11 of the
755 complaints about the 2005 Saturn ION are about the
body and structure — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
28,000 miles.
VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP FOR GM FACTORY WARRANTY RECALLS. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY TWO SERVICE TECHNICIANS WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITED IN THE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WERE THE REAR BREAK LINES THAT HAD SAGGED ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SERVICE TECHNICIANS WERE UNAWARE OF THE WORK TO BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE NHTSA RECALLS 14V047, 14V171, AND 14V153. NONE OF THE RECALLS WERE FURNISHED WHILE IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CAR DEALERSHIP AND COULD POSSIBLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10637299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesSeattle, WACrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
I BELIEVE THAT THE POWER STEERING ISSUE (RECALLED RECENTLY AND RECEIVED LETTER) CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO BE VERY HARD TO CONTROL ON A DOWNSLOPE HILL AT 12 MPH COMING UP TO RED LIGHT. MY CAR WENT FROM THE RIGHT LANE TO THE LEFT LAND OF 4 LANE STREET AND I HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NOW, HAVING RECEIVED INFORMATION TODAY ABOUT THE POWER STEERING RECALL, I HAVE AN APPT. AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ON THE ALIGNMENT/SUSPENSION AND THE PIECE OF METAL THAT I BELIEVE TO BE BRAKE PAD THAT A FEW HOURS LATER SHOT OUT AND HIT CAR NEXT TO ME IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE IGNITION. I WILL KNOW MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED ONCE DEALERSHJP RUNS DIAGNOSTICS.
NHTSA complaint #10625771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corning, NYCrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK THROUGH A WINTRY MIX PRECIPITATION WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL, WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT INTO A GUARDRAIL, WHICH HEAVILY DAMAGED THE FRONT END AND CAUSED HER TO SPIN COMING TO A STOP ON THE ROAD. THE DAMAGE SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT, AND SHE STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE FELT AS THOUGH SHE HIT A PATCH OF SLUSH THAT PUSHED HER TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IN CUSTODY OF MY INSURER. THE FOLLOWING DAY I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL THE GM RECALL 14063 (14V-047). MY CONCERN IS THAT IS FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP TURNING AND THE AIRBAG TO DISABLE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF CONTROL, AND THE SUBSEQUENT MINOR NECK INJURY, AND THE TOTAL LOSS OF AN OTHERWISE SOUND VEHICLE. MY INSURER WAS GIVEN THE RECALL INFORMATION AND AFTER REVIEW DECIDED I SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A CLAIM AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER, AND THIS AVENUE IS DETAILED ON PAGE TWO OF MY RECALL MAILING. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10577828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camp Hill, PA
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY CAR LEAKS IN THE ROOF WHEN ITS RAINS AND HAS STAINED MY INTERIOR ROOF. MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND ON THE DISPLAY IT WAS PWR STEERING. MY OUTSIDE TRIM NEAR WINDOWS IS WARPED. MY SUNROOF DOESNT WORK IT WONT OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10478804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesHouston, TX
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
METAL FATIGUE ON PASSENGER CAR DOOR OF SATURN ION QUAD COUPE REDLINE, WHERE HINGE ATTACHES: THE PROBLEM OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS DURING WHICH TIME I WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR EACH DAY A MINIMUM OF 10-12 TIMES TO STRAP MY INFANT INTO HIS CARSEAT. THE DOOR METAL CRACKED AND BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE METAL, TO THE POINT WHERE THE DOOR IS READ TO DROP OFF THE HINGE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AT WHICH TIME I REQUESTED THEM TO LOOK AT THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. HOWEVER, THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DISPROVE THE DOOR HAD NOT BEEN FORCEFULLY PUSHED BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10328072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesHouston, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
METAL FATIGUE ON PASSENGER CAR DOOR OF SATURN ION QUAD COUPE REDLINE, WHERE HINGE ATTACHES: THE PROBLEM OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS DURING WHICH TIME I WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR EACH DAY A MINIMUM OF 10-12 TIMES TO STRAP MY INFANT INTO HIS CARSEAT. THE DOOR METAL CRACKED AND BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE METAL, TO THE POINT WHERE THE DOOR IS READ TO DROP OFF THE HINGE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AT WHICH TIME I REQUESTED THEM TO LOOK AT THE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. HOWEVER, THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DISPROVE THE DOOR HAD NOT BEEN FORCEFULLY PUSHED BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10328072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,316 milesOcala, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
2-02-07 KEY STUCK IN IGNITION...CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF.... IGNITION REPLACED 33,316 MILES 01-14-08 TRANSMISSION REPLACED 50,728 MILES 12-20-08 CAR WOULDN'T START...CLUTCH SWITCH REPLACED 50,728 MILES 8-26-08 SUN ROOF DRAIN CLOGGED $199.88 59,893 MILES 8-10-09 CAR WOULD NOT START..REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH 2ND TIME 72,615 MILES CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW OFF LOT IN 2005... TOWED 4 TIMES IN 4YEARS!
NHTSA complaint #10282805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ladera Ranch, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE SIDE DOOR PANELS OF CAR ARE BUCKLING, DISTORTING AND MELTING....PAINT IS BUBBLING. DUE TO EXTREME HEAT FROM THE SUN REFLECTION OFF HOUSE WINDOWS CLAIMS SATURN. DAMAGE IS TOTALING ALMOST $3,000.00 CONTINUES TO GET WORSE EVERDAY AND IS GROWING ACROSS THE CAR PANELS. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SATURN WILL NOT PAY DENYING IT'S A WARRANTY ISSUE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR NEAR ANY FIRES...THERE ARE NO BURN MARKS ON CAR.....EVERYONE SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10220985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,000 milesMilwaukee, WI
STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN ION WITH 32 MILES ON IT JULY 11, 2005. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL IN THE RAIN, THE CAR STALLED AND BEGAN TO FILL WITH WATER FROM THE FLOOR UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRON SUNROOF DRAIN HOSE WAS PLUGGED. THEY SAID THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE STALL. THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THEY CLEANED THE DRAIN HOSE AND ALL WAS OK. WELL, WE HAD A HEAVY RAIN, NOT THE FIRST SINCE 11/2005, ON AUGUST 18, 2007. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, BUT IT STALLED RIGHT AWAY. IN ADDITION, THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS WET. THIS OCCURRED ON A SATURDAY AND BY MONDAY WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SATURN DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS A "POND" OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE CD PLAYER HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE IT ATE CD'S. THE NEW RADIO WORKED OK FOR ABOUT 6 MONTH'S, BUT IS NOW UNABLE TO PICK UP RECEPTION TO ANY STATION. ALSO, AT ONE TIME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BECAME JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE LOCK ROD AND INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WERE BENT. AT THE SAME TIME WATER WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW WAS OFF THE TRACK AND FALLING INTO THE DOOR. THIS WAS ALSO REPAIRED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND I REGRET PURCHASING IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A NEW CAR AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE.
NHTSA complaint #10200200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,500 milesRingwood, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR PANELS CRACKED DURING EXTREME HEAT CO WORKER POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON MY DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THE CRACK ON THE REAR DOOR EVENTUALLY BECAME A WHOLE CHUNK VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10132772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101 milesMooresville, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY
CAR PURCHASED ON 2/26/05. FIRST TIME DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY, A 20" PIECE OF THE RAIN DRIP PANEL FLEW OFF. DEALER STATES CAR MUST HAVE BEEN HIT BY ROCK, BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER ALSO SAID THIS IS "EXPECTED BEHAVIOR" IF HIT BY DEBRIS AT OVER 35 MPH. IF HIT BY DEBRIS, WAS SMALL ENOUGH THAT THERE WAS NO NOISE UPON IMPACT, NOR WAS IT VISIBLE. SINCE THERE WERE NO VEHICLES TO THE SIDE OR FRONT OF VEHICLE, WE BELIEVE THIS PANEL IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR, AND QUOTES $782 TO FIX. OTHER BODY SHOPS ARE CONSIDERABLY LESS. IF THIS BEHAVIOR IS "EXPECTED" SATURN FALSELY ADVERTISES DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, AS THEIR ADS DEPICT GOLF BALLS HITTING THE VEHICLE WITH NO DAMAGE. FURTHER IF THIS IS "EXPECTED" THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO OTHERS AROUND IT ON THE ROAD, IF SATURN BELIEVES IT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR 20" CHUNKS OF THE VEHICLE TO FLY OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10112334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.