Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 070730025 | 10/01/2007 | 10023942 | Information on 4t40-e (mn4) and 4t45-e (mn5) front wheel drive automatic transmission valve body reconditioning, dtc p0741, p0742, p0751, p0752, p0756, p0757, p1811, harsh shifts, slips, no drive, no reverse. *nj | 02/20/2008 | |
| 3253 | 3253B | 10017096 | Vehicle will not move in either direction. transmission may show over full. p90 4t40e 4t45e no movement drive or reverse. converter may be empty of fluid. *tt | 10/24/2005 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| SB-07-06-04-019A | 11/01/2008 | 10028831 | General motors: intermittent mil/ses/ dtc p2138 with reduced engine power (repair instrument panel (ip) to body harness connector). 2005-08 gm passengers cars/light duty trucks (incl. saturns). *pe | 06/01/2009 | |
| 070730005 | 04/01/2009 | 070730005C | 10022473 | 4t45 transmission, mil/ses on, dtc p1818, power door locks, cruise control, shift interlock or retractable hardtop inoperative, engine speed revs limited, hybrids-autostop, regen or boost inoperative. (reprogram tcm). *kb updated 1 | 08/15/2007 |
| 050730016 | 11/01/2005 | 050730016A | 10017512 | Transmission control module (tcm) shorted to battery voltage during diagnosis and/or service. *tt updated. *nm | 11/09/2005 |
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 070729001 | 04/01/2007 | 070729001A | 10021453 | Mg3, m86 transaxle grinding/whining noise in 3rd or 4th gear, excessive engagement or disengagement effort while shifting into 3rd or 4th gear, will not shift into either 3rd or 4th gear. (replace complete output shaft assembly). *kb | 04/27/2007 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 07/20/2012 | 112000 | 1 | |
| I was going down road, steering because hard, transmission became stuck, pwr str light came up on mileage screen and the engine light came on. i was reading that others have had problem with steering column. please let me know. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr | |||
| 02/20/2012 | |||
| Driving on the freeway,power steering light went on andwas very difficult to steer. had to put in nutral and turn off and turn on my car on the freeway, just so the steering wheel would unlock. this will be my third time fixing this problem. | |||
| 09/01/2010 | 45000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion level 2. the contact stated that the vehicle would not shift properly between gears. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure since it occurred intermittently however, he believed that the clutch master would need to be replaced. the contact did not inform the dealer or the manufacturer of the failure nor was the vehicle repaired. the current mileage was 49,000 and the failure mileage was 45,000. | |||
| 09/01/2010 | 45000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion level 2. the contact stated that the vehicle would not shift properly between gears intermittently. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure since it occurred intermittently; however, he believed that the clutch master needed to be replaced. the contact did not inform the dealer or manufacturer nor was the vehicle repaired. the current mileages were 49,000 and the failure mileages were 45,000. bw | |||
| 09/14/2010 | 50000 | ||
| Vehicle was unable to be shut off, key was stuck in the ignition, i unhooked the battery and the vehicle was still running. this same vehicle had a recall on the fuel pump module and was leaking gas, had this occured at the same time it would have been very unsafe for the car to have been running the entire time with a gas leak. fortunately i had just repaired the fuel pump module 1 week prior to this issue with the ignition. | |||
| 05/01/2010 | 87000 | ||
| I own a 2006 saturn ion 3. my problems began in 2006, although i didn't realize it at the time. when i first got the car, while driving to work, i stopped at a service station. when i returned to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start and i couldn't pull the key out of the ignition. my first thought was that it was something i had done wrong. fast forward to 2008,now the car just shuts off. the light indicating power steering started coming on and then the vehicle would shut down whenever i would come to a stop or simply turning a corner. the power steering light no longer come on but the vehicle still continue to stop. as i back out of a parking space the vehicle will shut off and has to be turned back on at least 3 to 4 times before leaving the parking space. when i finally get it started and while driving through the parking space or down the road it shuts off again. it shut off when ever i have to slow down behind another vehicle and i am terrified that i am going to be struck and killed. i took it to a local auto dealer who tested it and said it was possible the power steering module or some other part dealing with the steering wheel. i was told to take to another autocare center to have it a diagnostic test done which they qoted me $100.00 just to check it. nothing has been done to correct the problem at this time because i'm even more affraid of the repair bill, but from reading all these other complaints that are like my story, i am sure there is a defect with this vehicle and i want to know why haven't there been a recall on this vehicle. my vehicle only has about 87,000 miles and only had 18miles when this problem began. | |||
| 11/23/2009 | 55000 | 1 | |
| A few weeks ago, my 2006 saturn ion lost power steering capability while i was on a major highway (doing 65mph)! needless to say, i narrowly avoided a major accident and was dismayed to subsequently find out that i have a defective steering column motor (according to the local saturn dealership) which will need to be replaced and is not currently under warranty. i bought this car in 2007 somewhat reluctantly since it already had 40,000 miles on it but it was the only one available after a major accident with my first saturn for immediate delivery. i was at a new job and needed a car desperately. i chose saturn again because of the brand's reliability, excellent customer service and my own personal satisfaction as a previous saturn owner. when i called customer service last week to check whether this power steering failure was a recall item, i was told that it wasn't and that i would have to register a complaint to see what options were available for reimbursement for repair. today i was informed by gm/saturn customer service that they will not cover the $525.00 repair of this major defect since the warranty expired and the car had according to them, excess mileage (at 50,000 miles, a 3-yr. old car should not lose a major component such as the power steering to my thinking). i was seriously concerned enough about this defect to contact you to see if you can bring some resolution to this issue. i've done extensive research online and found that thousands of saturn ion owners have experienced the same loss of power steering while in precarious driving situations. is gm waiting for a fatality before they issue a recall, or is it because the company is bankrupt that they decided to play russian roulette with our safety? needless to say, my trust and faith in gm is compromised and i am not willing to pay for a repair that should be covered. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| The power steering keeps going out in the car. when this happens it becomes very dangerous to drive. it first started once every couple of days. now it happens every time i turn it on and drive more then 100 yards. l have contact the dealership and they have told me that there is no recall for it. but i have looked online and numerous people have complained about this issue. the car is a lease and they said i am over my warranty even though i only have 36,000 miles in 5 years. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle initially had trouble starting, made strange sounds,check engine light on,would not go over 25-30mph., followed towtruck to saturn dealer, was told this was a common problem with this make & model, there were thousands of complaints known and that gm was aware of it but had not recalled. turned out that it was the ignition module, switch,coil, harness etc., just under $800 to repair. it's still sitting in the garage. thing is...i purchased this car almost new b/c i had an older car & wanted a new car in case the other quit! wow. who new? power steering also groans and its full of fluid. because of this,(ignition), the key had to be manually pulled out, to get the engine to stop running,all the electrical system remained on, had to disconnect the battery, was told do not know what else may have been damaged as a result, the dealer said the transmission may have been damaged as a result. yet they don't want to recall because of the re-organization? what about my safety? god knows what could have happened if i was on the highway when this happened! *tr | |||
| 03/17/2008 | 56891 | 1 | 02/19/2006 |
| A week ago, i submitted a complaint about losing reverse in my transmission. i would like to add that the dealer replaced my transmission free of charge or labor costs. i applaud jay wolfe saturn of tiffany springs, missouri. for taking this corrective action. *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/09/2010 | 130000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion2. the contact stated that the key was unable to remove from her vehicle. the only way to shut the vehicle off is to disconnect the cables to the battery. the vehicle was inspected by the dealer who informed the contact that she needed to replace the tumblers in the ignition. the failure mileage was approximately 130,000. the vin was unavailable. tb | |||
| 10/30/2010 | 112000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated that his key would not come out of the ignition whether it was running or turned off. the vehicle has been inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 112,000. the vin was unavailable. tb | |||
| 08/18/2010 | |||
| Yes a few months afo i financed a 2006 saturn ion level 3 since the first week having it have had nothing but problems including a major gas leak and severe gas fums inside and outside the cab when running and not. the dealer had givin me nothing but lies and the fun around and attitude. had been documneted by an outide mechanic the car in unsafe to be on the roads and should never have passed inspection wich the dealer did. i really need help. i knoe it's a good cheance it's a flood car they sold me. resepectfully veteran/usmc | |||
| 06/12/2009 | 45000 | 1 | |
| Ding on dashboard and power steering goes out. when first occurred, i could drive about 20-30 minutes before it happened again. now it happens as soon as i get into car. *tr | |||
| 12/21/2008 | 35000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2006 saturn ion with 35,000 miles, bought new in october 2005 and only serviced at saturn. it slips when put into reverse. the dealer could replicate the problem manually but could not get a trouble code. although a service bulletin was issued, the dealer will do nothing until and unless it will generate a code, and says they will not repair it under warranty. i called saturn customer service and they told me the same thing. they also will not sell me a gm extended warranty because it is out of warranty on length of time. i am told to continue to drive it until it gets bad enough that it will produce a trouble code. by that time it will undoubtedly no longer be close to the warranty mileage and it will probably cost as much as the car is worth to repair it. since it has less than 36,000 miles, i want it repaired now at no cost. *tr | |||
| 03/17/2008 | 56891 | 1 | 02/19/2006 |
| A week ago, i submitted a complaint about losing reverse in my transmission. i would like to add that the dealer replaced my transmission free of charge or labor costs. i applaud jay wolfe saturn of tiffany springs, missouri. for taking this corrective action. *tr | |||
| 03/16/2008 | 56545 | 1 | 02/05/2006 |
| I got in my car to go to work on monday march 16, 2008. the car started. when i put the car in reverse to back out of my garage, the doors locked but the car would not go backward. the car is now at the dealers for trouble shooting. *tr | |||
| 12/09/2007 | 61000 | 1 | |
| My automatic saturn ion with 61k miles and no signs of a problem, on its own downshifted from about 65miles to 30 miles. once i moved it over one lane to the emergency lane the car would not move forward in any gear. the analysis was that the transmission was completely gone. i believe it is a bad design for a car to give no warnings and then downshift on it own. with the car stopping so abruptly, if my family and i had been on the interstate we probably would have been killed or severely injured in an accident. i contacted saturn directly concerning this matter. *tr | |||
| 03/17/2007 | 1 | 03/15/2007 | |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. at 30 mph the vehicle began to drag and was unable to accelerate. the contact attempted to shift gears, but the vehicle began to decelerate more. the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle for more than 10 minutes before the engine ignited. during this time, the vehicle began to make a grinding noise. the contact's vehicle was towed to and remained at the dealer. the failure occurred two days after the purchase of the vehicle.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||
| 12/01/2005 | 9999 | 07/20/2005 | |
| Key cannot be removed from ignition after car is turned off. have returned to the dealership 4 times for this problem. each time they lubricate the system but it does not fix the problem. it began less than 6 months after we purchased the vehicle and still persists today. we cannot take any more time off from work to take it into the shop to be told they will not replace the ignition system or the transmission/gear shift mechanism that may be the actual problem. in addition, in the first 18 months we've owned the vehicle, the air conditioning coolant has run out and they cannot locate the leak, and the sunroof broke. finally, on one occasion the car went over a bump at approximately 30 mph and the electrical system acted as though the car had a wreck, cutting the motor and showing the airbag had deployed when it had not. after a few minutes, the car started up just fine with no adverse affects. the dealer says they've never heard of such a thing and can't think of how/why it happened. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/21/2009 | 44000 | 1 | |
| I have not been able to turn off my ignition or remove my key two separate times. not only that my power steering went out and was only able to be fixed by the dealership. most recently along with the key ignition problem, there is a transmission problem. the first time the ignition was fixed it was under warranty but this time it is not. i have read several blogs of similar complaints from suffering consumers. *tr | |||
| 12/05/2009 | 57000 | 1 | |
| 2006 saturn ion-3 automatic 2.4l 1. power steering: power steering goes out nearly every time i drive the vehicle. saturn dealership changed a sensor i the steering column, but problem persists. it is very dangerous to be driving in the city without power steering. 2. ignition: car refuses to start when temperature is below 15-20 degrees fahrenheit. i have been stranded in below freezing weather for almost an hour because of this common saturn failure. *tr | |||
| 07/31/2006 | 5394 | 6 | 03/27/2006 |
| I have a 2006 saturn ion 2 with a manual transmission. i had trouble with the car not going into first gear from neutral and not going into other gears while traveling at higher speeds. i would have to shut the car off before i could get it to go in gear. i would then have to let it sit for a few minutes before i could get it to start back up because it would lurch forward and shake really bad then shut off if you tried to start it right back up. i was trying to go out of town july 31, 2006. i was at a red light and the car would not go into first gear from neutral. i finally had to shut the car off to get it to go into first gear. when i tried to start the car, it lurched forward, shook really bad, and shut back off. it repeatedly did this. i had to let the car sit in the middle of the road at the red light for several minutes before i could start the car. i was finally able to get it out of the road heading to a gas station. it shut off again, and we had to push the car through the parking lot where we waited on a tow truck. the saturn dealership in savannah, ga has not helped me at all. the service manager told me they would not work on my car at all until the problem happened to one of their techs. it did not matter that i was paying for a brand new car with an extended warranty and had experienced the problem. the corporate office in springhill, tn sided with the dealership. i am still proceeding with the lemon law process almost a year later. on july 25, 2007, i will be attending my second arbitration hearing. i am still paying for a car i cannot use as well as full coverage insurance. they also refuse to pay for all of my rental bill even though my extended warranty covered rentals and i needed a way to work. *tr | |||