Saturn Ion sudden acceleration problems

Filed Jun 5, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 115,000 miles · OH

Turned vehicle on after sitting for about 8 hours in parking lot, the car revved up to about 4,000rpm which is unusually high. I waited for the car to calm down and when it did, I put the car into gear to drive. My car lunged forward and without pushing the gas pedal, my car accelerated and eventually made it to 40mpg through the parking lot before I had to hit my brake to avoid a collision. This as occurred intermittently over the past year; approximately 3 or 4 times a month.

Filed Apr 29, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · FL · crash

2006 saturn ion. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration recall notice and requests reimbursement for repairs. *smd the consumer stated when she got in the left turn lane to make a turn, all of a sudden the vehicle took off without applying the gas. Her foot was on the brake and the engine began to race at a high speed. The incident occurred a second time, while at a 4-way stop sign, the engine began racing, with her foot on the brake. The vehicle cut off and the dashboard went black. The third time, it happened, she was pulling into a parking space, and the engine began to race at a high speed, she was unable to stop the vehicle, and eventually she crashed into a wall.

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 87,000 miles · TX · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated that while entering a parking lot at 3 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and the contact crashed into a cement pillar. There were no injuries. The vehicle was to be repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system) but was informed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000. Updated 06/10/14 ma the consumer stated he lost power steering, and the vehicle surged forward into a concrete pillar. The ar bags did not deploy. The consumer stated the bumper absorbed the hit, and there was no real damage. Updated 07/24/14

Filed Feb 26, 2014 · Acceleration · 80,000 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while the driver attempted to cross an intersection. The driver was able to shift the gear into neutral, move onto the road shoulder and release the accelerator pedal that was stuck to the floor board. The vehicle returned to normal function after restarting but only for a brief moment. The failure was experienced several times. The contact's mechanic cleaned the throttle however, the failure was not corrected. The vehicle was taken to dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 80,000.

Filed Feb 26, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 133,000 miles · PA

On multiple occasions this vehicle has accelerated without pushing the gas pedal, with no cruise control option, it's unsolved by multiple mechanics. Sometimes the brake works while it's happening, sometimes it doesn't, the most recent time I pulled into a parking lot where I had to hold the brake down to shut the car off, I could smell the transmission, I turned vehicle off, turned it back on and it went to over 5 RPM still, turned back off, sat and waited, it was 2am so I couldn't call anyone. After 10 minutes it finally went back to normal. That was the most severe, it's had slightly similar issues at least 4 times. First mechanic said it was a cruise control issue, then I told him I was leaving since the vehicle doesn't have cruise control at all. Don't want him working on it. 2nd one ran computer check, no issue found. Hopefully gm recalls this before it kills someone. This car has had many issues me and my father could fix, ignition switch, wiper blade transmission, coolant light but this one isn't easy.

Filed Feb 19, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 189,000 miles · CT

On 4 separate occasions (different dates, most recent were 1-26-2014 & 2-19-2014) engine revved and car accelerated by itself without gas pedal depressed. Most serious occurrence, car accelerated, brakes had no effect (pushed to the floor), ran red light, went off road, slammed transmission into park to stop. Shut off car, then started it again, and it ran normal. Took car to mechanic. No computer codes. Nothing mechanical was found to be wrong. This is an extremely serious safety issue due to the inevitability of a collision with something or someone.

Filed Dec 16, 2011 · Acceleration · 180,000 miles · ID

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. The contact stated the vehicle abnormally accelerated without warning. The engine rpms raced even after the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was hesitant to stop. The contact had to slam the vehicle into park in order to correct the failure. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 180,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2011 · Acceleration · 80,051 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact engaged the cruise control but the vehicle suddenly accelerated abruptly without warning. The contact then applied pressure to the brakes, manually depressed the cruise control button and pressed the clutch to disengage the system however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact was able to remove the vehicle from the highway and shut the engine off. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who performed a diagnostic test and confirmed that the cruise control module had froze in acceleration mode and disconnected the system. The manufacturer took a complaint on the contacts behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. The current and failure mileage was 80,051.

Filed Feb 25, 2010 · Acceleration, Engine · 17,000 miles · FL

Our 4 cylinder 2004 saturn ion has had unintended sudden acceleration problems for several years. I am a patent holding software and hardware engineer and I can state absolutely after observing the behavior over at least 4 years that this is a software issue and/or a sensor issue and not a sticking mechanical control. It is not necessary to even touch or move the accelerator pedal in order for this to occur. Under certain conditions of temperature and humidity, either some sensor malfunctions or some connector becomes intermittent or the software misreads something. At startup the engine runs at an unusually high idle (~800 RPM), and as soon as you put it in gear, the car lunges forward or backward hard and you have to put it in neutral to avoid having it run away with you - all this without touching the accelerator pedal. When you put the car in neutral the engine runs at between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM on the tachometer for a few seconds and then slowly drops back to an idle (~800rpm). As soon as you put it in gear again, the car lunges once again - throw it in neutral - 3,000 - 4,000 RPM, slowly recovers. After two - three minutes the engine stabilizes and the problem is gone. Please note this is all without touching the accelerator - ever! This happens when the vehicle is cold and usually during high humidity or rainy conditions. It is so unpredictable that I have never sought help from a dealer. It is not repeatable in a way that the dealer would be able to diagnose since it happens fairly rarely (sometimes a couple of times a week - sometimes once a month) and inconsistently. If I was an inexperienced driver and if this was a more powerful car, I would no doubt have had a serious accident by now. I have learned to pay attention to the motor when I first start the vehicle. If it sounds like it is idling a bit fast then I know it will try to run away with me when I put it in gear so I just wait for it to idle down to normal before putting it in gear.

Filed Nov 12, 2008 · Acceleration, Engine · 33,000 miles · IN

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. When the heater is operated, the vehicle would idle extremely high. The failure has been occurring since fall of 2006. The contact stopped at a traffic light and the failure recurred. Suddenly, the vehicle accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failures. The manufacturer stated that if the dealer could not duplicate the failures, then nothing could be done. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 33,000 and current mileage was 74,300.