2004 Saturn ION 2 from North America - Comments

When I purchased the car the power-door lock on the passenger side did not work. Took it to the dealership and they said the wiring was lose and the fixed it, plus the said my handle on the driver's door was sticking and they fixed it too. I never notice that the handle stuck. The battery went dead for some unknown reason. No lights were on and it went dead fast. The clock said 11:45 when I got out and when I got it started it said 11:50. I have no idea what would make a car go dead that fast! Plus I could not get the key out of the ignition after it wouldn't start. Other than that no problems.

Gets really great gas mileage. I drive 75 miles a day to work and back and can usually make the whole week on a tank of gas. Plus I can fill up on $20. It's not as peppy as my zx2 that I had, but only had it for a month before I got rear-ended. The seats do stain easily.

Are you sure that the battery was dead? I went out to start my Ion this winter and at first I thought the battery was dead. There was absolutely nothing: no crank, not even an attempt to turn over. Then I did a few checks and noticed that the interior light would come on etc, so the battery couldn't be that dead. I just figured there wasn't enough capacity to turn the car over. So... I had the car brought into the dealership to get the battery/charging system diagnosed. At first they said they couldn't fit me in that day, but when I started to describe the fault, they "magically" found a spot and said they would take care of me. Later on, when they called to say it was ready, I expected to hear it was a charging system problem. Imagine my surprise to hear they had to replace the Ignition Switch. The Service Manager gave me very little information, just that they ran the codes and had to replace a faulty ignition switch. He explained that some of the tumblers in the switch were not falling when the switch was engaged, therefore the car wouldn't start. However, when signing off on the work order for the warranty work, I saw on the form;" Customer Complaint: NO CRANK/NO START" and then under work performed "Replace Ignition Switch per Technical Service Bulletin XXXXXX". Therefore, they already KNEW about this problem and I was stuck out in the -30 degree weather with a one year old car that wouldn't start. After doing some poking around on the Internet, I've found that there is a TSB out from GM on Ion ignition switch as it's a common problem with the Ions. Anyhow, this could be what happened to you. It could appear as an intermittent problem until the switch totally fails. After I got mine fixed, I though back to a couple of other times in the summer when my car didn't start when I first turned it over. Figuring I didn't have the clutch depressed far enough, I just re-engaged the clutch and tried again and the car started, so I was writing it off the clutch switch. It was really the switch failing and this was just a pre-cursor to the total failure that was going to happen in the winter.

Cheers!

My Saturn SL2 has refused to turn over for me twice with power obviously still going to the rest of the vehicle. The problem turned out to be the anti-theft system disabling the engine for some odd reason. I simply got the clicker out, enabled and disabled the system and it started.

I have a 2003 - Ion 3 Saturn and today I took my car in because of the panel flashing vehicle problems (also showed a car with a pad lock symbol). Saturn called me just now and said it was my ignition switch, and that it will cost me $100.00 because I have a $100.00 deductible. The problem is that the ignition switch bypasses the security system, which explains the Security System icon at the same time. This is a known problem, and there is a Service Bulletin on it. I found it on the Internet. Other people have had the same problems with their Ions. But I am a second-time Saturn owner and I think since Saturn knows of this problem it should be a RECALL. Since I have owed this Saturn I have had some painful experiences with many parts of the engine. I have paid many $100.00 deductibles and I am getting a little tired of paying. I am so glad I took the car in. I am very conscious about taking care of my car because I know I could be stuck late at night with a dead car. Saturn has always been good name, and many of my friends purchase had purchased one when I purchased my first Saturn in 1997 because I trust their words. But now I am 4 steps back about praising the Saturn line. If Saturn knows about the many problems people are having, and still doesn't own up to their problem, then they have changed how they feel about their cars and do not care about their customers.

I own a 2003 Saturn Ion and have had the ignition switch replaced 3 times. The last in November 2005, and also the computer.

My car didn't turn over Thursday May 18th at lunch, and when I tried a couple minutes later it started, so I took it to the Saturn dealer and told them the problem again, and they checked the car and said no codes came up, or couldn't find a problem with the switch, the battery or the starter.

Saturday night, May 20th at 12:30 a.m. my car wouldn't start again. Now I have to have it towed to Saturn to tell me the switch again, and when I asked them when they replaced it the last time, they said it was the computer, but with the second switch they said it was faulty switches. I must have got the whole lot.

Now I find there is a problem with the switch from this web site, but I was never told. But why do they keep replacing them and not fixing the problem?

I own an '04 Ion. In Jan. of '05, I had the same problem with it not starting, had it jumped thinking it was the battery, etc. I took it to Saturn that day, described the problem, and that I thought I had a bad battery. They said no, it sounded like my ignition switch. I was told a woman had been in and they thought she was crazy when she said her car would not start on super cold mornings... until the sun hit the hood of the car. They figured out she was right, and that the ignition switch was bad. They had found it on a lot of cars, and the dealer told me they thought it SHOULD be a recall. They fixed it, and I had no other problems until last week, when it started happening again. (Winter of '06 I was in the South) I have moved and am trying to get it into another dealership that isn't as helpful as my first. This should have been a recall 2 or 3 years ago!

I have an 05 Saturn Ion with this same problem of not starting on cold days. When I called the dealer he said maybe switch, funny that when I asked if he had seen it before he said not really. This has very good information on this site. Now I know the problem. Thanks to all for the info.

I have a 2003 Ion and the key gets stuck in the ignition a lot. Sometimes it takes 10 or more minutes to get it out. Took it to the dealer and they said it was an "actuator" sticking in the shifter on the floor. But most of the many many complaints on different websites say the problem is the tumblers in the steering column. Darned if I know, but it cost me a bundle and when I got it home the key stuck in the ignition. Seems to me from all the people complaining about the same problem, there should be a recall. They lost me as a customer when I called the main Saturn office and they couldn't have cared less.

I have a 2003 Saturn L200 and last week when it was very cold, I think it was in the 20's the car wouldn't start. After attempting several times to start my car, I had to get it towed. The mechanic could not see me that day, but promised that he would look at it first thing in the morning. The next day the car started right up for the mechanic. He called me to say that they could find nothing wrong. I got my car back and thus far have not had any problems. It hasn't been as cold. Today, one of my co-workers asked if I had problems starting my car when it was cold. He said his neighbor had a Saturn and when it was cold outside it would not start and that there was an entire website dedicated to this issue. I'm glad that I have found this information. While I was happy not to have to pay to get my car fixed that day, I have been uneasy about driving for fear that one day I will be stuck somewhere and the car won't start. I can't tell you how excited I am going to be to tell the mechanic tomorrow that I wasn't crazy and that he wasn't either because he couldn't find anything.

I live in Indiana & I own a 2004 Ion. Anytime the temp. drops below 25-30 my car won't start. I've had it in to the shop 4 times, with no real solution.

I own a 2003 Saturn ION and have the same COLD START issues. Today I started my car to back out of the garage so I could replace a blown turn signal bulb. Ten minutes later the car won't start. Nothing happens when I turn the switch, but I do notice the PASSLOCK is ON telling me that the computer thinks the car is being started or attempted to being started illegally. This is not the first time this has happened. Whenever it gets to around 30F it happens. I have had the car two months and it has happened about ten times. So today I determined that it isn't the ignition switch at all, but is actually the resistive (PASSLOCK) circuit INSIDE the ignition switch that is causing the issue. When the temperature drops the resistive value in the PASSLOCK system also drops. Apparently when the temperature drops below 30F or so the resistive value measured by the PASSLOCK system is OUT OF SPECIFICATION so the car won't start. This locks out the system for TEN MINUTES. Instead of paying $200 to $500 each time this happens to get the ignition switch replaced I am bypassing the PASSLOCK system. This removes the problem 100% and should allow the car to start EVERY SINGLE TIME. Some GM cars have the resistor in the KEY, some have it in the ignition switch. Unfortunately for us ION owners the resistor is INSIDE the IGNITION SWITCH. You can BYPASS the PASSLOCK system completely so it will never be a problem. I ordered the PASSLOCK BYPASS module today to render this problem obsolete. There are many bypass systems out there, but the one I chose is this one: http://members.tripod.com/alarmtek/GMCISCRAZY.html The PLJX is the latest model and instead of paying $60 from them I found it on Ebay for $39 plus shipping. This device bypasses the PASSLOCK system so the car will start every time. I will post again when I receive the unit and have it installed. Hopefully this is an inexpensive and permanent fix for Saturn's mistakes.

What you wrote about bypassing pass-lock makes good sense. Except when I looked all that up, the PLJX only bypasses system when remote starter is being used. So, I'm anxious to see how that works out for you. Do you need to use remote starter or not?

I received the PLIX Passlock Bypass module yesterday and am examining the wiring diagram now. I expect to have the project completed by the end of this week. As for using a remote starter I don't think I have to, but I will find out soon enough. According to what I have read so far in the instructions it has you test the Passlock Bypass by starting the car WITHOUT pushing in the clutch (on a Manual transmission which is what my car has) but using the key. Apparently this is all part of the system that needs to be bypassed AND the instructions are VERY SPECIFIC on NOT connecting the last wire (to the Remote Starter) until you have ensured the BYPASS module is working correctly. So, with that in mind it seems to me I don't have to have a remote starter. I will post again once I get it connected and let everyone know how it works. I am not paying Saturn up to $500 to replace my ignition switch just so it can fail again next winter. Enough is enough.

I have just read that for 2003 Saturn Ion's, which is what I have and have also had problems getting it to start, there is a recall for the ignition switch, I'm getting it replaced tomorrow.

I have been the owner of a 2006 saturn Ion for 1 year almost to the dot. Last after returning from filling my gas tank, and pulling into my driveway, the key would not come out of my ignition and my car would not turn off. I turned the wheel from side to side, even drove back around the block and tried switching gears... nothing. I pushed the little blue onstar button that I pay monthly for and the woman told me that all the service station in my area were closed (it was 12:00 midnight) and she could not send anyone out to help me. She told me I had the option of reading my owner manual for some "tips" on how to remove the key or call back and she would connect me to saturns roadside service. I told her I would try the owners manual and if I still had no luck, I would call back. The owners manual says to remove a small plate underneath the steering wheel and stick your finger inside and move the "plunger" towards the drivers side door which should release the key. Well, there is no button, switch, or anything of the sort in that little hole, just some grease and wires.

I called her back and she connected me to saturns roadside service. The man on the phone told me that there was nothing he could do for me. They could not tow my car since it was not "off" and they could not send anyone out to do a repair at this time of night. I was thinking to myself "why do I pay extra for all this stuff that is supposed to help me in situations like this and now no one will help me" I just wanted a guy to come out and turn my car off somehow! BUt they would not send me any help. They told me I would have to let my car run out of gas, remember I just got home from filling my tank! That means I would have had to let my car run all night, possibly overheating, getting stolen, or catching fire. He also told me that another possibility would me to unhook the battery. I asked him if that was dangerous and he said "yes" you need tohave someone that knows what they are doing do that. HMMMMMMM maybe a roadside assistance employee?!?!?!? SO no I had to call my uncle at 2:00 am and bribe him with money to drive to my house and see what he could do. We unhooked the battery in the trunk and NOTHING!! THE CAR WAS STILL ON!!! SO finally he unplugged the wire under the hood which runs the computer system and my car turned off. It stayed in the ON position all night with the key stuck in it, until this morning when they finally sent me a tow driver to pick it up. THe tow truck Driver took my car the saturn dealership and I'm waiting to hear the results. My car is under warranty, but I don't care.. its less than a year old and it should not be doing this. Its like the movie tommy boy, "i could take a dump in a box and guarantee it". I m very disappointed at the customer service of saturn and their disregard for my safety. I would strongly recommend taking your business to a company that makes their customers and their safety a priority. They also told me that they have never heard of this situation before! what a lie! They had to recall an older model because of ignition problems. Also you can look up information and find HUNDREDS of customer complaints on the this company and the ignition problems. Is is going to take someone dying to recall this? Saturn needs to realise that this is a common problem with their product and they need to ATLEAST offer someone to come out to shut off the car and tow it. It took my uncle about 15 minutes to figure it out... Changing a tire is just as easy, but they WILL come out and do that for you. That should be part of their roadside service program... they need to be there for the customers that are giving them their paychecks.

The seats stain from water which is super annoying... I invested in some custom-fit seat covers. Upron installing I came accross the problem of getting the back seats to move forward. My car did not come with and owner's manual... can anyone tell me how to move them forward?