2004 Saturn Ion: complete transmission failure

Filed Oct 10, 2014 · Transmission · 126,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that the gear lever was shifted into reverse, but the transmission failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The transmission was replaced on three different occasions. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

Filed Jul 21, 2014 · Transmission · 103,924 miles · MI

Transmission failure - shortly after the 2004 saturn ion hit 100k miles, the transmission failed. I had to replace the transmission at the dealer for a cost of $4,620.93. In doing research it appears that failing 2004 saturn ion transmissions are widespread around the 100k mile mark.

Filed Nov 20, 2010 · Transmission · 66,252 miles · KS

2004 saturn ion vti transmission failure, pulling out of a fast food drive thru at a slow rate of speed, hundreds of miles from home. It has been a known issue that this transmission was a poorly made gm product; saturn was aware of it, gm has been aware. Recalls should have been made, but instead they are allowed to rip off the buyer with transmissions that fail within 66,000 miles. Car has been maintained perfectly. There will be no more gm purchases with my dollars. My work is worth a better product.

Filed Jan 17, 2010 · Transmission · 98,700 miles · SC

I have a 2004 saturn ion. About 3 weeks ago I had the transmission fluid flushed and changed. Then on january 13, 2010, my car stalled on me. I had it towed to the saturn dealership and called the next morning. I was told that the transmission was bad and needed to be replaced. It was a generous offer to only have to pay half for the repair. I have done some research, and although there are reports for about 15 saturn vehicles on recall lists, the ion was not one of which I could read about. In some cases, transmission failure for the saturn vue can be a recurring problem; for the same customer.

Filed Oct 15, 2009 · Transmission · 94,039 miles · OH

I was once a loyal general motors customer ' that is until gm nearly killed me. I'm the unfortunate owner of a 2004 saturn ion with an ailing transmission the dealership refuses to repair, and I am not alone. In my case, the transmission failure nearly cost me my life. This past saturday, I was attempting to merge from 315 n onto interstate 270 e. Exiting the entrance ramp at that interchange is often a hazard under the best conditions. As I accelerated into the right-hand lane of traffic, my car shuttered violently and lost all forward momentum. I swerved back to avoid being rear-ended by the closing traffic on 270 e, nearly sideswiping another vehicle still in the exit lane. I drifted to the side of the road unable to get the transmission to engage. After letting the car rest for a few minutes I tried again to get it into gear, ultimately having to leave it in a parking lot. Despite gm agreeing to a class action settlement on april 16, 2009, saturn dealerships have recently been advised to suspend all extended warranty repairs under the agreement. Saturn customer service, under direct instruction from gm, has take the position that the agreement was made by gm prior to the declaration of bankruptcy on june 1, 2009 and now has no legal obligation to complete the repairs. Gm also failed to notify the 150,000 owners of affected vue and ion models that due to an acknowledged design flaw, their cars might drop in or out of gear, even at high speeds, posing significant danger to operators, passengers and other motorists. How many accidents and injuries have and will occur due to gm's lack of action? Lives likely have and will be lost due to this known defect. Gm is paying roulette with the lives of its customers and the drivers who share the roads with them. Gm has failed to comply with the legal terms of a class action settlement, failed to notify customers of a potentially deadly defect and failed to pay the cost of repairs they agreed in federal district court.

Filed May 20, 2006 · Engine, Transmission · 56,000 miles · WI

Saturn ion 2004. Two major defects. I purchased the car new in october 2004. In october 2005, the transmission failed, and required complete replacement. Saturn stated there had been many concerns about the transmission, so replaced it for free. (minus my incurred costs of travel). Second major defect: may 2006, a cylinder head cracked. Saturn has agreed to "replace" the cylinder head, but I have to pay for $800.00 of the repairs. A 2 year old vehicle should not have these two major defects. The car currently has 79k miles. I know that "replacing" the cylinder head will get the car running again, but it will never be the same...and I still owe 10,000 dollars on the car. Thank you for your consideration.

Filed Sep 9, 2005 · Transmission · 27,539 miles · AR

I first took my 2004 saturn 3 ion quad coupe to the dealer with a transmission problem. As I would accelerate the car would lose speed. I never knew when this was going to happen. It happens at any speed. At the time of my first complaint there was 27,539. I now have 33,020 and finally after 3 months and 12 trips to the dealer they are putting in a new transmission. Every trip to the dealer resulted in my being told that the computer said nothing was wrong with my car. They kept the car for a week while their manager drove it to work and home everyday and he said the car never acted up on him. I left the dealership and 2 miles down the road it started acting up. I had to call the saturn customer service numerous times about the problem. I wrote them 2 letters and finally when I sent them lemon law papers and told them they could buy it back they decided that I needed a new transmission. In the 3 months trying to get this problem fixed saturn replaced the cruise control switch, the input/output speed sensor and cover gasket, then they replaced the cover assembly, variable drive and driven pulley a and now the whole transmission is being replace. It is now in the shop for who knows how long and then it will be for sale.

Filed Jul 6, 2004 · Transmission · 7,100 miles · WI

We own a 2004 saturn ion3 quad coupe, it has a different transmission then the others. We bought the vehicle on december 31, 2003. It had 91 miles on it. We noticed the transmission seemed to hesitate a little going from first into second. When we took it in for it's first oil change in march, we asked them to look at the transmission. They reported back that it was normal for a 4 cylinder to act the way it was. Assuming they knew what they were talking about we left it at that. We took it in again for paint damage they had caused when they had the vehicle for the oil change, and again asked them to look at the transmission (only about a week later). They again reported they test drove and it was fine. Now this past week for it's second oil change on tuesday, june 29th, we again asked them because it seemed to have gotten worse. They again reported it was normal operation. Not a week after that report on sunday, july 4th amidst out 4th of july celebration we drove a block and a half from home and turned a corner onto the main road. When I went to accelerate the car revved and didn't switch into second gear. It fought to go faster in first gear, but never switched. We noticed immediately and tried parking and again moving into drive, thinking maybe it had dropped itself into neutral. Again the same thing, we slowly turned the corner and putted our way back down the block to the driveway at 5 miles an hour so as not to further damage the engine due to transmission failure. The car currently has 7000 miles on it and a transmission that doesn't work. We meet with the dealership today to discuss retribution.