I own a 2005 saturn ion and when its cold, car won't start. The passlock illuminates and sometimes takes 30 minutes to restart. I have spent over $700 trying to fix it like changing ignition and starter and the problem still persists. I have been late numerous times for work and was stranded the other night for 30 minutes in the middle of nowhere in minus 20 degree weather. ( that is a safety issue.) I am fed up and can't believe there is no recall.
2005 Saturn Ion electrical complaints
Page 6 of 9: complaints 131 to 160 of 227, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Passlock light blinking vehicle will not start in ambient temperature below 30 f represents a safety hazard because egress is needed from area.
Car wont always start, have to wait 10-20 minutes for it to start and not all of us have time to wait for this to happen, people have places to be, this happened 3 times in two months and has now happened 5 times in one week and the car shut off twice while driving the other day as well as getting stuck for 20 minutes in the cold at the gas station waiting for it to start. Something needs to be done about this as it is obviously not safe and the fact that there hasn't been a recall is ridiculous! Have read so many different stories on what to replace and I don't want to be spending money on pointless parts!!
In ambient temperature of 29 degrees, my vehicle would not start. Passlock light was blinking for 10 minutes and then stopped. After that, I was able to start the car. This has happened before.
Vehicle will start intermittently on cold and/or damp mornings. Online research has shown the cause to be a defective body control module (bcm; a component of the factory-installed anti-theft system), confirmed by an experienced automotive technician. Said technician has stated to complainant that vehicle may be subject to recall due to defective bcm; however, according to the federal safety agency, this vehicle is under recall only for exterior lighting issues (the federal safety agency campaign id #09e012000). Complainant requests detailed recall information for this specific part (bcm), for this specific make and model of vehicle (listed above). If no such recall exists, complainant requests a recall be initiated.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact stated that when trying to start the vehicle, the lock out warning light would illuminate and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure would only occur on an intermittent basis when the temperature was 35 degrees and below. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that they would need to replace the starter. The starter for the vehicle was replaced yet the failure persisted. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was approximately 20,000.
Passlock malfunction due to faulty ignition switch causes no crank and activation of 10 minute relearn sequence. Only happens when temperatures are below 40 degrees. Has always happened ever since I bought the car january 3rd, 2009. Frequency of occurrence has increased, and I'm scared that it will cause a crash if I happen to stall in traffic. The remedy to this situation has been discussed in numerous technical forums on the internet - all of which point to replacement of the ignition switch. The cause is thought to be excessive grease applied to the internals of the switch. I think gm should recall the affected units exhibiting this problem and provide no cost replacement of the ignition switch. This is not a new problem. Thousands of owners have been experiencing this aggravating and sometimes dangerous technical fault. Gm is ignoring the issue and offering saturn owners absolutely no assistance to correct this serious problem. If gm does not act, the law of averages says that eventually someone may be injured or killed as a result of this malfunction. Please help us. This isn't fair at all.
On multiple occasions, I could not release the car key from the ignition. I could turn off the engine, but the key would not disengage from the acc mode. Releasing the key would take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. These were incidents that could not be tied to any specific action from the driver and that would occur randomly. Every time I drove, I was afraid the key would get stuck and that this would finally be the time that I could not get it out. This is a safety concern when there are severe weather conditions and the battery is in danger of dying. The gm dealership found what they thought was the problem and the solution was to completely replace a range of parts. Another mechanic found a different problem (a malfunctioning cylinder of sorts) and replaced it and for the first time in years, I can drive safely and with the peace of mind knowing that the key will no longer get stuck.
Vehicle did not crank or start when key turned. Passlock code blinked. Check engine light on. Known the federal safety agency item number : 10007431 no crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) b2960 and or b3033 are set.
Saturn ion 2005 model does not release key from ignition after you turn off the car.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact stated that when she shut the vehicle off, she was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The failure occurred every time she drove the vehicle. She had to wait fifteen minutes before she was able to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that she had to have the vehicle repaired by the dealer at her expense. The current mileage was approximately 97,000. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Tl*the contact owns 2005 saturn ion. The contact stated that in cold weather the vehicle would not start. The contact had to wait 15 minutes before the vehicle would start. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who could not find a problem with the vehicle after a diagnostic test. The dealer suggested replacing the starter and the contact agreed with the repair. After the vehicle was repaired the vehicle continued to have an issue starting in cold weather. The contact stated that the manufacturer should issue a recall. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact was driving 65 MPH when the steering wheel became extremely tight. The power steering warning light was illuminated followed by the sounding of the power steering warning alarm. The contact was able to drive to his residence using extreme bodily force to maneuver the wheel. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure became progressively worse. In addition, the contact's keys would continuously become lodged within the ignition switch. The contact stated the vehicle was previously repaired for the exact same failure. The vehicle was not further repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.
The ignition on the 2005 saturn ion will lock with the vehicle in the "on" position. The only way to turn the vehicle off is to disconnect the battery, even though the car is still running. I have had the ignition components replaced 3 times in the past year and a half, and still have the same problem.
I was driving down the highway when the power steering light turned on. Suddenly I was struggling with the steering wheel to make the car turn to get off the highway. It was really hard up until I turned it off. I turned it on again and it worked. Later this happened again while going to work, then coming back to work. It seems to happen every other day now for the past week. There is apparently no parts that I can change for it. And because saturn ions use electronic power steering, it's impossible to add steering fluid since there is no reservoir. It seems to be a dangerous electronic defect a lot of saturn ion owners are having.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact stated that the key became stuck in the ignition whenever the vehicle was turned off. It took two to three minutes before it would be released from the ignition. Previously, the vehicle was taken to a mechanic who replaced the ignition switch but the failure occurred again. The VIN was unavailable at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The current mileage was approximately 50,000.
2005 saturn ion. When I turn the car off the key is stuck in the ignition and won't release. After some time the key eventually releases itself. I recently brought the car into a gm dealer and they stated there was nothing wrong, they lubed up the parts and said I would be fine. The key continues to get stuck.
2005 saturn ion. When I turn the car off the key is stuck in the ignition and won't release. After some time the key eventually releases itself. I recently brought the car into a gm dealer and they stated there was nothing wrong, they lubed up the parts and said I would be fine. The key continues to get stuck.
My 2005 saturn ion will refuse to start. I know it is not the battery or alternator. All I have to do is let it sit for a minimum of 15 minutes and viola it will start. I believe it has to with the pass code in the key ignition.
When driving, the power steering will occasionally go out. Also, sometimes the car wont start, it wont even turn over (but all of the lights, fan, etc work). Other times the key will not come out of the ignition when you turn the motor off.
I just recently purchased a 2005 saturn ion. And when I was at the dealership it started like a dream. A few weeks later the temperature dropped to 34 degrees f or so. And it would not start. I was fifteen minutes late to work because this so called "reliable" car wouldn't start because it thought I was breaking into it. If I could do it all over again, I would've purchased the chevy, this is not a common problem as I've been reading online. I don't understand why this hasn't been recalled yet. We're paying a lot of money for some piece of crap car that doesn't start when it's too cold/damp out. Something needs to be done soon!!!!!
I put the key in the ignition, turn the key to start, and the on board security system (passlock) disables the car. I have to wait 15 minutes to try to start the car again. This is an intermittent problem that has been happening the entire life of the car. The dealership says to replace the ignition switch, but after a few months it starts happening again. The ignition turns, it's that the passlock security system sees random key turns as attempts to steal the car and disables the starter. Very dangerous since it strands you wherever you are.
I currently own a 2005 saturn ion-2. I have owned this car since it had 12 miles on it. In 2007 my car did not start one morning and since it was still under warranty the local saturn dealership replaced the starter. Starting last year this problem returned. When I turn the starter all the lights come on but the starter won't even try to start. This happens mostly when it's cold, but not necessarily. It happens at all different times of the day, and is very random. I missed work on more than one occasion and even missed a job interview because of it. Everything I have read online says you have not done a recall because it is not a 'safety issue' but last weekend at 1am, when is was 10 degrees outside, I was stranded in the middle of nowhere because my car wouldn't start. Not only is it unsafe for a single female but that temperature is below freezing and it is completely unsafe, because I could freeze to death while waiting in my car for it to start. I purchased a new ignition switch and installed it in the way the dealership instructed me to, but the car wouldn't start at all after I did that and I had to re-install the old one. This was $30 I can't get back and my car still won't start.
2005 saturn ion - car experiences daily intermittent failures to start at any given time. In most instances you exit the car, insert key 5-10 minutes later and the car will generally. Eventually it does. Problems points to systemic issue with the ignition. Research on the internet shows an inordinate amount of saturns with this ignition issue.
We have a 2005 saturn ion that more often than not refuses to start. We have had this problem for the duration of our ownership. The theft deterrent system is a possible culprit. It could be any number of other things. Turns out this is a big problem. Please help the many of us to get gm to fix this. It makes our lives harder by the day.
I have a 2005 saturn ion and key want release from ignition and sometimes will not start. Car was taken to saturn and ignition solenoid, gear shift housing unit, another key was made, security system was reset and car was recalibrated. Saturn told me this was what was needed to fix problem and problem still not fixed. I have been reading up on complaints about ion owners and a lot of people have the same problem. I am upset and frustrated I have two kids and have already spent $1000 to repair and replace parts that obviously didn't need to be replaced because problem still exists. I need help this is out of control. As far as problem with car not starting, the problem happens intermittently. Saturn tested alternator and battery and checked starter everything checked out. Hopefully car not starting is fixed but it happens intermittently and I know I have been stranded in the cold a few times with my children till the car decided too start.
Key will not release from my ignition. It appears that the ignition does not read that the stick shift is engaged in park and does not release the key from the ignition. This began happening just as my car reached 60,000 miles (my car is currently at 84,000). There does not seem to be any pattern to the problem, just random and in any weather condition. Sometimes I just have to leave the key in the ignition and leave the vehicle. The key is still in accessory mode and does drain the battery. I brought it to the dealer at my first incidence and the ignition was replaced. It was covered under the warranty at the time, but the warranty expired just after.
Car will not start when it is very cold out! Key will turn, radio etc. Will work, but anti-theft system cuts off fuel. Many, many people have same problem, on saturn ion 2, numerous years! The oil/grease used in ignition freezes! Saturn knows of this problem, but is turning a blind eye!
I own a 2005 saturn ion with about 46,000 miles on it. I love my little car and had hopes of owning it for years to come. However, my hopes of being a happy saturn owner is quickly fading as I continually have problems with my steering column. First it was the ignition, which I have replaced twice, and now the power steering is turning off while I'm driving. Obviously this is very dangerous and it also not uncommon as I've found out by searching the internet on this very problem.
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact was unable to start the vehicle; however, all of the electrical components were operating normally. The dealer informed the contact that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The contact stated that occasionally the key would not release from the ignition. The vehicle was serviced but the failure has continued to occur. The current and failure mileages were 59000. Updated 01/12/10. *lj the consumer stated every winter the doesn't start. Updated 01/13/10.
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