Saturn Ion won't shift problems

Filed Jan 14, 2015 · Acceleration, Steering · 136,000 miles · MI

Coming to a stop in heavy traffic alarms and lights went off, the car lost powering and wouldn't go into gear finally when the gear engaged it would only stay in first gear. Luckily we were able to pull off the busy highway and get safely to the side of the road with no accidents or injuries.

Filed Dec 9, 2014 · Acceleration, Seat belts · 87,000 miles · RI

My seat belts will no longer buckle. My shift gets stuck in park and jumps into other gears(neutral) and the car revs on it's own without putting foot on gas. My shift is doing the exact same thing as the recall for the aura and the dealer wants to charge me $700.00 in repairs and the parts are on back order for 6 months. I do not have my VIN# at this time. Please check with herb chambers saturn -warwick, ri.

Filed Aug 23, 2014 · Transmission · 59,502 miles · TX

This car has a manual transmission. I tried to put it in gear to back out of the drive way and it wouldn't budge. So I let it roll backwards in neutral to the street. I pumped the clutch to see if that would work. It wouldn't go into first gear when I would try to get it in gear it would slowly move forward even though it wasn't in gear. I checked the fluid levels and they were fine. I turned off the car and tried to put it in first it went into first gear just fine and when I turned the ignition on, it lunged me forward. I drove about 25 feet while trying to change into second gear, it wouldn't budge. So I had to turn off the car again so it would go into first gear then I started it up and it lunged me forward again. I needed to turn around to get back to the house because something was clearly wrong. I tried once again to put it in second, same problem I had to turn it off then throw it in first and start it up real quick. I finally got it in second gear and drove it home. I stayed idling in second gear in front of my house for about 5-7 min. Then I tried to go and it worked, it went into gear with ease, and changed into all the other gears with ease as I dove through the neighborhood just like it was a brand new car again & all day like nothing had ever happened. Now every morning since the same thing has happened so I take the same steps, I pump the clutch and let it sit about 5 min. And end up applying pressure to get it into gear and it will work all day until this morning. It will still go into gear when its off and starts the same way as I explained but now after waiting the 5-7 min before I take off it still wont go into gear or "fix itself" like it did before. Have many people complained about this? I've been the only owner of this car and reported it to my local dealer, it will cost $115.00 just for them to diagnose it and im on a limited income.

Filed May 6, 2013 · Transmission · WI

2003 saturn ion. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems and seeks vehicle reimbursement. *smd the consumer stated when he backed the vehicle out of the garage, and put the gear in drive, the vehicle would not go forward. The consumer backed the vehicle back in to the garage. The next day he tried it, and the vehicle went forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they were unable to find a problem. From september 2012, until january 2013, the consumer had problems with the vehicle going forward. Each time, it would work again after letting the vehicle sit for awhile. Then on february 23, 2013, the vehicle would not go into reverse. After letting the vehicle sit for about four hours, the shifting worked. After driving three blocks, the vehicle stopped and the shifting went out again. The vehicle was towed to an auto repair shop. The repair shop informed the consumer the transmission had failed and the parts alone would cost $3,982.58.

Filed Apr 22, 2011 · Transmission · 45,000 miles · HI

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion level 2. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift properly between gears. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure since it occurred intermittently however, he believed that the clutch master would need to be replaced. The contact did not inform the dealer or the manufacturer of the failure nor was the vehicle repaired. The current mileage was 49,000 and the failure mileage was 45,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2010 · Suspension, Transmission · 90,000 miles · NJ

Was stopped at a red light; when it turned green, car did not accelerate. Had to be pushed off to side of road; turned car off, then re-started it. It drove a short distance, then had no power, but was able to coast safely to side of road. Car was towed to gas station. Mechanic checked fluid level was good and did not have burnt smell. Tried to start car again - made low winding noise and would not go into gear. When gas pedal was pressed, the speedometer moved. Mechanic said it needs new transmission. Car has 90,000 miles.

Filed Aug 27, 2009 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · WA

Transaxle grinding/whining noise in 3rd or 4th gear, excessive engagement or disengagement effort while shifting into 3rd or 4th gear, will not shift into either 3rd or 4th gear.

Filed Apr 3, 2009 · Electrical · 35,000 miles · VA

I purchased my car new in 2004 and I have had an ongoing problem with it starting. It happens at random times and generally after 10 minutes to 30 minutes it will start up. I m not sure if the fact that I can remove my keys from the ignition while im driving down the road has something to do with it or not. It does seem like it does it more in cold/rainy weather than other times. There are still several incidents where it has been warm and sunny and it wont start. I am a single mom with two kids and I hate the thought of being stuck in my car w/ my kids and unable to go anywhere. I have been stuck in parking lots late at night after I get off work and one time it wouldn't start on my way to the hospital. No one seems to know how to fix it and everyone pretty much agrees it has something to do w/ the antitheft device put on the car. So how do we fix it and why wont saturn do anything about . Today's economy is to bad to be loosing customers and my children are too important to me to be stuck in a car (at any given time) with no way to move. In the future I will be looking for a more dependable safe car.

Filed May 27, 2008 · Electrical · 45,199 miles · MO

Tl*the contact's mother owns a 2005 saturn ion. After driving the vehicle, the gear was placed into park, but the vehicle would not shut off. The vehicle would not shift out of park and the contact had to remove ignition fuses to shut off the vehicle. The dealer has been notified. The current and failure mileages were 45,199. Updated 06/25/08 *bf the ignition lock cylinder was seized inside the housing. Updated 06/26/08

Filed May 17, 2007 · Electrical · 42,500 miles · MT

This happened three times now. First time the daughter was driving and the vehicle service engine display came on and all electrical power went out. Immediately pulled to the side of the road. Turned off the key, checked under the hood for smoke, and called dad because the car was stuck in park with the key stuck in the ignition, and the windows locked in the down position. Called roadside assistance ,the extended warranty - no problem, they will tow it to the nearest saturn dealer, 180+ miles away through a rain storm. Several days later had to drive round trip to retrieve car from saturn dealer, who has replaced 7.5 amp body control module fuse, but didn't know why it blew out. Got back home , 180+ miles and no problems. Daughter entered the car, went 8 miles, bang same thing. To replace fuse called saturn to make an appointment. Drove car back to saturn 180+ miles to get fuse to blow 3 times on way back by adjusting the lh rv mirror. They kept the car for one week and replaced lh mirror switch. Picked up car from saturn. Dealer no problems for about a month. Today she was heading to work, adjusted lh rv mirror and bcm fuse blew out, everything went dead. Called saturn why do I have to pay to have them fix what I just paid to have fixed , $50.00 deductible, and what was the real root of the problem? When was this going to happen again? Checked this site for other similar problems. Found odi #10152158 noticed that the vins were very similar - 9th digit was different. Mine was 0, and theirs was x. Did not know if that was significant. It happened twice 13 months apart. We have been able to duplicate. 1 original failure, 3 duplicated by myself, and now another failure. Don't think it was the mirror switch. It was the bcm? Owner loved saturns. He owned 3. 2006 vue, 2006 ion quad coupe, and 2003 ion sedan. This was a lemon. Saturns were not lemons. This was a little elctronic glitch is., and a safety hazard that could get someone killed.