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Saturn Ion - Ignition Lock

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Melanie of Mangilao OTHER (01/13/09)
The other day, my key got stuck in the 'on' position and I couldn't turn my car off. (I have a Saturn ION '06.) So I drove it to a nearby mechanic and they couldn't get it out and subsequently had to disconnect the wiring to turn it off. I live in Guam where there is no Saturn dealership and the car was shipped here because my husband is in the Navy.

So Saturn won't sell my sister the part in the States even with notarized documentation, etc. I don't know if I can get that a replacement lock cylinder and if I could drive my car that I'm making payments on. I'm scared and frustrated about this and find it unfortunate that they're not trying to help active duty & their family members overseas.

Sara of Liberty, NY January 11, 2009

Sara of Liberty NY (01/11/09)
I see that many people have complained about the ignition switch on the Saturn Ions. I had the same problem and it just cost me 325 to fix the car and pay for a rental. I think there should be a recall and Saturn should be paying for the expenses to fix the vehicle.

Mark of Standish, MI January 10, 2009

Mark of Standish MI (01/10/09)
I bought a 2004 ION, used, in the early summer of 2008 and never had any problem with it until November when the weather turned cold. One morning when the temperature was well below 30 F, my ION would not start. I tried jumping it from my wife's car but to no avail. I went into the house to call work to tell them I would not be in and then went back out to try the car again and it started like there was no problem. I shrugged it off as a fluke and it did not happen again until the temperature took another dip below 30 F.

Now that we are in the deepest part of winter, it's an everyday occurrence, and after allowing myself at least 45 minutes of starting time each morning I can usually get it started. This process is a huge pain in the butt. I have subsequently found out via the internet that this is an ignition switch problem that Saturn is fully aware of, and for which, refuses to issue a re-call, because they don't feel it's a safety issue. It will be a safety isue if someone is stranded somewhere when it's 30 below zero and they freeze to death.

I do not feel that I should have to pay for a part that is faulty, and what assurances do I have that a replaced will work. Have they ironed out the bugs in the switch now, so that a replacement will not fail. Why won't Saturn take the high road here and publicly admit that their switch is crap and that they will issue a recall?

Dolores of Sinton, TX January 6, 2009

Dolores of Sinton TX (01/06/09)
We have a 2006 Saturn Ion and are having the same exact problem with the ignition locking up. My son has been late to work on several occasions, and has been stranded late at night after he got out of work due to this problem. It happens more often when the weather is cold. But the ignition locking up was just the beginning. Now all the lights on the control panel are flickering and the speedometer keeps moving up and down. The dealer said it could be the body control module. We have an appt tomorrow to have it repaired. I can't imagine what the cost will be.

With all these complaints, I can't believe there hasn't been a recall. There are over 100 complaints on this problem on this site alone. That should be more than enough for a recall. This problem is putting Saturn owners in potentially dangerous situations.

My son drives this car and was late to work on several occasions, and was stranded late at night when he got off of work where he had to wait alone 15-20 minutes to try to get his car started. This problem is putting Saturn owners in potentionally dangerious situations.

Amanda of St. Charles, MO January 2, 2009

Amanda of St. Charles MO (01/02/09)
I am disappointed to say that i am an unfortunate owner of a 2004 saturn ion. when i got it it had 15,000 miles on it and it was purchased in 2007. Since i have had the vehicle i have replaced the battery, the sway bar, stabilizer links, gone through four sets of tires.The side panel on the window fell off and the trunk button went inside the caseing when being pressed normally. Also the trunk has a very bad leak and everytime it rains the whole trunk gets soaked. It cant be safe to have your cars battery sitting in 3 inches of water in your trunk.

And now im sitting in the saturn dealership waiting for them to change the ever so complained about IGNITION SWITCH this will cost me another 150+ dollars. and because of the economy status we're all in i can only afford to fix one problem at a time so the clunking in my front end will just have to wait... Back in 2007 i searched everywhere for my dream car a saturn ion with the cool suicide doors. and i finally found one. and ever since then i have regreted it with everything in me.

When i called saturn to ask them about the ignition problem they said it was very very common and yet not enough complaints to do a recall. are you kidding me? ive spent over an hour reading the complaints on this one issue, on this website alone. not to mention all the other complaints on other sites. its so weird how my car acts its got like a mind of its own it starts when it wants to.

and all because of the starting problem i have had to call in to work and or be late several times this year. ive also lost a large amount of pay due to missing holiday pay and regular hourly pay. but luckliy because several other employees at my work also are owners of the ion and have the same starting problem my work is well aware and im not at risk of losing my job. Do you know what it feels like to make a 300 car payment every month but you cant afford to get it fixed?

Robert of Quincy, MA December 30, 2008

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