2003 SATURN ION Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2003. SHE STATED THAT IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL IN COLD WEATHER AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED GETTING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED A SECOND TIME AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 88,500. UPDATED 01/29/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/01/10.*JB

2003 SATURN ION. THIS CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD WEATHER. IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR WILL STALL. I HAVE READ THAT THE DIFFICULTLY MAY HAVE TO DO WITH A TYPE OF LUBRICANT ON THE STARTER, WHICH HARDENS IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE CAR STALLS AS A RESULT, AND THEN THE PASS-LOCK KICKS IN. AFTER 8 MINUTES, THE CAR MAY START, OR ONE MAY HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 8 MINUTES (OR MORE) FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH TO LOOSEN UP ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THE CAR MAY STALL YET AGAIN---AND SET OFF THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM YET AGAIN. *TR

2003 ION, WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE ERROR NOTED ON THE DISPLAY NOTES THEFT INTERLOCK, IF YOU WAIT 10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START. AT TIMES THE KEY WILL STICK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT, AT TIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THIS INTERLOCK NEEDS TO BE A SATURN RECALL. *TR

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION STARTING IN THE COLD WEATHER. I HAVE HAD MY STARTER CHECKED ALONG WITH SEVERAL BATTERY REPLACEMENTS, YET THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A STOP TO THIS ISSUE. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE FOR SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE AND UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS A SOLUTION ONLY COMPLAINTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF SATURN ION'S AND GM DOES NOT SEEM TO FEEL THE NEED TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I HAVE READ ABOUT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN BEING STRANDED BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO START THEIR SATURNS IN THE COLD WEATHER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYONE IN THE VICINITY TO HELP THEM OUT. THE CAR USUALLY TAKES ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO START AFTER INITIALLY TRYING - WHICH NO CAR SHOULD HAVE TO DO. PLEASE GET ON GM/SATURN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS (GENERALLY COLD CONDITIONS) PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING FOR TEN (10) MINUTES PRIOR TO NEXT ATTEMPT. THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD/RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THE NEED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT (IE., WOMAN IN LABOR) OR AN INDIVIDUAL FLEEING A DANGEROUS SITUATION (IE., MANDATORY EVACUATIONS). THIS IS A SECURITY FEATURE AND NOT REQUIRED FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AS SUCH; IN LIEU OF THE NUMBER OF MALFUNCTIONS WITH SAID SYSTEM, THE OWNER OF SAID VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF HAVING SAID SYSTEM DISABLED AT THEIR DISCRETION INCURRING LITTLE OR NO COST BY THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD COUPE AND AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THESE PEOPLE(HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/SATURN/ION/R97727/COMMENTS/) HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS STARTED NOV. 2008 WHEN I WOULD GO TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD MAKE NO NOISE WHAT SO EVER OR IT WOULD START AND STALL...AFTER 10 TO 20 MINUTES IT WOULD START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN IT DIDN'T DO IT FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS...THEN IT WAS 2 DAYS...THEN 3 WEEKS...THERE WAS NO PATTERN. IN DEC. 2008 I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THEY REPLACED THE STARTER...I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE MECHANIC AND I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN IT WOULD HAPPEN THEY COULDN'T HELP. THIS STOPPED IN APRIL AND I HAD NO TROUBLE UNTIL NOV. 27, 2009 AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING EVERY FEW DAYS SINCE. I HAVEN'T CALLED SATURN B/C I'M AFRAID THEY WILL BE LIKE MY MECHANIC AND EITHER NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT OR CHARGE ME AN ARM AND A LEG TO GET IT FIX...I WAS LAID OFF TWICE THIS YEAR AND AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED SO PAYING A LOT FOR THIS ISSUE WHEN SATURN SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE FOR THE MASS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR!*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION WHEN THE TIMING BELT BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST SHOULD BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE CONTACT AND THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT A LOT OF ION OWNERS ARE HAVING. CAR WILL NOT START WHEN IT IS COLD AND THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM KICKS IN. ONCE THIS KICKS IN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORIES POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES, PASSLOCK WILL THEN SHUT OFF AND YOU CAN RETRY.IF IT DOES NOT START YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TO TRY AND START. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS BECAUSE OF GREASE THAT IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS GREASE FREEZES UP WHEN COLD. IT DOES SEEM TO HELP IF YOU WARM UP THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A HAIR DRYER OR LIGHTER.I DON'T KNOW WHY GM DOES NOT RECALL THIS. THEY ARE PASSING THEIR SCREW UP ONTO THE CONSUMER. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT MANY PEOPLE STRANDED. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME TILL SOME ONE IS IN A REALLY BAD SITUATION BECAUSE OF THIS. 'SORRY YOUR HAVING A HEART ATTACK MAYBE I CAN START THE CAR IN ANOTHER 10 MINUTES'. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF SOMEONE FROZE TO DEATH BECAUSE OF THIS. AT THE VERY LEAST I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE MISSED MANY HOURS OF WORK. ANYWAYS, I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH TO SEE IF THIS WORKS. I ALREADY BOUGHT A REMOTE START WHICH BYPASSES THE PASSLOCK WHEN REMOTE START BUT NO ONE WILL INSTALL THIS ON A MANUAL CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE IT TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115000.

I HAVE A 2003 SATURN ION 1 THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH. SUDDENLY ON THE FIRST COLD DAY OF THE WINTER IT HAD TROUBLE STARTING. AFTER THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STARTING GLOWING. I HAVE SPENT OVER $350 REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES AND THE AIR FILTER. I HAVE FOUND A RECALL FOR THE SATURN L SERIES FOR AN IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. I'M STILL NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM BUT IF IT IS IT WILL COST $650 TO FIX IT. I MAY NOT HAVE AN L SERIES CAR BUT THEY WERE MADE WITH THE SAME ENGINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN BE DESTROYED SO QUICKLY (UNDER 100,000 MILES) WITHOUT SOMETHING BEING WRONG. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR