I own a 2004 saturn ion2. At first, I only had a problem with my car randomly not starting. If I would wait for any ungiven length of time, it would magically start. Now, my key has been stuck in the ignition for two weeks. (still stuck) I went to a saturn dealer today and was told that the problem could be the solenoid, the housing unit, or even both. I was told that the key may have worn down, or a part in the housing may have scratched the inner surface of the housing causing the key to be stuck in the ignition. I live in florida, so the "cold" weather isn't a factor here. I cannot believe that there has not been a recall for this problem. I have two young kids who ride with me everyday, and I fear that we will get stranded in god only knows where. If my car is stolen because the key is always in the ignition, if it gets stolen, will my insurance even pay for my loss??? I thought saturn was supposed to be very good with problems involving their automobiles. I guess that idea only applied to their commercials.
2004 Saturn Ion electrical complaints
Page 6 of 12: complaints 131 to 160 of 331, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I own a 2004 saturn ion. For the past two years when the temperature is below 36 degrees the vehicle fails to start. The ignition locks me out until the anti theft device resets and I can try again. After reading about many others expensive solutions to this issue without resolve or recall by gm, I have bought a small electrical heater to set on my floor board on the drivers side of the vehicle. This warms up the ignition inside the car and it starts right up. Until I found this solution I was late to work, late for appointments and once stranded in frigid temperatures.
On mornings when it is cold and has been during the night as well, my 2004 saturn ion will not start. It has happened three times now. I have already replaced the battery and now I am going to have to take my car to another shop in order for it to diagnose the reason it is not starting. The first mechanic said it is the tbs that is out on the no crank, no start for the ignition. The old part is still currently in my car.
Tl*the contact owns 2004 saturn ion 3. The contact stated that when the weather became extremely cold she was unable to take the key out of the ignition. She started to noticed the failure when she parked the vehicle outside. She also mentioned that the only way she was able to take the key out of the ignition was to place a hot towel around the steering column. The contact will take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 162,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that the security system was re-designed and caused the vehicle to not be able to start. The dealer replaced the ignition switch but the problem continued. The dealer then stated that the body control module needed to be replaced. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 40,641 and the current mileage was approximately 96,000.
I live in minnesota when the temp drops below 30 degrees my 2004 saturn ion2 won"t start. This just started happening last winter, I had no problems before that. I bought a new battery last winter. I took my car to the saturn dealer they could not find anything wrong. Usually it takes from 15minutes to half a hour for car to start. But today was different went out to start my car because the temp was 28degrees this morning I tried to start my car for over a hour I was almost late for work still no start. Then I tried starting my car when I got off work still no start. I spoke with a coworker she had the same problem she replaced battery, starter, and alternator and her does not start when it rains. Why is there nothing being done to solve this problem. Even though the car was sold by saturn it has gm parts. Something is seriously wrong and something needs to be done to correct this.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that while driving various speeds and when the vehicle was parked that the interior lights would not shut off. None of the warning lights illuminated on the instrumental panel. The contact also stated that the alarm shuts off intermittently at night. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
Can't remove key from switch saturn ion 04 car will not turn off nor can you remove the key had to pull the fuse under the hood and disconnect the battery in order to shut car off.
The car will not start when it is cold or moist out. This is with a brand new battery. But, if you wait 15 to 20 minutes it will start without a problem.
After driving through water in the street or a car wash, the next time I try to turn the car on, it won't start. You have to keep trying to start it until there is no noise at all except from the dash board. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then it will start again, at least until another rain storm or car wash. Have been stranded in parking lots, at home before work, and many other times. I just hope it never happens in an emergency. Have had problems with three of the automatic windows not opening or closing, including the inconvenience of the driver window being stuck for about 2 weeks. Had to get out of the car at the bank, drive thrus, and couldn't roll the windows down to cool the car off. All three windows were not working all at the same time. Then about 2 weeks later, all of a sudden the window's start working again. The power steering which is powered by an electric motor went out and had to be replaced. I would be driving down the road, would hear a ?ding,? The dash board would read ?power steering? And then it would become very difficult to steer the car. Coolant light constantly comes on when you get in the car, even though the tank is full, the temp is right, and float is working. The dealer wanted $350 to replace the whole tank. I said forget it and put up the constant ?ding? From the dash board every time I get in the car. If something should ever really go wrong with it, I wouldn't know. There appears to be a huge number of electronic problems with saturn ions. Please investigate. Did they set the computers or electronic pats to malfunction on purpose right after warranties have expired?
The key in the ignition of the saturn ion 2004 will not come out and the car can not be shut off . Just last month the key would not fo into the ignition or start the car. Brought it to the gm dealership had to have a new ignition cylinder put in a month ago. Today I had to have the ignition housing. This is not just my car. 90 % of the 2004 and 2006 have this same problem. This should be a safety issue since if no one knows how to disconnect the battery the car could overheat .and even catch on fire.
I drive a 2004 saturn ion-2 and my power steering goes out at random times. This is the first time I have had an issue with my power steering. I feel it is a major safety concern because this issue happens at random and the car becomes incredibly hard to steer. I have done some research on this matter and many other saturn drivers have the exact same problem as myself and I have also found that the chevy cobalt has the exact same steering column as the saturn ion and there has been a recall on the cobalt but not on the ion. This baffles me because if the same mechanism is on both cars the both cars should be recalled not just one. I feel extremely unsafe on the road driving my car now because I have no indication if and when my power steering will fail. The are no events leading up to this happening and I replaced the electrical power steering fuses in hopes that the fuses were blown but this did not solve the problem. From some internet research the next step would be having the entire steering column replaced but I do not feel saturn ion drivers should be responsible for replacing a defect on a car that should have been recalled years ago.
There was a error message on the panel that said "power ster" , 5 seconds later the steering wheel locked on a bridge.
Quite often, without warning, the power steering fails on my wife's 2004 saturn ion. Surprised at first by this failure, she has learned not to panic and to keep control of the car. Internet research has told us that gm is aware of the problem and issued recalls on other models with the same system. It is apparently an expensive fix.
2004 saturn ion1 will not start due do passlock theft deterrent problem. The possible components causing this are the ignition switch and/or the bcm. The battery was tested as good. This problem started in january 2008 during a winter storm and has happened dozens and dozens of times since, with the last occurrence today and it is nearly 90 degrees outside. It has previously only done this in cold and wet conditions. The car will crank once or twice when the ignition switch is engaged but then it will do nothing, the service engine light along with the passlock icon illuminates. After waiting 10 minutes the lights go off and it will start. This is an extremely common problem with these cars and the repairs are costly and not always effective according to what others are indicating online. This could easily put somebody in harms way given an unsafe or harsh environment.
I bought my 2004 saturn ion used with less than 60,000 miles on it, I had it less than a year when one day it wouldn't start, I thought it was the battery or the alternator, but none of that fixed the problem. This problem progressively got worse and started happening very frequently, more often when it got cold out. After about 10-15 minutes the car will start, I have had to wait up to 45 minutes for the car to start sometimes. This problem has made me late for work, left my children waiting for me and left myself after work closing a bar one night at 3:00 in the morning. The more I mentioned this problem to people the more I found out I am not the only one with this problem, it has to do with the security pass lock system and ignition. If this is such a frequent problem for saturns why hasn't there been a recall ever to had it fixed, and why are dealerships allowed to sell used saturns without correcting the problem or making buyers aware of this potential problem, it is simply dishonest!
I own a 2004 saturn ion, that on random occasions does not start. Wait a few minutes and then it does. This has happened to us in both warm and cold days. It's been in for service several times and service tech's can't seem to locate the problem. When this first started, with only about 10 000 kl, the car did nothing, no lights, radio etc., completely dead.
I owe a 2004 saturn ion and like many others, I having problems with my ignition switch. The power steering also goes out while driving. I purchased this vehicle in 2006 and started having problems 3 months afterwards. At first I thought it was only my vehicle until I was looking for a part via the internet and ran across other complaints. It's a shame that gm hasn't done a recall. There are several consumers affected by this problem.
2004 saturn ion will not start randomly no crank no start issue which is from gm's faulty passlock system its not just cold weather related it was 50 degrees this morning when it happened but when I came home it started just fine its done this alot over the years and always at the worst times I know im not the only saturn/ gm owner with this problem and there are even tsb 's relating to these issues why are we stuck dealing with gm's faulty engineering.
My 2004 saturn ion2 randomly won't start. It's generally happens in the morning. I insert my key, the interior/ exterior lights come on, and then I turn the key. The engine will not crank and will not make any noise. I try numerous times to start it, but it won't crank over. Then, between 10-30 minutes later, it will start. Multiple mechanics are unable to diagnose the problem. I suspect that it has something to do with the passlock system and one of the wires malfunctioning.
2004 saturn ion this car has problems starting when it is cold outside, I am late for work alot it might take 20 minutes to start or an hour. I called the dealership and they said I I would have to pay for a diagnostic evaluation. This happens in the cooler months I can count on it. The most current being this morning yesterday morning the day before that.
Car does not start when below 35 degrees. I have to wait exactly 10 minutes then it will usually start. Power steering would occasionally turn off while driving around 50,000 to 60,000 miles and gradually worsens over time. My power steering is now completely not working and has almost caused me several minor to major accidents when it shuts off while driving either by myself or with my children. I replaced the electric power steering fuses first to see if that solved the problem only to realize its the power steering column will have to be replaced costing me $1100. I can no longer drive my car because I am not strong enough to turn the wheel with the constant failing of the power steering.
I drive a 2004 saturn ion 2. When the temperature is 32 degrees or lower my car will not start if it has been sitting for more than 4 or 5 hours. I have been left stranded on multiple occasions with this problem. I believe it is something in the ignition switch. During the winter months this will happen every morning and occasionally after work if the temperature is too cold. I have not done anything to fix the problem because it will cost around $200.00 to fix.
I have a 2004 saturn ion 2. Seems to be a problem with the ignition switch in these vehicles. My car will not start when cold and damp outside. I have replaced the switch in my vehicle several times and still get the same problem in time. This is a safety issue because I live in mo where it gets very cold and not always someone to pick me up when the car dies. So I am left stranded in sub zero temperatures. Saturn knows very well about this problem and will not recall this. Please see that a recall takes place. This is an ongoing problem with this car.
After only 9 months of owning my ion I have experienced problems with shifting the car in and out of gear. It is a random occurrence and can happen 8 times in a week then not at all for months. However when it does happen it is a life threatening experience as I am usually driving on a major highway. The car will be "locked" into 4th for example and when I try to shift to 5th I can not get it out of 4th. I have taken the car to the saturn dealership a minimum of 20 times for this problem, only to be told that they could not do anything. I then took it to a different dealership where the tech took the car home for 1 week, experienced the problem for himself, and told me all he could do was replace a wire and hope it helped because saturn would not let him investigate any more options. It did absolutely nothing to help my car. And since the last time my car has been at the saturn dealership my power steering now goes in and out. Apparently they busted a seal and failed to mention that to me, so not only do I have to worry about not being able to shift, but also losing my power steering. They only solution I can come up with is to try my best to get the car to a safe spot and turn it off and let it sit. This car has had more problems than anyone should have to deal with: reverse switch going out, airconditioning going out, power windows no longer work, power steering, and not being able to shift. I have to drive this everyday with my children in the car with me at most times. This should have all been taken care under the orig. Warranty, as it all happened within the first 6-12 months of owning the car. Lol that's what I get for buying a gm product.
My 2004 saturn ion wont start in cold temperatures leaving me stranded. If I lived in guam this would be no problem, but I live in calgary alberta canada and its gets to -40 celsius and only takes minutes for frost bite to settle in.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated when the temperature dropped below 30 degrees the vehicle would not start due to the ignition switch failure. The failure was caused by the pass lock circuit that was inside the ignition switch and the resistance value within the pass lock system. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they replaced the ignition switch. The vehicle was under warranty and there were no recalls. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 45,000.
I drive a 2004 saturn ion and last year, the winter of 2008 whenever the temperature dropped below 40, which was once or twice, my car wouldn't start. This year, 2009, the temperature has been below 40 for about 2 weeks now and out of the 5 work days of this week my car started once on the first try. When I try to start it, the engine turns over and shuts off immediately. I have to wait at least 10 minutes to start again. Sometimes it will work the second time, usually I have to wait until the third try.
In cold weather (below 20f), the car refuses to start, or even try to turn over.
I purchases a 2004 saturn ion in 2006. In october of 2007, my vehicle would not start for no apparent reason. After waiting about 15 minutes, my vehicle started and ran normally. This happened again about 3 days later while I was visiting relatives 2 hours from my home which detained me on my trip back home. I took my vehicle to the saturn dealership in harrisburg, pa to have it checked. I was told that the problem was the ignition switch which needed to be replaced (they replaced it). Two years later in december, 2009 the problem occurred again, this time on my way to work on an extremely cold winter morning. I took the vehicle to the saturn dealership again and was told that I would need another ignition switch to replace the one they had replaced 2 years earlier. After reading about so many other complaints and dangerous situations that saturn owners have gotten into because of failing ignition switches, it is clear that there is a defect in these parts. I have read about countless situations where people were unable to turn their cars off! An ignition switch should not go bad every 2 years. This is not a high wear and tear part. A car should be able to turn on and off a large number of times without fail. A car that fails to turn off is an enormous safety issue. If you leave the car unattended and turned on, someone could be hurt or killed. Not being able to start a car is also a dangerous especially when it happens in bitterly cold weather. Saturn/gm is doing nothing to get these unsafe vehicle off the roads to be fixed. They are not taking responsibility for the countless number of ignition switch problems that saturn owners are experiencing. Gm has a history of ignition switch failures and should stand behind their product by offering a recall of the defective part and replacing it.
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