start the vehicle, the lock out warning light would illuminate and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure would only occur on an intermittent basis when the temperature was 35 degrees and below. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that they would need to replace the starter. The starter for the vehicle was replaced yet the failure persisted. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was approximately 20,000.

- Audbouman, IA, USA

problem #50

Dec 052010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 86,319 miles
Passlock malfunction due to faulty ignition switch causes no crank and activation of 10 minute relearn sequence. Only happens when temperatures are below 40 degrees. Has always happened ever since I bought the car January 3rd, 2009. Frequency of occurrence has increased, and I'm scared that it will cause a crash if I happen to stall in traffic. The remedy to this situation has been discussed in numerous technical forums on the internet - all of which point to replacement of the ignition switch. The cause is thought to be excessive grease applied to the internals of the switch. I think GM should recall the affected units exhibiting this problem and provide no cost replacement of the ignition switch. This is not a new problem. Thousands of owners have been experiencing this aggravating and sometimes dangerous technical fault. GM is ignoring the issue and offering Saturn owners absolutely no assistance to correct this serious problem. If GM does not act, the law of averages says that eventually someone may be injured or killed as a result of this malfunction. Please help us. This isn't fair at all.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #49

Nov 132010

Ion

  • 56,527 miles
Vehicle did not crank or start when key turned. Passlock code blinked. Check engine light on. Known NHTSA item number : 10007431 no crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) B2960 and or B3033 are set.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #48

Jan 102009

Ion

  • 23,000 miles

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

Saturn Ion 2005 model does not release key from ignition after you turn off the car.

- Glen Rock, NJ, USA

problem #47

Oct 202009

Ion

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that in cold weather the vehicle would not start. The contact had to wait 15 minutes before the vehicle would start. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who could not find a problem with the vehicle after a diagnostic test. The dealer suggested replacing the starter and the contact agreed with the repair. After the vehicle was repaired the vehicle continued to have an issue starting in cold weather. The contact stated that the manufacturer should issue a recall. The failure mileage was 125,000.

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #46

Aug 232010

Ion

  • 91,000 miles
The ignition on the 2005 Saturn Ion will lock with the vehicle in the "on" position. The only way to turn the vehicle off is to disconnect the battery, even though the car is still running. I have had the ignition components replaced 3 times in the past year and a half, and still have the same problem.

- Carrollton, TX, USA

problem #45

Aug 012010

Ion

  • 70,000 miles

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

I was driving down the highway when the power steering light turned on. Suddenly I was struggling with the steering wheel to make the car turn to get off the highway. It was really hard up until I turned it off. I turned it on again and it worked. Later this happened again while going to work, then coming back to work. It seems to happen every other day now for the past week. There is apparently no parts that I can change for it. And because Saturn Ions use electronic power steering, it's impossible to add steering fluid since there is no reservoir. It seems to be a dangerous electronic defect a lot of Saturn Ion owners are having.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #44

May 102010

Ion

  • miles
2005 Saturn Ion. When I turn the car off the key is stuck in the ignition and won't release. After some time the key eventually releases itself. I recently brought the car into a GM dealer and they stated there was nothing wrong, they lubed up the parts and said I would be fine. The key continues to get stuck.

- Bordentown, NJ, USA

problem #43

May 302010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
My 2005 Saturn Ion will refuse to start. I know it is not the battery or alternator. All I have to do is let it sit for a minimum of 15 minutes and viola it will start. I believe it has to with the pass code in the key ignition.

- Parrish, FL, USA

problem #42

Jan 032010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
When driving, the power steering will occasionally go out. Also, sometimes the car wont start, it wont even turn over (but all of the lights, fan, etc work). Other times the key will not come out of the ignition when you turn the motor off.

- Peotone, IL, USA

problem #41

Mar 112010

Ion

  • miles

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

I just recently purchased a 2005 Saturn Ion. And when I was at the dealership it started like a dream. A few weeks later the temperature dropped to 34 degrees F or so. And it would not start. I was fifteen minutes late to work because this so called "reliable" car wouldn't start because it thought I was breaking into it. If I could do it all over again, I would've purchased the Chevy, this is not a common problem as I've been reading online. I don't understand why this hasn't been recalled yet. We're paying a lot of money for some piece of crap car that doesn't start when it's too cold/damp out. Something needs to be done soon!!!!!

- Uniontown, OH, USA

problem #40

Mar 032010

Ion 4-cyl

  • 0 miles
I put the key in the ignition, turn the key to start, and the on board security system (passlock) disables the car. I have to wait 15 minutes to try to start the car again. This is an intermittent problem that has been happening the entire life of the car. The dealership says to replace the ignition switch, but after a few months it starts happening again. The ignition turns, it's that the passlock security system sees random key turns as attempts to steal the car and disables the starter. Very dangerous since it strands you wherever you are.

- Tucker, GA, USA

problem #39

Sep 122009

Ion

  • 44,000 miles
I currently own a 2005 Saturn Ion-2. I have owned this car since it had 12 miles on it. In 2007 my car did not start one morning and since it was still under warranty the local Saturn dealership replaced the starter. Starting last year this problem returned. When I turn the starter all the lights come on but the starter won't even try to start. This happens mostly when it's cold, but not necessarily. It happens at all different times of the day, and is very random. I missed work on more than one occasion and even missed a job interview because of it. Everything I have read online says you have not done a recall because it is not a 'safety issue' but last weekend at 1am, when is was 10 degrees outside, I was stranded in the middle of nowhere because my car wouldn't start. Not only is it unsafe for a single female but that temperature is below freezing and it is completely unsafe, because I could freeze to death while waiting in my car for it to start. I purchased a new ignition switch and installed it in the way the dealership instructed me to, but the car wouldn't start at all after I did that and I had to re-install the old one. This was $30 I can't get back and my car still won't start.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #38

Jan 312010

Ion

  • 42,000 miles
2005 Saturn Ion - car experiences daily intermittent failures to start at any given time. In most instances you exit the car, insert key 5-10 minutes later and the car will generally. Eventually it does. Problems points to systemic issue with the ignition. Research on the internet shows an inordinate amount of Saturn with this ignition issue.

- Ahoskie, NC, USA

problem #37

Feb 162009

Ion

  • 20,000 miles
We have a 2005 Saturn Ion that more often than not refuses to start. We have had this problem for the duration of our ownership. The theft deterrent system is a possible culprit. It could be any number of other things. Turns out this is a big problem. Please help the many of us to get GM to fix this. It makes our lives harder by the day.

- Bristol, TN, USA

problem #36

Dec 242009

Ion

  • miles
Car will not start when it is very cold out! key will turn, radio etc. Will work, but anti-theft system cuts off fuel. Many, many people have same problem, on Saturn Ion 2, numerous years! the oil/grease used in ignition freezes! Saturn knows of this problem, but is turning a blind eye!

- Red Bank, NJ, USA

problem #35

Feb 052009

Ion

  • 48,500 miles
1. events leading up to failure I was getting ready to leave for work. The time of day was 9am. The temperature had been hovering around freezing all night. The vehicle had not been driven since the previous day at around 9pm. I unlocked my vehicle using keyless entry - driver door only. I inserted my key in the ignition, closed the door, pushed the clutch to the floor while fastening my seatbelt. I then turned the key to the start position. The engine did not start - the starter did not engage at all. When I released the key, the security light (an amber "padlock" icon) started flashing slowly - once per second. I then followed the restart procedure for this situation according to the owner manual - simply wait until the light stops flashing, turn the key to lock, then restart. Ten minutes later, the security light stopped flashing and remained illuminated. I then turned the key to lock, and then restarted engine. 2. the failure, how often, its consequences: The vehicle did not start due to a failure of, or a malfunction of, some component of the factory vehicle security system. It has happened a total of three times between the incident date and March 30, 2009. It only seems to occur when the temperature overnight hovers around freezing, or drops below freezing. The consequences of this failure for me have been minimal, but I was very fortunate in each instance to be parked in a safe place, where my prompt egress was not necessary. I am reporting this situation to the ODI because of the potential consequences of this failure occurring during normal driving - if I stall the engine in heavy traffic and am not able to restart for ten minutes until the security light stops flashing, I would be in a very dangerous situation, and my vehicle would present a significant hazard to other drivers. 3. what was done to correct: Nothing has been done to correct this failure, as my dealership has no current solution.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #34

Jul 052009

Ion

  • 45,888 miles
I bought a 2005 Saturn Ion in March 2008. Since then, I have had the key get stuck on a constant basis. I had that fixed, but the key still sticks, but I push it in to release it. At least it's better than it was. The car does not like to start in cold weather. I replaced the battery. Cost $421. Now, at only 45,888 miles, my steering display light keeps coming on and I lose power steering. Got is checked told cost $700 total, but the only problem is: No part is available. It is on back log. So, I can't afford the part and labor anyway, but no part available" what do I do now with a car I am still paying on" I feel I a M stuck with a lemon.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #33

Jun 012009

Ion

  • 49,000 miles
Having repeat problems with 2005 Saturn Ion blinker. We saw there was a recall on 03 and 04 Saturn for the same problem. Please look into a recall for the 05 Saturn Ions.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #32

May 252009

Ion

  • 125,000 miles
I bought a 2005 Saturn Ion last August 2008. On November 2008, I experienced a difficulty on starting the car. So I brought it to Saturn dublin for a check up and repair, and they did all the test for the car and informed that they have to replace the ignition of the car as this is the findings of their mechanic.. I agreed as I thought this was the authorized dealer mechanic, I paid for $700+, for repair, labor and parts.. but recently last week, May 2009, my car would not start again..I brought it back to the dealer and had it checked.. they said there was nothing wrong with the car, it started when they checked and they asked me to pay $130 for the check up..which I paid. A few days after I was at work, which is in union city, 22 miles away from my house and when I was about to go home, my car would not start gain.. same problem as before... had to call a tow truck to have my car towed.. as I relayed this to my brother in law... we searched in the net on the issue and concerns and found out I was not the only one who had these problems.. hundreds of us were victims of this problem. Now, I did had a bad judgment on buying a Saturn car.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

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