Car hesitates with no warning when taking off from stop. Almost rear ended. Also almost struck from side in intersection.
2003 Saturn Ion transmission complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 55 of 55, newest first, as owners wrote them.
When making turns, particularly right turns, my wife's new saturn ion quad coupe, loses power and hesitates after it gets the turn partially completed. This happens intermittently about once a week so it is tough to duplicate but it has caused her to be nearly hit several times by on coming traffic. The dealership states this is the way the vti transmission is designed to work so there is nothing to fix. Saturn in spring hill did not deny this was how the transmission was designed to work. I asked if there were any service bulletins that would fix this and they said none would actually fix this problem and they had no idea how to fix it. They also refused to provide a written response to my certified return receipt letter even though I specifically requested a written response. People are taking their cars to independent transmission shops to be fixed. Saturn is reimbursing some of these charges but they call it strictly a "customer satisfaction issue". Complaints 10049664 and 10049638 sound very similar. I would suggest that you request that saturn provide all complaints filed with them about the vti transmission, especially where independent shops did repairs. Those owners/independent shops could probably provide a wealth of info about vti transmission problems. I think you will find this is a safety problem and a recall is warranty.
I bought a 2003 saturn ion 3 march 17, 2003. Within 2 weeks the car had a cracked cylinder with coolant leaking into the engine. Saturn corp. Recalled the car. The purchase of [xxx] was canceled 4/17/03 and I purchased a 2nd 2003 saturn ion 3, [xxx], on 4/17/03. The 2nd car from the beginning had transmission problems shifting between gears, jerking up and down from 30 MPH to 70 MPH, kicks when started, rattles loudly in reverse, and steering problems coming out of turns. The car has been in service 4 times (bumper to bumper warranty. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
When tires spin transmission disconnects. Then. Vehicle has to be towed. This normally happens when it is snowing. Also, steering wheel turns from left to right on its own.
I purchased my 2003 saturn ion in january 2003. It has been a nightmare. The vehicle has been into the dealership a total of 6 times and a grand total of 18 days in service. The transmission downshifts when I try to accerlerate. The service techs at saturn have been able to duplicate this problem several times. They have recalirberated and replace the transmission; however the vehicle is still down shifting when accerlerating. I am terrified that I will be hit because of this problem. It has now gotten to the point that it will stop for a few seconds when the failure occurs and then take off agian. This is very dangerous. They should not be able to sell vehicles with defects. I have filed a compliant with the bbb and currently have a case pending. I want to be refunded in full for this vehicle.
I bought a ion quad coupe in july of this year. I had a problem with the car not moving when placed into gear. They worked on the transmission and replaced some parts. The newly rebuilt tranmission stil slips and has a hard shifting feeling. I brought it in 3 times before it was actually fixed, and still need to go back. This seems to be a safety issue. What if it was to not drive when pulling out into traffic, or fail when I was driving. It has been over a week since I brought it in and the dealership will not give me paperwork on my car. I dont even know what parts were exactly replaced. Paperwork is missing from over 2 weeks ago from the 2nd visit.
My saturn ion quad coupe is experiencing a transmission problem. Without warning and for no apparent reason, the transmission will slip, shake violently, and at times completely disengage, resulting in a complete loss of acceleration. This has manifested itself on several occasions, most notably when turning into traffic last week. I pulled into traffic and the transmission engaged, then subsequently disengaged for about 2 seconds. I was nearly hit by several vehicles, which had to take unsafe evasive actions to avoid plowing into me. I am very concerned that this presents a significant safety hazard to the vehicle occupants. I have noticed that I am not the only individual that has experienced this problem, and that being said, sincerely urge you to open a defect investigation to solve this problem before someone gets hurt or worse. Also, this may not be related, but the transmission makes a grinding noise between 1100 and 1300 RPM during deceleration , a metal grinding noise.
The two saturn 2003 ions I have driven (including my current vehicle) have a transmission problem where, when engaging in third gear, the transmission will "freewheel" for several seconds before engaging with a lurch. The problem can be created by accelerating around a corner while the transmission is shifting from second to third. The cars were manufactured in march/april, 2003.
My 2003 saturn ion down shifts on me when I try to accelerate. It is getting consistently worse and has gotten to the point that it will stop for a second and then take off again. Saturn has been unable to fix this problem. A tech has test drove the vehicle with me and seen it happen first hand. Still on resolved. My vehicle has been in the shop a total of 4 times since I bought it. I have filed a complaint with the bbb and am currently trying to lemon law it.
Purchase saturn ion iii in march. Transmssion had hard shift then slip problem almost immediately.
While driving transmission does not engage properly, causing vehicle to stall.
I purchased my 2003 saturn ion quad 3 on 6-12-2003. I've had nothing but problems with it since the beginning. The transmission slips constantly. A tech from spring hill says this is normal for this type of transmission. Trying to turn left in front of oncoming traffic is a nightmare. This car is in the shop as we speak. The rear quarter panel is cracked and being replaced. The rear bumper is being painted because of scratches from the trunk rubbing. The front bumper is being painted because of runs in the paint. None of the body panels seem to match up. They're attempting to fix a popping noise in the front end. They're replacing the dr side glass because it is severely scratched. It sometimes runs rough at first crank.
My 2003 saturn ion, was delivered on december 3,2002. This was my second saturn. After about a 1000 miles the transmission started to slip. I took it to the dealer and they replaced that transmission. Another 1000 miles and the transmission started to slip again. I have been back and forth 4 times since then and they still have not fixed it.
My daughter bought a saturn ion iii. She has recently had trouble with her automatic transmission. Saturn has acknoweldged a hard shifting problem from 2nd to 3rd, but since a high number of vehicles exhibit this problem, and they don't know what is causing it, it is being considered normal operation. My daughter's car exhibited this problem, but it has now begun to be a way more serious concern because it will completely slip, (lose all power), for what seems to be an ever increasing longer interval and more frequently. She has had this happen while trying to make a left hand turn with oncoming traffic. She now tries to avoid any situation at low speeds that might cause her injury, (she tries to make as many right hand turns to get to and from work as possible). Saturn has had two service employees witness the problem, albeit in a straight line driving situation. They still refuse to repair/replace or admit a problem beyond the hard shifting. My daughter lives in mesa, az. Her phone number is [xxx], and name is [xxx]. I mention mesa because of the unusual streets there. The majority of main city streets are six lanes wide with 45mph speed limits. That is a very scary scenario to be making a left hand turn in and lose power.*ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
March 22, 2003 I purchased an saturn ion 3. Within the 1st the week there was problems starting the car. The car was in for service 2 times in 2 weeks. Finally the engine light started flashing (3rd time). Supposedly the car was fixed. 3 days later the dealer's service department called me at saturn corp.'s request to immediately return the car as the engine could blow up. The engine had a cracked cylinder which caused coolant to leak into the engine with about 650 miles. Also, another saturn ion with 2500 miles was sitting in the dealer's lot with a cracked cylinder in the engine. I was released from the sale on april 17, 2003. I took a 2nd saturn ion 3 on april 17, 2003. This car has jerky steering problems coming out of turns and sever transmission problems. The car kicks when turning on the ignition, engine gets racketing when put into reverse, when changing gears - kicks, slides, and will surge, and bounce through gears between 30 MPH to above 70 MPH. The service manager said, "all the ions drive this way. There's nothing wrong with the car". This car has been in for service 4 times. Each time the car is returned worse than the time before.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Saturn Ion?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history