Saturn Ion slipping problems

Filed Jun 5, 2018 · 96,250 miles · PA

When stopped at either a traffic light or stop sign, once I take my foot off of the brake and place it on the gas pedal the car hesitates like it's gasping for gas however, the gasping only happens for a few seconds and then the car drives normally! What is stumping me, why does the new problem only happen intermittingly! I just had a rebuilt transmission installed back in march of 2018 because the car originally had a problem with the transmission slipping into gear! I took the car back to aamco, the place that installed the rebuilt transmission and advised them that my car was acting up again with a new problem. Because the new problem happens intermittently, there are no error codes showing for the mechanic to give a diagnosis of the new problem. I am so frustrated because the car was my first car and being retired and on a fixed budget another car isn't something I can invest in!

Filed Mar 30, 2017 · Transmission · 58,000 miles · FL

Transmission is burnt. While driving the transmission slips out of gear. The rpms then rev and the car fails to continue to go at speed and will need to be pulled over. This issue occurs when the vehicle is in motion on city streets and on highways. The vehicle only has 58499 miles on it. The vehicle was checked at aamco and they said the transmission was bad and needed to be replaced.

Filed May 13, 2016 · Transmission · 158,990 miles · FL

When I am driving, my car will suddenly seem to slip out of gear, the RPM's will continue to rise while the car starts to slow down and can no longer accelerate. I then have to pull over and turn the car off and restart to "reset" the car and it seems to drive normal again. This usually happens at higher speeds, like while I'm driving on the interstate, but can and has happened at lower speeds as well. I have two children and am expecting another child in july and no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. I feel that this should be a safety recall given the large amount of people who have had the same or similar problems with the transmission in these cars. This happened earlier today, but has happened on a regular basis for over a year.

Filed Dec 13, 2011 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · WA

Approximately one week after I purchased the vehicle I noticed a grinding noise that was not favorable and I was pretty sure it was the tranny. I purchased an extended warranty with the car so I took it to the dealer for diagnostics and repair. It was confirmed to be the tranny and they tried to put a bandaide on it by flushing it and changing the fluids. One week later same noise only louder. They replaced the tranny. 30 days after the first repair; the noise returned, they replaced some parts, in the tranny they just put in it. Just over 12,0000 miles later I was attempting to back up and the car would not go in reverse. I had it towed and the tranny was again replaced, that was just under 12,0000 miles ago and the tranny is slipping again, only now the extended warranty people say I am out of funds because they will not repair a vehicle beyond it's worth. I have had the axle replaced twice and it needs to be done again, extended warranty again say's they are done paying out on this car even though my time or mileage is not expired on the warranty. About a month ago it failed to start and because I had read this web site on consumer complaints for this car I knew to wait 5-15 min and try again. This has happened several times but so far it eventually starts. I purchased this car on credit just over a year ago to get a reliable vehicle because I work 7 days a week out of my car and it is becoming a nightmare no-one will wake me up from. And because I am upside down on the loan I cannot even trade it in for something that is reliable. For the amount of complaints I have seen there should be some recourse to the consumer. I have had the tranny replaced twice and fixed twice, the axle has been done twice and need it again. Chevy bought this company out and should have to honor the standards for a safe vehicle or stop selling them to unsuspecting buyers.

Filed Aug 29, 2011 · Electrical · 36,125 miles · 00

Key stuck in ignition, car will not turn off. Key will only turn on. Car is at gm dealer now awaiting repairs. They say it needs a new cylinder housing, cylinder and key. Car has 57,800km. Also in the past the car slipped out of gear (1st) even when the emergency brake is engaged. The first time it rolled down a driveway and hit the mail box, which damaged to back bumper. Dealer would not check into it. Claimed it was driver error. Bs I have driven a standard vehicle for 35 years in hills. Third problem is the gears. They are too tight. Always was difficult to put into gear, sometimes to put it into first one must put it in reverse first then put into 1st gear. What kind of nonsense is that? Complained to dealer within the first year. Dealer said other customers have complained about the tight gears but that was the way it was built and to wait and see if it naturally became easier. From researching the internet the key getting stuck and not turning off appears to be a common problem. A recall should be issued and gm should pay for the repairs.

Filed Jun 8, 2010 · Transmission · 61,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact stated while driving at speeds of 30 MPH, the vehicle would begin to abnormally jerk and would independently slip out of gear. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure persisted and the contact believed the dealer would not repair the vehicle due to a misdiagnosis. The failure mileage was 61,000.

Filed May 6, 2008 · Transmission · 90,025 miles · MO

While driving my 2003 saturn ion 3 the motor will stall out and loose power while driving it seems like the transmission slips and a new one was put in and it still does the same thing. While driving on highway it does this.

Filed Mar 3, 2008 · Electrical, Transmission · 2,000 miles · FL

2003 saturn ion iii disengages in the middle of traffic as if gears have slipped into neutral at speeds from between 20 and 60 MPH, so that there is no forward movement suddenly and then re-engages. Almost rear-ended several times also car will not start if turned off for a short time and key locks in ignition. Gears were re-calibrated and ignition replaced, but problems continue.

Filed Sep 15, 2006 · Transmission · IN

Since we purchased this vehicle brand new in 2003, the transmission has slipped occasionally upon normal acceleration. We brought this to the attention of the dealership at our regular maintenance appointments, and they told us that this was the normal functioning of the transmission. Fast-foward 3 yrs, 40,000 miles, and the problem has become a threat to the safety of those driving in and around the vehicle. When attempting to make a turn out of a parking lot onto a major road, the car rolled down the hill into the road, but it would not move any farther once on a flat surface. I am lucky that no one was coming too close or fast behind me, or my vehicle would have been a sudden, unavoidable roadblock for sure. This also happened while I was attempting to make a left hand turn with heavy oncoming traffic. People were somehow able to avoid my car, although it was a major hazard to safety. These were terrifying experiences, and I immediately dropped my car off at the dealership that night (I happened to be down the road from the dealer when these events occurred). According to the dealership, the transmission fluid was very dark, fluid pump severely damaged, and the 2nd gear clutch and coast assembly "burned up". The transmission, pump, gears, clutches, and torque converter were replaced at a cost of $1250, which they claimed was a great deal for us, as this was claimed to be a $5500 job. I appreciate their efforts and attempt to rectify the situation, however I am still disappointed in the lack of quality control, and the apparent lack of research and development in the engineering of this vehicle. No one expects to need to replace a transmission in a car with 40,000 miles. My life was put at risk because of a manufacturing error in this vehicle, and I hope that the the federal safety agency takes the necessary actions to prevent more lives from being put at risk or lost due to this error.

Filed Jan 28, 2005 · Transmission · OH

Transmission slips gears when driving down hill. Consumer does not have to depress the accelerator or brake pedal. Vehicle will just slow down to 10 MPH. While driving up the hill vehicle will accelerate up to 25 MPH.