Car will not start in cold weather. This began 3 months ago at the beginning of the winter season, unfortunately the first day of a new job. This happened a number of times until I was let go for showing up late to work (apparently, a car that problematic was inconceivable). I had the battery replaced, but that didn't help. This happens sporadically, but mostly in the early morning or late evening when it's coldest outside. This past week alone, my car wouldn't start 3 times. I've done some research on the internet and have found hundreds of complaints of the same problem in Saturn Ion's (2003-2006 models). Some complaints have suggested it's the ignition, the passlock key, or an electrical issue, and my mechanic is looking into the fuel pump. The problem is that the diagnostic doesn't read a problem if the car is starting, which seems to be the case by the time the mechanic's shop opens (weather conditions are fairly good in southern California on most days). The other day, my car had stalled while driving in heavy rain conditions, thankfully on a small residential street, because it did not want to restart. It took 10 minutes to get the car going again. You can imagine how disastrous this situation could have been while driving on the freeway or busy city road. This is an extremely dangerous issue that must be taken seriously by GM. I have also made complaints to the ftc & to Saturn. From what I've read online, replacing the part doesn't even help because all of these Ion parts are faulty. Please see to it that consumers are protected. Thank you.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

My 2003 Saturn Ion refuses to start when it is cold but after 10 mins it will decide it wants to start. I have been stranded and put hundreds of dollars into this problem with the mechanic not seeing the problem. Put a new ignition switch in the car and still has the problem. After doing some research on the web many Saturn owners are having the same problems. This needs to be a recall and Saturn is refusing to do so.

- Waterford, MI, USA

Car won't start when the temp is below 20 F, have to wait 10 min for anti theft to reset and then try again. Some times have to try 3 or 4 times. Dealer say it's a know problem and I have to replace the ignition switch at my expense.

- Old Orchard Beach, ME, USA

2003 Saturn Ion will not start due to the passlock timing me out. It has left me stranded too many times and yesterday I had to wait 3 hrs for my car to start. I have read reports of other consumers having the same issue and wanted to file a written complaint.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

2003 Saturn Ion. This car will not start in the cold weather. If the temperature is below 32 degrees F for an extended period of time, the car will stall. I have read that the difficultly may have to do with a type of lubricant on the starter, which hardens in the cold weather. The car stalls as a result, and then the pass-lock kicks in. After 8 minutes, the car may start, or one may have to wait an additional 8 minutes (or more) for the ignition switch to loosen up enough to start the engine. However, the car may stall yet again---and set off the passlock system yet again.

- Milford, MI, USA

2003 Ion, will not start when the weather is cold, the error noted on the display notes theft interlock, if you wait 10 minutes, the car will start. At times the key will stick in the ignition and will not come out, at times the car will not shut off. This interlock needs to be a Saturn recall.

- Decatur, IL, USA

For the past several years I have had an issue with my 2003 Saturn Ion starting in the cold weather. I have had my starter checked along with several battery replacements, yet there has not yet been a stop to this issue. I've looked online for solutions to this issue and unfortunately no one has a solution only complaints. This seems to be an issue with thousands of Saturn Ion's and GM does not seem to feel the need to recall the vehicle. This is a safety issue as far as I am concerned. I have read about mothers and children being stranded because they are unable to start their Saturn in the cold weather and they do not have anyone in the vicinity to help them out. The car usually takes about a half hour to start after initially trying - which no car should have to do. Please get on GM/Saturn to do something about this issue.

- Boston, MA, USA

Passlock system fails on an intermittent basis (generally cold conditions) preventing vehicle from starting for ten (10) minutes prior to next attempt. This could pose a safety hazard/risk to an individual in need of immediate transportation due to the need for medical treatment (ie., woman in labor) or an individual fleeing a dangerous situation (ie., mandatory evacuations). This is a security feature and not required for safe operation of the vehicle, as such; in lieu of the number of malfunctions with said system, the owner of said vehicle should have the option of having said system disabled at their discretion incurring little or no cost by the manufacturer/dealer.

- Columbus, GA, USA

I have been having an issue with my 2003 Saturn Ion quad coupe and after research I have concluded that these people(www.carsurvey.org/reviews/Saturn/Ion/R97727/comments/) have been having the same problem. This started Nov. 2008 when I would go to start my car and it wouldn't start. It would make no noise what so ever or it would start and stall...after 10 to 20 minutes it would start like nothing was wrong. Then it didn't do it for another 2 weeks...then it was 2 days...then 3 weeks...there was no pattern. In Dec. 2008 I took it to my mechanic who replaced the battery. Then two days later they replaced the starter...I still had the problem but because the car didn't have the issue with the mechanic and I had no way of knowing when it would happen they couldn't help. This stopped in April and I had no trouble until Nov. 27, 2009 and it's been happening every few days since. I haven't called Saturn B/C I'm afraid they will be like my mechanic and either not be able to fix it or charge me an arm and a leg to get it fix...I was laid off twice this year and am currently unemployed so paying a lot for this issue when Saturn should recall the vehicle for the mass amount of people having issues with this car!

- Voorhees, NJ, USA

I'm having the same issues that a lot of Ion owners are having. Car will not start when it is cold and the passlock system kicks in. Once this kicks in you have to leave the key in the accessories position for 10 minutes, passlock will then shut off and you can retry.if it does not start you have to wait another 10 minutes to try and start. Supposedly this is because of grease that is in the ignition switch. This grease freezes up when cold. It does seem to help if you warm up the ignition switch with a hair dryer or lighter.I don't know why GM does not recall this. They are passing their screw up onto the consumer. This problem has left many people stranded. It is just a matter of time till some one is in a really bad situation because of this. 'sorry your having a heart attack maybe I can start the car in another 10 minutes'. I wouldn't be surprised if someone froze to death because of this. At the very least I know people have missed many hours of work. Anyways, I am going to replace the ignition switch to see if this works. I already bought a remote start which bypasses the passlock when remote start but no one will install this on a manual car.

- Hummelstown, PA, USA

Whenever the temperature is significantly below freezing my 2003 Saturn Ion will not start. I sat in the car and tried to start the engine for over 20 minutes this morning before giving up and calling off the interview I was supposed to go to. It is not a battery issue, as the battery is completely charged. This issue has occurred roughly 15 times in the past two years, often leaving me stranded without a way to get home.

- Garden City, MI, USA

I recently purchased a Saturn Ion 2003 and it at times doesn't start. This has happened on numerous occasions and even after replacing the starter. After about 10-15 minutes, the car starts up. I cannot have a car that could possibly leave me stranded miles from my house in the cold.

- Queens Village, NY, USA

The event leading up to the failure was driving 3 miles from work to babysitters. The failure is the car refuses to turn over after turned off. This happens commonly in colder weather. Battery was replaced, starter was replaced, and then after research learned this is an ignition issue Saturn is aware of.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

Saturn Ion 2003 does not start when cold, common problem with many people.

- Savage, MN, USA

2003 Saturn Ion service bulletin # 040845005. NHTSA item #: 10007431. No crank no start when ambient temperatures when cold. Had this car for 6 years with minor issues beginning as described above last winter season in 2008. Now the issue is frequent, multiple times a day if weather is cold. I live in the North East it gets cold here often. I have been unemployed for 14 months and can not afford the $270 Saturn is claiming to repair this situation. After doing some research I found that this is a common problem with people owning the Saturn Ion, Saturn is aware of this and it is a design defect. Why can't this be recalled" it leaves me stranded in awkward and unpleasant weather conditions. I currently have to heat up my car key with a lighter to make it warm enough to heat up the ignition switch and the grease inside. Is there anything you can do" thank you.

- Willimantic, CT, USA

In the colder weather, my car (which is a 2003 Saturn Ion) will not start. It often will start and run for a few seconds and then will stall out, and will not be able to be started again for about 10 minutes. It has been happening frequently (multiple times in one week) beginning around the date listed below. I have kept my car in good repair and have taken it in for servicing on a regular basis; I am concerned, now that I will be out somewhere in a city (or other dangerous place) at night and my car won't start. As a single young woman, this problem is a huge safety concern for me. I rely on my car very heavily to get me places, and knowing there are many thousands of other Saturn out there with the same problem as mine is a scary thought.

- North Canaan, CT, USA

Saturn Ion 2003 car would not start.

- Denver, CO, USA

My 2003 Saturn Ion keeps having ignition switch issues. I was first told by Saturn that I needed to replace my battery. Did that but the problem still happens. The ignition won't turn over but will after several minutes. Being a woman, this makes me very nervous because just yesterday when I stalled my car while on route I had to have my husband push me over to the side of the road where I had to wait until I could start it again. I could have been all by myself and had to rely on total strangers for help. :-(

- Calgary, 00, USA

My 2003 Saturn Ion has an ignition problem. Sometimes it won't start. It is intermittent. Today the car started, I started driving all the warning lights came on, the power steering went off, the ABS brake light came on. I got the car stopped, turned off the car. Tried to start it again, to no avail. Waited a few minutes, started the car, turned around, went back to beg. Destination. Turned off car. Tried to restart - no restart. Waited 30 min. Tried again, no start. Waited 1 hour, started but none of the items on the dash would work. This problem has happened several times. What would have happened if I were on the freeway and all this just stopped and the power steering went out?

- Turlock, CA, USA

2003 Saturn Ion. The car runs perfectly fine however I have been left stranded on several occasions due to a malfunction involving the ignition switch. Most of the time involves me being late for work but twice I was left in potentially dangerous situations. Once trying to leave a sporting event late night in downtown cleveland the car wouldn't start, turned the key and nothing. Tried several times finally after 20 minutes of that the car started right up. Another time with my 85 year old mom (who has alzheimer's) after buying gas the same thing and it terrified my mom. I have since learned that Saturn is aware of this defect and that problems similar to mine are very common and very frustrating to Saturn owners who are forced to pay nearly $300 for a new ignition switch only to have the problem reoccur a few moths later. Saturn admits that the problem is worse in cold weather. If people are stranded in frigid weather unable to start the engine and have heat, especially if there is an elderly person or child in the car, serious injuries could definitely occur.

- Huntsburg, OH, USA