NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2004 Saturn Ion (Page 5 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:
54,948 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 5 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #153

Mar 212014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 201,755 miles

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

The car would not turn over, I called road side in hopes that the battery just needed a jump, but when they arrived I found out that the car was not turning over because of another reason. My friends came over and we popped the clutch and drove it to a car repair shop to have them take a look, I was thinking either the starter or the alternator. He called me last night to tell me to contact GM about the recall on the ignition. The ignition is bad and will not turn the car over.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #152

Jan 082004

Ion 4-cyl

  • 175 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle had multiple failures. The steering was rough and the transmission was causing the vehicle to make loud noises when the wheels were turned left or right. The contact was included in NHTSA campaign id number:14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) however the dealer stated that the parts would become available mid April. The manufacturer was also contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repairs. An authorized dealer will inspect the transmission and steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 175. The mileage of 175 was reaffirmed by the contact. Updated 05/28/14 MA the consumer stated the vehicle began having issues 2 weeks after it was purchased. The vehicle wouldnt start, it had high idling problems, and most recently the steering column failure. The battery and throttle were both replaced. Updated 05/29/2014*

- Dearborne, MI, USA

problem #151

Mar 172014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 179,161 miles
Campaign id #14V-047 GM case#[xxx] re: Ignition switch recall I was offered a rental car but GM is not reimbursing the cost of insurance for the rental. I cannot afford nor have the time to argue my case with GM. This is GM's fault, they should be reimbursing all costs incurred by this recall. Please assist me. I do not want to have to retain an attorney for this. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #150

Jul 292013

Ion

  • 55,000 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 when attempting to drive the vehicle, it would not start on multiple occasions. The contact waited for a brief moment and the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle would not start at random. The battery was replaced due to the ignition problem with the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V047000 (air bags and electrical system) after the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 55000.

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #149

Aug 192009

Ion 4-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
This issue has been a long ongoing problem for me, with this car. I do not know the actual dates of the occurrences but it has been frequent enough that I have developed a method for starting my car that if I do not feel rushed, I can get the car to start most every time. If the key is inserted into the ignition and immediately turned to the full on positing in an attempt to start the car, it will, on occasion, turn over once and then go completely dead. If the attempt is repeated, the auxiliary lights will come on but the engine will not turn over. I had my car towed to a garage and replaced the battery, two different times before reading about a potential passlock issue with Saturn. When I do have the problem now, I have found that waiting roughly 8 minutes(10 minutes to be safe), for the car to reset itself, which is an incredibly long wait, will generally allow you to start the car without further ignition difficulty. I have also discovered more recently that if I put the key in the ignition and turn it to the auxiliary mode, pause in this position for about 5 seconds(until the indicator light in the shape of a padlock turns off), then attempt to start the vehicle, it will start without issue every time.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #148

Feb 282014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 137,000 miles
As I was coming up to a traffic circle, my gears locked up and power steering went out, resulting in a crash into the traffic circle median, totaling the front of my vehicle. Vehicle is still in the shop awaiting maintenance.

- Cheverly, MD, USA

problem #147

Mar 092005

Ion 4-cyl

  • 3,000 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 while driving 65 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to move and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000 and the current mileage was 50,000.

- Lombard, IL, USA

problem #146

Feb 182014

Ion 4-cyl

  • 125,000 miles
While driving in heavy traffic on rt 95 car stalled and it took a few minutes to restart. Have a terrible time starting the car in morning and its not the battery as its about year old. I thought it might be the cold weather but sometimes it starts sometimes it doesn't. I never know whether its going to start. When this happens it sounds dead. I think there is a problem with the ignition switch. Have talked to other Saturn owners who have same problem and they said a relay switch cured the problem.

- Cumberland, RI, USA

problem #145

Feb 202013

Ion 4-cyl

  • 139,000 miles
My 2004 Saturn Ion intermittently will not release the key from the acc position as well as when trying to start it the security system will intermittently keep the car from starting, I will go to start the vehicle and then it will start to crank then shut down, I have to wait 10 min then the car will start. It is starting to happen more frequently and I seen the just did a recall on 2/25/2014 on ignition switches for my year and model of Saturn but my VIN was not included and I can see that several complaints have been put in and this in many cases was just a start to what other people have incurred @ some point most other people complain eventually then cannot get the engine to stop running. I am trying to find out why my VIN is not included in this recall as I just took my vehicle to the shop coincidentally for this problem as they told me was the ignition switch but did not have the funds to repair it. This to me is absurd when you see the amount of complaints and now I find out 13 people have died!

- Norfolk, WA, USA

problem #144

Jan 142008

Ion 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
It turns out Saturn Ion ignition switches came with a flaw from the factory, excessive grease with poor cold weather performance.the passlock issue presents itself as your car suddenly not starting. Suffice it to say if there's no obvious reason for your vehicle to not start, it's probably passlock related. If you've noticed that waiting a few minutes seems to help, that's the clincher. Ten minutes is the magic number, that's when the computer resets. If you were charged for a new battery, starter, ignition switch or a tow I suggest you not let the issue drop, it wasn't your fault or responsibility. GM should take responsibility. Forgetting the unpleasantness of being stranded in 10 minute increments (also, the car fails to start several times in a row, as long as 40 minutes before) this is a safety issue that should be dealt with accordingly. Calling the problem a safety issue might seem like a stretch but let's think for a moment. What if you're trying to flee an emergency situation (stalker, landslide, fire, flood, etc.) and your car fails to start" what if it's -10 outside and your car won't start" you're now stuck in a freezing car for a minimum of 10 extra minutes, going inside isn't always an option! leaving aside the safety examples, think of everyday life, today is big meeting day, you're ready to leave and... car won't start. Safety & reliability are two (2) key items definitely failing in order for driving to and from any destination. I feel GM/Saturn should be held responsible for this defect. As far as I know, there has been no notification from GM/Saturn regarding this defect. With the recent fix, I paid $550 for the repair of the ignition switch, new battery, starter and plugs, which all needed to be changed due to the stress & strain of this "starting" issue. I would appreciate reimbursement of the amount stated. Please reply...[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Horseheads, NY, USA

problem #143

Dec 312013

Ion 4-cyl

  • 62,720 miles

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

I was driving into parking lot and electric power steering warning with alarm came on the readout on the dash. At that time it had become nearly impossible to turn the steering wheel in any direction. If anyone had been close enough to me there would have been a collision. I turned the ignition off and then on again and the electric steering returned. I am the original owner of the vehicle and this incident put me in a panic mode because I am physically disabled with disabilities that affect my arms and legs. Trying to turn the steering wheel when the electric steering failed caused me great pain. I fear that if this happens again there could be a serious accident with other vehicles or even serious injuries to pedestrians. There was no way I could control that vehicle without a fully functional electric steering. I consider myself lucky that the vehicle was going at a very slow rate of speed and not on the roadway when this happened.

- Methuen, MA, USA

problem #142

Aug 192013

Ion 4-cyl

  • 122,000 miles
Driving on the freeway, at approximately 65 mph, when a chime went off. Steering immediately became difficult and I noticed that the power steering indicator light was on. I exited the freeway carefully and pulled over, turned off the car, then restarted it and the power steering came back on. Since this initial incident the problem has become more frequent. I am unable to safely drive the car and have been told it will cost over $1,000 to replace a power steering motor in the steering column. Also I have discovered this to be a frequent issue for this model vehicle. With the danger involved shouldn't a recall be in order?

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #141

Feb 062008

Ion

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the ignition switch key was engaged repeatedly and the engine would not operate. The failure occurred ten times. The vehicle was towed to the authorized dealer for diagnostic testing which detected a trouble code related to a module. The contact was uncertain of the part that was replaced. The problem continued and the vehicle remained at the dealer for further investigation. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.

- Clearwaer, FL, USA

problem #140

Mar 152011

Ion

  • 80,000 miles
The ignition would not engage could not start the car and replaced the entire system at $400 cost. Less than a year later, the key now will not come out of the ignition and the car will not turn off. I disconnected the battery and it still would not turn off. After more than 30 minutes, and the engine overheating we were able to pull enough fuses to shut the engine off. They say I have to replace the same system again. I have heard that this is a recurring problem with this car and I can't get any answers from GM. I can not afford to replace this system again at a cost of $400 please help me with.

- Milton, WI, USA

problem #139

Nov 042011

Ion 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Our car, 2004, Saturn ion3, caught on fire in the driveway on it's own about 2 hours after it was driven home on 4 Nov 2011. No driver - no key in the vehicle when it caught fire. I submitted an initial request for review to GM claims along with all documentation that we had via emails and our claim was denied.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #138

May 012012

Ion 4-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
When I turn my car on the parking lights and front turn signals starting blinking really quick like strobing. I can turn my left turn signal on and it will blink inside hearing the normal ticking. If I turn my right turn signal on it the arrow on the inside blinks slower and makes no ticking sound.if I push on my brake the light work probably and the ticking sound on the right turn signal inside starts. If I put my emergency brake on it works properly. The strobing of the front outside parking lights stop. If I turn my parking light on and drive with them on everything works properly. I know this has something to do with the recall. It is effecting my car so bad that my radio display light blinks also. So it is getting feedback from this problem before I have a wreck. I am a single mother with 2 children.

- Saint Joseph, MO, USA

problem #137

Aug 262012

Ion

  • 155,300 miles
For the second time the ignition lock cylinder broke. Today we unable to turn off the engine. We had to remove fuses to kill the engine and disconnect the battery. The first time it happened we were stuck in the grocery store parking lot because the key would not turn to start. In both cases we had to break the ignition lock in order to remove the lock cylinder. With the cylinder removed we can use a screw driver to start the car. The screw is much more reliable.

- Ellensburg, WA, USA

problem #136

Aug 112012

Ion

  • 94,500 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact was driving 20 mph when she began to smell burning rubber and plastic. The contact stopped the vehicle and at discovered that the power windows and power locks had become inoperable. The fuse was replaced for the windows and they began to function properly. A personal mechanic advised the contact that the new fuse would need to be removed to ensure that no electrical fires occurred. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 94,500.

- Taylor, MI, USA

problem #135

Dec 142011

Ion 4-cyl

  • 85,487 miles
Multiple failures of electrical system. Gauges drop to zero, the engine may or may not stop running, then the dash warning lights ( ie oil warning light, ect ) come on, and then dash returns to normal. If the car is moving the engine starts running again. One steering warning message during a left hand turn. The car was difficult to steer into and out of the corner. I am willing to turn my car over to have the steering and electrical system checked out. Saturn has been unable to repair the electrical system since the car was new. The factory extended warranty was used to check this issue out as well.

- Plain City, OH, USA

problem #134

Nov 092011

Ion

  • 98,000 miles
When starting the Saturn on a cold morning, the ignition fails to start the car. I get a service message. After waiting about 10 minutes the car will start as if the security was resetting itself. I've read several complaints of this problem on the internet. GM will not own up to a faulty product that leaves 100S of people stranded. As time goes by this problem occurs at random times, even on warm days. I would like a recall approved for this massive safety problem. It's a safety concern because in an emergency our cars shouldn't have to sit for an additional ten minutes or stall us in a potentially bad neighborhood. The problem seems to correct itself after this ignition switch inside of the steering column has been replaced based on hundreds of testaments. I want to add that my Saturn when it was new had other recall issues like the automatic light sensor. Also, another safety issue.

- Oconomowoc, WI, USA

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