2006 Saturn Ion Engine Problems

Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VANDERGRIFF CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1200 W INTERSTATE 20, ARLINGTON, TX 76017, (682) 323-2486) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TAKATA RECALL THE ENGINE IS ON. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THE KEY DOESN'T GO IN THE OFF POSITION. I HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND THEN TRY TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF.SOMETIMES 2 OR 3 TIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE ON AND THEN TRY TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE CAR IS PARKED.

A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED A SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM MY CAR WHEN I STOP, OR SLOW DOWN. THE LAST COUPLE DAYS THE SMELL HAS BIN GETTING STRONGER.. I SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, BUT NOTHING BEING DONE OR IT ONLY FOR A FEW STATES. AS A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO I DON'T FEEL SAFE HAVING MY KIDS IN THE CAR.

IT WAS ABOUT 32 DEGREES IN THE MORNING. I STARTED MY CAR AND WARMED IT UP FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO. LONG ENOUGH TO DEFROST BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS. I DROVE A LITTLE OVER MILE GOING ABOUT THE CITY SPEED LIMIT OF 45. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT SOME POINT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON. IT STARTED FINE I DROVE IT THE 10 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO PROBLEMS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE ICE HAD FORMED ON THE THROTTLE BODY AND WHEN IT MELTED WATER GOT INTO THE THROTTLE BODY. HE COULD PUT A PIECE ON IT THAT WOULD COST ABOUT $900.00 BUT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AT THE TIME BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND SINCE THE VEHICLE STARTS RIGHT BACK UP I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. BUT THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE I AM DRIVING IS A CONCERN. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 70-75MPH ON I-35 SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN 2ND ST. MERGE AND 15TH STREET EXIT IN EDMOND OK, WE WENT TO CHANGE LANES (MIDDLE LANE TO RIGHT LANE) AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN BOOM, THE CAR LOST CONTROL, BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL (NUMEROUS SLIDES AND 2-360 DEG TURNS AND BEING FLUNG IN A BACKWARDS MOTION). AS WE ATTEMPTED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OUR CAR BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL - WE SPUN INTO A 360 DEGREE TURN, CAR CAUGHT FIRE AS THE OIL WAS DUMPED FROM MY CAR AND SPRAYED ALL ALONG THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR AND TIRES, WE SLID SIDEWAYS TOWARDS CONCRETE BARRIER SEPARATING N-S BOUND TRAFFIC, WENT INTO A SECOND 360 DEGREE TURN, SLID SIDEWAYS - AS WE STARTED HEADING ONCE AGAIN FORWARD TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED GOING BACKWARDS (EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS IN DRIVE)... WE FINALLY STOPPED FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN SIDEWAYS MOTION. TOW/MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND 3-4INCH HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK - DIAGNOSIS - THAT PUSH PIN BROKE WITHOUT WARNING AND BLEW THE HOLE. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN OF ANY KIND OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION ISSUE - NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. WE COULD OF / SHOULD OF BEEN KILLED (PER THE EYE WITNESSES WHO STOPPED TO HELP US), OUR ONLY SAVING GRACE WAS THE OIL WHICH SPRAYED THE ROAD AND OUR TIRES KEEPING US UPRIGHT AND NOT ROLLING. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE IS NOT AS LUCKY AS US. *TR

ON FRIDAY WE GOT OUR 2006 SATURN ION OUT OF THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER HAVING A FROZEN AIR COMPRESSOR AND RIPPED SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED ($1400), ALONG WITH A TRANSMISSION LINE. AFTER DRIVING AND STOPPING THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, BUT IT WAS LOCKED. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT MOVED FINE, BUT WHEN I DROVE BACK INTO PLACE AND TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF AGAIN, THE KEY WOULDN'T BUDGE SO THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. WE DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WANTED TO CHARGE US AGAIN TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. WE ALSO NOTICED THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ALL THE FLUIDS CHECKED TWO WEEKS PRIOR WHEN GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER SAID TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THIS DIDN'T WORK. ANOTHER RELIABLE SOURCE INSTRUCTED US TO DISCONNECT THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP TO AVOID THE ENGINE RUNNING ON THE ALTERNATOR. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIND A DISTRIBUTOR CAP, WE REALIZED THERE WAS NONE. A NEIGHBOR CAME AND DISCONNECTED A FUSE. THE KEY IS STILL LODGED IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR MAINTENANCE: POWER STEERING REPLACED AND THE GAS TANK REPLACED BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE NIPPLE. I AM PETITIONING THAT THIS VEHICLE BE RECALLED AS IT WAS IN CERTAIN "HOT" STATES. THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES EXPERIENCED IN MID-EAST STATES, COUPLED BY INADEQUATE SERVICE AND MATERIALS HAVE CREATED CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE NO LESS THAN THOSE EXPERIENCED IN THE INITIAL STATES WHERE RECALLS HAPPENED. WHAT ALSO SHOULD BE NOTED IS THAT CONSUMER REPORT DOCUMENT 491 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE ISSUES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT SUBMITTED AN EMAIL COMPLAINT AND REQUESTED TO HAVE THE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED VERBATIM TO THE EMAIL SUBMISSION.RE: 2006 SATURN ION GENERAL MOTORS CASE NUMBER: 71-1262884818 DEAR MS. DAVIS: I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME DISSATISFACTION WITH A RECENT REPAIR THAT WAS DONE ON MY 2006 SATURN ION. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2014, MY SON ARRIVED HOME WITH MY CAR AND SAID HE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. FINDING THIS STRANGE, I WENT OUTSIDE TO TRY, AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OR TURN OFF THE CAR. I CALLED EMERGENCY ROAD ASSISTANCE TO SEE IF THEY COULD ASSIST ME. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL, THEY COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT, SO I HAD THE TECHNICIAN TO FOLLOW ME TO THE NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP. ONCE THERE, THE EMERGENCY ROAD TECHNICIAN RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS OVER THE PHONE ON HOW TO AT LEAST TURN THE CAR OFF BY REMOVING A FUSE. I LOCKED MY CAR, WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION. BETWEEN THE TIME I DROPPED MY CAR OFF, UNTIL THE SHOP WAS SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON MONDAY, THE TEMPERATURES PLUMMETED TO A RECORD LOW OF AT LEAST 45 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY LOCKS WERE FROZEN AND MY CAR WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES DID NOT ALLOW MERLIN ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. MERLIN?S WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THAT THEY HAD ALREADY VERIFIED IT COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE IGINITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. NEXT, I CONTACTED THE GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TO REPORT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.GM INFORMED ME THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO AVOID THE NATURE OF REPAIRS SUCH AS MINE, FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.THE IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,900.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V419000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND AFTER BOTH RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE FUEL PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED REPEATEDLY. THE TWO RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURES WERE HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED OFF ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TR

I STARTED SMELLING GAS WHEN WAS STOPPED. I FIGURED THERE MAY BE A LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAVE ONE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON PARTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BUT THAT IT DOESN'T APPLY IN MY STATE. SO NOW IM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THE $600 OR SO TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CAR HAS HAD MOMENTS WHEN IT WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I MAY ACCELERATE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ONE DAY I'M JUST DRIVING DOWN A PARKWAY AT ABOUT 40MPH, AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE RADIO STAYED ON BUT THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. LUCKILY NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME AT THAT POINT. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAID IT MAY BE THE BATTERY. WE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THAT DIDN'T STOP THE PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY, I PULLED OUT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN, AT THAT MOMENT, MORE THAN 10MPH AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WITH CARS RAPIDLY SPEEDING UP ON ME AND MY CAR NOT MOVING. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE DOESN'T TURN ON IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ELECTRICAL WORKS, BUT ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER, JUST MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER TEMPERATURE WARMS, VEHICLE WILL START. *JS

EACH TIME I KILL THE ENGINE I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR THE STRING OF ELECTRONIC TICS TO QUIT BEFORE MY CAR WILL LET GO OF THE KEY. EACH EPISODE SEAMS TO DIFFER ON THE LENGTH OF TIME IT, TAKES OR DECIDES, TO LET GO OF THE KEY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL, CAUSING THE DOOR TO SWING OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS THE DOOR WAS SHUT, BUT WOULD NOT REOPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE WINDOW DETACHED FROM ITS TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING RECURRING FAILURES IN WHICH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE KEY WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE IN REGARDS TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IN REGARDS TO THE KEY BECOMING STUCK IN THE IGNITION, NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,080. UPDATED 08/31/2011 *LN *TR