Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL | |||||
| 040868001 | 03/01/2004 | 10006131 | Service manual update regarding the cruise control inoperative/malfunctioning diagnostic table. *tt | 04/21/2004 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | |||
| 01/18/2012 | |||
| When accelerating to 35 mph, my accelerator got stuck and continued to accelerate faster. i was able to apply just enough brake pressure to barely make it safely into an empty parking lot where i was able to put my car into park and then shut off my car immediately. i then tried restarting my car and immediately it started revving and speeding forward. i then shut off my car for good and called aaa. while i was on the phone, approximately ten minutes after shutting off my car, i could hear the accelerator release. there was no mat in the way but it was something internal in the car making the accelerate stick. thank goodness i was able to make that turn into that parking lot when i did and there were no other cars coming the other way before i made that turn. | |||
| 12/15/2011 | 180000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated the vehicle abnormally accelerated without warning. the engine rpms raced even after the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was hesitant to stop. the contact had to slam the vehicle into park in order to correct the failure. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 180,000. | |||
| 12/15/2011 | 180000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. the contact stated the vehicle abnormally accelerated without warning. the engine rpms raced even after the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was hesitant to stop. the contact had to slam the vehicle into park in order to correct the failure. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 180,000. kmj | |||
| 04/15/2011 | 80051 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact engaged the cruise control but the vehicle suddenly accelerated abruptly without warning. the contact then applied pressure to the brakes, manually depressed the cruise control button and pressed the clutch to disengage the system however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. the contact was able to remove the vehicle from the highway and shut the engine off. the vehicle was towed to a dealer who performed a diagnostic test and confirmed that the cruise control module had froze in acceleration mode and disconnected the system. the manufacturer took a complaint on the contacts behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. the current and failure mileage was 80,051. | |||
| 04/15/2011 | 80051 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact engaged the cruise control function, then the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. she applied pressure to the brakes, manually pressed the cruise control button, and pressed in the clutch to disengage the system; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. she was able to pull on the side of the road and power the engine off. the vehicle was towed to a dealer who performed a diagnostic test, which confirmed that the cruise control module had froze in acceleration mode and disconnected the system. the manufacturer took a complaint on the contacts behalf and the contact was awaiting a response. the current and failure mileages were 80,051. bw | |||
| 01/20/2011 | 120000 | ||
| I was driving on hwy at 60 mph for approx 2 | |||
| 11/02/2010 | 93254 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 03/12/2009 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 06/10/2006 | 33000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. when the heater is operated, the vehicle would idle extremely high. the failure has been occurring since fall of 2006. the contact stopped at a traffic light and the failure recurred. suddenly, the vehicle accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failures. the manufacturer stated that if the dealer could not duplicate the failures, then nothing could be done. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 33,000 and current mileage was 74,300. | |||
| 01/04/2006 | 4 | 05/03/2003 | |
| I have had my car in for the same repair 4 times since i got it in may 2003. what happens is the car will rev and/or accelerate (sometimes in park, sometimes in drive) on its own. it has accelerated, almost causing me to go through an intersection with my toddler in the car. it occurs without warning, & saturn has temporarily fixed the problem under warranty each time. the throttle is replaced each time, but there is a recurrent pattern every 4-6 months, as shown on record with saturn. i was told by saturn that they investigated the issue, only finding it in one other car. being as that problem was solved with the other car, & being as my car was just fixed again, they are unwilling to deal with this issue. *jb | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 25000 | 3 | 08/01/2003 |
| Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while in traffic, causing consumer's vehicle to crash into another vehicle. driver sustained injuries. taken for repair to the dealer for the second time, but the cause was undetermined even after the computer had been reset.*ak consumer stated the only way to stop the vehicle was when it hit the other car in front. put foot on brake to stop the car and it surge forward. *bf *nm | |||
| 02/14/2005 | 28000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle is experiencing a problem with sudden acceleration. owner was driving and had foot on brake at a four way stop. the vehicle began to accelerate up to 3,000 rpm and surged through the intersection. provide further details. *nm | |||
| 11/02/2004 | 13 | ||
| While driving, the consumer noticed the vehicle would accelerate from 5 to 20 miles on its own. the consumer applied the brakes, but the pedal went to the floor and the vehicle continued to speed. the consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle. *jb the driver has electrical windows and locks failed. the window would roll up and down intermittently. the door latch would do the same. the master cylinder was replaced as well. these problem continue to occurred and has not been resolved. the driver has informed the mechanic about the problem. please fill in additional information. | |||
| 10/20/2004 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle stalled while driving on the freeway and going down a hill. the vehicle accelerated up to 5,000 rpm's and would not go down until the vehicle was on a flat surface. provide further details. *jb | |||
| 03/07/2004 | 49000 | 4 | 03/29/2003 |
| Throttle froze during the winter months. consumer contacted manufacturer, and was told that because warranty expired they will not make any repairs without consumer first paying for it. also, headlight covers were covered with a film that made visibility difficult.*ak on 3-7-04 the vehicle was involved in an accident. when the consumer took her foot off the gas but the vehicle did not slow down. the vehicle began to slide then rolled over. the driver sustain double whiplash and left shoulder muscle spasms. the vehicle was not totaled. on 6-16-04 the front passenger side wheel bearing was replaced. *nm | |||
| 09/23/2003 | 90 | 6 | 08/15/2003 |
| While driving at any speed and when first accelerating vehicle would bog down and stall. vehicle had been to the dealer on four occasions, but dealer was unable to duplicate or resolve the problem. *ak *mr | |||
| 12/12/2003 | 10600 | 2 | 04/14/2003 |
| The two saturn 2003 ions i have driven (including my current vehicle) have a transmission problem where, when engaging in third gear, the transmission will freewheel for several seconds before engaging with a lurch. the problem can be created by accelerating around a corner while the transmission is shifting from second to third. the cars were manufactured in march/april, 2003. *ak | |||
| 10/17/2003 | 5100 | 5 | 08/06/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - ACCELERATOR PEDAL | |||
| 11/06/2004 | 7000 | 1 | |
| While applying the accelerator pedal vehicle hesitated for a couple of seconds then surged forward. *ak | |||
| 09/05/2004 | 18500 | 1 | |
| Vehicle is experienced delayed acceleration. as a result when entering a highway vehicle will not accelerate until twenty seconds after applying the pedal. *ak | |||
| 10/05/2003 | 10 | 1 | |
| Consumer found it difficult to depress the horns button when needed due to its location. this made it impossible to warn other motorist in a emergency situation. also, when accelerating on wet surface tires will spin but vehicle will not accelerate. *ak | |||
| 09/11/2003 | 07/11/2003 | ||
| I bought a saturn ion 3 on july 11, 2003. my car's accelerator has basically not worked and my car has essentially died on three occasions -- one of them on the highway. i have taken my car into repairs three times to saturn pensacola and saturn has failed to fix it because they cannot duplicate my concern. i am mainly concerned with getting this car fixed or if it is not fixable for me to get a replacement car. this car is a danger to me and others around me! they are not fulfilling their terms of my extended warranty. saturn corp rep diane wants me to travel to another saturn facility myself to get this car fixed. that is outrageous because the next nearest facility is over 60 miles away! they refuse to tow the vehicle to mobile or montgomery. and, they refused to loan me a car or tow my car to the pensacola service center when my car died the second time on sept. 13. the customer service and treatment i have been given by saturn corp and the dealership is extremely poor. i have reported this issue to the state attorney general's office as a lemon as well as the bettter business bureau, nhtsa, consumer affairs, general motors (who owns saturn), etc. i feel extremely let down by saturn because i owned a saturn previous to this one for 2 years and was extremely loyal to the vehicle. a co-worker at my job is also having the same problems with her 2003 ion. in fact, i wanted saturn to compare my saturn issue to my co-worker's issue (who is bringing her car in today) and saturn basically threatened me that if i did not pick up my car (which was still in the shop) and return their loaner (which i still had) that they would report the loaner as stolen. do not buy a saturn ion. saturn customer service is a big joke. | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL | |||
| 03/15/2003 | 3501 | 4 | |
| While driving the vehicle's trunk opened. *nm the consumer stated that the cruise control will not set. the dealer stated that the cruise control was working within factory specs. *tc *jb | |||
| 6000 | |||
| While driving at 30 mph in cruise control mode driver pulled right to avoid hitting and object in the road, and the right wheel locked up. when this occurred vehicle impacted a tree, and damaged the a frame and other components. vehicle was totaled.*ak | |||