2004 Saturn Ion: multiple warning lights

Filed May 20, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 165,000 miles · TX

When I start my car I get a message that days power steering service vehicle. That I loose all dash lights occasionally radio and air I do not regain power steering or lights for about 5-10 minutes. I can hear a change in the engine when it is regained. Once it's done I can drive perfectly normal. My check engine light is on and off. When I turn my car off the lights are there during the fit and off when the car is on. All the codes thrown are electrical. Help!

Filed Jan 14, 2011 · Electrical · UT

Without notice, the car will not start. The car will start and run like it was designed too, but after the car has been turned off, there have been instants where the car will not start again. The battery is not dead, all the lights, gauges and horn will work, but no power goes to the starter. After a extended period of time, ten minutes or more, the car will start. This is a random condition, there are no warning signs of when it will not start. I have been told that there is either a glitch in the security program or there is a problem with the grease in the started switch.

Filed Dec 4, 2009 · Electrical, Steering · PA

I pulled into a restaurant and the car was fine, when I went to leave the car would not start. I had aaa come out, they told me that I need to have the car looked at. The steering wheel will turn, but the key will not. The battery is not dead as all the lights work for the car but the key is not working. This problem happened once before but after waiting a few minutes the car simply started. Now my car has to be towed to a garage, to be fixed. I looked online and have seen many other 2004 saturn ion owners have the same problem turning their car on in the cold.

Filed Mar 13, 2009 · Electrical · 466,700 miles · OR

I own a 04 saturn ion. I have been having a constant problem starting the car. When the temperature is below 40 degrees, the car won't start. All the dash lights are illuminated. So I know the battery isn't the problem. I have to wait 20 minutes before the car starts up. After doing some research. It looks like the problem is the starter switch. The grease hardens up in the cold, then the security system locks out the starter switch. I have read hundreds of complaints on message boards regarding this problem. I know gm and saturn know of this problem also. They are saying this isn't a safety problem. I think it is. Many people are having to sit in their cars when it's below freezing, waiting twenty minutes to start their ion's. What about parents with kids? What about if someone is trying to carjack myself? I don't have away to escape by driving off.

Filed Feb 2, 2009 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · WA

My vehicle on cold days will not reliably start. Turn key, all lights and indicators work but start function is electronically terminated within 1 second of engagement. The car will start after waiting for ten to twenty minutes as if nothing was wrong. After many trips to the mechanic (dealer and non) I have found many such reports on-line indicating a faulty ignition switch which fails in cold weather. The time delay in starting appears to be some type of interaction with the theft deterrent system. I will now pay to have this part replaced but suspect, as many have reported, that this will correct the issue for one or two years before it occurs again (as many others have also reported).

Filed Jan 16, 2009 · Electrical · 126,000 miles · NC

I own a 2004 saturn ion. It does not start in the cold weather (around 36 degrees f and below). I have replaced the starter and two months ago I bought a new battery. My mechanic assured me the battery is top of the line and guaranteed to start in cold weather. However, it did not start yesterday in 30 degree weather. All lights turn on but car does not crank. Does not even make noise. I have researched this through various discussion boards and most of them agree that there is a faulty switch in the ignition that leaks lubricant. When the lubricant freezes, the passlock anti theft alarm does not get it's electrical signal so it activates and prohibits fuel from being used so the car does not start. I take very good care of my car, but I have spent a lot of time and money trying to figure out what is wrong in this situation. If this is the case of a faulty switch, saturn / gm should be held liable and forced to do a recall with an updated switch design. For the amount that cars cost today manufacturers should not be allowed to put out junk parts and expect consumers to sit back and take it.

Filed Jan 14, 2009 · Electrical · AL

Car has not started 8 times. Saturn ion 2004. 40,000 miles. Bought it used 5 months ago. Runs fine in warm weather. Bought new battery, still wouldn't start. Bought new alternator. Still wouldn't start. Jump start it, it will start sometimes. Called saturn recall; 2nd time, they said it was a faulty wire but no one has recalled the wire. The problem: white wire in ignition switch. When it gets too cold outside, not enough volts go through white wire and car thinks someone is breaking in and will not start. Found this out on carspace.com. Other people with my same car have same problem. You have to clip the white wire then your car will run with no problem. Newer model saturns are having the same problem. Next I was going to get a new starter, but other have gotten that and starter goes out within a year. It stressful to get into a fairly new car and it not start. All lights come on but engine will not. Now I know to wait 15 minutes and then try starting car again. Why hasn't this been recalled? So here I am again leaving work tonight in the cold and seeing if it will start and if it doesn't sitting around for 15 minutes and then trying it again. It is soooo aggravating!! So again why hasn't this been recalled?

Filed Jul 2, 2008 · Electrical · NV

I have been having a problem with the anti theft/passlock system on my saturn ion. Today is not the first time it has happen and after reading complaints from other consumers I see I am not the only one having the issue. The car will turnover but nothing will happen. All the lights come on the display as well as a service vehicle indicator. At first it would take 5 or 10 minutes to start and has progressively gotten worse. Today for example I waited a half hour for the car to start. I called the saturn dealership here in my town only to end up in a argument with the person that sold me the piece of crap. I don't know how saturn is still in business. I spent a pretty penny on the vehicle and no one wants to help. To know that a vehicle that you sell is causing so many customers so many problems and do not even want to help them resolve the issue is just pathetic to me. I am at the point of taking the car back to the dealership and taking a voluntary repo. I will never buy a car from saturn or gm again.

Filed Jan 21, 2008 · Electrical · 42,550 miles · AL

My car will not crank when the key is turned to start. It has complete power. The battery is well within the normal limits. The instances when this occur all seem to be when the car has been outside and not running for at least 2 hours in temperatures in the 20 degrees fahrenheit range or colder. All the dash lights are on, and all the accessories work when the key is turned to start, but the starter does not even attempt to turn. The "service engine" message flashes. I pulled all the electrical relays in the fuse box and the engine will now start with no problem. It is a recurring problem when the weather is cold. The same fix works each time. There is most likely a fault in the ignition switch or the passlock system. Should be recalled.