2003 Saturn ION from North America - Comments

I have a 2003 Saturn Ion 2 and I have been having the same issues with it not starting. It happened once this winter and I blamed it on the cold. It happened again three weeks ago and then happened today when I was on my lunch break. I am taking it in to Saturn tomorrow and I filed a complaint with Saturn about this issue.

I have also had to replace the cable that opens the front hood twice and have the motor in the windshield wipers replaced. I had issues with the blinker bulbs for a long time before they finally recalled that and had spent hundreds changing the bulbs. I am very unhappy with everything that has gone wrong with this vehicle. I will let you all know what happens after going to the dealership tomorrow to get it looked at.

Severely Unhappy.

My wife's 03 Saturn Ion does the same thing, but it has to be under 10 degrees. The ignition switch has been replaced 3 times over the last 3 years. The last time we were taking the car in for a recall on the windows, and when we pulled up to the over head door and waited for them to open it, my wife tried to shut off the engine and she couldn't. The service manager came out and tried, but he couldn't turn it off either. Two more people tried and the last guy drove it into a service bay.

I do work for GM, but I am not getting any satisfaction either. The dealer has been helpful.

Paul.

My daughter has a 2004 Ion Stick shift and has had winter starting problems for the last 2 years. She took it to her mechanic and he diagnosed a bad ignition switch, He replaced it for a couple of hundred dollars and she hasn't had a starting problem since.

I also own a 2003 Saturn Ion. Starting problems are getting more and more frequent hoping this will go away as the weather warms up here in Michigan. Next time will try heating up the key. Heck it won't start at least once a day lately. The white wire sounds like the first solution I will try but I think I will find someone to install a toggle switch there so I don't have to worry about the light. Was always a Ford person till this purchase and will always be a Ford person never again will I but a Saturn product since they will not acknowledge and fix a definite problem with their vehicle. Loyalty is only earned by those who deserve it and Saturn is not deserving.

2003 Saturn ION3 owner here. I've been round and round with Saturn, but not about this...yet.

First problem was the lugs breaking off my wheels. I had purchased some special alloy wheels - it was shown that way on the showroom floor and they wouldn't swap them out. So I ended up paying $5000 extra for these wheels I didn't want. Then the 3 lugs broke of one wheel and 1 on another. They agreed to swap me my wheels for the regular ION3 wheels. With no refund. So I was basically about a couple grand for wheels I didn't have.

My next problem was with a timing chain assembly failure at only 75,000 miles. The pretty much told me it was my fault and $1500 later, they fixed. This didn't jive with me, so I complained on their website and ended up talking to a District Customer relations blah blah person. She just continued to get my name wrong and ended with an equivalent of "tough cookies".

Now this problem with the starter, which only acts up in the cold.

I love my car. I like the salespeople at the two Saturn dealers I've been to. The service technicians I've had are incompetent, inconsistent, and uncaring. You'd think the current economic climate of the failing auto industry, they'd be a little more focused on customer retention.

-Not Thrilled in St. Louis.

I've been having the same problem with my car. I contacted the Saturn customer service line. They were of no help, but I was told that Saturn doesn't do recalls until the Highway Safety people tell them to do so. So everyone make sure to file a complaint there. I also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Maybe if enough of us make official complaints, they will finally do something about it.

I got my '03 Ion in February. I love this car since it is in good shape and runs really nice in the highway.

However, last month it started giving me the same problem with the ignition switch. On the same day that I experienced this problem for the first time, I found this website, then I called SATURN and told them that I was having this problem. I'm going to take the car in tomorrow since it is doing it more now; it used to take me between 5-10 minutes to start my car, now I have to wait from 20 to 40 minutes!! This is ridiculous, I work full time and I’m a full time student, I need a reliable car. Also, I was wondering if some one else has tried this http://www.nopasslock.com/ some one suggested it, so I'd like to know if this would be good or not?

Hey all.

I skimmed the comments here and just wanted to add my experience.

My wife has an 03 ION, which had the cold start issues. Not sure if this has been covered as I only skimmed the comments but according to Saturn, the ignition switch has been redesigned.

That said and this is funny, I ordered the switch and went to pick it up from the dealer. Since I was there after work I was in a suit and tie. The guy asked if I needed a copy of the diagram, which showed the blow up of parts. As we looked at it, I took about 2 minutes to trace the parts and said "perfect, this will be simple". The guy chuckled as if to say uh huh sure. The guy in the suit is going to replace the part.

Anyway, I have been working on my cars since I was 15 and don't need a mechanic for most things that I do not need shop specific tools for.

30 minutes later, the switch was replaced and my wife has never had the issue again.

So, call the dealer, confirm the replacement part is the new updated one and replace it yourself. It will cost all of $40 and change.

Best of luck to ya all!!!

I bought my 2003 Saturn in June 2003 and it has had problem after problem. Ignition switch replaced 3 times, wire that connects to open hood replaced twice, transmission replaced and arm bushings went within 3 months of purchase... don't buy a Saturn :(

I bought my 03 Saturn Ion 2 QC in July 2003. 6 yrs, 37K miles. Only problems have been a faulty driver's side auto window switch (fixed under warranty) and control arm bushings (replaced, solved the front end knocking sound), then yesterday came the ignition switch issue.

Not a cold temp issue for me. Here's why: Ocotober in AZ, not cold. And the start issue happened twice after I'd been driving and the engine was warm. First time I get home from the store, turn the car off. A minute later I try to start the car, and nothing. Like everyone else, a few minutes later I try again. It starts to turnover, but doesn't start. A few minutes later it starts. No issues in the following days, even in the "chilly" AZ October mornings (garaged).

A week later (yesterday) I go to Discount Tire to get my tires checked. Turn off the car. A couple minutes later I try to leave, car won't start. They push me out. Then the cycle starts again. Guy at Jiffy Lube checks the battery. It's fine. Car starts within a few minutes. I drive directly to dealership. Pulled codes B2960, B3033. Let them replace the ignition switch (didn't want to deal with this anymore or get stranded, $160 parts and labor).

Get home and find this site. After reading all these posts, I'm happy to know that the diagnosis was probably correct and problem solved.

My Ion's been good to me, but it's probably time for a new car.

Well, I bought my 03 Saturn in 2005. I have occasionally had problems with it starting.

This Fall so far is a whole different ball game. It is daily, I was going to make an appointment today to get it looked at. Now that I have an idea what I am facing, I will be going to buy the ignition switch, and having it installed by a mechanic I can trust. Living in Ottawa, Canada where it is going to get to -30+ this winter, my husband and I need a reliable vehicle. Thank you for the advice...