Will driving down the road the transmission in my saturn ion lvl 3 slips and I have to let my foot off the gas and then kick the gas pedal for it to go into gear. It does this all the time when I am driving it. Also when I go to park the car, I put it in park and pull up the emergency brake and I go to remove the key and it will only go as far as acc mode. It will not release. I have to wait 20 to 30 minutes until it releases automatically. I have read online this is a known problem with saturns and I have been told that they will not fix it. It does this almost every single day.
2003 Saturn Ion electrical complaints
Page 13 of 14: complaints 341 to 370 of 383, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The first time the ignition switch "passlock" sensor went out on my 2003 saturn ion ii, it was near zero degrees outside, my 2 month old son was along, and I was stuck on the road for several minutes trying to restart the vehicle. The problem is apparently that a sensor that controls the gas flow stopped working properly and the car died. I was able to pull to the side of the road. When trying to restart the vehicle, it initially did nothing. I waited several minutes, called for my son to be picked up, then tried again. After about 15 minutes it started without a problem. I learned that the ignition switch was faulty and had a faulty "passlock" sensor. Apparently, when the ignition is too cold, the grease begins to harden, causing the switch to be unable to make proper contact. This makes the car think someone is trying to steal it, so the security system kicks in and stops gas flow for up to 15 minutes. After that period of time, the security system resets and you can once again attempt to start the vehicle. However, if the grease has not warmed up enough by the, the whole thing starts over again. I had the switch replaced and everything was fine until today. The switch is again going bad. My husband had to be to court this afternoon and was unable to start the car. This time we had to wait and try again 3 times, wasting 45 minutes. At least this time it was only time that was wasted. Last time it could have been a major safety issue. My baby could've been exposed to the cold for too long with serious consequences. Not only that, but I could have been hit by other cars if I hadn't been able to move it out of the way. Now that it has happened a second time to our vehicle, I did some research online and have seen that this problem happens quite regularly and that saturn has refused to do anything about it. Please see: http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm/action/posts/fid/5610 for more complaints.
My saturn ion 3 had 4 occurrences of service vehicle's message in the last 24 hours since dec 29, 2006. When I turn the key, the engine doesn't turn over. The message windows shows "service vehicle" and the "security"/pass lock symbol on the dash keeps flashing. I kept trying turning the ignition, nothing happnened. The after approx. 10 minutes, the car started and ran great as if nothing happened.
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. This will be a recall item once we get together and sue saturn for this obvious negligent behavior. This problem is well known and is continual. Perhaps when some unfortunate soul is stranded in the wilderness and dies, then the manufacturer will pay attention to this cold weather start problem. The public is well aware of the problem and so is saturn. It would be well worth it for the corporate office to crunch the numbers and decide to recall the vehicle for this problem. 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 passlock 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. Saturn is negligent at the very least--and criminally negligent if they know of this problem---the potential dangers of it---and do nothing.
Saturn 2003 ion will not start in cool to cold weather. After several tries car will not start, but will then start after sitting for about ten minutes. Apparently this is a common problem with newer saturns.
2003 saturn ion will not start when it is cold. I am seeing alot of people posting on different forums with the same issue. Is anything going to be done about this?
2003 saturn ion quad level 3, will not start when temperature drops, or starts and immediately stalls. The passlock icon blinks and the message center says service vehicle. The dealership verbally stated to turn key on for fifteen minutes to reset the passlock, then turn off, remove key, and try the start sequence again. This is a recurring issue, four times in the past two days, car is currently immobile in a parking lot across town. An internet search strongly suggests this is a common failure that gm refuses to acknowledge and that all saturn owners experiencing this issue should file a complaint for relief.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had problems starting in cold weather. The engine would start after a few attempts or not start at all on different occasions. The non service dealer could not duplicate the issue to fix it.
I own a saturn ion ii 2003 and every morning that it is cold it will not start. After getting a new battery, which is what the dealership advised me to do, it still will not start on cold mornings. There are several complaints out there about this issue in 03 to late 04 models regarding the replacement switch not turning in cold weather. These vehicles need to be recalled.
I have a 5-speed manual 2003 saturn ion . Every time it's cold outside, the car refuses to start. This has happened repeated last winter, and has a couple times this fall, also. Now, that the temperature is staying low, I'm concerned about the time and effort required to make the car start. The radio and lights work fine, indicating there is power getting to this equipment. However, when trying to turn the car over to start, a message pops up saying "service engine." nothing happens after that. One can almost predict when it will happen. If the temperature gets below freezing, one must be prepared to sit at home until the temperature rises, and allows for the car to start.
I have a 2003 saturn ion-3 and it will not start below 40 degrees, this is a ridiculous problem. There is a thread about this problem at : http://www.autosite.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm/action/posts/fid/5610 there are many people with this problem and so far nothing has been done, I am just hoping I can sell this car asap because it has been quite a problem.
The vehicle would intermittently not start. This mostly occurred in below freezing temperature conditions but would also occur in above 70 degree temperatures. The vehicle also stalled while being driven and could immediately be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition switch.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle would not start right away in cooler weather, for at least 15 minutes. Through internet research, the contact believed the problem was the ignition switch. An appointment had been scheduled with a service dealer and the manufacturer was notified.
When it is cold out and the car has sat, it will not crank. I have seen information that it may be related to the body control module $590 fix, or the ignition switch $200 fix. The problem appears to be tied to the theft deterrent system. If the car does nothing, and I lock and then unlock the car it will crank for 1/2 a second then stop. It wont crank again until I lock and unlock the car again. Eventually after doing this numerous times it will start. I know that there is a tsb on this problem but believe that it should be a recall item for either the bcm, the ignition switch, or both.
I have been having some issues with clunking and grinding noises when going over bumps or potholes or while making turns. I took my 2003 ion 2 to have this checked and I found out that the problems was both of my control arm bushings. My car is 2 months out of warranty and has only 38,000 miles on it, so at first I thought that this could be untrue. But, after internet research it seems that many 2003 ion drivers have had this problem. I called my saturn dealer and they acted like they had never heard of this problem and could do nothing to help me or fix it. My other problem with the car, which also seems to be a common problem, is that the service engine soon light comes on intermittently. One day it will be on, and the next it will be fine.
This has happened twice in exactly thirteen months the first time was on february 3, 2005. I adjusted my power drivers side mirror while driving home at night on highway 61 and heard a pop and all my lights including headlights and dash lights went out . My four way safety flashers also would not work I was driving in complete darkness while traveling approximately 67 MPH this incident occurred almost identically last year while driving in town approximately 25 MPH adjusted mirror heard a pop and all lights went out. Luckily in both incidents no one hit me from behind due to the fact they couldn't see me until it was too late. No one was killed or injured but that was just pure luck .. Last years incident I had my car towed to saturn and they determined that the bcm fuse was bad they replaced fuse. Obviously they did not get to the root of the problem you would think you can adjust your power mirror without having all lights shut off including dash lights .. Once you put the vehicle into park you cannot turn it off completely the key will only go as far as the accessory position and cannot be removed. The engine will run you just can't move the vehicle. Somehow I do not think they corrected the problem entirely when they replaced the fuse. It seems to me you should not blow a bcm fuse every thirteen months exactly to the day. It is such a potentially fatal problem the consequences are terrifying. My 2003 saturn ion-3 can not be the only car out there with this happening especially twice in thirteen months.
My car won't start! At least every once in a while anyway. It's a 2003 saturn ion. I bought it used on 5/14/05 and a few months after, when it started to get cold in ga., it wouldn't start. After about 10-30 minutes, it would finally start as if there was no problem leaving me feeling like I was going crazy. I thought it may be the battery, so I replaced that (40.00 dollars). It still gave me problems that very night! I took it to the dealership, and had a diagnostic check done (40.00 dollars), they couldn't find anything wrong, and basically blew me off. Discouraged, I left and gave up. It continued to act up 2 days later, which I just dealt with. I took it to the shop yesterday for a oil change and guess what? It wouldn't start while it was there. They told me that while they were about to take it to the wash it wouldn't start, and asked me if I had any problems. I said yea. They said they were sure they'd locate the problem that day. Came back an hour later to tell me that it was the technician fault, claiming that he had left it in drive while trying to start it (how would he get it in drive if it wouldn't start?) anyway, it wouldn't start that night! At this point im going to get my future father in law involved since he is an engineer and have him stir the pudding. Oh, and he believes it a short with the electrical system so we will have to have them to check that out.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving on the freeway between 50-60 MPH, the vehicle lost all electrical power. There is no warning when this occurs and the steering wheel also locks up. The vehicle is pulled over and restarted. The dealership replaced the ignition switch and fuel pump. The contact has been out of the country since the repair, last year; the vehicle has not been driven since repairs were made.
When weather turns cold car will not start, after 20 - 30 minutes car starts. After first visit to dealer we were told there was no problem found, a year later as winter returns so does the problem and now we are told that the body control module and the passlock sensor both need to be replaced. We have also been told that this is not covered under warranty or even the extended warranty we purchased. I have held off on repairing as we have another vehicle we can use and did some research on the internet. Although we have not experienced all the symptoms described by others, one disturbing symptom is that some gm vehicles experience sudden loss of power and or stalling. Nothing has been done to correct this problem yet.
(1) highway driving (2) found out the windshield wipers no longer worked on any setting after some water splashed up on my windshield. Nearly had an accident from inability to see. Found out after I stopped that the trunk release also no longer worked. (3) contacted saturn via email. Action is pending.
Unresolve problem (7/2004 - 7/2005) vehicle is unsafe. Suddenly stalls and stops while on highway creating hazard for traffic following at 65 MPH. Returned to dealer several times. They can not isolate the problem and can not repair.
At the time my saturn was involved in an accident it was under 30,000 miles and still under warrenty. I was driving on a busy highway and my accelerator got stuck. At the time I could not see what was holding down my accelerator. It was a piece of panel that came off partially that was holding the accelerator really hard and it was stuck making my pedal stuck almost all the way to the floor. I tried to slow the car down with both feet on the breaks and the emergency break to no avail. I didn't turn the ignition off because I had cars on all sides of me going 50-70 MPH. It was when I came to a red light that I realized my car wasn't going to stop and I had no other choice but to hit an SUV and my car kept trying to accelerate and push the SUV out of the way. That is when I turned off the ignition. I had to turn off the ignition before another accident occurred. The SUV was damaged. My car was damaged. I haven't been able to get my car fixed because I am waiting for saturn to acknowledge the manufacturing defect which caused the accident, so that they could lend me a rent-a-car while it is in the shop. But, I cannot get them to give me a call to make an appointment to get my car in the shop or supply a rent-a-car. A forensic investigator inspected my car on friday and agrees that I didn't cause the accident. He supplied the information to saturn and still three days later I can't even get a courtesy call. The accident was on june 16, 2005. I couldn't get them to call me to speak about what my options were until the week of july 1, 2005. Then an investigator july 8, 2005. They have not made one effort to work with me about getting the car into the shop. They have not given me the time of day to make an appointment with a saturn shop location to get my car fixed and so that they could supply a rent-a-car.
While driving. Upon stopping the vehicle. The consumer got out to take the child out of the vehicle with the ignition running. The doors locked, and the consumer could not get her child out of the vehicle. Consumer contacted the dealer. However, the problem still exist. *nm doors locked automatically upon exiting driver's side. Additional service include, the A/C and heater funtion failed due to faulty connection from switch to resistor card, collapse of horn cover causing loss of airbag. Ignition switch failed. The signal and running lamps were inoperative.
I purchased a saturn ion in june of 2003. I began having problems starting the car in october of 2004. It would not start and would just make a clicking noise when the key was turned. There was power to all accessories so it was not a battery failure. The service engine light would come on. After about 30 minutes of trying to get the vehicle to start, it would finally start once again (roughly at first) and the service engine light would disappear. I took it to the nearby saturn dealership after the first occurrence and was turned away because they "were too busy". I took it there the next day and they said that nothing was wrong with it except for an oxygen sensor which they replaced. I drove it home. It did it again twice in the next two days. I took the car back again and they replaced the ignition module. I thought that everything was ok until this past weekend (april 2005) when it did the exact same thing. I took it to saturn on tuesday and they could not recreate the problem and would not provide me with a loaner car for more than one day. I had no choice but to take my unreliable vehicle back. I contacted saturn corporate and filed a complaint. They stated that they would allow me to take the car back to the dealership and would get me a loaner for a few days but it was doubtful that they could get it to repeat the problem as it is intermittent. I have been told to not start it the next time and just have it towed to saturn. That's fine except what if it dies in the middle of the night and I am away from home with my two small children? My vehicle is less than two years old and I should not be afraid to drive it any distance for fear of being stranded!
Over the past 2 and 1/2 weeks we have had a problem starting our 2003 saturn ion. The car would not start leading one to believe there was a problem with the battery. Then a few hours later the car started and the service engine light came and went very quickly. A week later, the same thing happened and the car started up again later with no problem. A few days later the same thing happened. The local saturn service tech advised us that this problem has been seen with other ions and that the ignition switch would have to be replaced.
While driving,the vehicle stalled. The consumer was unable to restart the vehicle. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The mechanic informed the driver that the fuses and circuit breakers needed to be replaced. The consumer informed the mechanic this problem has occurred more than once and has not been resolved. Please fill in further information.
The horn assembly required excessive effort to activate. The consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that horn was designed that way. *ak
Saturn horn is hard to activate (almost impossible in winter climates) due to a poor horn button design. In a panic situation you have to look down and hunt for the "g" spot on the horn button in order to sound the horn within sufficient time to be useful in warning other motorists. I have experinced this many times in a parking lot situation, and also during interstate driving. Sometimes the horn fails to sound at all. Saturn corp. Referred me to the dealer for repairs. Dealer claims there is nothing they can do because of the inherent design with the air bag. Other ions that I test drove also displayed this behavior and saturn corp. Should be working on a solution to this potential safety issue.
To date, vehicle has has multiple problems which dealer/service department has been unable to resolve. 10 service visits in less than 6 months and no end in sight. Problems include: daytime running lights/blinker lights inopperable (repaired 6 times); outside temperature guage malfunctioning (repaired 3+ times); air conditioning inopperable and compass malfunctioning.
The horn malfunctioned without warning. The consumer had to use excessive force in order to hear the horn.
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