2003 Saturn ION from North America - Comments

I am very upset by reading all of these reviews and not only is this one website, but there are many with the same problems. I have a 2003 saturn ion and I have had the start problem too. It has been going on for about 6 months. Some days I will shut it off get back in to run somewhere and nothing the car won't turn over. I thought it was the oxygen sensor or the catalyitic converter, but now I don't' know. I will be very mad if I spend the money for them to run a diagnostic and them find nothing. What makes me even more mad is that I'm stuck in a loan for 2 more years and I have to deal with a piece of crap car because Saturn doesn't know how to make a good car. When I bought the car I thought saturn makes reliable good cars now I have a hole new opinion saturn cars are crap and I wouldn't advice anyone to buy one.

Fellow Saturn owners: STOP TAKING YOUR CARS TO SATURN TO FIX THE COLD WEATHER NO START PROBLEM!! Saturn will charge you $200 to replace the ignition switch, but sadly that repair will not correct the problem. The problem stems from a faulty design in the ignition switch. The switch leaks lubricant onto the wires of the ignition system. In cold temperatures this lubricant freezes and prevents the electrical signal needed by the Passlock anti-theft system from being received by the BCM (body control module). When this signal isn't received the anti-theft system kicks in, thinking someone is trying to steal the car. It shuts off the fuel delivery system for a default period of 10 minutes. If you are lucky and the frozen lube doesn't impede the signal again after the 10 minutes is up, your car will start. The problem is the new ignition switches will leak eventually too, resulting in the same problem in cold weather. The cheapest and easiest fix for this comes from a company called Alarmtek. They sell a GM Passlock Bypass Module called the PLJX for 59.95 + 8.99 shipping and handling. Any stereo/alarm installer can install this unit for a nominal fee. The unit bypasses the passlock system when the vehicle is started either with the key or with a remote start system. I researched this problem for several weeks before deciding what to do to fix my 03 ION. Since installing the unit I have had no problems starting the car in freezing temperatures. STOP freezing while you wait for your car to start and spend less than $100 to fix the problem without handing your money over the dealer for a repair that won't fix it. Also we should all make complaints to the NHTSA about this defect. The link for the PLJX module is : http://www.nopasslock.com/ Good luck, and DON'T BUY CHEAP GM CRAP IN THE FUTURE, I KNOW I Won't!!!

I am so disgusted by these comments regarding the Ion no-start condition. I bought my 2004 Ion2 less than a year ago. The car has the same problems as all of you have! Will not start in cold (sub-zero) temperatures. I'm filing a complaint on the NHTSA site right now. This is ridiculous. Please keep us regretful Saturn owners informed of any much-needed recalls!!

Same problem after owning four Saturns I just bought a Chevy Cobolt. Profits go to the same shareholders however I was able to different set of parts and use my GM card points.

I had the same problems with my 2004 ion. Because of all your comments, I knew what the problem was. Thank you.

Same deal, car would have problems starting in the cold... ten minutes would go by and then it would start up.

The folks at the dealership knew exactly what it was and told me it would cost $200 (my car only had 29,000 miles, but it was 3.5 years old). I went ahead and filed a complaint with Corporate.

Corporate said that I needed to have an $80 diagnostic done to verify that it was the switch and then we would go from there. I relented. When they confirmed it was the ignition switch, they replaced it at no charge (including the diagnostic).

I also have a 2004 Saturn Ion with the cold start problem. After reading the first comments on this site, I called the closest Saturn dealer, 50 miles away, and they said that they would have to charge me for repairs. I called Saturn Customer Service and they said that since I didn't have any prior service history, I needed to have it diagnosed and I could negotiate with my dealer for costs. My dealer offered to diagnose for about $30. I checked for the part on-line and found an ignition switch for $33 plus shipping and handling. My Saturn dealer has the part for $23.00 plus tax. I am having a relative who lives close to the dealer pick up the switch so I don't have to make a special trip. I purchased a Haynes manual from Amazon for $16 and will try to replace the switch next week. I probably won't know the results until next winter, but I am not optimistic after reading recent posts.

I don't have the cold start problem because I live in a warmer state, but the ignition switch won't work. It takes ten minutes just to get the key to turn the car on. I know that I will have to get the same problem fixed again so I will NOT buy another Saturn.

I have a 2003 Saturn Ion and similar symptoms to the cold start problem, except mine seems to happen when the temperature warms up (above 32F). No lights go on and the car always starts, but it takes a few tries, and when it does start, the engine idles at a very high RPM for about 30 seconds, before going back to the normal range. Has anyone experienced this?

By the way, have any of you had to replace the battery in a 2003 Ion? My daughter has had the same problems with no start that all of you are complaining about and now that the car is outside of the extended warranty they tell her it is her battery and it is going to cost her $177 for the battery and their install fee. I called Interstate to get a price on the battery and they do not make one - you are locked into Saturn because it is a special type because it is in the trunk. They are going to get you one way or another. I have a 2001 LS2 and I have never had the first moments problem with my car - wouldn't trade it for the world but unfortunately that is not the case for my daughter. She is a single mom and does not have the money or the time to worry about a car that will not start because of faulty parts. Maybe a class action suit is needed to get things moving with Saturn.

APRIL 14 2008

I have been having a few problems with my 2003 Ion. I haven't experienced the cold weather start problem, however I have had to replace the battery last December and have not had any problems with that since. I have warranty until May 2 of this year, and a month ago I had to replace the left wheel bearing, which was under warranty, and the steering was making a crunching noise, they had to replace the steering shaft which was not under warranty. Underneath I am hearing a squeaking noise when I go over bumps and a bit of a thump, I think it has something to do with the sway bar, but that will not be covered under warranty either.

My main concern is the transmission, when I am going down a hill and brake, the rpm revs up and the car seems to stick in a gear and will not shift until I either step on the gas or brake; sometimes it will act the same when I am going up a hill and step on it. I had it to Saturn and they re-calibrated the computer and said they fixed the problem, but it still acts up, however not as bad. I have 2 weeks before the warranty is over, so if anybody could offer some advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

I like the car and price, but as they say, "You get what you pay for!".

FROM GRUMPY SATURN OWNER IN CANADA!

The Aisin-manufactured 5-speed automatic transmission in your ION is calibrated to remain in a lower gear as you descend a hill in order to assist the brakes (engine braking). This transmission is quite noticeable in this characteristic, but it is intentional and working as designed.

Thanks for the input on my transmission issue, and I hope

that is all it is, I made an appointment with a transmission

specialist just because I thought saturn was waiting for my

warranty was out to tell me what the problem was, I will

comment later on what the result of that was later.

I live in Kentucky, and have a 2003 Ion. Car will start fine but... sometimes I cannot turn it off!! Help!!! It's got to be the same problem, only reversed. Switch from the dealer $26.12.