Comments: 1-15, 16-22
The key got stuck in the ignition.
The service engine light came on.
The cruise control stopped working twice.
I have had this car for a little over 2 weeks and have already had 4 problems with it. I purchased it brand new. Less than a week after I picked it up, I was driving to a meeting. When I pulled into my parking spot I shut the car off and the key would not come out of the ignition. I called my father to try and he also couldn't get it out. I ended up leaving it in there while I attended my meeting and then drove it home. After fighting with it for 20 min I was finally able to remove the key.
The following day I went on a hour and a half road trip with a friend. Halfway to our destination, the service engine light came on. It stayed on until the following evening.
At this point I took the car in for service. They said it was a bad sensor and they had to adjust the shifter to ensure the key would come out. They had to keep it overnight and I was given a loaner.
A few days after this happened, a friend was asking about the buttons on my steering wheel. I told her it was the cruise control and proceeded to show her how it works. Much to my surprise, it didn't work.
I was back at the dealership last night and they fixed the cruise. I tested it as I was leaving and it seemed to be working. However this morning I tried it again and it didn't work. I am not happy with this car.
My 2003 Ion, 42,000 miles, has had some four occasions wherein I parked and couldn't remove the key. However, the Owner's Manual provided a methodology that works!
That's pretty messed up when the owners manual describes a way to work around a consistent and known problem.
The owner's manual does not describe how to work with the "problem". It is a safety feature and the problems you seem to be having all sound like operator error to me.
I'm not so sure it's an "operator" error. I rented an '05 Ion and the same problem happened to me. When I got to my client the key became stuck in the ignition. I had several people look at it but it is still stuck. I plan on returning the car and letting the rental company deal with it.
I have a 2005 VUE and had the opposite problem. I could not get the key to turn in the ignition. My husband also insisted that I wasn't doing it right because of the so-called safety feature. I was stranded 4 times in one week and had to be "rescued". After 20 years I think I know how to crank a car!!! At my insistence I had the dealer check it. They replaced the ignition and made me a new key. Works perfectly now!!
When the ignition WILL NOT TURN, or when the key WILL NOT REMOVE, it's because the steering wheel lock is engaged! Turn the steering wheel slightly either way to disengage the lock, you'll hear a click, and then the ignition key can be inserted and turned to start the engine.
Nope. Actually, it's a mechanical failure in the lockout mechanism in certain ION and VUE models, not just a properly operating lockout feature. It especially plagued 2003-2004 ION models. Check alldata. com for the technical service bulletins on this issue, and possibly consider doing a little research before you rant.
Please add the caveat "unless you have a Ford Focus"
The Ford Focus had had numerous ignition issues, and indeed the car will not start when the key is place in the ignition regardless of whether the steering wheel is locked or not.
American cars are designed to break down, pure and simple. And Saturn as a brand is going away unless its SUV and Soltice clone do something for sales.
After initial test drive, local Saturn dealer let me take home used (31,000 miles) 2005 Ion Level-1 this past Saturday after working up contract on it so that I could know exactly what it would cost "out the door". The dealer knows I have daily round trip commute of 100 miles and told me to let him know by about Tuesday if I wanted to close the deal for sure or not. It has brand new tires and floor mats. It is 5 speed manual and shifts very smoothly. I had previously kept one of their used (33,000 miles) 2005 Ford Focus for a couple of days and the difference in ride, particularly road noise, is like night & day with the Ion being much, much smoother & quieter.
The insurance is also less costly on this car. So far, unless something drastic happens to change my mind, I plan on closing deal on this car.
Although EPA lists highway mileage of 35,I have been told that some owners report more. Even as much as 40 MPG! I wonder if that is stretching it just a bit?
Steve.
We couldn't remove the key from our 2003 Saturn Vue. Tried the basics of giggling the steering wheel to unlock. No luck. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the cylinder lock and provided a new key. It was a mechanical problem, not operator error.
OK, 2004 Saturn Ion 3 series owner here!..
Very dissatisfied. Got the car 5 months ago with 9,400 miles on it. It now has 17,000, and as we speak, it's at the dealer, and that makes 7 times now.
The cruise control switch was bad right when I bought the car. Tell me how many cars with 15,000 miles on them do you know of that a motor mount, transmission mount, and 2 sway-bars are all bad?
I got this car for the convenience of not having to have it fixed, and now the dealer has it more than I do! So right now the car is there, because it stalls while driving down the road, it stalls while sitting in the drive, and it comes pretty damn near stalling when you pull it to or from park. This car is a nightmare and I would love to speak with anyone who has the exact same car.
Email me at Sherma2003@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear your experiences!
I experienced the same problem with my 05' Sunfire. Key stuck in couldnt remove. Dealership fixed the ignition which was covered under warranty.
OK next time you are driving your automatic Saturn ion and you can't get the key out make note: "DO I HAVE A CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER?" If the answer to this question is "yes" then there is a simple explanation. The button on the gear shift is probably touching the cup and engaged. If this is the case you can't remove the key. Simply remove the cup and LOOK AT THAT, you can get your keys out. Simple as that!
How is it when you can't get the key out of the ignition an "operator error."? And the steering wheel lock only occurs when turning on the engine, if and only if, the driver has locked the steering wheel when leaving the car parked, not when the driver wants to get the key out. The key should be coming in and out regardless if the lock is on or off.
I have a Saturn SL2 with the same error. Whenever I park while turning to the right my keys locks into the ignition. I can jiggle my wheel, make sure it is locked, and ensure it is in park with still no luck. Sometimes what I have to do is back out and find a spot that I can pull into by turning my wheel to the left. Only issue with that is tonight it began to not work to the left either. I have read tons of posts on other sites about this same issue. It is not driver error and I think that unless it has happened to you then you would not understand. I heard that Saturn dealerships have said to turn it hard or hit it using something heavy. Not about to do so and break my key in the lock. I will never buy a Saturn again...