2004 Saturn Ion: check engine light

Filed Nov 2, 2025 · Steering · IN

The car doesn't always want to release the key. I have to stick my finger up in the column to push the little button to release it which is not convenient at all. It seems to do it if the wheels aren't completely straight. But still even with the steering wheel straight, sometimes it wont come out if its on a slight hill. Ive had a new key made and it makes no difference, no check engine light and auto technician said the ignition looks fine. Ive read tons of reports like this on the 2004 saturn ion 2-why isn't this being addressed?

Filed Jan 13, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 151,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.

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 Sep 9, 2010 · Steering · 83,000 miles · IA

My engine light was on for about 2 weeks. It would come on and go off. I was on my way to the lake one day and was driving down a curvy road an my power steering went out! It took all that I had to manually turn the wheel so I would not go off the road and down the hills side! The power steering will go out after a lot of turning. I have found that if you shut the car off that it will reset it's self, but this is still very dangerous and needs something done about it. A week ago I received a letter in the mail saying that if I had this problem that it could be fixed at any gm dealer, but when I made my appointment they said that they couldn't fix it because my car is prior salvaged and this is not a recall! I can not afford to replace this it will cost $600 to $1000 to fix the problem. The economy is bad enough we can't afford to pay or need to be paying for gm's mistakes. This is a very dangerous problem an it needs to be taking care of!

Filed Jul 13, 2010 · Steering · 130,000 miles · VA

I have a 2004 saturn ion level 2. My vehicle's 'check engine' light appears quite frequently. I brought it to a dealership to be check out over a year ago. I was told that nothing was wrong with my vehicle. For a year, I have been driving with a 'check engine' light randomly lighting up. Last night, midway around a bend, my vehicle's electric power steering went out, and straightened my wheel- putting me into oncoming traffic. I could have died and killed another driver. This morning, after calling around to dealerships and mechanics and doing my own research, I have found out that my vehicle's make and model is under evaluation for a recall concerning the power steering. This "evaluation" was only recently started this past year. There have been no public warnings and gm is refusing to acknowledge the problem even after the diagnostic tests have been performed. Many drivers are driving without the problem being fixed because of the price tag of the repair and the state of the economy. What is it going to take for a recall regarding saturn ions?! The death of a saturn driver? This is becoming absurd and I believe worse than the toyota ordeal. They are sweeping the issue under a rug, along with our money and most importantly, the safety of saturn drivers' lives. I have been conversing with other saturn drivers who have had the same problems, we are furious and paranoid that at any point in time we may die.

Filed May 28, 2010 · Electrical · OH

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.

Filed Mar 9, 2009 · Electrical · 48,000 miles · IL

On cold days in the winter my saturn ion 2 does not start. Turn the key and nothing happens. The check engine light comes on and the car will not start for 10 minutes. I have had the ignition key replaced and that fixes it for a while. I was fixed under warranty, but they replaced the part with the same series part so now not under warranty the problem recurs.

Filed Dec 18, 2008 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. On several occasions, the vehicle failed to start unless she waited 15 to 20 minutes. The dealer determined that the ignition switch failed and replaced it. One year later, when trying to start the vehicle it would not start unless she waited 15 minutes after the first attempt. On december 12, 2008, the vehicle failed to start and the check engine light was illuminated. A local mechanic inspected the vehicle and stated no failure was found. The manufacturer stated that they are aware of the failure and there was no recall. The contact was later informed that the ignition switch would have to be replaced again with no guarantee that the dealer would assume the cost. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 82,000.

Filed Nov 10, 2008 · Fuel system · 32,000 miles · 00

After a few stops, no matter what the temp is outside/nice or cold... My car will not start. It simply clicks and will not turn over... Feels/sounds like it is not getting any fuel. If I wait 10 minutes or so and then try again, the car will start. I have had it stall while I'm driving when it's cold out. I have had it to the shop numerous times and they can not find anything wrong with it!!! My engine light is on due to gross leak emission control, and they can not correct the issue!!!! There have been numerous complaints about this and the manufacturer will not take responsibility, however they do not mind charging me each and every time I take it in, and each and every time they have neglected to fix the problem!!! Frustrated

Filed Dec 5, 2005 · Transmission · OH

2004 ion 3 quad purchased new in 2004 currently have 18k miles on it. So far we have had to replace front stabilizer bushing, heater blower motor and windshield wipers. All have been under warranty. The electric steering still doesn't seem correct. Sometimes the car pulls when you rapidly accelerate and is very touchy. I did read that gm made some changes to the electric steering for 2005 ion, but dealership will not (says can not) make the changes to the 2004. Now we have the loss of power problem. Has done it when car is cold and hot, usually when accelerating, but once just driving 35 MPH. It's not a stall just like a loss of power. Car doesn't shake or jerk. Almost like you took your foot off the gas for a second. I've taken it back to the dealer once for this and the dealer response is the same as others have reported "no computer codes, could not reproduce, no problem found". It's at the shop now because the check engine light came on 12/2 and we again complained that the car lost power after picking it up the last time. The last time it failed my wife was taking off from a red light and the guy behind almost hit her when the saturn lost power. Loosing faith in saturn's engineering.

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Electrical · 7,500 miles · IL

2004 saturn ion suddenly stalled while driving with my family. This happened on 8/5/05 and 8/20/05. Everything died for no apparent reason, which made it difficult to maneuver the vehicle without power steering in traffic. When I came to a safe stop with the stalled vehicle I pulled out the ignition key and re-entered it. The car then started just fine and there were no stalling issues since then. The problem I foresee is the fact that someone could get hurt and get in a serious accident while trying to control a vehicle without power in traffic. Also, as a reaction to the engine stall, someone might try to remove the ignition key while in motion and accidentally lock the steering wheel, which could be lethal. I also find it irritating that you would not expect a 10 month old car with approx. 8000 miles on the odometer to stall without warning (I.e. No engine noise, no check engine light, full tank of gas..etc.) while cruising along. I also believe the dealership/manufacturer will have a hard time to duplicate the problem, because the engine stall happened for no apparent reason and the car runs fine otherwise. This is why I have not yet reported the incidents to the dealership, because it would be a waste of time until more ion owners report this issue to you folks. However, I just wanted to get the word out. I looks like my ion is not the only saturn ion with this kind of problem according to the already existing car stalling complaints.

Filed Jul 20, 2005 · 23,200 miles · PA

My car hesitates when shifting from first to second gear. Once the clutch is out and you apply the throttle the car goes then looses power and then goes again. This car was is in the shop the last 26 of 39 days for 4 seperate attempts to fix it. The dealer states they can not fix it and that saturn corporate has no idea what is wrong with it either. No one from saturn customer care has once asked me for my side of the story or the 6 pages of documentation on how I was treated and told would be done to repair my car. The dealership that I purchased it from has told me there is nothing they would do to repair my car. My car is now at another dealership the day after I was told to pick it up because the service engine light came on in approximatley 60 minues after pick up from the original dealer that I purchased it from. It seems there are mant saturn ion redlines with this same problem on the internet...