2003 Saturn ION from North America - Comments

2003 Saturn Ion.

I went to change the oil and guess what, the hood wouldn't open because the latch is seized. So being a procrastinator, I drove around for a week until it got cold... Now it won't start in the cold, the hood is stuck shut. I almost got a tow, but then it started. The brake rotors were so thin, they warped also causing the a terrible road noise problem and causing the steering wheel to shake which loosened up something in the steering. Needed new brakes, new tires (the brakes made them wear so that they were very very loud), and I haven't yet fixed the steering linkage. Two weeks ago I replaced the suspension bushings because it sounded like a 20 year old car going over bumps in the road. This car is 4 years old and only has 40,000 miles on it. I'm glad to see that my problems aren't isolated. Somewhere earlier in this post there was someone asking where this troublesome switch is... it is the thing you actually put your key in as far as I understand.

2004 Saturn ION 2 Owner - Colorado. I'm very glad I found this site, and a few others. I am extremely frustrated. I have been a Saturn Owner for 9 years now, and drive a ton of miles every year. I traded my 99 in with 217K on it with only paying about 300 out of pocket service charges outside of normal wear and tear (fluids, plugs, belts, etc.) I got the Ion as a commuter car and have since had several quirky issues with it, many of which posted here. It started nearly immediately when it through the serpentine belt while getting on the freeway, went to Autozone, dealer only part. So, fixed that. Then when it was cool, and I've noticed humid, it will high idle after it warms up, sometimes all the way up to 3500rpm. Turning off the ignition and restarting it immediately corrects the problem as long as the car is warmed up fully. I took it in for repairs for that, they couldn't duplicate it, next morning same thing. Took it back, they gave me a courtesy car, replaced the computer, gave it back, next morning, same thing. New courtesy car, this time replacing MAP sensor, send it home, same problem, finally, they kept it, replaced the throttle control, and 9 days later (no kidding, 9 days in a courtesy vehicle) they returned it to me and it was fixed. Then... this winter hits, high idle begins. I take it in, they charge me $70 for diagnostics (it's out of warranty now) then return it to me as No Trouble Found. I have an OBDII scanner and could have told them that they wouldn't find anything. I had them pull up the records from 2005 and show them my frustration. They said that they couldn't just go about replacing parts without seeing the failure. Eventually, they waived the cost and asked to keep it overnight. I can't do that now without a courtesy vehicle (that I'd have to pay for). Now it's getting scary, doing it more frequently. I'm going to try to clean the throttle control myself this weekend as I found this fixed the problem in another post. The cold-no-start issue happened last fall. Since it was out of warranty, I found my battery a little weak (only about 50% CCA), so replaced it. Magically that seemed to fix the problem, but then it happened again last week, nearly a year to the day, when we went below 25 degrees at night. Turned the ignition, it started, ran for 1-2 seconds then just cut off. The blinking padlock and service engine message came on. Then, tried to start, Click, and nothing. I used my other vehicle to jump it and away I was. I hear other people saying that got it running too, so here's something to ponder. How long does it take you to get someone to jump it, hook up the cables, and turn the ignition? I am willing to bet it's more than 8-10 minutes (the time it takes for the security system to give you an OK to try to start again). Anyway, I know this is the problem now, the faulty ignition switch hardware coupled with the passlock system. Thanks to this site, I'm going to try to negotiate a free fix on this. Otherwise, I'm going to bypass my PASSLOCK system for about 45 minutes of rewiring and a $45 bypass part available online. That has made this problem disappear for many. One questionable thing I have is if perhaps there's something in the ignition switch also causing my high idle speeds and surges. I will find that out this weekend after the throttle cleaning I believe. This is so disappointing, all the same problems, front bushing replacements (it's popping again now at 95K), seats that stain with water, cd player popping cd's out or just making an irritating pop sound on the speakers and not playing the cd at all, cold start issue with PASSLOCK disabling attempts for 8-10 minutes, unexplained throttle and idle surges, but luckily my hood still pops, that day is coming soon where that won't work I'm sure. 9 years of Saturn, seven years of satisfaction, and now 2 years of solid frustration. Maybe since the ION was made to "replace the S-series for S-series drivers", that they did this to get rid of their cheap car buyers and the higher end models have better luck? In any event, Saturn is doing a p*** poor job of Customer Service on Ion owners, and making me look at imports again. My wife will never choose another Saturn, I may have to follow suit.

I also have a 2003 Saturn Ion. My husband and I noticed the no starting problem last winter. We purchased a new battery for it and haven't had problems with it again until this year. Yup, you guessed right, as soon as cold weather hit.

This isn't the first problem that I have had with this car. There have been things since a week after I bought it (brand new). This site has sealed the deal for me... no more Saturns for my family. I want them to be safe!

Everyone with 2003 Saturn Ion problems needs to go to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/results.cfm to file a complaint! I found only a handful of ignition complaints filed with them, so if we want a recall to be issued, put your complaint on there.

Maybe if we get enough Saturn owners to do it, they will issue one. This is a great chance for us to have a say without dealing with the dealerships, because I do not believe they care!

I willhave had my 2003 Saturn Ion for going on 5 years in May 2008. EVERY winter since I've had it, it has given me the same problems. The lovely CLICK when you turn the key, flashing lights, and stalling out. The first winter I took it to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong with it.

It didn't do it enough until last winter when it was a weekly thing. I started parking it where I knew there was sun in the morning, but sometimes that didn't even help.

Took it to a trusted garage and they told me it was a bad spot in the starter. So spent $700 on a new starter. Everything was fine since I didn't replace the starter until late winter and it stayed above 40.

But this morning it did it again. I parked in the shade, thinking I have a new starter, it's fine. But nope. Even though I was so looking forward to paying it off, I think I have to suck it up and get a new car. NOT a Saturn.

I posted in Feb 2007 regarding this, after being locked out 3 times. I took the car in last night for an oil change and brought to their attention this issue again, and made mention of the service bulletin. They asked how many times I was affected and I said I was locked out 3 times. They said no problem, they would cover it under the warranty. I said I've had the car for 4 years, they said no problem I was under 36,000 miles and my car was an 04 and this was 07, so "technically" it was 3 years 36k.. but whatever they wanted to make good.

Came in 5 hours later and they notated the service bulletin in the work order, noted that the lock codes existed and replaced the ignition switch. They charged the warranty $68 dollars for parts and labor. (honestly if I had to pay 68 dollars I would have.. from reading other posts about this problem I thought it would have cost well over 2-300 dollars.)

I guess that's why my Saturn Dealership does such great business here, they do what they can to keep their customers happy. They also replaced the passenger side seatbelt guide (that piece of crap plastic thing that breaks constantly.. I'm on my second one for passenger and driver... anyone have issues with theirs?)

I wish I had found this site sooner. Add me to list of unhappy 2003 Saturn ION owners. My 18 year old son purchased this car new and with his own hard earned money. We had hoped to avoid the aches, pains and expense of a used car. What a mistake! We can accept the recalls, however the other problems are unacceptable.

At 6000 miles the front brakes were pulsating and pulling. Bad front pads and scored rotors. At 17,000, total brake replacement at his expense.

Low miles, but out of warranty. Also, at 17,000 four worn out and dry rotted tires. And a major transmission leak. Ouch! Imagine going in for a routine oil change and rotation only to hear you need 1,200 dollars in repairs! The worst part is the car had all maintenance done at the dealership and on time.

We have also had broken hood latch cable, blower motor replacement for the heating system, CD player skips, power window issues on passenger side.

Now a 300 dollar repair, at 24,000, wiper blade transmission not working. Of course, over Thanksgiving weekend while out of town. The closest dealer 60 miles away. It snowed overnight so we had to wait for clean pavement for a save drive home.

So much for the "great reputation" of owning a Saturn. We would love to visit Spring Hills, however it would be best if a Saturn tech followed with a trailer load of spare parts.

Too bad for us, did not know the neighbor's had their ION returned under the lemon law seven months after purchase.

2003 Saturn Ion 101k (highway miles) CT; the same cold start problem about 10x over last 2 years. I filed a complaint and addressed the issue to the Hartford/CT dealer and am waiting for a reply. No repair actions taken on my own.

2003 Saturn Ion, No-crank no-start.

They replaced ignition switch last time, still has issues. Took it to dealer and they said they can't replicate the issue so they can't fix it for me. Saturn customer service is no help. There has to be some sort of action we can take as consumers to get this issue addressed. I tried the NHTSA site, but didn't see any investigations and the forms seem to be overly complicated. (I.E. how am I supposed to know what manufacturer made the ignition switch?)

Anyone start a petition? A letter of complaint that I can throw my signature on? A class-action lawsuit or something?

Beside never buying a GM again and continuing to let people know how crappy Saturn is now, I feel like there needs to be some sort of response from the company to address the issue besides their continued denial.

I have a 2006 Saturn Ion3 and it looks like this issue is still not resolved in the Saturn vehicles. I am lucky that I live in Arizona and it rarely gets cold, but when it does I am stuck. I like most of the other people on this board am getting no help from the dealership as they say everything is functioning normally I just wish they would call my boss and tell him that he tends to disagree when I am late to work.

I wish I had found this site sooner. Add me to list of unhappy 2003 Saturn ION owners. Purchased this vehicle in April of 2007 no problems until Thanksgiving day, now it has failed to start 7 times since. Called Saturn customer service... waiting for a response from a rep. Do not think it will go anywhere, but maybe all of us should call every day until they resolve it.

I own a 2004 Saturn Ion and not even 3 years after I purchased it, the front struts went out. Of course those are NOT covered in the warranty, so $700.00 out of my pocket to replace(them) and it still sounds like an old clunker when I go over any bumps. The cold no start thing just started in '07 and boy is it annoying. I am glad to know it wasn't just me and that there are others who feel my pain. If there is anything I can sign, or anyone to call to get this recalled and fixed, I would LOVE to know.

My 2004 Saturn Ion 3 started with what looks like the same problem this morning. My boyfriend and I leave early for work (around 5:30-6), and the car would not start, but all of the lights came on and everything. Two days before we have to start traveling for the holidays too! We're looking into getting a remote starter TONIGHT to nip this in the bud. I really wish Saturn would have been more responsible with this model.

My '04 ION has been having this problem for the past week. Just moved from Hawaii to Ohio and the first cold day it happens. I found this page and now I know the problem.

We have a 2003 Saturn Ion2 that my daughter drives. She recently has had trouble starting it at various times. Sometimes it will crank after a few turns of the key, then sometimes she has had to wait an hour or so. We've had the battery checked and it was OK. My brother who has worked on cars all his life said Saturn has a seperate selinoid on the firewall that may be going bad. I'm going to check this first then call the dealer. It has been a pretty good car except for this.