Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
08089-B11/01/200808089-C10027804General motors corp: special coverage adjustment; analog onstar deactivation. *pe updated 2/17/09. *pe02/09/2009
3506A10018530Incorrect mileage displayed after programming a new bcm. various models including 2005 - 2006 pontiac pursuit (canada only). *tt01/05/2006
05073000603/01/200510015047Service engine soon telltale illuminated with diagnostic trouble code p0742. *eh05/17/2005
3421B3421C10014807Engine stalls, loss of electrical systems, and no diagnostic trouble code (dtc). including 2005-06 pontiac pursuit. *tt *sc05/10/2005
04084500707/01/200410009433Additional power distribution information for body control module electrical (bcm elect) fuse in the instrument panel fuse block (ipfb). *tt09/29/2004
04084500203/01/200410008704Service manual updated - body control module (bcm) connector c3 and c4 illustrations. *mj08/17/2004
04060403505/01/200410008480Diagnostic trouble code (dtc) po132, p0138, or p0172 diagnostic enhancements. *mj08/02/2004
04084500606/01/200410008004Sunroof inoperative and/or inside rearview mirror electrical functions inoperative. *tt07/19/2004
0159201/01/2004100054382003-2004 generation 5 onstar steering wheel control function explanation. sit bulletin 1416474. *tt02/27/2004
01010401/01/200410005198Speedometer fluctuation. *tt02/12/2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
07086100504/01/200710021919Floor plan corrosion (rust) perforation in battery compartment. *kb06/26/2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
02T7410/01/200210000194Service manual update for certain 2003 models volume i preliminary service manual regarding ignition lock cylinder replacement / removal procedure and ignition cylinder and key code information in the 2003 key code manual. *tt02/14/2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - SOFTWARE
08089-B11/01/200808089-C10027804General motors corp: special coverage adjustment; analog onstar deactivation. *pe updated 2/17/09. *pe02/09/2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
03084201111/01/200310005572Service manual update for headlamp wiring harness replacement. *tt03/04/2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
364810018915Hesitation on acceleration after internal engine repairs - check injector harness orientation. *tt01/24/2006

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
06/11/200842000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion l3. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. the contact placed the key into the ignition and the engine did not start, but the service vehicle light illuminated on the instrument. the contact stated that they had to wait several minutes to get the vehicle to start. the contact stated that the key also became stuck in the ignition. the contact spoke with the manufacturer in regard to the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 42,000 and the current mileage was 55,000.
10/10/20123
 2003 saturn ion. consumer writes in regards to malfunction of the air bag light and door locks. *smd the consumer stated all of a sudden the doors un-locked, the flasher started to flash and the air light illuminated. she immediately pulled into a nearby garage and asked for assistance. the solution at that time was to turn off the engine and then re-start it. the second incident occurred on november 16th. the consumer was informed the part required was a sensor diagnostic module, at a cost of $ 399.99. however, the part was no longer available. it was recommended by the mechanic, that a part try to be located at a junk yard.
01/01/200860000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the key became lodged in the ignition and the contact was unable to power the vehicle off. in addition, the contact stated that the key could intermittently be removed but the vehicle would remain powered on. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the ignition cylinder was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 130,000. kmj
01/01/200860000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the key became lodge in the ignition switch and was unable to turn the vehicle off. the contact mentioned that there were some times that the key would come out but the vehicle would stay on. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the ignition cylinder was defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 130,000. pm
12/07/2011100000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. while parked, the contact turned the key in the ignition to shut the engine off but the key could not be turned pass the accessory mode. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic advised the contact that the ignition switch would have to be repaired. the contact stated that the ignition was previously replaced for the same failure. the vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. kmj
12/07/2011100000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. while parked the contact turned the key in the ignition to shut the engine off but the key would not turn to the off position only to accessory mode. the vehicle was taken to independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the mechanic stated the ignition switch would have to be repaired. the contact stated the ignition was previously replaced for the same failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. da
09/19/201283000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion ii. the contact stated that the key would become stuck in the ignition switch. the contact had to call a locksmith to remove the key from the ignition. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer to have the ignition switch replaced. the failure mileage was 83,000. kmj
09/19/201283000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion ii. the contact stated the ignition locks to the key in the ignition switch causing the key to get stuck in the switch. the contact had to call a lock smith to remove the key. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer to have the ignition switch replaced. the failure mileage was 83,000. jo
04/18/200735000
 Intermittent starting problem, car sounds like it is starting then doesnt, i wait ten minutes then it will start. ignition switch problem
10/18/2011
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that when the vehicle was first started, the timing chain would exhibit an abnormally loud noise. the noise would cease once the engine was warm but could still be heard as the contact attempted to accelerate. in addition, the vehicle would become resistant to starting attempts in colder weather. the dealer advised the contact that both of the failures were common, but was not under recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 113,000. the vin was not available. kmj
10/18/2011
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that when the vehicle is first started the timing chain makes a lot of noise. the contact stated the noise gets quite after the vehicle warms out, but you can still hear the timing chain when the vehicle is accelerated. the contact also stated that when it it cold outside the vehicle has a hard time starting because of the ignition. the dealer stated that both of the failures are common, but it is not under recall. the vheicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 113,000.rl
08/01/201070000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the vehicle would experience difficulty starting and would need numerous attempts before successfully starting. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the park and neutral position switch was replaced. the failure began to recur approximately eighteen months later. the vehicle was not taken to be repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. sm.
06/09/2009
 In very cold weather the car willnt start.
07/24/201142000
 The car's headlights and instrument lights shut off. warning lights such as check engine, abs, and theft lock all came on after parking the car. the horn would not shut off, i had to disconnect the battery to get horn to stop. attempted to start the following morning and while reconnecting the battery the horn came on again and the listed above lights stayed on. car has been unreliable and unsafe to drive!!!
09/22/2011109000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated the ignition key became stuck in the ignition switch. the contact took the vehicle to a dealer who replaced the ignition switch. a week after the vehicle was repaired the key became stuck in the ignition. the contact called the manufacturer who stated due to the vehicle not being covered by a warranty there was nothing they could do. the contact noticed numerous complaints regarding the faulty ignition switch on various models associated with the same manufacturer. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 109,000.
09/22/2011109000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated the ignition key became stuck in the ignition switch. the contact took the vehicle to a dealer who replaced the ignition switch. a week after the vehicle was repaired the key became stuck in the ignition. the contact called the manufacturer who stated due to the vehicle not being covered by a warranty there was nothing they could do. the contact noticed numerous complaints regarding the faulty ignition switch on various models associated with the same manufacturer. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 109,000. rvk
08/29/201164110
 Randomly, my 2003 saturn ion-3 refuses to start due to the widely known yet unresolved ignition switch passlock problem. the occurrences have steadily increased in frequency over the last couple of years. the potential safety consequences of this prevalent issue are being overlooked, and it should be formally investigated. additionally, it raises concerns about faultiness in other critical components. the repair costs are unfair to us consumers for this admittedly faulty part; it should be handled by recall.
06/10/200755000
 Having problems with turning off car. alot of the time my key won't be able to turn car off all the way so my key gets stuck. i will have to wait maybe 10 minutes before i will hear a click and finally turn it off.
02/22/201169500
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start immediately and it took approximately five attempts to start the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but there were no diagnostic codes displayed. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was 70,165. the failure mileage was approximately 69,500.
06/10/200755000
 Having problems with turning off car. alot of the time my key won't be able to turn car off all the way so my key gets stuck. i will have to wait maybe 10 minutes before i will hear a click and finally turn it off.
02/22/201169500
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start immediately and it took approximately five attempts to start the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but there were no diagnostic codes displayed. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was 70,165. the failure mileage was approximately 69,500.
06/10/200755000
 Having problems with turning off car. alot of the time my key won't be able to turn car off all the way so my key gets stuck. i will have to wait maybe 10 minutes before i will hear a click and finally turn it off.
02/22/201169500
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start immediately and it took approximately five attempts to start the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but there were no diagnostic codes displayed. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was 70,165. the failure mileage was approximately 69,500.
03/24/2011106750
 The issue is in connection with a 2003 saturn ion. recently, while driving, there appears to be a click coming from the front left side of the car, most likely coming from the fuse box. immediately following the click, there is three dings followed by a message on the dash pwr str. after this has occurred, the vehicle loses its power steering abilities, causing significant more force to be used when operating the vehicle. typically this is fine when on a straight road but often this is not the case as i drive on roads with sharp curves leading to the risk of significant danger if i was to lose power steering while taking one of these turns. if the car is turned off while in motion and then turned on again the power steering does begin to work again although often the events occur again and the car loses power steering.
01/31/2011115000
 2003 saturn ion ignition switch broke; became inoperative & cost $600.00 to repair & could have been accident causal.
01/12/200960000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion level 2. the contact noticed that the vehicle would not start intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test, which concluded that the ignition switch and pass lock needed to be repaired. the contact did not inform the manufacturer. the dealer was repairing the ignition switch and the anti theft device system. the current mileage was approximately 66,000. the failure mileage was approximately 60,000. bw
01/01/200530000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact noticed that the key would remain stuck in the ignition when the vehicle was shut off. both the dealer and manufacturer was notified who was aware of the issue but did not offer any additional assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. the vin was unavailable. bw
07/01/201070000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and attempting to turn the key the vehicle would not start. the vehicle eventually started after a couple of tries and she took it to the dealer for a diagnosis. the dealer informed her that she needed to replace the starter. the vehicle was repaired for the starter. she also stated the key was getting stuck inside the ignition to where she could shut the vehicle off, but could not remove the key from the cylinder. the vehicle was inspected for that failure and informed her that she needed to replace the ignition switch. instead of replacing the ignition switch due to cost they opted to reprogram the key so that she could remove it no matter what gear the vehicle was in. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. tb
01/12/200960000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion level 2. the contact noticed that the vehicle would not start intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test, which concluded that the ignition switch and pass lock needed to be repaired. the contact did not inform the manufacturer. the dealer was repairing the ignition switch and the anti theft device system. the current mileage was approximately 66,000. the failure mileage was approximately 60,000. bw
01/01/200530000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact noticed that the key would remain stuck in the ignition when the vehicle was shut off. both the dealer and manufacturer was notified who was aware of the issue but did not offer any additional assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. the vin was unavailable. bw
07/01/201070000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and attempting to turn the key the vehicle would not start. the vehicle eventually started after a couple of tries and she took it to the dealer for a diagnosis. the dealer informed her that she needed to replace the starter. the vehicle was repaired for the starter. she also stated the key was getting stuck inside the ignition to where she could shut the vehicle off, but could not remove the key from the cylinder. the vehicle was inspected for that failure and informed her that she needed to replace the ignition switch. instead of replacing the ignition switch due to cost they opted to reprogram the key so that she could remove it no matter what gear the vehicle was in. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. tb
01/12/200960000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion level 2. the contact noticed that the vehicle would not start intermittently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test, which concluded that the ignition switch and pass lock needed to be repaired. the contact did not inform the manufacturer. the dealer was repairing the ignition switch and the anti theft device system. the current mileage was approximately 66,000. the failure mileage was approximately 60,000. bw
01/01/200530000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact noticed that the key would remain stuck in the ignition when the vehicle was shut off. both the dealer and manufacturer was notified who was aware of the issue but did not offer any additional assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. the vin was unavailable. bw
07/01/201070000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and attempting to turn the key the vehicle would not start. the vehicle eventually started after a couple of tries and she took it to the dealer for a diagnosis. the dealer informed her that she needed to replace the starter. the vehicle was repaired for the starter. she also stated the key was getting stuck inside the ignition to where she could shut the vehicle off, but could not remove the key from the cylinder. the vehicle was inspected for that failure and informed her that she needed to replace the ignition switch. instead of replacing the ignition switch due to cost they opted to reprogram the key so that she could remove it no matter what gear the vehicle was in. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. tb
01/01/200530000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact noticed that the key would remain stuck in the ignition when the vehicle was shut off. both the dealer and manufacturer was notified who was aware of the issue but did not offer any additional assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was approximately 60,000. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. the vin was unavailable. bw
07/01/201070000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and attempting to turn the key the vehicle would not start. the vehicle eventually started after a couple of tries and she took it to the dealer for a diagnosis. the dealer informed her that she needed to replace the starter. the vehicle was repaired for the starter. she also stated the key was getting stuck inside the ignition to where she could shut the vehicle off, but could not remove the key from the cylinder. the vehicle was inspected for that failure and informed her that she needed to replace the ignition switch. instead of replacing the ignition switch due to cost they opted to reprogram the key so that she could remove it no matter what gear the vehicle was in. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. tb
11/02/201093254
 Vehicle was taken to authorized saturn dealer, 2003 saturn ion had continuous high engine idle after being driven at highway speeds. if vehicle was shut off the power control module(pcm) computer reset it self. saturn dealer serviced the vehicle by re-programming the pcm( 10/21/10) as per a issued service bullettin of 4/2004 . this did not work. then they advised a spring in throttle body (engine) was bad and replaced spring ( 10/28/10). this also did not work, engine still has high idle and i bought the vehicle back on 11/2/10 to the service dealer.. service dealer then hooked up car to computer and has ser tech drive vehicle for over 25 miles, 2 times ; and thenfound another problem. they indicated that the power control module computer had a short and caused a burned out componet in the computer. since the saturn is no longer being produces, the computer which must be replaced is on back order; and unknown when part will arrive. the saturn service dealer ( ingersoll auto in danbury ct) advised that the vehcile should not be driven as it was a safety hazard, since the computer controls not only the engine but the abs braking system. at this time unknown when a part will arrive as it is on back order. in searching the internet i found numerous complaints from person who also had problems with the power control module computer. i believe thet gm/saturn has had full knowledge of the problem and should have taken care of this problem prior; and as other owners of saturns are having this serious problem then gm should be making replacement parts for this computer more available to saturn owners. ingersoll auto in danbury ct has advised me that they do notknow when the replacement computer will be available as there is no part available in the entire usa. part will have to be made by gm and unknow when this will happen. so my 2003 saturn ion must be left at the dealer until a replacement computer is sent by gm , so my car can be repaired.
10/01/201086000
 2003 saturn ion, this is the second ignition switch to be replaced in this car. on this ocassion the key will not release from the switch. this appears to be a major problem with saturns..why no recall?
11/02/201093254
 Vehicle was taken to authorized saturn dealer, 2003 saturn ion had continuous high engine idle after being driven at highway speeds. if vehicle was shut off the power control module(pcm) computer reset it self. saturn dealer serviced the vehicle by re-programming the pcm( 10/21/10) as per a issued service bullettin of 4/2004 . this did not work. then they advised a spring in throttle body (engine) was bad and replaced spring ( 10/28/10). this also did not work, engine still has high idle and i bought the vehicle back on 11/2/10 to the service dealer.. service dealer then hooked up car to computer and has ser tech drive vehicle for over 25 miles, 2 times ; and thenfound another problem. they indicated that the power control module computer had a short and caused a burned out componet in the computer. since the saturn is no longer being produces, the computer which must be replaced is on back order; and unknown when part will arrive. the saturn service dealer ( ingersoll auto in danbury ct) advised that the vehcile should not be driven as it was a safety hazard, since the computer controls not only the engine but the abs braking system. at this time unknown when a part will arrive as it is on back order. in searching the internet i found numerous complaints from person who also had problems with the power control module computer. i believe thet gm/saturn has had full knowledge of the problem and should have taken care of this problem prior; and as other owners of saturns are having this serious problem then gm should be making replacement parts for this computer more available to saturn owners. ingersoll auto in danbury ct has advised me that they do notknow when the replacement computer will be available as there is no part available in the entire usa. part will have to be made by gm and unknow when this will happen. so my 2003 saturn ion must be left at the dealer until a replacement computer is sent by gm , so my car can be repaired.
10/01/201086000
 2003 saturn ion, this is the second ignition switch to be replaced in this car. on this ocassion the key will not release from the switch. this appears to be a major problem with saturns..why no recall?
08/10/201067000
 I have a 2003 saturn ion. the key jammed in the on position leaving the car running. to shut it off you have to raise the hood, pull a fuse, then go to the trunk and disconnect the battery. this is a major issue for me because the car is driven by a college, female. gas stations, convenience stores and small children left in car, etc... are a problem, because the car is running. i have replaced the shifter, and now the ignition ($463) plus tax for a lock cylinder !
08/23/201060000
 The car wont start and i changed the battery and had the altinator tested and starter both passed i attempt to start the car the ignition switch clicks then stalls, security system kicks in reads service engine soon after about 20minutes the car starts, hear rattling noise in front suspension this is happening all the time for the past year since i bought the car
08/10/201067000
 I have a 2003 saturn ion. the key jammed in the on position leaving the car running. to shut it off you have to raise the hood, pull a fuse, then go to the trunk and disconnect the battery. this is a major issue for me because the car is driven by a college, female. gas stations, convenience stores and small children left in car, etc... are a problem, because the car is running. i have replaced the shifter, and now the ignition ($463) plus tax for a lock cylinder !
08/23/201060000
 The car wont start and i changed the battery and had the altinator tested and starter both passed i attempt to start the car the ignition switch clicks then stalls, security system kicks in reads service engine soon after about 20minutes the car starts, hear rattling noise in front suspension this is happening all the time for the past year since i bought the car
08/10/201067000
 I have a 2003 saturn ion. the key jammed in the on position leaving the car running. to shut it off you have to raise the hood, pull a fuse, then go to the trunk and disconnect the battery. this is a major issue for me because the car is driven by a college, female. gas stations, convenience stores and small children left in car, etc... are a problem, because the car is running. i have replaced the shifter, and now the ignition ($463) plus tax for a lock cylinder !
08/23/201060000
 The car wont start and i changed the battery and had the altinator tested and starter both passed i attempt to start the car the ignition switch clicks then stalls, security system kicks in reads service engine soon after about 20minutes the car starts, hear rattling noise in front suspension this is happening all the time for the past year since i bought the car
06/19/201070000
 Bought a 2003 saturn ion 2 and it will periodically lock out the ignition system so you have to wait 8-10 minutes to start the car. we have replaced, the ignition switch, starter, battery, and a few other parts to no avail. it was once in jan. of 2010 and then again in march, but now in june it has happened 3 times in 2 days. i read on a forum that people were having this problem in cold weather climates during winter, but hawaii is a moderate climate year round, no excuse.
09/08/200980000
 2003 saturn ion. september 09. drove car. parked. could not get key out of ignition. waited 10 minutes. key came out. had ignition switch replaced at saturn dealer. next week the same thing happened. had ignition switch replaced again.(at my expense). key continues to intermittently stick in the ignition. i can not get out of my car until i get the key out. look at the website and read all the complaints about this problem. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/saturn_ignition_lock_p5.html no wonder gm closed out the saturn line. just as bad as toyota. the mechanics at the saturn dealership knew about this problem, but they offered no permanent fix. this is why i don't trust american made cars
03/10/20101
 2003 saturn ion coupe will not start in cold humid weather. *tr
11/15/2009650003
 I've been having cold starting problems with my 2003 saturn ion. i've had this problem fix by dealer 3 times in the past. at 620.00 a pop that's hard . now after talking to a technician that used to work for saturn before they closed ,that the problem is caused by oil that releases from the part when cold and leaks down from the ignition to the pass lock switch this should have a recall before this burns someone up and kills them . they should have to fix all these cars .do it right and stop charging people for something that really cant be fixed simply by replacing a part that will continue leaking oil when cold. i am really surprised this hasn't already been recalled. i can only wait to see if this happens they need to pay ,i cant afford to go buy a car with work slow so saturn and gm should be held responsible. all this is in the ignition switch inside the car and if a fire starts with you in it at the wheel you lose a car and possible a life or more if in heavy traffic and this locks down your car. it's not only me its my kids and others on the road at danger it's all who drive a saturn ion 2003. *tr
02/07/20101
 Car has frequent intermittent starting problems (about one in 4 starting attempts is a no-go). internet research brings up many complaints of the ignition switch sending the wrong signal to the computer which in turn activates the security system (passlock, in gm speak) and prevents the car from starting. gm recognizes the issue in tsb #3493a which recommends replacing the ignition switch. since this is a known failure to gm, i believe the switch replacement should be done at the manufacturer's cost, not the consumer's cost. it is an expensive procedure and consumers are forced to go to the dealer for the repair because the car's computer (bcm) has to be reprogrammed after the switch replacement. *tr
09/05/20051
 Car will not start in the cold weather. when attempting to start security light turn on and won't start for at least 15 minutes. i have replaced the battery but that's not the solution. this happens at least three times a week. its horrible being stranded out in the cold when is below zero for at least 15 minutes. saturn needs to do something out this problem. *tr
01/20/2010772301
 Car will not start in cold weather. this began 3 months ago at the beginning of the winter season, unfortunately the first day of a new job. this happened a number of times until i was let go for showing up late to work (apparently, a car that problematic was inconceivable). i had the battery replaced, but that didn't help. this happens sporadically, but mostly in the early morning or late evening when it's coldest outside. this past week alone, my car wouldn't start 3 times. i've done some research on the internet and have found hundreds of complaints of the same problem in saturn ion's (2003-2006 models). some complaints have suggested it's the ignition, the passlock key, or an electrical issue, and my mechanic is looking into the fuel pump. the problem is that the diagnostic doesn't read a problem if the car is starting, which seems to be the case by the time the mechanic's shop opens (weather conditions are fairly good in southern california on most days). the other day, my car had stalled while driving in heavy rain conditions, thankfully on a small residential street, because it did not want to restart. it took 10 minutes to get the car going again. you can imagine how disastrous this situation could have been while driving on the freeway or busy city road. this is an extremely dangerous issue that must be taken seriously by gm. i have also made complaints to the ftc & to saturn. from what i've read online, replacing the part doesn't even help because all of these ion parts are faulty. please see to it that consumers are protected. thank you. *tr
01/10/2010450001
 My 2003 saturn ion refuses to start when it is cold but after 10 mins it will decide it wants to start. i have been stranded and put hundreds of dollars into this problem with the mechanic not seeing the problem. put a new ignition switch in the car and still has the problem. after doing some research on the web many saturn owners are having the same problems. this needs to be a recall and saturn is refusing to do so. *tr
01/13/20101
 Car won't start when the temp is below 20 f, have to wait 10 min for anti theft to reset and then try again. some times have to try 3 or 4 times. dealer say it's a know problem and i have to replace the ignition switch at my expense. *tr
01/12/20101220001
 2003 saturn ion will not start due to the passlock timing me out. it has left me stranded too many times and yesterday i had to wait 3 hrs for my car to start. i have read reports of other consumers having the same issue and wanted to file a written complaint. *tr
01/06/2010650001
 2003 ion, will not start when the weather is cold, the error noted on the display notes theft interlock, if you wait 10 minutes, the car will start. at times the key will stick in the ignition and will not come out, at times the car will not shut off. this interlock needs to be a saturn recall. *tr
12/29/2009650001
 For the past several years i have had an issue with my 2003 saturn ion starting in the cold weather. i have had my starter checked along with several battery replacements, yet there has not yet been a stop to this issue. i've looked online for solutions to this issue and unfortunately no one has a solution only complaints. this seems to be an issue with thousands of saturn ion's and gm does not seem to feel the need to recall the vehicle. this is a safety issue as far as i am concerned. i have read about mothers and children being stranded because they are unable to start their saturns in the cold weather and they do not have anyone in the vicinity to help them out. the car usually takes about a half hour to start after initially trying - which no car should have to do. please get on gm/saturn to do something about this issue. *tr
12/25/2009350001
 Passlock system fails on an intermittent basis (generally cold conditions) preventing vehicle from starting for ten (10) minutes prior to next attempt. this could pose a safety hazard/risk to an individual in need of immediate transportation due to the need for medical treatment (ie., woman in labor) or an individual fleeing a dangerous situation (ie., mandatory evacuations). this is a security feature and not required for safe operation of the vehicle, as such; in lieu of the number of malfunctions with said system, the owner of said vehicle should have the option of having said system disabled at their discretion incurring little or no cost by the manufacturer/dealer. *tr
11/28/20081
 I have been having an issue with my 2003 saturn ion quad coupe and after research i have concluded that these people(http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/saturn/ion/r97727/comments/) have been having the same problem. this started nov. 2008 when i would go to start my car and it wouldn't start. it would make no noise what so ever or it would start and stall...after 10 to 20 minutes it would start like nothing was wrong. then it didn't do it for another 2 weeks...then it was 2 days...then 3 weeks...there was no pattern. in dec. 2008 i took it to my mechanic who replaced the battery. then two days later they replaced the starter...i still had the problem but because the car didn't have the issue with the mechanic and i had no way of knowing when it would happen they couldn't help. this stopped in april and i had no trouble until nov. 27, 2009 and it's been happening every few days since. i haven't called saturn b/c i'm afraid they will be like my mechanic and either not be able to fix it or charge me an arm and a leg to get it fix...i was laid off twice this year and am currently unemployed so paying a lot for this issue when saturn should recall the vehicle for the mass amount of people having issues with this car!*tr
12/18/2009500001
 I'm having the same issues that a lot of ion owners are having. car will not start when it is cold and the passlock system kicks in. once this kicks in you have to leave the key in the accessories position for 10 minutes, passlock will then shut off and you can retry.if it does not start you have to wait another 10 minutes to try and start. supposedly this is because of grease that is in the ignition switch. this grease freezes up when cold. it does seem to help if you warm up the ignition switch with a hair dryer or lighter.i don't know why gm does not recall this. they are passing their screw up onto the consumer. this problem has left many people stranded. it is just a matter of time till some one is in a really bad situation because of this. 'sorry your having a heart attack maybe i can start the car in another 10 minutes'. i wouldn't be surprised if someone froze to death because of this. at the very least i know people have missed many hours of work. anyways, i am going to replace the ignition switch to see if this works. i already bought a remote start which bypasses the passlock when remote start but no one will install this on a manual car. *tr
12/10/20091
 Whenever the temperature is significantly below freezing my 2003 saturn ion will not start. i sat in the car and tried to start the engine for over 20 minutes this morning before giving up and calling off the interview i was supposed to go to. it is not a battery issue, as the battery is completely charged. this issue has occurred roughly 15 times in the past two years, often leaving me stranded without a way to get home. *tr
12/06/20091020001
 I recently purchased a saturn ion 2003 and it at times doesn't start. this has happened on numerous occasions and even after replacing the starter. after about 10-15 minutes, the car starts up. i cannot have a car that could possibly leave me stranded miles from my house in the cold. *tr
11/18/2009800001
 The event leading up to the failure was driving 3 miles from work to babysitters. the failure is the car refuses to turn over after turned off. this happens commonly in colder weather. battery was replaced, starter was replaced, and then after research learned this is an ignition issue saturn is aware of. *tr
11/12/20091
 Saturn ion 2003 does not start when cold, common problem with many people. *tr
11/06/2009954791
 2003 saturn ion service bulletin # 040845005. nhtsa item #: 10007431. no crank no start when ambient temperatures when cold. had this car for 6 years with minor issues beginning as described above last winter season in 2008. now the issue is frequent, multiple times a day if weather is cold. i live in the north east it gets cold here often. i have been unemployed for 14 months and can not afford the $270 saturn is claiming to repair this situation. after doing some research i found that this is a common problem with people owning the saturn ion, saturn is aware of this and it is a design defect. why can't this be recalled? it leaves me stranded in awkward and unpleasant weather conditions. i currently have to heat up my car key with a lighter to make it warm enough to heat up the ignition switch and the grease inside. is there anything you can do? thank you. *tr
08/15/2009770001
 In the colder weather, my car (which is a 2003 saturn ion) will not start. it often will start and run for a few seconds and then will stall out, and will not be able to be started again for about 10 minutes. it has been happening frequently (multiple times in one week) beginning around the date listed below. i have kept my car in good repair and have taken it in for servicing on a regular basis; i am concerned, now that i will be out somewhere in a city (or other dangerous place) at night and my car won't start. as a single young woman, this problem is a huge safety concern for me. i rely on my car very heavily to get me places, and knowing there are many thousands of other saturns out there with the same problem as mine is a scary thought. *tr
12/16/2008570001
 Saturn ion 2003 car would not start. *tr
05/17/2009650001
 My 2003 saturn ion keeps having ignition switch issues. i was first told by saturn that i needed to replace my battery. did that but the problem still happens. the ignition won't turn over but will after several minutes. being a woman, this makes me very nervous because just yesterday when i stalled my car while on route i had to have my husband push me over to the side of the road where i had to wait until i could start it again. i could have been all by myself and had to rely on total strangers for help. :-( *tr
02/18/2009780001
 2003 saturn ion. the car runs perfectly fine however i have been left stranded on several occasions due to a malfunction involving the ignition switch. most of the time involves me being late for work but twice i was left in potentially dangerous situations. once trying to leave a sporting event late night in downtown cleveland the car wouldn't start, turned the key and nothing. tried several times finally after 20 minutes of that the car started right up. another time with my 85 year old mom (who has alzheimer's) after buying gas the same thing and it terrified my mom. i have since learned that saturn is aware of this defect and that problems similar to mine are very common and very frustrating to saturn owners who are forced to pay nearly $300.00 for a new ignition switch only to have the problem reoccur a few moths later. saturn admits that the problem is worse in cold weather. if people are stranded in frigid weather unable to start the engine and have heat, especially if there is an elderly person or child in the car, serious injuries could definitely occur. *tr
03/19/2009723561
 The car just seemed to accelerate by itself and then quit; amazingly enough the speedometer got screwed up and was showing 10mph over what it was really going; only way i could tell was by what the rpms normally run was way too slow compared to the speed. *tr
04/14/2009930001
 Car intermittently starts. this has been a sporadic event since december 2007. it happens perhaps once or twice a month in the colder weather. car will start fine at one stop, then try to start it again and nothing happens. come back 10-20 minutes later and it starts right up. originally thought it was the old battery, but that has been replace and the problem is recurring. *tr
04/06/2009580001
 2003 saturn ion with 58,000 miles had been running fine. after a brief stop for shopping, the car would not start. it made only a clicking sound when the key was turned. this had never happened before. after about 10 minutes, it would turn over once and then nothing. after about 40 minutes, the car started. it was a cool day, but this had never happened before on even colder days. one dealer checked the battery and the starter and found nothing wrong. another location identified the battery as low. it was replaced. but the real cause of this event is still a mystery. from other complaints, i see this is not an uncommon event in a 2003 ion. i am very concerned, now, that it will happen again and still there will be no remedy. are there no recalls because no one can figure out what is the cause of the problem or how to remedy it? *tr
04/06/2006200001
 While there have, been no adverse deaths or injuries there is a problem that has happened multiple times that could lead to deaths. i have a 2003 saturn ion and have had to replace the ignition 2 times. the ignition locks up and the car will continue running even if i remove the key. *tr
04/04/2009810001
 Our 2003 saturn ion fails to start at times. typically when this happens it is a cold morning. we replaced the battery and starter. the problem persists. hundreds of people have cited the very same problem on car discussion sites. *tr
03/12/20091
 There are no events leading up to the failure. from everything i've read from other saturn ion owners this is a frequent and seemingly random problem. at any given time if it is cold outside the car won't start. everything lights up, the engine turns over and catches, only to stall. upon repeated attempts to start the car there will be no response whatsoever. the engine does not turn over. after waiting several minutes it will eventually start. this problem has occurred 4 times in the last month; twice causing me to be late for particularly important engagements. upon reporting the problem to the saturn dealership where i bought the car i was told that they have many complaints of the same problem, but that their staff haven't been able to resolve it. this has been their general attitude towards several issues i've had with my car. i took it to another garage and they can't find a thing wrong with it. saturn seems to be turning a blind eye to a problem that is clearly the result of a poor design somewhere on their part. i have also had to replace control arm bushings when i was at about 80 000 km, and now need to replace struts. i am hesitant to do this though, as the general consensus among saturn ion owners is that bushings and struts are in perpetual need of replacement on these cars. after replacing the parts most people find that they have to make the same repairs again within 2 years. further problems i have with my car are: trunk will not open with key, replaced wires on both front turn signals and one headlight, key would not release from ignition, erratic transmission behavior (i was told that this is a common problem and that i just have to deal with it), seat belt guides broken (front, both sides), rear seat belt female component falls into crevice in seat, paint peeling from front bumper without being chipped prior, and a faulty cruise control switch. every single one of these problems has turned up again and again in the ion owners community. *tr
03/03/20091
 During the winter months when temperature is 30 or below my 2003 saturn ion is unable to start. i must wait 20 minutes and then try again. there seem to be a faulty ignition switch. which can be extremely dangerous in inclement weather.*tr
02/28/2009500001
 2003 saturn ion will not start due to faulty parts used by manufacturer. *tr
02/15/200911
 I would like to know why saturn has not been forced to do a recall with all of the problems with the ignition on ions not working at certain times. i have researched this on the internet and it is clearly a design issue. i am often stranded because the car will not start. *tr
02/16/2009630001
 Starting this fall, my 2003 saturn ion has had a problem with not starting sometimes. it starts fine in the morning no matter how cold, but sometimes after i drive a little while and engine is warmer, it will not start back up if i run into the store or whatever for a few minutes. it turns over a few strokes and dies completely. if i try immediately after that absolutely nothing happens. i will normally wait 15 minutes (or so) and it starts perfectly fine with plenty of power. *tr
06/01/2007600001
 Car fails to start intermittently. wait 10 min, car turns over then dies. wait 5 min car will start (high rpm's at first) w/o problem. *tr
02/10/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. at temperatures of 30 degrees and below, the vehicle failed to start. the contact had to make several attempts before the engine would turn over. the dealer performed a diagnostic and discovered that the ignition switch was faulty. the ignition switch was replaced under warranty; however, the failures continued to occur. the dealer performed another diagnostic and found that the ignition switch needed to be replaced yet again at the contact's expense. the vin that was provided was not accepted by the system. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was less than 65,000.
01/27/20091
 I have a 2003 saturn that will not start when it gets cold, this has happen since i have had the car. this can be very frustrating and costly when i miss hours from work or trying to get my child to school. i have seen several complaints regarding this issue. is there anyone willing to do anything. why should we continue to suffer for trusting a product with your name on it for reliable transportation.*tr karen
02/03/2009370001
 I have a 2003 saturn ion. i have had it in 3 times to be worked on. some days it will start some days it will not. i have had a fuse replaced, my started, and a connection to the starter. i know 2 other people who have had the same issue with the same car. now i read this online blog and a ton of people having the same issue. my car is no longer under warranty so i will have to pay for all of these repairs. *tr
01/30/2009600001
 Car will not start in cold weather (approximately 30 degrees or lower). initial attempt at starting puts car into anti-theft mode, and you must wait about 10 minutes to try again with no guarantee the same thing won't happen again. *tr
01/23/20091020001
 Saturn will not start in cold weather. starts fine in the warmth of my garage. barely turns over then dies. have to wait several minutes or have it jumped. battery is fully charged and alternator is good. starter problem or ignition problem. same as many others: http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html. *tr
01/18/2009740001
 Car has problems starting up in cold weather, but it's sporadic - sometimes it will start, sometime it won't. believe it has something to do with a white wire that is in the steering column and connected to the ignition switch. *tr
01/14/2009860001
 Car has starting problems. intermittent starting in cold weather and now stalls while driving. dealer installed new ignition switch one week ago for $230, but stalling is once again a problem. this is a safety issue when you are stuck in a car in the middle of traffic! *tr
01/20/2009700001
 My 2003 saturn ion refuses to start sporadically on cold mornings. this has been going on since early fall. my car repair shop assures me that the battery in my car is fully charged and capable of starting. they tell me that they have seen 5-6 of these issues with saturn ions in the past month, and that i must take it to the saturn dealership because it is a known ignition switch issue. i live in a fairly small town, the fact that my shop has seen this many issues with saturns is astounding. i have small children and the temps in indiana have been below zero. i fear that i will have them out somewhere and be unable to start my car in sub-zero temperatures, or that i will be unable to pick them up from school because i cannot get my car started. i have read on the web this morning, that i am not alone in my issues with my saturn ion. i realize that no one has died or been injured in my particular situation, but if small children are stranded in my car in sub-zero temps because my car won't start, it seems that, at the very least we have a potential safety issue here. *tr
01/14/2009660001
 My saturn ion has been having intermittent problems starting in cooler weather. i have replaced the battery and found out online that the ignition switch either goes bad or the wrong switch was installed at the factory. the problem has to do with a key code and voltage. this has occur at least once a week for a month now. *tr
01/18/20091
 The problem has existed since i purchased the car. my car does not cold start in temperatures under 30 degrees. many saturn owners with same problem. car is no longer under warranty but when it was i brought it in many times for diagnostic tests and service. dealer replaced ignition switch twice and starter once. problem has never been fixed. its worse now then ever before in these cold dayton ohio winters. now they say they need to replace the mother board for my car after doing another diagnostics test for a total of @ $500.00. i feel saturn is not only giving me the run around but will gladly still take my hard earned money. please help. im about to be a father and don't want to be stranded in the cold with my child by a company that just got millions loaned to them by our government. not fair, please help hold them accountable for their wrongdoings. *tr
01/17/200962000
 Car will not start when all components are good. faulty anti theft device. *tr
01/15/20091
 The temperatures in fort wayne have been below freezing lately (wind-chill was -35 today), and my 2003 saturn ion has had a lot of trouble starting. when i turn my key in the ignition, it turns over but won't start. after letting it sit for a minute, i try to start it again, only now it won't even turn over; it just clicks. i thought my battery needed to be replaced, but i haven't had much help today in dealing with it. i searched the internet for advice, and i came across a car review website with several reviews and comments complaining about the same 2003 saturn ion problem i'm having. from the reviews and comments, i figured our problems are one in the same- the cars have faulty ignition switches. i tried to get my car fixed when i first bought it last year, and the dealer told me it was an ignition problem. i'm just now discovering that it's a problem with all 2003 ions- not just mine. as far as i know, saturn is doing nothing to help its customers in their greatest time of need. thank god my car died in the parking lot at work and not in some location where i would be stranded in the frigid temperatures. *tr
12/25/2008600001
 I drive a 2003 saturn ion 3 - and every winter i go through the same issue. the car will randomly not start. after about 10-20 minutes of attempting to start the vehicle will finally turn over and start just fine. i began to research this issue last winter and found this: http://www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_97727_6.html this website has pages and pages of people owning the same car and having the same problem. the problem happens only when it's cold out and it started off happening once in a great while...up until this winter. i live in wisconsin and it's cold for a good 4 or 5 months. this week my car has not started 5 times resulting in me being late for work and late for scheduled events....5 times. i work for a highly respected company and am an office manager. i am expected to be on time to open the office and get things going in the morning. i'm hoping that with the millions of saturn customers who are not satisfied that a recall will be issued and i can have this problem fixed. i can not justify paying for a problem that a multi million dollar car company is aware of and is choosing to do nothing about. *tr
03/01/2008600001
 Only when it's cold outside, my car won't start. i've replaced the starter and found out that it was not the problem. after researching my issue on the internet, i found that thousands of other people have the exact same problem as me. since the problem is the ignition switch, and everyone that replaces it says the problem persists, i'm not going to waste money on an issue that can't be resolved unless your organization puts a recall on that part. i'm sure you've received numerous of emails regarding this problem, so the only solution would be to recall that item. since we have given you business by purchasing your vehicles, the only thing to do is to help out your loyal customers. *tr
08/25/200740000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact was able to remove the key from the ignition while the vehicle was in any gear, including drive or reverse. she took the vehicle to the dealer at least twice and each time they stated that there was a different failure. the dealer wants to replace the steering column all the way through the engine to determine the cause of the failure. the key would not turn all the way back to the acc position unless the vehicle had been idling for at least 3-5 minutes. the contact found nhtsa campaign id number 97v055000 (electrical system:ignition:switch) for the same make, but a different model and the previous year. the contact feels that the recall should be expanded for her year, make, and model vehicle. she found hundreds of complaints online regarding this failure. the failure began within a week of purchasing the vehicle. the failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 41,000.
11/17/20081
 My saturn 2003 ion continues to have intermittent starting problems(not related to the battery), and problems with the key getting stuck in the ignition cylinder, even after the ignition cylinder was replaced. they cannot detect a problem yet it still keeps happening! *tr
12/23/20081
 Car will not start in temperatures near 32 degrees or less. ignition switch and battery have already been replaced. car starts to crank then stalls out and service light comes on. must wait 10-15 minutes to try again. if lucky it will start on 2nd try, otherwise 3rd. this has been going on for past 3 weeks when temps dropped. *tr
12/29/2005120301
 Bought vehicle in apr. 05, dec 06 problem starting car in cold weather late for work, dealer replaced passlock2 system dec 06, vehicle fine until dec 07, problem came about again, jan 08 called dealer said to bring in for diagnostic, did so dealer said it's the body control module (bcm for short), prior to finding that out replaced starter and battery to try and fix problem. called saturn customer support jan or feb, they said the electronic failing was my fault and i had to fix problem. sitting in the cold waiting to start my car has resulted in lose of dexterity and feeling in finger tips due to prolonged exposure to sub-zero temps trying to start car. saturn has a bulletin #1787659 saying that if owners come in referring to their car not starting in cold weather no crank, no start with complete power. saturn knows of the problem and wont fix it cause they deem it a non-safety issue. *tr
12/18/20081
 I want to file a complaint about my saturn ion 2003 in hopes that we can recall the car. my car is outside uncovered all night. right now it is 27.1 degrees outside. my saturn ion 2003 has a hard time starting when it is below 32 degrees. i read on this website http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html that i am not the only one that is having this issue. it seems to be an issue with the ignition switch. this has happened to me 2 times this week, 3 times this year, a total of 6 to 8 times in the 5 years that i've had it. it sounds like the ignition revs, but then it dies and my car has a message service soon. if i give it a few minutes to sit, then i try it again, sometimes it does the exact same thing, sometimes it gets a little better, but the engine won't turn over completely. then, when the ignition switch is a little warmer, it will actually start. i usually stay in my car for an average of 15 minutes. longest i've waited for my car to start was an hour. i have talked to saturn once about this, but they stated that they will have to reproduce the issue before they can find out what is wrong. if i can get my car to saturn, obviously they will not be able to reproduce the issue. this is something that saturn really needs to acknowledge since it is more of a safety issue. we don't want to be stranded in the cold with no phone service waiting for the grease or ignition switch to warm up. it's ridiculous. thank you for your attention. *tr
12/16/2008480001
 2003 saturn ion ignition switch problem. car won't start, then interlock prevents car from being started for 8-10 minutes. this has occurred approximately a dozen times at various temperatures.*tr
12/16/20081
 My 2003 saturn ion 2 will not start in the winter when the temperature is below 32 degrees. this can happen at least once a week all winter long. it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour for my car to start again. i took it to a mechanic who could not find what the problem was and charged me $80 for nothing. this has been happening for three winters and has gotten worse each winter. it has caused me to miss work and be late for work several times. *tr
12/12/2008860001
 Faulty ignition switch. car will not start for 10-15 minutes when its cold outside. battery replaced and it did not help. *tr
12/05/20081
 If the saturn vehicle is exposed to temperatures at or approaching 32 degrees f for several hours when the engine is not running (usually 6-10 hours), then when you attempt to start the vehicle, the ignition switch clicks and the car stalls. the security system kicks in. the security light blinks and the odometer screen reads:
12/05/2008580001
 I just bought a 2003 saturn ion 2 about 2 weeks ago. my wife woke up this morning to start her car and it would not start. i tried jumping the car and still no luck. the passlock light came on and said service vehicle. so i told my wife to get in the car and shift it to neutral so we could push it into a different spot so she could take my truck to work. she decided to try and start it one last time and it then started. frustrated, i went on to the internet and search for ion problems and have found about 200 complaints about the same problem. this is a problem that saturn needs to address and take care!! *tr
01/05/2008262351
 We own a 2003 saturn ion and the key gets stuck in the ignition. you have to press a release button in the steering column to get the key out. in addition, this appears to create an electrical issue as sometimes the car won't start. we purchased this vehicle used and took it back to the dealership within the 30 day warranty period. they said they were unable to replicate problem, unbeknownst to us this was an ongoing issue with saturn ions. the temporary fix is even in the owners manual. that's just wrong! how can a company get away with selling such a defective product -- and especially a car!!! i feel ripped off and saturn should stand behind such a defective vehicle issue. this does create a safety issue because sometimes the car won't start leaving you stranded. the dealership won't even offer to give a free estimate -- and now they tell me there are various possible fixes -- it depends on which part is broken. so i have to give them $85 for them to tell me how much it will cost to fix. i am a single parent, i purchased this vehicle because it was affordable and i certainly don't see why i have to pay for a manufacturing defect. saturn needs to step up and fix the problem!!! there are hundreds of stories like mine online. i hope you can help! *tr
11/25/2007890001
 Failure occurs only when it is cold outside. the car starts then dies or sometimes doesn't start at all. it usually takes between 20 min to several hours in the freezing cold to get the car started. so far this week it has refused to start 4 times 2 of those times when i was away from home or friends leaving me stranded in the cold. i was once for 2 days at a coworkers house because i was unable to get the car to start in the freezing cold last winter and i lived 30 miles away. i have researched this and it is an extremely common problem for my car that saturn refuses to recall. one day someone like me is going to get stranded in the middle of nowhere and possibly freeze if they don't have a cell phone. i've taken my car several different repair places and the problem persists. *tr
11/29/2008960001
 My 2003 saturn ion will not start in cold weather. it just makes a clicking noise. i have had a new ignition installed last year for a lot of money last year. this fixed the problem for the rest of the winter, but as soon as it got cold this winter the problem is back. it will occur about 1/4 of the times it is parked outside in very cold weather (under 25 f). i just wait 8 minutes and try again. i can't keep fixing this when saturn is aware that this is a wide spread problem. at least the money i spent last year should have fixed the issue for good. it's really frustrating and if caught in the severe cold could result in a serious injury to someone. *tr
11/11/2008650001
 My 2003 saturn ion has had trouble starting. if it is cold outside, it will not start, but if i wait 10-15 minutes it will start. the saturn dealership refused to do anything stating, we can't fix it if it is not doing it at the time we are looking at it. now the car will not start at all. *tr
11/07/20031057881
 1. my 2003 saturn ion it would not start again. this is happening more often. i have had it hooked up a scan tool at our repair shop it said it was the safety switch, something about it had been tampered with. which it had not, because i was right there all the time. if i wait a few minutes it will start i have been going through this for about 2 yrs now, it has worked every time. however it is becoming more often and that is why i was able to get it hooked up to a scan tool. 2. the first 2 yrs it may have happened 4 times. within the last 3 weeks it has happened 6 times. 3. you just need to wait, when it decides to start it will. it is almost like the computer thinks that someone is breaking into the car, so shorts off the fuel to the carburetor and it will not start. it will turn over, will not start. if your try right away nothing happens, so you need to wait.... try it again, it turns over, fires up will not start, the engine will not go. *tr
10/04/2008800001
 The biggest issue is that on cold days (and sometimes not so cold) my car will just click and not start, or will start and die out. but if i keep trying to start it and let it sit for awhile and come back, it will start right up. when it does this, they check engine light usually comes on when trying to start it, but when i get it started it immediately goes off. i've had the battery, alternator and starter checked and they are fine. it only happens usually in the mornings or late at night when it's been cold. *tr
10/15/200654000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. sporadically, while driving various speeds, the vehicle would stall without warning. the contact would also experience a no start condition. he took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch at the cost of several hundred dollars. two years later, the failure recurred, but the dealer would not assume any responsibility. lastly, the windshield wipers would repeatedly hop around the windshield. on one occasion, the wiper fractured and had to be replaced. the failure mileage was 54,000 and current mileage was 99,000.
08/01/2004300001
 The biggest issue is that on cold days (and sometimes not so cold) my car will just click and not start, or will start and die out, resulting in my having to wait 9-10 minutes for the passlock to reset and hopefully allow my car to start on a second attempt. on some rare occasions i will have to wait through this 9-10 minute cycle 2 or 3 times before it will start properly so i can drive. the key sticks in the ignition. while i am able to turn the engine off, i can't turn the car off completely. i have to resolve this on an almost daily basis by using a screwdriver in the small panel hole in my steering column and moving a small switch to release the key. since purchasing the vehicle in 2003 i have had more trouble with this car than any used car i possessed. my hood latch would not catch and was repaired 4 times. the heating control knob was replaced 7 times before it finally functioned properly without problem. *tr
07/01/2008730001
 Car does not want to start in cold weather & recently has not wanted to start a few times in warm weather. i have only had the car since january & on average it does this 5-10 times a month. if you put the key in to start the car, it will either make a clicking noise & wont start or it will start then the ignition dies immediately. service engine soon scroll light will come on. it usually takes 10-30 minutes to eventually get the car started. one time in extremely cold weather it would not start for 4 days. took car to dealership where purchased & it failed to act up while they had it. they said there was nothing they could do about it. *tr
10/01/200656000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start in cold weather. the vehicle takes over one hour to start and the dealer could not duplicate the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer stated that her vin was not included in the gmc ignition module recall (number 03033-03c-06). the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 56,000 and current mileage was 98,000.
03/18/20081
 1) try to start saturn ion 2) it failed to start 3) waited 10 min. it starts. *tr
11/30/200780000210/16/2003
 My complaint is that my car shuts off while i'm driving it. the first time it happened i was leaving work and had just made a right hand turn and as i was accelerating the car completely turned off, i was going about 30 mph when it happened. i was able to pull the car to the side of the road without incident. i took the car to the dealership immediately to have the issue fixed. i was told the problem was the body control module, so it was replaced and i picked up my car. two weeks later i was on my way to work on a busy highway during rush hour traffic and while i was in the left lane going 65 mph the car completely shut off. i put on my flashers and coasted to a stop, using some brakes, but i couldn't stop too suddenly or i would have been rear-ended. i was in the left lane next to a jersey wall, there was not much of a shoulder so i was partially on it and partially blocking traffic, i am very lucky to not have been hit. it would be a real tragedy for someone to be killed due to this malfunction before notice was taken and these cars recalled completely. *tr
05/17/200742500504/02/2006
 This happened three times now. first time the daughter was driving and the vehicle service engine display came on and all electrical power went out. immediately pulled to the side of the road. turned off the key, checked under the hood for smoke, and called dad because the car was stuck in park with the key stuck in the ignition, and the windows locked in the down position. called roadside assistance ,the extended warranty - no problem, they will tow it to the nearest saturn dealer, 180+ miles away through a rain storm. several days later had to drive round trip to retrieve car from saturn dealer, who has replaced 7.5 amp body control module fuse, but didn't know why it blew out. got back home , 180+ miles and no problems. daughter entered the car, went 8 miles, bang same thing. to replace fuse called saturn to make an appointment. drove car back to saturn 180+ miles to get fuse to blow 3 times on way back by adjusting the lh rv mirror. they kept the car for one week and replaced lh mirror switch. picked up car from saturn. dealer no problems for about a month. today she was heading to work, adjusted lh rv mirror and bcm fuse blew out, everything went dead. called saturn why do i have to pay to have them fix what i just paid to have fixed , $50.00 deductible, and what was the real root of the problem? when was this going to happen again? checked this site for other similar problems. found odi #10152158 noticed that the vins were very similar - 9th digit was different. mine was 0, and theirs was x. did not know if that was significant. it happened twice 13 months apart. we have been able to duplicate. 1 original failure, 3 duplicated by myself, and now another failure. don't think it was the mirror switch. it was the bcm? owner loved saturns. he owned 3. 2006 vue, 2006 ion quad coupe, and 2003 ion sedan. this was a lemon. saturns were not lemons. this was a little elctronic glitch is., and a safety hazard that could get someone killed. *ak
01/10/200734000506/16/2005
 For the past two winters i've had difficulty starting my car on 5 separate occasions. when i went out to start it each time it wouldn't start. i would wait about 10-15 minutes to restart it, and luckily it started. this has caused me to be late on every occasion, all the while braving the freezing cold. *nm
02/16/200720
 I have a 2003 saturn ion. i just purchased this car from the dealership earlier in 2006. it worked great until the cold winter came. ever since the weather has become cold i have had issues starting my car almost daily. i will get in the car and try to start the engine. most times nothing happens...no noise at all. other times it will sound like it's turning over but will then stop. i will have to wait about 10 minutes and then the car starts fine. i will drive to my location and shut the car off. if i get back in again within a short period of time i have to go through the same process again. i have searched the internet message boards and have found hundreds of people with the same issue...but still no recall by saturn. if this problem persists without a recall i will no longer purchase saturn vehicles. *jb
04/10/2006102/01/2003
 I have been having some issues with clunking and grinding noises when going over bumps or potholes or while making turns. i took my 2003 ion 2 to have this checked and i found out that the problems was both of my control arm bushings. my car is 2 months out of warranty and has only 38,000 miles on it, so at first i thought that this could be untrue. but, after internet research it seems that many 2003 ion drivers have had this problem. i called my saturn dealer and they acted like they had never heard of this problem and could do nothing to help me or fix it. my other problem with the car, which also seems to be a common problem, is that the service engine soon light comes on intermittently. one day it will be on, and the next it will be fine. *jb
03/03/200645470207/02/2003
 This has happened twice in exactly thirteen months the first time was on february 3, 2005. i adjusted my power drivers side mirror while driving home at night on highway 61 and heard a pop and all my lights including headlights and dash lights went out . my four way safety flashers also would not work i was driving in complete darkness while traveling approximately 67 mph this incident occurred almost identically last year while driving in town approximately 25 mph adjusted mirror heard a pop and all lights went out. luckily in both incidents no one hit me from behind due to the fact they couldn't see me until it was too late. no one was killed or injured but that was just pure luck .. last years incident i had my car towed to saturn and they determined that the bcm fuse was bad they replaced fuse. obviously they did not get to the root of the problem you would think you can adjust your power mirror without having all lights shut off including dash lights .. once you put the vehicle into park you cannot turn it off completely the key will only go as far as the accessory position and cannot be removed. the engine will run you just can't move the vehicle. somehow i do not think they corrected the problem entirely when they replaced the fuse. it seems to me you should not blow a bcm fuse every thirteen months exactly to the day. it is such a potentially fatal problem the consequences are terrifying. my 2003 saturn ion-3 can not be the only car out there with this happening especially twice in thirteen months. *jb
08/31/20058890108/10/2003
 (1) highway driving (2) found out the windshield wipers no longer worked on any setting after some water splashed up on my windshield. nearly had an accident from inability to see. found out after i stopped that the trunk release also no longer worked. (3) contacted saturn via email. action is pending. *nm
07/15/200534000304/27/2003
 Unresolve problem (7/2004 - 7/2005) vehicle is unsafe. suddenly stalls and stops while on highway creating hazard for traffic following at 65 mph. returned to dealer several times. they can not isolate the problem and can not repair.
11/20/200415165104/10/2003
 While driving. upon stopping the vehicle. the consumer got out to take the child out of the vehicle with the ignition running. the doors locked, and the consumer could not get her child out of the vehicle. consumer contacted the dealer. however, the problem still exist. *nm doors locked automatically upon exiting driver's side. additional service include, the a/c and heater funtion failed due to faulty connection from switch to resistor card, collapse of horn cover causing loss of airbag. ignition switch failed. the signal and running lamps were inoperative. *bf
10/01/20036692105/31/2003
 To date, vehicle has has multiple problems which dealer/service department has been unable to resolve. 10 service visits in less than 6 months and no end in sight. problems include: daytime running lights/blinker lights inopperable (repaired 6 times); outside temperature guage malfunctioning (repaired 3+ times); air conditioning inopperable and compass malfunctioning.*ak
10/17/20035100508/06/2003
 I bought a saturn ion in early august of 2003. i have had 5 separate occasions where the vehicle has stalled out on me and had no control of the car what so ever! the latest time was at the interstate at 65 miles per hour with an eight wheeler truck right behind me. had i not thought quick and put the car in neutral and restarted the car or else i would have been hit it the rear by a several ton vehicle. i could have been killed! the entire power to the car dies !! the steering column locks up and you the entire car shuts down and you are stuck in front of another car w/ only the prayer of restarting your saturn ion so that you are not killed! the first person i spoke with in the service department told me that he had heard of this in a couple of other cars the service manager claimed he had no knowledge of what the first service technician was talking about. i am outraged that saturn said they would try to get the car to duplicate this problem for them. i have told them that it is not something that happens everyday or even every week. their response was we can't fix what we do not know is broken i am going to ask that the car be returned to gmac which is the lean holder! i do not think this is a safe vehicle for myself and my small children. i strongly discourage others from purchasing the saturn ion !!!! i feel as if i have been riding in a death trap!! *la outraged unfortunate saturn owner of winston-salem. *la
03/17/2003702/28/2003
 The front and rear turn signal light bulbs blew out 11 times. first the dealer told me the bulbs were bad, then too many amps for the turn signal circuit. they did some conversion 8 months ago and the bulbs blew out less frequent but still occurring. the driver front bulbs blew 3 weeks ago. the turn signal also malfunction whenever i plug the cell phone charger into the power outlet. i had many near accidents because of the turn signal.
05/05/2003
 When the consumer plugged devices into the cigarette lighter the turn signal would not work. *nlm
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
12/01/2006750001
 I have a saturn ion 2003 and spent the whole of last winter having to go out and turn my key in the ignition 10 minutes before i needed to leave anywhere so it would start. it actually started in 2006 and the car did not start a couple of times during the winter. georgia had a mild winter that year. unfortunately, 2007 was much colder and my car constantly would not start. i am a single parent whose family are 3000 miles away on a different continent and i cannot afford for my car to not work when i have an hour commute and have to pick my child up by a certain time each day. i have looked at many websites and blogs and realize that this is a serious problem with all saturn ions. saturn knows about it and refuses to do anything about it. i took it to the saturn dealership and they couldn't figure anything out except i needed a new ($80) battery that did not solve the problem. i think that it is a huge problem and am not surprised that people don't like to buy american cars when this is the type of response that you get from them when their product does not work correctly. are we sure that it's not just a scheme for them to make money from people? *tr
12/04/20061
 I have a 5-speed manual 2003 saturn ion . every time it's cold outside, the car refuses to start. this has happened repeated last winter, and has a couple times this fall, also. now, that the temperature is staying low, i'm concerned about the time and effort required to make the car start. the radio and lights work fine, indicating there is power getting to this equipment. however, when trying to turn the car over to start, a message pops up saying service engine. nothing happens after that. one can almost predict when it will happen. if the temperature gets below freezing, one must be prepared to sit at home until the temperature rises, and allows for the car to start. *jb
12/29/20032
 I own a 2003 saturn ion. the battery went dead today because my wife left the lights on by accident. when the battery in this model car becomes discharged two undesireable problems arise. i feel that both of them introduce safety concerns. first, the key won't come out of the ignition switch through normal means. second, the car can't be moved! the gear shift lever remains in the park position. i feel that a car designed such that these two problems occur when the battery fails is a poor design. the instruction manual provided with the car makes no mention of these problems occuring with a dead battery. in order to jump a dead battery in a car it is often necessary to move the car i n order to jump the battery from another car. i feel having an intentional design in a car that prevents it from being moved by the owner creates a safety concern. regarding the key situation, my wife left her entire set of keys in the car when they got stuck in the ignition switch. many important keys were left in the car unattended. it could have made a bad situation much worse. it turns out that the instruction manual in the car discusses how to get stuck keys out of the ignition switch, but no mention is made in the book that keys will get stuck in the ignition switch when the battery goes dead. i spoke to the consumer complaint department at saturn regarding this concern, but it is not saturn's policy to respond to this type of customer complaint. since i feel these two problems do have a safety impact, i decided to register this complaint with the nhtsa. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
03/24/2008600005
 Ignition problem - engine won't start, passlock prevents ignition. i live in texas and it's rarely that cold in the mornings, every time this has happened to me it has been a cold wet blustery day but not freezing. car acts like the battery is dead, but frequent manipulation of the passlock remote will eventually clear the problem. this has left me stranded several times, and if saturn knows about the problem, and hasn't done anything about it in the 5 years that it has been occurring, then they should be held criminally negligent. they should be made to correct the problem with the ignition and the passlock system, and replace or repair the control module at no cost. my door locks no longer work, and in speaking to other owners i can expect a downward spiral of electrical failures in the coming months. *tr
12/28/20047
 While driving,the vehicle stalled. the consumer was unable to restart the vehicle. the consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. the mechanic informed the driver that the fuses and circuit breakers needed to be replaced. the consumer informed the mechanic this problem has occurred more than once and has not been resolved. please fill in further information. *jb
07/13/2003307/08/2003
 Electrical; door seals loose; car returned up to 3 times since purchase on 7/13/03. saturn ion 3 coupe--turn signals burned out w/in one week of each other; requested check of electrical system. july 26, 2003 electrical system checked. complained about door seal at same time & service dept did not check it out until they replaced the fuse box on july 31. requested to return vehicle and was told it would be fixed to my satisfaction. door seal was not installed properly & i have to take the car back for a fourth time to get this repaired approximately one week from today. *ph
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
11/20/20041
 Saturn ion 2003 ignition switch and ignition cylinder bad 3 times since i bought the vehicle brand new in 2003. i have had to pay to replace the switch, at about $300., each time. no one but a gm dealer can replace this switch, which fails once the temp. drops, because of gm not releasing the computer codes. the ignition cylinder is bad, but at a cost of $100. just for the cylinder and another cost of $100 for the labor, i have to leave a key in the ignition at all times in the run position, so i can start my car. saturn has admitted to these being faulty parts, but refuses to recall the cars, so the consumer is forced to pay over and over again for the same repairs. *tr
03/04/2009480001
 The ignition switch does not work. during cold days my car does not start. i have to wait between 10 to 20 minutes to start the car. this is a problem that ion 2003-2007 have, saturn knows about it. however, they have not done anything about fixing the problem. thousands of complains about the ignition switch, they need to do something. *tr
01/10/2009930001
 We have a 2003 saturn ion that wont start in cold weather due to ignition switch problems. saturn dealer wants $100 just to diagnose it on a computer but many forums have information stating that the dealer already knows that the ignition switch is faulty. *tr
12/23/2004260001
 2003 saturn ion has problems starting in the cold. multiple websites document dozens of cases of people with the exact same issue all relating to a faulty ignition switch system. problem occurred sporadically the first couple years but has become more and more common. saturn is willing to replace the ignition switch but at my expense for something that is an obvious defect of the car. *tr
12/20/2008740001
 We have a 2003 saturn ion that has experienced ignition problems over the last 2 years. we had the starter replaced by our mechanic when the problem first occurred in 2006 but have experienced the problem 12-15 times since then. we have found out that the car will start if you wait for 15 minutes or so but it is not always convenient to do so. an internet search reveals numerous saturn owners with the same problem which has not been acknowledged by saturn as a design or manufacturing defect. my local dealership is aware of the problem with the passlock ignition system but can only repair it for a fee. *tr
09/15/2008740001
 My 2003 saturn ion 2 has had nothing but problems. the first thing i have experienced has been a problem with the car not starting on very cold day below 32 degrees. i had the ignition switch replaced last year as recommended by the dealership. since the weather has gotten cold here in indiana i have begun to have the same problem. the car just will not start on very cold days again below 32 degrees. *tr
11/06/20081450001
 I have a 2003 saturn ion and for the past 2 years my vehicle has had problems starting in the cold. i have heard and read hundred of people having to replace their ignition switch on their ions. it has left me stranded on many occassions in the morning and at night. saturn has not offered to fix this problem and is just banking in the cash for us to replace their ignition switches and get our computers reprogrammed. since saturn will not do anything to help its customers then i feel it is someone to investigate this ongoing problem. *tr
06/17/2008440001
 Car would not turn over until several attempts were made key would not come out of lock until after several attempts were made occurs weekly for several months i needed to get a new ignition switch and a new ignition cylinder this is the 2nd ignition cylinder i have had to get since purchasing my vehicle, obviously something is wrong with their parts once my car ran with out the key in the ignition!!! *tr
05/28/2008491601
 Purchased an 03 saturn ion may 17, 2008. may 28 ignition locked up and would not turn past the accessory setting. in researching the problem have seen hundreds of postings for this problem. it appears anti theft system is defective and suddenly locks up preventing the start of the car. cannot locate any information on how to fix the problem, people seem to just be replacing the ignition lock every couple of months. saturn has not issued a recall to correct the problem. this is an issue that is well known to anyone associated with saturn and i feel should have been disclosed on carfax or verbally by the saturn dealer who sold me the car. i would not have purchased a car with a chronic defect that will leave my child and myself stranded on a regular basis. *tr
03/24/2008600005
 Ignition problem - engine won't start, passlock prevents ignition. i live in texas and it's rarely that cold in the mornings, every time this has happened to me it has been a cold wet blustery day but not freezing. car acts like the battery is dead, but frequent manipulation of the passlock remote will eventually clear the problem. this has left me stranded several times, and if saturn knows about the problem, and hasn't done anything about it in the 5 years that it has been occurring, then they should be held criminally negligent. they should be made to correct the problem with the ignition and the passlock system, and replace or repair the control module at no cost. my door locks no longer work, and in speaking to other owners i can expect a downward spiral of electrical failures in the coming months. *tr
03/10/2008307/25/2003
 When the outside weather is cold, my 2003 saturn ion 2 won't start. this has happened 3 separate occasions over the last 2 months. *tr
03/01/200820006007/25/2003
 2003 saturn ion iii disengages in the middle of traffic as if gears have slipped into neutral at speeds from between 20 and 60 mph, so that there is no forward movement suddenly and then re-engages. almost rear-ended several times also car will not start if turned off for a short time and key locks in ignition. gears were re-calibrated and ignition replaced, but problems continue. *tr
02/03/20082009/15/2007
 My daughter has a 2003 saturn ion and won't start when it is cold. i have been on several web sites and other saturn owners have had this problem. please help what can i do. will this car get a recall. some of the owners are saying that it is the lubricate that saturn used on the ignition that it can freeze in cold weather. is this the case. help in cold weather. *tr
02/19/2008803/17/2003
 I have a 2003 ion 2 which i bought new in march 2003. starting in dec 2007, my car would not start up in the morning when it is cold outside. 10-15 min later i would try to start it again and it would start up like nothing was wrong. i had saturn look at it, they stated that they could not replicate the problem and found nothing wrong. in january 2008, it started to happen on a daily basis, so i took it to my local mechanic who said the battery was charging fine and could not pin point a problem but suggested putting in a new starter which cost me $300. at first i thought that my problem was solved, but now in feb 2008 ( one month later)it is not starting up in the mornings again on real cold days (0-20 degrees), but 10-15 min later, it starts right up. *tr
01/10/200820
 When temperature gets low, my 2003 saturn ion won't start. it must sit for 15-20 minutes before it will start up. *tr
02/11/2008107/15/2005
 Vehicle will start some days and not start others. would have to try over and over again several times to get the vehicle to start. not the battery! *tr
01/20/2008308/14/2003
 When it is cold out, and i go to start my car in the morning, it starts to turn over but then stalls and dies. the lights and radio still work, and the instrument panel blinks service vehicle. i have to wait at least 10 minutes to even attempt to start my vehicle again because it is something with the security feature of the ignition. *tr
01/20/20087900010011/17/2004
 Car will not start when below freezing..... *tr
12/03/20075
 Saturn ion 2003 fails to start when cold out. reference nhtsa #10007431. saturn does not admit this is a design flaw. but will charge you and arm and a leg to fix the problem. i went to alldata web site and the show numerous problems with the 2003 saturn ion but gm fails to recognize this is a problem. *tr
12/01/2007159000203/01/2003
 Car wouldn't start, battery and electrical system checked ok. finally checked with other owners of similar make,model and year of car and the cold weather problem with the started is a known issue. waited an hour or so to try again and the car started. *tr
10/26/200750
 Car will not start when first attempting to start is in cold weather. after about 10 to 15 minutes it will finally start when attempting again. from research on the internet it sounds similar to numerous other complaints people have about a faulty ignition switch that saturn has known about for some time. *tr
10/25/200735000104/10/2003
 Vehicle won't start - no crank, no start. it is only 3 years old and has low usage and mileage. *tr
05/01/20061500010001/28/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated that the key becomes stuck in the ignition and causes her to restart the vehicle approximately 3 or 4 times to release the key. she has taken the vehicle to the dealer approximately 3 times and they have kept the vehicle for an entire week. after leaving the dealer, the vehicle will operate normally for a few weeks, but then the failure recurs. the failure mileage was 15,000 and current mileage was 17,000.
03/22/200772000603/25/2003
 2003 saturn ion. when attempting to start car on cold mornings pass lock system engages and locks car from being able to start for some period of time. has left me stranded in cold weather several times, latest being date just below. this is not a battery or starter issue. from research i have done, this seems to be a faulty design with the starter switch, and is is apparently known to saturn corp.*ak
02/10/20077200020005/01/2003
 For the past few months any time there is cold weather, which has been every day because it's the winter, my 2003 saturn ion 2 won't start for about 20-30 minutes. i took it to a local shop and had some work done; fuel injection cleaning, spark plugs replaced, etc. the problem still continued and i took it back. the car started fine and for the next few days while we were having mild weather i had no problems. as soon as the weather hit 30 degrees it started again. when i go to start the car it turns over but then dies. 5 or so more times and it again tries to turn over but nothing. eventually after 20 minutes or so the car will start. the battery has been replaced because that's what we first thought was the problem even though it did not need to be replaced. we're now out $100 for that plus the work i've had done that did not solve the problem. i called saturn and they told me that they have never heard of this, that this has not been issued into a recall and that they would need to hook my car up to the computer for $100 just to tell me what the problem is. i searched online for this particular problem and found thousands of posts and that the problem is the ignition switch, but some people will still having problems even after that was replaced. just this weekend i went to work and came out to start my car at 9:20 and by 10:00 the car still would not start and i had to find a ride home. i have two young children and am scared to leave the house with them in fear that my car won't start when i get to or need to leave my destination. i feel that this problem needs to be issued as a recall or like many others i will not be buying another saturn. *jb
01/13/2007803/15/2003
 1. temperatures below freezing 2. grease in ignition switch thickens and car will not start. it normally takes 10 - 15 minutes to warm the ignition enough for the car to start. 3. nothing was done to correct the failure. the service manager agreed to repair the car and bill the manufacturer but that didn't happen. i was told the car was out of warranty and they wouldn't repair it. 4. the manufacturer is aware of this problem with this particular year, make and model. *jb
12/29/2006228132506/15/2005
 2003 saturn ion. this car will not start in the cold weather. if the temperature is below 32 degrees f for an extended period of time, the car will stall. this will be a recall item once we get together and sue saturn for this obvious negligent behavior. this problem is well known and is continual. perhaps when some unfortunate soul is stranded in the wilderness and dies, then the manufacturer will pay attention to this cold weather start problem. the public is well aware of the problem and so is saturn. it would be well worth it for the corporate office to crunch the numbers and decide to recall the vehicle for this problem. i have read that the difficultly may have to do with a type of lubricant on the starter, which hardens in the cold weather. the car stalls as a result, and then the passlock kicks in. after 8 minutes, the car may start, or one may have to wait an additional 8 minutes (or more) for the ignition switch to loosen up enough to start the engine. however, the car may stall yet again---and set off the passlock system yet again. saturn is negligent at the very least--and criminally negligent if they know of this problem---the potential dangers of it---and do nothing. *nm
12/19/2006101/04/2003
 Saturn 2003 ion will not start in cool to cold weather. after several tries car will not start, but will then start after sitting for about ten minutes. apparently this is a common problem with newer saturns. *jb
12/02/200650000401/01/2006
 2003 saturn ion quad level 3, will not start when temperature drops, or starts and immediately stalls. the passlock icon blinks and the message center says service vehicle. the dealership verbally stated to turn key on for fifteen minutes to reset the passlock, then turn off, remove key, and try the start sequence again. this is a recurring issue, four times in the past two days, car is currently immobile in a parking lot across town. an internet search strongly suggests this is a common failure that gm refuses to acknowledge and that all saturn owners experiencing this issue should file a complaint for relief. *nm
12/01/200410000512/01/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had problems starting in cold weather. the engine would start after a few attempts or not start at all on different occasions. the non service dealer could not duplicate the issue to fix it.
02/24/200630
 My car won't start! at least every once in a while anyway. it's a 2003 saturn ion. i bought it used on 5/14/05 and a few months after, when it started to get cold in ga., it wouldn't start. after about 10-30 minutes, it would finally start as if there was no problem leaving me feeling like i was going crazy. i thought it may be the battery, so i replaced that (40.00 dollars). it still gave me problems that very night! i took it to the dealership, and had a diagnostic check done (40.00 dollars), they couldn't find anything wrong, and basically blew me off. discouraged, i left and gave up. it continued to act up 2 days later, which i just dealt with. i took it to the shop yesterday for a oil change and guess what? it wouldn't start while it was there. they told me that while they were about to take it to the wash it wouldn't start, and asked me if i had any problems. i said yea. they said they were sure they'd locate the problem that day. came back an hour later to tell me that it was the technician fault, claiming that he had left it in drive while trying to start it (how would he get it in drive if it wouldn't start?) anyway, it wouldn't start that night! at this point im going to get my future father in law involved since he is an engineer and have him stir the pudding. oh, and he believes it a short with the electrical system so we will have to have them to check that out. *nm
04/16/200555310406/01/2003
 I purchased a saturn ion in june of 2003. i began having problems starting the car in october of 2004. it would not start and would just make a clicking noise when the key was turned. there was power to all accessories so it was not a battery failure. the service engine light would come on. after about 30 minutes of trying to get the vehicle to start, it would finally start once again (roughly at first) and the service engine light would disappear. i took it to the nearby saturn dealership after the first occurrence and was turned away because they were too busy. i took it there the next day and they said that nothing was wrong with it except for an oxygen sensor which they replaced. i drove it home. it did it again twice in the next two days. i took the car back again and they replaced the ignition module. i thought that everything was ok until this past weekend (april 2005) when it did the exact same thing. i took it to saturn on tuesday and they could not recreate the problem and would not provide me with a loaner car for more than one day. i had no choice but to take my unreliable vehicle back. i contacted saturn corporate and filed a complaint. they stated that they would allow me to take the car back to the dealership and would get me a loaner for a few days but it was doubtful that they could get it to repeat the problem as it is intermittent. i have been told to not start it the next time and just have it towed to saturn. that's fine except what if it dies in the middle of the night and i am away from home with my two small children? my vehicle is less than two years old and i should not be afraid to drive it any distance for fear of being stranded! *nm
12/15/200306/05/2003
 Bought a saturn 2003 ion 1 this past summer ,june 2003. it work just fine until colorado got its first cold spell, this is when the car started to act-up. the car will not start up in the early cold morrings. when i first try to start the car there is nothing, just a clicking sound. then after trying for a while the car finally starts up, but it is a very rough start. i have taken the car to my saturn dealship for the 3rd time and today will be the fourth the same problem. the car will not start up in the early cold morrings. i am getting very tried of this. i hope with the fourth try the problem will be fixed. if not, you will hear from me again.
05/20/2003505/09/2003
 Key always stuck in ignition, car doesn't start car door lock broken. *jb
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER
11/11/2008637201
 My saturn ion 03 will not start up in early morning cold temperature. the ignition sends no signal to the anti-theft system that shuts off fuel to the car. it takes, on average, twenty minutes for the car to actually start. i noticed the problem one year ago during the winter months. at first, i speculated it was the battery, coolant/anti-freeze fluid, low gas but all checked out fine. after researching recalls and saturn ion problems i found that it was the anti-theft system that was triggering the problem. *tr
11/05/2008550001
 Car will not start, due to pass-lock being initiated. *tr
03/24/2008600005
 Ignition problem - engine won't start, passlock prevents ignition. i live in texas and it's rarely that cold in the mornings, every time this has happened to me it has been a cold wet blustery day but not freezing. car acts like the battery is dead, but frequent manipulation of the passlock remote will eventually clear the problem. this has left me stranded several times, and if saturn knows about the problem, and hasn't done anything about it in the 5 years that it has been occurring, then they should be held criminally negligent. they should be made to correct the problem with the ignition and the passlock system, and replace or repair the control module at no cost. my door locks no longer work, and in speaking to other owners i can expect a downward spiral of electrical failures in the coming months. *tr
03/10/200830
 My saturn ion 2003 does not start when the temperature drops and especially when it is coupled with it getting a bit humid. if i have an emergency on a cold, wet morning i will have to call a taxi. something is clearly wrong in the design of the car itself -- in the security system interfacing with the starter/ignition is a guess. saturn will not admit to their design flaw and/or shoddy workmanship! my car is not reliable at all!! i have brought it to two mechanics and the dealer. the dealer, after throwing it on the computer, said that there was absolutely nothing wrong with this car and charged me $70 for absolutely no help. please help. saturn needs to recall this model and fix their design problem. my first two saturns were gems that drove and drove - needing little care. this one is simply one big design mistake ... and my last saturn. it simply will not start. *tr
03/07/20084006/30/2003
 Our 2003 saturn ion has a permanent default, in that it will not start in cold weather. and the term cold is relative. saturn told us the ignition switch is faulty. thus, we paid an excess of $200 to rectify the problem. however, this solution lasted only a little over one year. now, saturn tells us that though we have the updated ignition switch, it still causes the same no-start problem, and we need a $575 (plus tax) body control module. we had to pay $104.54 for saturn to tell us this. obviously, this is a problem caused by the manufacturer , which is leaving many people stranded morning, noon, and night in various locations around the country. the problem should be immediately rectified through a recall. *tr
01/12/2008506/01/2003
 My 2003 saturn ion would not start after being out in cold weather. this has happened before and i am tired of it. based on research i have done on the net, it appears saturn is aware of this and doesn't seem to care. *tr
01/03/2008812/21/2007
 2003 saturn ion. this car will not start in the cold weather. if the temperature is below 32 degrees f for an extended period of time, the car will stall. this will be a recall item once we get together and sue saturn for this obvious negligent behavior. this problem is well known and is continual. perhaps when some unfortunate soul is stranded in the wilderness and dies, then the manufacturer will pay attention to this cold weather start problem. the public is well aware of the problem and so is saturn. it would be well worth it for the corporate office to crunch the numbers and decide to recall the vehicle for this problem. i have read that the difficultly may have to do with a type of lubricant on the starter, which hardens in the cold weather. the car stalls as a result, and then the pass-lock kicks in. after 8 minutes, the car may start, or one may have to wait an additional 8 minutes (or more) for the ignition switch to loosen up enough to start the engine. however, the car may stall yet again---and set off the passlock system yet again. saturn is negligent at the very least--and criminally negligent if they know of this problem---the potential dangers of it---and do nothing. service bulletin:040845005 nhtsa item number:10007431 mfg bulletin date: 20060301 component: electrical system:ignition:switch bulletin summary: no crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) b2960 and or b3033 are set. *cn
12/17/2007510/14/2005
 I have had several occurrences of ignition trouble with my saturn ion. it seems in cold weather (from 60 degrees f and below) that if the engine does not start right away, the passlock security system switches on and will not allow my car to be started for 8-10 minutes. this has caused me several times to be stuck, in the middle of the night, alone, in <30 deg weather with a car that will not start. this places me in a very dangerous situation. *tr
01/01/2005450002003/01/2003
 When it is too cold, my ignition switch locks my security system and i have to wait a long time before my car starts. saturn has issued a technical advisory (# 04-08-45-005d) about this issue but will not issue a recall (even though it is obvious that this is a defect in their product). many others have similar problems: http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html *tr
04/14/2007303/20/2003
 Saturn 2003 ion the car will not start, passlock light and check engine message displayed. car will start after approximately 10 minutes. happens in humid cool weather (rain, 30-40's f). a voltage signal is sent through the passlock resistor in the ignition switch. the passlock system interprets it as a failure and the starting circuit is disabled. this a potentially dangerous situation in cases where the car needs to be moved quickly to avoid a hazard. *jb
02/20/200774000102/05/2004
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. after inserting the key into the ignition,it was difficult to turn the key and the engine didn
12/29/200635500409/13/2003
 My saturn ion 3 had 4 occurrences of service vehicle's message in the last 24 hours since dec 29, 2006. when i turn the key, the engine doesn't turn over. the message windows shows service vehicle and the security/pass lock symbol on the dash keeps flashing. i kept trying turning the ignition, nothing happnened. the after approx. 10 minutes, the car started and ran great as if nothing happened. *nm
11/25/2006100002005/23/2003
 When it is cold out and the car has sat, it will not crank. i have seen information that it may be related to the body control module $590 fix, or the ignition switch $200 fix. the problem appears to be tied to the theft deterrent system. if the car does nothing, and i lock and then unlock the car it will crank for 1/2 a second then stop. it wont crank again until i lock and unlock the car again. eventually after doing this numerous times it will start. i know that there is a tsb on this problem but believe that it should be a recall item for either the bcm, the ignition switch, or both. *nm
12/17/200453000105/30/2003
 When weather turns cold car will not start, after 20 - 30 minutes car starts. after first visit to dealer we were told there was no problem found, a year later as winter returns so does the problem and now we are told that the body control module and the passlock sensor both need to be replaced. we have also been told that this is not covered under warranty or even the extended warranty we purchased. i have held off on repairing as we have another vehicle we can use and did some research on the internet. although we have not experienced all the symptoms described by others, one disturbing symptom is that some gm vehicles experience sudden loss of power and or stalling. nothing has been done to correct this problem yet.
06/16/200527000103/01/2003
 At the time my saturn was involved in an accident it was under 30,000 miles and still under warrenty. i was driving on a busy highway and my accelerator got stuck. at the time i could not see what was holding down my accelerator. it was a piece of panel that came off partially that was holding the accelerator really hard and it was stuck making my pedal stuck almost all the way to the floor. i tried to slow the car down with both feet on the breaks and the emergency break to no avail. i didn't turn the ignition off because i had cars on all sides of me going 50-70 mph. it was when i came to a red light that i realized my car wasn't going to stop and i had no other choice but to hit an suv and my car kept trying to accelerate and push the suv out of the way. that is when i turned off the ignition. i had to turn off the ignition before another accident occurred. the suv was damaged. my car was damaged. i haven't been able to get my car fixed because i am waiting for saturn to acknowledge the manufacturing defect which caused the accident, so that they could lend me a rent-a-car while it is in the shop. but, i cannot get them to give me a call to make an appointment to get my car in the shop or supply a rent-a-car. a forensic investigator inspected my car on friday and agrees that i didn't cause the accident. he supplied the information to saturn and still three days later i can't even get a courtesy call. the accident was on june 16, 2005. i couldn't get them to call me to speak about what my options were until the week of july 1, 2005. then an investigator july 8, 2005. they have not made one effort to work with me about getting the car into the shop. they have not given me the time of day to make an appointment with a saturn shop location to get my car fixed and so that they could supply a rent-a-car.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
03/24/2008600005
 Ignition problem - engine won't start, passlock prevents ignition. i live in texas and it's rarely that cold in the mornings, every time this has happened to me it has been a cold wet blustery day but not freezing. car acts like the battery is dead, but frequent manipulation of the passlock remote will eventually clear the problem. this has left me stranded several times, and if saturn knows about the problem, and hasn't done anything about it in the 5 years that it has been occurring, then they should be held criminally negligent. they should be made to correct the problem with the ignition and the passlock system, and replace or repair the control module at no cost. my door locks no longer work, and in speaking to other owners i can expect a downward spiral of electrical failures in the coming months. *tr
03/07/20084006/30/2003
 Our 2003 saturn ion has a permanent default, in that it will not start in cold weather. and the term cold is relative. saturn told us the ignition switch is faulty. thus, we paid an excess of $200 to rectify the problem. however, this solution lasted only a little over one year. now, saturn tells us that though we have the updated ignition switch, it still causes the same no-start problem, and we need a $575 (plus tax) body control module. we had to pay $104.54 for saturn to tell us this. obviously, this is a problem caused by the manufacturer , which is leaving many people stranded morning, noon, and night in various locations around the country. the problem should be immediately rectified through a recall. *tr
12/30/200614
 If the weather becomes cold, the car will not for about 45 minutes of sitting in the car and trying to start it over and over. it has been to the shop twice, but at the time, the car worked properly. both times, i was told that i need a new battery. i am now saving the money to have the ignition module replaced. saturn just keeps telling me to replace my battery. how many do i need? *nm
12/29/20032
 I own a 2003 saturn ion. the battery went dead today because my wife left the lights on by accident. when the battery in this model car becomes discharged two undesireable problems arise. i feel that both of them introduce safety concerns. first, the key won't come out of the ignition switch through normal means. second, the car can't be moved! the gear shift lever remains in the park position. i feel that a car designed such that these two problems occur when the battery fails is a poor design. the instruction manual provided with the car makes no mention of these problems occuring with a dead battery. in order to jump a dead battery in a car it is often necessary to move the car i n order to jump the battery from another car. i feel having an intentional design in a car that prevents it from being moved by the owner creates a safety concern. regarding the key situation, my wife left her entire set of keys in the car when they got stuck in the ignition switch. many important keys were left in the car unattended. it could have made a bad situation much worse. it turns out that the instruction manual in the car discusses how to get stuck keys out of the ignition switch, but no mention is made in the book that keys will get stuck in the ignition switch when the battery goes dead. i spoke to the consumer complaint department at saturn regarding this concern, but it is not saturn's policy to respond to this type of customer complaint. since i feel these two problems do have a safety impact, i decided to register this complaint with the nhtsa. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
09/01/20112
 2003 saturn ion . consumer writes in regards to vehicle recall issues *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle was purchased new and she was never informed of a recall regarding the body control module which she was having problems with. the consumer stated the problem first started when the driver side window dropped when she closed the door. then it would not stay up. then half of the dash went black. the next window would go up and down on its own with no contact of any type. then the controls to the electric windows stopped working completely and the electronic lock/opening device would not open the doors any longer or lock the trunk. the consumer was informed she would have to pay for a diagnostic test. the consumer also stated there was also a problem with the transmission. the vehicle did not react to being in park, so therefore, she had difficulty removing the keys from the ignition. the o2 sensor and the ignition switch had to be replaced. the consumer stated the transmission was never properly replaced. on one occasion, the vehicle stalled and the steering locked up. *jb
11/13/200970000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. during cold weather the vehicle failed to start since there is a defect in the ignition switch. the vehicle resets to a security mode as if it has been stolen. the dealer advised the contact to replace the switch; however, they would use the defective switch when they repair the vehicle. the failure mileage was 70,000.
12/01/200982221111/22/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a used 2003 saturn ion which was purchased in 2008. in cold temperatures, the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was taken to her local repair shop, and the fuel injector was replaced. there were no recalls for the failure. two weeks later, in cold and raining temperatures the vehicle would not start. no further repairs were made to the vehicle to date. the failure and current mileages were 82,221. updated 02/03/10 *bf the consumer stated the grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch will not engage. the consumer believed the vehicle should be recalled so the ignition switch and grease can be replaced. updated 02/11/10.*jb
01/01/2005885001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion which was purchased in 2003. she stated that in cold weather conditions, the vehicle would not start and it would stall intermittently. the dealer replaced the ignition switch at the owner's expense; however, the repair did not correct the failure. the vehicle continued to stall in cold weather and the manufacturer advised getting the ignition switch replaced a second time at the owner's expense. the failure and current mileages were under 88,500. updated 01/29/10. *lj updated 02/01/10.*jb
12/09/2009115000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. when attempting to start the vehicle, the engine would hesitate before it turned on. the vehicle was taken to the dealership and the ignition switch was replaced. the repair did not remedy the failure. the current and failure mileages were 115000.
01/01/2003200001
 There is an issue that affects a sensor in the ignition switch. this causes the car to lock up because it is getting a false signal that the car is being stolen. this is a known issue that affects the car's passlock system and i think it needs to be recalled. this happens when (1) the temperature is below 0 degrees c over night or an extended time period. (2) the only way to solve the problem is to keep replacing the ignition switch when it goes bad. attached below is taken from another owner of the saturn ion. the problem with the ion not starting in many cases is due to a poorly designed anti theft system. the system looks for the presence of the key in the lock when the ignition key is turned. the system looks for a low resistance, but not zero ohms, and can be trained to look for a specific value. if it does not find what it is looking for, the car will not start. one solution is to change the switch. anyone that can use a wrench and screw driver can do this. the switch costs about $30. the problem, is that they don't last too long, sometimes less than a year. a simple solution i found elsewhere, is to cut the white wire from the ignition switch while the engine is running. leave enough length after the switch so it can be spliced back together. i did this today, it was easy, and seems to work. it does give you a service warning. another option, is to install a bypass device that is designed for remote starters. another option, which is simpler, and depending on where you live (i haven't tested this) is to leave the key in the ignition all the time. use a second key to lock the doors a short search of saturn ions not starting in cold weather will show thousands of people who have experienced the exact same problem. why this issue has not been dealt with is a mystery. *tr
01/22/2009730001
 This fall i went to start my 2005 saturn ion s2 it would not start. i had the ignition switched replaced. now in january, i am having the same problems with the car not starting. i have researched and determined that this is not a problem that can be fixed permanently because the part is bad from saturn. i do not want to keep spending $200.00 whenever i have this problem. *tr
01/21/20091
 I have a 2003 saturn ion that i bought used in 2006. when the weather is 32 degrees or lower the vehicle will not start. i thought that it may just be my battery but the battery was fine. after doing a google search i was able to read though about 150 cases where people with this same vehicle had problems starting the vehicle in cold weather. this really concerns me because this is a common problem with this vehicle and there is no recall for this reason. after doing research on this matter i found the problem to be a faulty ignition switch that was installed from the factory. this vehicle should have had a recall for this problem, with so many complaints of the problem. i have a four month old baby and to be out in the cold with a vehicle that wont start because of a manufacture problem is really sad. i think that you should really look into this matter with this vehicle. every day i cant start my vehicle because of the cold weather. please help me in this matter. also google this problem and you will see many cases of this same problem. *tr
12/23/2004260001
 2003 saturn ion has problems starting in the cold. multiple websites document dozens of cases of people with the exact same issue all relating to a faulty ignition switch system. problem occurred sporadically the first couple years but has become more and more common. saturn is willing to replace the ignition switch but at my expense for something that is an obvious defect of the car. *tr
03/07/20084006/30/2003
 Our 2003 saturn ion has a permanent default, in that it will not start in cold weather. and the term cold is relative. saturn told us the ignition switch is faulty. thus, we paid an excess of $200 to rectify the problem. however, this solution lasted only a little over one year. now, saturn tells us that though we have the updated ignition switch, it still causes the same no-start problem, and we need a $575 (plus tax) body control module. we had to pay $104.54 for saturn to tell us this. obviously, this is a problem caused by the manufacturer , which is leaving many people stranded morning, noon, and night in various locations around the country. the problem should be immediately rectified through a recall. *tr
11/13/2007110/23/2007
 I own a 2003 saturn ion. on cold mornings my car will not start. i have replaced the battery and have taken it to several mechanics that have told me that they do not know why it will not start. i have been late for work numerous times and left stranded because of this issue. this is still a on going issue. *tr
01/16/200842750412/15/2007
 I regrettably own a 2003 saturn ion 2 sedan. several times, when temperatures are below freezing, the car fails to start. after speaking to the service manager at the local dealership and doing extensive online research about the problem i have found that it stems from a faulty design in the ignition switch. the switch leaks lubricant onto the wires in the ignition system. when it is cold enough for the lubricant to freeze, it impedes the signal required to override the passlock security system (standard on my car) and prevents the car from starting. saturn will replace the ignition switch (at the cost of the owner if the vehicle is not under manufacturer's warranty, about $300 to $400). the new switches will inevitably have the same problem, after they leak the lubricant. saturn knows of the problem and has published technical service bulletin #040845005. they, however, refuse to admit responsibility and devise a reliable remedy to the problem. meanwhile, we are all freezing in the cold weather while we wait for our cars to start. i believe saturn is criminally negligent in this respect. *tr
02/13/20081
 Faulty ignition switch in 2003 saturn ion. *tr
01/20/200891000305/09/2003
 Car will not start when it is cold outside. *tr
01/24/200839000511/15/2002
 Car will not start in cold weather. (below 32f) this has been a problem the last 2 years on a 2003 saturn ion 3. after reading all the comments here... http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html it would seem there is a very common problem with the grease freezing around the ignition switch. *tr
12/01/200620
 I have a 2003 saturn ion that won't start in cold weather here in eastern oregon, had the battery checked, and everything else looked at, but everyone says that my car is okay. so i do some research and find out that alot of people have this problem and yet there is no recall on this problem considering saturn knows about the problem? also, there is not easy suggestions by saturn? *tr
01/22/2008400001003/20/2005
 When it is below freezing outside, my 2003 saturn ion has issues starting up. i have read many posts (http://www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_97727_1.html is on such spot) where owners are having the same issues with various results from their dealers. it is apparently a know issue that has not been communicated to the customers, potentially leaving them out in the cold! *tr
12/28/2007411/02/2002
 I have been having a problem with my car not starting. the first issue began when i started my car and the passlock symbol was flashing all the way home from the store. when i got home and turned the car off and tried restarting it, it wouldn't start. after looking at my owners manual and reading about passlock i went outside and tried starting it and it started right up. a little less than a week later i was out running an errand and made a quick stop for maybe 5 minutes, when i got back to the car it would not start. i tried a few more times and was starting to panic when it started again. i took it to a mechanic and he couldn't get the car to replicate the problem but recommended finding my other key for the car and start using that. the car was fine for another week and while i was picking up my kids from school the passlock light came on again and blinked all the way home. once again, i tried to start after we got home and nothing, i went out about 10 minutes later and it was fine. yesterday i needed to run an errand and sure enough i went outside to leave and the stupid car wouldn't start again. i went inside and waited 10 minutes, came back outside and it started right up. i am a mother with 3 kids and i have a husband who does not drive. i have only one car and i cannot have it be unreliable. i get nervous every time i have to go somewhere. this is unacceptable and it seems like there are many saturn owners who are just as frustrated as me and something needs to be done about it, at no cost to the owners. this is not wear and tear!!! *tr
12/25/2007915001
 I bought a 2003 saturn ion about 6 months ago, and as soon as it became cold here in colorado my car started having a problem starting. i was stranded in the middle of no where with no cell phone coverage in the freezing cold. i have now come to find out that this is a problem with all 2003 saturns and that they refuse to recall them and fix the problem because it is not a safety issue. the ignition switch and the grease needs to be replaced. this is a safety issue! i was stranded in the middle of no where in the freezing cold with my young daughter. i want this problem to be addressed and fixed by saturn. there is no reason for them to not recall this problem. *tr
12/22/20071
 This is an ongoing problem with my saturn ion 2003. it won't start when it's cold and it has left me stranded on several occasions. by the multiple complaints that i see from other people online, this is a big problem. it has something to do with the passlock security system and the ignition switch. it gets very cold here in colorado and i just don't want to be stranded again. http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html some of these people have fixed the problem and it is still occurring. it would be nice to see some kind of recall on this problem. this is not the only problem i've had with this car. i will not be buying a saturn again. *tr
12/14/20073
 My car has failed to start several times in the last week. it seems to be related to the ignition switch and the type of lubricant used in it and it's reaction in cold weather. after doing a ton of research, i have found thousands of people that have complained of the exact same issue. this seems to be a recurring problem that needs to be a recall. *tr
12/11/2007860001006/02/2003
 Saturn ion 2003 problem with starting the car around/below 32`f, this is second cold season i am having occasional problem with start the engine process, after extensive online research i am finding the big family of saturn owners with the same problem related to ignition switch/passlock sensor. *tr
12/05/200765254202/16/2005
 Saturn 2003 ion will not start in the winter, when temperature is 32 degree's or lower. *tr
11/21/200749021106/23/2003
 Key sticks forward when trying to start. car will not start when it gets cold outside. had it towed in. replacement part # 10392423 ignition switch. *tr
12/04/2007420001003/12/2006
 I have a 2003 saturn ion. my car will not start when it is cold outside. i read through message boards and found many people have the same problem. i also read some peoples car actually stall while driving, which sounds related to me. loss of power steering and brakes were also popular complaints. these cars are obviously riddled with electrical problems and are rolling death traps. i personally experienced power steering loss once, but it never happened again so i thought it was a fluke until reading others posts. i have taken the car to several mechanics and have found no resolution. i found a tsb stating that a faulty ignition is the cause of the cold starting problem, so i will likely replace it. *tr
11/23/2007101/10/2003
 When the temperature is 32 degrees or less and the engine is not running i attempt to start my car and it will not start. the ignition switch clicks and then the car stalls. the security system kicks in and the security light comes on and then the odometer screen reads service vehicle soon. the car will not start for about 8 to 10 minutes. after 8 to 10 minutes the light stops blinking and the service vehicle goes off and then the car starts. this has happened several times since then and it occurs all different times of the days. as i read on the internet there have been several people with the same problems. this is going to cost me approximately $200.00 to fix. *tr
11/27/200762000504/30/2003
 Failure to start in cold weather combined with security system lockout. the problem arises as follows: a.the saturn vehicle is exposed to temperatures at or approaching 32 degrees f for several hours when the engine is not running (usually 6-10 hours.) b.an operator attempts to start the vehicle, the ignition switch clicks and the car stalls. c.the security system kicks in. the security light blinks and the odometer screen reads: ?service engine soon.? fuel will not be sent to the engine. d.the vehicle will now not start for about 8-10 minutes as the security system resets. e.after 8-10 minutes, the security light will stop blinking and then go out. ?the service engine soon? scroll light will stop and also go out. f.now the operator may attempt to start the vehicle again. g.however, if the ignition switch grease has not adequately warmed, then the process will begin again. h.a signal that the vehicle will likely start after the present ?lock-out? will be when the ignition seems to crank a bit more than just a click, before locking out again. *tr
11/19/200781798408/03/2007
 Vehicle will not turn over when outside temperatures get colder then 32 f. *tr
11/02/20073
 I am writing to note that my 2003 saturn ion 3 does not start up in the cold, even though the battery and alternator are in good condition. it happened once in 2005, and then i was lucky enough for the rest of that winter and the next. at the time, i was told by a saturn mechanic in 2005 over the phone that this problem does occur with ions in cold weather. the problem recurred this past monday and this morning. this afternoon i went online to seek out guidance in taking care of the problem. i came across the following online resource: http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html. the issue is obviously a recurrent one that saturn has chosen not to address. this seems like a clear-cut case for a component recall, but saturn will not take responsibility. i ask that the nhtsa direct its resources toward saturn to seek a determination about the need for a recall for this defective vehicle.* *i have forwarded a copy of this explanation to my member of congress, representative jim moran. *tr
11/09/200530
 Car will not start in cold weather. faulty iginition switch.*ak
03/17/200725
 I own a 2003 saturn ion and have experienced starting problems the past two winters. i've had a mechanic check the battery,fuel,and clutch button, but due to the intermittent happenings, nothing was found to be wrong. my battery was rechecked and cords were cleaned, fuel line was cleaned, etc. the problem would go away and then happen again. i finally noticed the pattern of not starting when it was cold. i also noticed that it would restart about ten minutes after. i had a mechanic check during my inspection this year but again he was not able to help due to it not actually happening. on 3/15/07 i did a search on the internet and found numerous other saturn customers who have this same problem. i made an appointment with my dealership to fix it, but being that my car is no longer under warranty, i was told i would have to pay. i do not think i should pay for a problem i did not have control over. (except that i trusted saturn when i purchased my 2 car from them). saturn should pay for the repairs and show they are responsible and can be trusted to fix their mistake.
03/11/200750
 I drive a '03 saturn ion and have been having problems for the past year where the car wouldn't start, mostly on cold mornings, and would leave me stuck in different areas of town. most of the time if i waited a couple minutes it would start up with no problem. this past sunday my wife was driving and pulled into the driveway and she couldn't get the car to turn off or turn the key. so now i'm driving around with my key in my ignition and my steering column off so it looks like i stole my car, the only way i can start and stop the car is by plugging and unplugging the ignition switch. i did some research and from what i've read there have been many others that have had the exact same problem and it has ended up costing them hundreds of dollars for an obvious manufacturer defect. i just paid $200 for the ignition cylinder along with the housing unit and i come to realize that i shouldn't have to pay for this at all. *jb
02/15/2007509/20/2006
 2003 saturn ion component: electrical system:ignition:switch no crank, no start when ambient temperatures is cold - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) b2960 and or b3033 are set. *tt. went to start it in cold weather, heard a click and noticed service vehicle on the dashboard. car would not turn over after turning key in ignition several times. i let it sit for 10 minutes or so and it finally started. i replaced the battery as advised by an auto mechanic and it still did the same thing a couple days later. i also found a message board discussing this issue at: http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_97727.html. *nm
02/15/200721223202/22/2003
 2003 saturn ion-3 fails to start in cold weather. this appears to be a known manufacturer defect in the ignition switch. (reference saturn tsb 040845005 of nov 2005 or nhtsa 10007431 of march 2006). it appears that saturn is counting on warm winters to get the cars out of the warranty period (which happened to me) and then hit you with a $40 part and $156 labor charge to fix an item they mis-manufactured. *nm
02/15/2007360001503/01/2003
 My saturn ion (2003) has had a lot of problems this winter with intermittent starts. i try to start the car in the morning, and it just won't crank over. i have missed work, and been stranded in the freezing cold. a recall needs to be issued on the starter switch. i have had multiple diagnostic tests done, and had the battery replaced. i cannot afford a $200 repair on something that should be replaced by saturn. this is a case of negligence. *jb
02/12/200780000308/01/2004
 Car routinely will not start in cold weather due to faulty ignition switch. a new ignition switch must be installed and is not covered under warranty. *jb
02/12/20071510/07/2005
 My car was having problems starting in the cold weather, it would almost start then nothing would happen. it would take about 15 minutes of trying before it would start up. also the service vehicle message would flash and various lights on the dash would flash also. i took it in for servicing at the saturn dealer where they charged me 200 dollars to diagnose and fix the problem which ended up being the ignition switch. *nm
02/12/200756000604/17/2003
 I have a 2003 saturn ion 2, and it has had intermittent starting problems since 2004. i always thought it was the battery, but i would change the battery and test the old one, and it always tested fine. once the weather got cold this winter, it started having more frequent starting problems. sometimes it would start after waiting 20-30 minutes. last wkend, i was unable to start it at all and had to have it towed. i was lucky to have it at a friend's house when this happened. the ignition switch is being replaced, since the dealer says this is a very frequent problem. please recall these ignition switches! so many people have problems with them - check the internet! just type in '2003 saturn ion starting problems' in google and you'll see many sites come up with people in the last month alone having the same issues. costs about 200 bucks to fix, and that's ridiculous if saturn knows there's an issue. *nm
02/05/200746300108/18/2003
 In cold temperatures my 2003 saturn ion 2 would not start. all of my lights would come on but when i attempted to start the car the security light would come on and i would be locked out of starting my car for the next 8-10 minutes due to a faulty ignition switch. i took my car to the dealership that i purchased it from and codes b2930 b3033 were found in the system. the ignition switch sn 10392423 was replaced. the old part was kept by saturn. *jb
05/15/2005750002007/17/2003
 Frequent inability to start vehicle due to ignition cylinder wear. saturn claims security system is activated due to internal ignition switch not being able to read chip in saturn vehicle key. failure of such process results in operator of vehicle having to wait until security system resets (10-15 mins.) saturn will not honor the fact that this may be a design flaw, and holds owner responsible for $200 repair. this owner is just glad the steering wheel hasn't fallen off the dashboard yet. good car ! *jb
02/06/2007630001003/20/2003
 Intermittently, car will not start in cold weather. no crank or start. after 10 minutes, car sometimes starts with another key. car eventually starts, but requires 10 minute pause between each attempt for security lock-out to be bypassed. *nm
01/01/19011
 Saturn ion cold start problem**cc the consumer stated the ignition switch clicked and the vehicle stalled. the security system will activate, and a security light would blink and the odometer screens would read service engine soon. the vehicle would not re-start for 8-10 minutes as the security system resets. the consumer believed the grease in the ignition switch is freezing and/or hardening so that the ignition switch can not engage. the consumer stated the ignition switch and grease should be recalled. *jb
01/21/200747900403/11/2003
 Car will not start in the cold weather. then i get a service engine message and the security light flashes. the car will not start for 10 minutes after. however, the car always starts when it is not cold. this has happened several times over the last three weeks. *nm
01/01/2007515001011/15/2006
 Will driving down the road the transmission in my saturn ion lvl 3 slips and i have to let my foot off the gas and then kick the gas pedal for it to go into gear. it does this all the time when i am driving it. also when i go to park the car, i put it in park and pull up the emergency brake and i go to remove the key and it will only go as far as acc mode. it will not release. i have to wait 20 to 30 minutes until it releases automatically. i have read online this is a known problem with saturns and i have been told that they will not fix it. it does this almost every single day. *nm
11/24/2006330001510/20/2003
 2003 saturn ion will not start when it is cold. i am seeing alot of people posting on different forums with the same issue. is anything going to be done about this? *nm
12/02/200645000610/18/2005
 I have a 2003 saturn ion-3 and it will not start below 40 degrees, this is a ridiculous problem. there is a thread about this problem at : http://www.autosite.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm/action/posts/fid/5610 there are many people with this problem and so far nothing has been done, i am just hoping i can sell this car asap because it has been quite a problem. *jb
11/26/200670000105/31/2003
 The vehicle would intermittently not start. this mostly occurred in below freezing temperature conditions but would also occur in above 70 degree temperatures. the vehicle also stalled while being driven and could immediately be restarted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition switch. *nm
11/29/200654000107/15/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle would not start right away in cooler weather, for at least 15 minutes. through internet research, the contact believed the problem was the ignition switch. an appointment had been scheduled with a service dealer and the manufacturer was notified.
11/30/200433000106/01/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving on the freeway between 50-60 mph, the vehicle lost all electrical power. there is no warning when this occurs and the steering wheel also locks up. the vehicle is pulled over and restarted. the dealership replaced the ignition switch and fuel pump. the contact has been out of the country since the repair, last year; the vehicle has not been driven since repairs were made.
01/12/200556000301/12/2003
 Over the past 2 and 1/2 weeks we have had a problem starting our 2003 saturn ion. the car would not start leading one to believe there was a problem with the battery. then a few hours later the car started and the service engine light came and went very quickly. a week later, the same thing happened and the car started up again later with no problem. a few days later the same thing happened. the local saturn service tech advised us that this problem has been seen with other ions and that the ignition switch would have to be replaced. *nm
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY
01/13/2009640001
 I have 2 2003 saturn ion's which have starter problems which both have had starters replace because of this problem that gm/saturn continue to ignore. when you get a temperature change the cars sometimes start and sometimes don't. saturn should recall. *tr
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
06/05/2003405/15/2003
 My turn signals do not work in the front of my car due to a shortage or something and also my car shakes and looses power when i have my air conditioner on. *ak

Some parts © 2024 Advameg, Inc.
Based on public records. Inadvertent errors are possible.
This web site is not associated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by and has no official or unofficial affiliation with the vehicle's manufacturer.