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2003 Saturn Ion lights complaints

Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 31 of 31, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2003 Saturn Ion lights problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Feb 9, 2006 · Brakes, Engine · NJ

2003 ion has had blower fan, clutch switch, cylinder cable hood latch, brake light bulb, wiper module all replaced with in months apart from each other. *ts the rotors were warped and the tail lamp failed.

Filed Jul 13, 2005 · Electrical, Lights · 27,000 miles · MD · crash

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.

Filed Apr 5, 2005 · Lights · DC

2003 saturn ion has problems with daytime running lights.*mr

Filed Nov 30, 2004 · Lights · CA · crash

There was a problem with the turn signal lamps and daytime running lamps on saturn ion. *bf

Filed Nov 9, 2004 · Lights · WI

Front right turn signal bulb 'bright' / 'high' elment burned out. Bulb was oem wagner 5702ka. Bulb base was blacked, had signs of overheating. Both left and front headlight assembly outer lenses have changed from clear to translucent imediately above turn signal bulbs, perhaps due to overheateing. Dealer said a problem was discovered and fixed in the later 2003 ions. Dealer offered to diagnose and install a 'resistor and harness' kit at my expence. This is obviously a design error and should be fixed at saturn's expence. May be a potential fire hazard.

Filed Nov 4, 2004 · Lights · 38,000 miles · IL

Headlights do not project a beam as far as when vehicle was new. Nightime driving on rural roads during deer season is hazardous. Saturn dealer has installed updated wiring harness to correct repeated premature daytime running light failures and coincidently or not, the headlights have performed poorly since then. Discussed this with saturn dealer and service manager said he has lots of complaints about poor headlight performance from the ion. I know my saturn ion headlights performed satisfactorily at first, but have degraded. The electrical system and my vision are both fine. The supension has not been altered and the vehicle has not been involved in an accident. I replaced factory halogen bulbs with sylvania silverstar 9007 bulbs and illuminated field is brighter, but still does not extend down the road much farther. At speeds over 55mph, on a dark rural highway, I can overdive my headlights. Emailed saturn and they have never heard of my problem and did not offer a solution, but will listen to determine if this is a "trend". I'm afraid to drive this vehicle at night.

Filed Oct 29, 2004 · Lights · 32,981 miles · GA

The turn signals working intermittently. The vehicle has been to the dealer on four occasions and the problem keep recurring.

Filed Sep 28, 2004 · Lights · 14,100 miles · NJ

Apparent electrical problem has LED to failure of left front turn signal on four separate occasions. Manufacturer's authorized dealerships have been unsuccessful in repeated attempts to repair.

Filed Aug 9, 2004 · Lights · 22,000 miles · NJ

Vehicle was serviced 8 times for passenger front service turn signal light. The bulb was replaced, manufacturer sent a representative to inspect the vehicle and nothing was found.

Filed Aug 5, 2004 · Lights · 10,000 miles · CA

The front left light of my 2003 saturn ion has gone out repeatedly. Upon careful inspection, the bulb itself is not burnt out. When signaling left, the blinker in the vehicle and the left tail light blink very rapidly. As the front left turn signal light is also the daytime running lght, I have a burnt out left daytime runnung light which is a possible saftey hazard. The vehicle was brought in to the dealer three times. The first two times I was told that the bulb was defective and that they had just replaced it. I know this is not true as I tried to troubleshoot the vehicle before bringing it to the dealer by taking the right "good" buld and seeing if it would turn on in the left light assembly. It did not. The third time I brought it in the service manager told me they would just replace thw whole assembly as they have been having problems with them. After four months the problem re-appeared and I once more had to bring it into the dealer. Being that the warranty is not expired, I had to pay for the repair. As this seems to be a reoccouring saftey failure, please investigate and advise.

Filed Jul 6, 2004 · Acceleration, Lights · 49,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

Throttle froze during the winter months. Consumer contacted manufacturer, and was told that because warranty expired they will not make any repairs without consumer first paying for it. Also, headlight covers were covered with a film that made visibility difficult.*ak on 3-7-04 the vehicle was involved in an accident. When the consumer took her foot off the gas but the vehicle did not slow down. The vehicle began to slide then rolled over. The driver sustain double whiplash and left shoulder muscle spasms. The vehicle was not totaled. On 6-16-04 the front passenger side wheel bearing was replaced.

Filed Jun 22, 2004 · Lights · CA

Turn signal failed and was repaired 4 times within first 7,000 miles of usage.

Filed Apr 30, 2004 · Lights · 1,000 miles · NY

My 2003 saturn ion 2 sedan has had at least eight front turn signal or daytime running light bulbs fail since the car was delivered in february 2003. The bulbs in question are manufactured by wagner, and are type 5702. Failure of front turn signal lamps creates the potential for an accident, since oncoming traffic has no indication of my intent to turn. The local dealership has examined the car on three or four occasions, and has found no objective reason for the failure. Replacing the bulb corrects the problem, typically for several months but in several instances for less than a week. The bulbs in question are not available from national parts chains such as napa, advance auto parts, autozone, and pep boys; the only source is a saturn dealership, which charges approximately $8 for a replacement lamp. I have since experimented with using a sylvania 3157nall, which is apparently identical and is rated for use in daytime running light applications. It functions identically to the oem part, except that it appears to last much longer (it has yet to fail after several months), and is readily available from any automotive parts store for about a quarter of the cost.

Filed Mar 27, 2004 · Electrical, Lights · 6,692 miles · MD

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.

Filed Mar 4, 2004 · Lights · VA

Daytime running lights have shorted out 3 times since purchasing the vehicle in may 2003.

Filed Feb 23, 2004 · Lights · MD

Problems with vehicle left front blinkers and rear blinkers. *la

Filed Feb 19, 2004 · Lights · VA

Right turn signal operates intermittently leaving consumer vulnerable to accident. *la dealer was notified.

Filed Sep 30, 2003 · Lights · 4,248 miles · NM

I have had repeated problems with the exterior front lighting on my new 2003 saturn ion which is a safety hazard. On 5/15/03 I took the vehicle to the albuquerque saturn dealership to fix the front driver side running light and left turn signal. They replaced the bulbs, but I had to take it to the dealership again on 7/18/03 after having driven it less than 100 miles for the same problem. This time they replaced the entire headlamp assembly. Then again on 9/29/03 I took it back to the dealership to have the passenger side front running light and turn signal replaced. I talked with the sales manager ben vigil and the service manager justin greenberg. I complained that I've spent more time at the dealership for unscheduled maintenance than routine maintenance, and I was concerned I had bought a lemon. I told them that if my turn signals aren't working properly, that is a safety issue. Mr. Greenberg told me that he probably gets two customers a day with the same problem (which shocked me). He said saturn has sent out new bulbs to the dealerships which they claim will solve the problem. We'll see.

Filed Aug 6, 2003 · Lights · 3,000 miles · VA

Headligh movement, distracting to dirver as light beams hit object the beam appears to be gittering. Distracting also to vehicles in front of you as drivers continue to look in mirror. Saturn dealership stated they do not have a fix, that is is this way by design. Headlight mounts to mounting panel with (2) pins going through upper ear in mounting panel and then upper and lower ears on headlight assy. And into lower ear of mounting panel. Appears to much play in the pin to mount area, this will worsen over time as metal pin in plastic ears will become larger from the shaking. This occurs even of smooth road beds.

Filed Jul 31, 2003 · Body, Electrical · FL

Electrical; door seals loose; car returned up to 3 times since purchase on 7/13/03. Saturn ion 3 coupe--turn signals burned out w/in one week of each other; requested check of electrical system. July 26, 2003 electrical system checked. Complained about door seal at same time & service dept did not check it out until they replaced the fuse box on july 31. Requested to return vehicle and was told "it would be fixed to my satisfaction". Door seal was not installed properly & I have to take the car back for a fourth time to get this repaired approximately one week from today.

Filed Jul 28, 2003 · Electrical, Lights · PA

My turn signals do not work in the front of my car due to a shortage or something and also my car shakes and looses power when I have my air conditioner on.

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