66 of the 5,471 complaints filed about the Saturn ION are about the suspension — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
66
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
SUSPENSION
THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING WITHOUT NOTICE .WHEN YOU ARE TRUNING IT IS HARD,ALSO THE BEARING AND STRUTS ARE ALSO VERY RUFF.ALMOST HAD A WRECK WHEN TURING
NHTSA complaint #11176627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I HIT MY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT MY CAR WENT TO LEFT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I FOUND OUT THAT STRUTS SHIFTED AND CAUSING THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TO SNAP AND BRAKE OFF CAUSING MY CAR TO GO TO THE LEFT INTO ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11129281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TAKATA RECALL THE SEAT BELTS WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS. THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN PRODUCING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT CERTAIN TIMES OF FUELING UP. AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL KNOCK OCCASIONALLY EVEN AFTER IT'S BEEN CHANGED. THE SUSPENSION IS REALLY BAD AND DANGEROUS, RATTLING NOISE AND SHAKING.
NHTSA complaint #11122785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO REGARDING FUEL TANK. HOWEVER, IT SPECIFIED CERTAIN STATES OF ORIGIN. I DISREGARDED NOTICE SINCE I WAS NOT RESIDING IN ONE OF THOSE STATES. MY CAR PERIODICALLY SMELLS OF GAS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW PERFORMANCE LIGHT GOES ON/OFF AND MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED RECALL. MY SUSPENSION ISSUES HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BEARING AND SWAY BAR ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND DINGS AS A REMINDER EVERY TIME I START MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11043158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
FUEL LEAKING FROM GAS TANK AREA, BECAME AWARE WHEN PASSENGER CABIN FILLED WITH FUEL VAPOR ,NOTICED GAS SMELL FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN WALKING NEAR REAR OF VEHICLE FUEL MILEAGE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE SINCE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. HAD VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT MILEAGE, I BELIEVE WAS LOOSING FUEL FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THIS MAJOR LEAK OCCURRED. IT MADE MY WIFE AND MYSELF ALONG WITH MY FAMILY DOG VERY SICKLY. HAD INTO DEALERSHIP 3 MONTS AGO AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO LEAK,BUT THEY FAILED TO DROP TANK AND INSPECT AS PER GM RECALL 09226. NOW AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR TO GAS TANK/SENDING UNIT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THIS IS NOT WHAT IS STATED ON RECALL FROM GM GLOBAL WARRANTY MANAGEMENT ON BULLETIN 09226C DATED JULY 19TH 2015
NHTSA complaint #10924504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BECAME LODGED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10859817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AT APPROXIMATELY 3:50 P.M. FRIDAY JANUARY 23 2015 I WAS SLOWING DOWN FROM 35 MPH TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. BEFORE I TURNED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE. AFTER LIMPING THE CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT I GOT OUT AND THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED. I NOTICED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES. THE CAR WAS TOWED HOME AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER EVEN MENTIONED HE HAD NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10678696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD THUMPING NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT DECIDED TO REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WITHOUT PERFORMING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,163.
NHTSA complaint #10648783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
HIGHWAY BOUNCING? UNBALANCED FEELING UNDER VEHICLE? REPLACE STRUTS ASAP!! OKAY FOR THE PAST 30,000 MILES I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHAT I COULD DESCRIBE AS A CONSTANT BOUNCE. THE BOUNCE HAS NOW BECOME SO VIOLENT THAT CROSSING A BRIDGE ON A HIGHWAY THE BUMP WILL INCREASE THE AGGRESSION OF THE BOUNCE TO THE POINT THAT YOU BOUNCE RIGHT OFF OF THE ROAD. I HAVE SLOWLY BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSES THIS BOUNCING WOBBLE. AFTER NEW RIMS,CV-HALF SHAFTS, LUGNUTS, TIRES, STABILIZER END-LINKS, TIE-ROD ENDS, INNER TIE-ROD ENDS, AND BALL JOINTS. THE BOUNCE GOT MORE CONTROLLABLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. NOT LONG AFTER THE NEW PARTS STARTED TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN. FINALLY DURING THE PURCHASE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS OVER AGAIN. I FIND AN INSTANCE WHERE THIS EXACT THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CONSTANT BOUNCE AS ALWAYS (4 MECHANICS ---- I AM PRETTY MECHANICALLY INCLINED, BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM) THIS OTHER INDIVIDUAL GOES UP ON A BRIDGE (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND BOUNCES STRAIGHT ACROSS AND RIGHT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY INTO THE DITCH. LUCKILY IN BOTH OF OUR CASES WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING OTHER THAN SOME TALL GRASS AND SLIDING AROUND IN THE DIRT A BIT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HE TAKES HIS FAMILY AND CAR TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC (THEY WERE GOING ON VACATION) AND THIS MECHANIC KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. RELIEVED THIS PERSON WAS THAT HE HAD FINALLY FOUND A MECHANIC THAT SOLVED THIS WRETCHED, ANNOYING, AND ODD PROBLEM I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THE STRUTS WERE COMPLETELY SHOT. THE CAR WAS NOT SAGGING ACCORDING TO MEASUREMENTS. BUMPS WEREN'T VIOLENT. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE OLD STRUTS I COULD LITERALLY PUSH THEM DOWN WITH ONE FINGER. LET GO AND WATCH AS THEY JUST RELAX IN PLACE. ANYONE EXPERIENCING A HIGHWAY BOUNCING WOBBLE LIKE SOMETHING IS UNBALANCED THEN REPLACE YOUR STRUTS!!
NHTSA complaint #10630276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
SUSPENSION
COPY OF EMAIL LETTER TO MS. BARRA (GENERAL MOTORS) REGARDING FRUSTRATION OF BEING A SATURN OWNER. *SMD 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER CAME CLOSE, TO GETTING THE GAS MILEAGE AS ADVERTISED. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION, AND FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN SHE INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE TRUNK, THE ENTIRE TRUNK LOCK FELL INTO THE CAR. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, REGARDING THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10614443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I FIRST BOUGHT MY 2006 SATURN ION IN MARCH OF 2013. THREE DAYS LATER I NOTICE THAT WHEN I WOULD GET ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR WOULD SWAY EXTREMELY BAD. OUR HWY SPEED IS 75. GOING 70MPH WAS TOO MUCH AND IT WOULD SWAY A LOT. MIND YOU I WAS PREGNANT AT THE TIME. THE CAR SPUN OUT AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE CARS WERE RIGHT BEHIND ME. THANK GOD I GOT OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE I GOT HIT. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW UPSET I WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS 4MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME. SINCE THEN MY HUSBAND HAS SPUN OUT 5 TIMES DRIVING OUR CAR. WE'VE TAKING IT TO THE MECHANICS MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. OUR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS ARE FINE. ALSO, OUR KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION A LOT UPON TURNING IT OFF. SO WE HAVE TO USE THE BUTTON WHICH IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TO GET THEM OUT. ALSO, LATELY THE CAR PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE. LATELY I CAN FLOOR IT AND THE CAR WILL STILL BE GOING 30MPH. ALSO, LATELY WHEN WE GO TO TURN ON THE CAR, IT TAKES AWHILE AND MAKES A SOUND AS IF THE BATTERY IS DEAD, BUT THEN IT SOON COMES ON. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE START. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD BUY, BUT EVERYDAY I REGRET IT AND I FEAR FOR ME, MY HUSBAND, AND MY CHILD'S SAFETY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MATTER OF FACT JUST TAKE OUR CARS. WE DON'T NEED THEM FIXED. JUST TAKE THEM PLEASE!
NHTSA complaint #10599104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
2005 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL RECALL DEFECTS AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR FACTUALITY, WHERE THERE KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALSO, THE ENGINE VALES, TIMING CHAIN AND SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10595094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
2006 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD RECENTLY, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE AND FINALLY, THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. RECENTLY, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING PULLED. ALSO, WHEN SHE PUSHED THE SHIFTER KNOB, THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. IT WOULD GO OUT AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION, WHILE DRIVING. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE, WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. UPDATED 08/06/14
NHTSA complaint #10593030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 4 TIMES THAT WHILE MY CAR WAS IDLING AT EITHER A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN, OR WHAT HAVE YOU, MY CAR WOULD JUST SHUT OFF AFTER MAKING A ROUGH IDLING NOISE. THIS SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. IF I WERE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF & TURN IT BACK ON, IT WOULD THEN GO AWAY. IT MADE ME WEARY OF DRIVING BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN OR WHERE THAT COULD HAPPEN. THE SECOND INCIDENT WOULD BE MY POWER STEWING. MY CAR WOULD "DING" AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD COME ON MAKING MY WHEEL STIFFEN UP IMMEDIATELY. AGAIN, IF I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN, THE PROBLEM WOULD STOP... FOR A LITTLE BIT. STARTED OFF AT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, THEN ONCE A DAY MAYBE, NOW I CAN'T EVEN GO A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE WITHOUT IT COMING ON. FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS TO SAY THE LEAST.
NHTSA complaint #10585175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10575942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON RT 95 CAR STALLED AND IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART. HAVE A TERRIBLE TIME STARTING THE CAR IN MORNING AND ITS NOT THE BATTERY AS ITS ABOUT YEAR OLD. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE COLD WEATHER BUT SOMETIMES IT STARTS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I NEVER KNOW WHETHER ITS GOING TO START. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT SOUNDS DEAD. I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO HAVE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAID A RELAY SWITCH CURED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10567606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
2004 SATURN ION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE FIRST STARTED HAVING FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, WHICH THE DEALER FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING AND SHE PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO, THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER IN JULY 2012, FROM GM STATING THE WARRANTY WAS BEING EXTENDED BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COULD FAIL. ON DECEMBER 16, 2013, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, AS THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT. SHE HAD TO USE EXTRA FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL. A TEST REVEALED, THERE WAS INDEED A FAILURE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED GM, SHE WAS INFORMED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON 11/28/13 THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/5/14
NHTSA complaint #10558808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY ION HAS HAD CONTINUOUS STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS SINCE 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MOTOR (WARNING LIGHT COMES ON - LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND HAD THE STEERING MOTOR REPLACED. I HAVE REPLACED THE SWAY BAR, CONTROL ARMS, LINK, AND MUCH MORE. AND, I STILL HAVE DIFFICULTIES STEERING - HAVE A CONSTANT CLUNCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED THE RACK & PINION REPLACED - ESTIMATED COST $550. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 82,000 MILES. THE STEERING & SUSPENSION PROBLEMS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT 50,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10547352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. CAUSED BELT TO BREAK IN TIRE. TOWED TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10515478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.