Complain about a product or service

Saturn Ion - Ignition Lock

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Saturn • Aura • Vue --- • Engine problems • Transmission problems • Airbags • Ignition interlock • Oozing goo • Miscellaneous woes • The Shamrock Saturn --- Recalls/News • Penske Scraps Plan to Buy Saturn; Brand Likely to Die • Penske Hopes to Drive Saturn Off GM's Lot • Saturn Climbing the Roadway to Heaven • Saturn Aura Gets a 5,000-Mile Road Test • NHTSA Probes Timing Chain Again • NHTSA Recalls Saturn L Series • NHTSA Probes Saturn Timing Chain Failures • Saturn Astra Named Safest Car Under $25,000 • Saturn Outlook Gets Top Marks from Consumer Reports • Saturn Targets Toyota, Honda for Side-by-Side Tests • Saturn Sky Prices Go Sky High • Saturn VUE Recalled • L-Series Cars Recalled

Cole of Brighton, MA October 22, 2009

The key to my Saturn Ion jammed in the ignition lock and the car could not be turned off when I arrived at work. I could not turn the car off so I drove to a mechanic where they also had no idea how to disengage the car. I then drove to a Saturn Dealership where the Saturn mechanics seemed all to familiar with my problem. They informed me that to fix the problem, it would cost 330 for labor and part. It took Saturn a couple of hours to replace the ignition part, in total, I missed about 5 hours of work that day.

I called Customer Assistance with GM and first talked with a lady named Viviana who was helpful but ultimately, had little authority. I was then transferred to Tier 2 Regional Supervisor for claims, Pamela C. I was told by Viviana that Pamela would call me within 24 hours. We played phone tag once and from that point on, all of the work came from my side. I repeatedly tried calling Pamela or being transferred from someone else and not once did she pick up my call.

One month later, after calling her 5 times and leaving messages, Pamela calls and tells me that our claim is denied because the car is outside warranty and there is nothing that can be done. I asked for her supervisor and she said that she does not have that information (either she won't give it to me or she doesn't have a supervisor) and that my claim ends with her.

Set back 330 for replacement part and labor, 5 hours of lost work and many additional hours of wasting time trying to contact Pamela C.

Lora of Sundown, TX October 21, 2009

2004 Saturn Ion, Ignition Switch problems, the key cannot be removed from the ignition when you put the vehicle in park, I have read other complaints on your website regarding this same problem, I went to the NHTSA website and filled out a complaint form, there are no recalls by Gm for this wide spread problem. Thankfully have been able to remove the key without having to pull a fuse or leave the car running. If everyone that has this problem would fill out the complaint on the NHSTA website maybe they would investigate and mandate that GM recall the vehicles for free replacement.

Joshua of Hampton, VA October 18, 2009

Saturn ion 03 Ignition fails to start in cold weather. Been stuck at a 711 for the last half hour trying to start it (usually only takes a ten minute wait). Known safety issue by Saturn. Filling this out via my iPhone while waiting in my car hoping it'll start on the next attempt.

Carrol of Oklahoma City, OK October 15, 2009

RE: 2005 Saturn ION....For the 3rd time since March of 2008, our key got stuck in the ignition. THis time same as the first time the car was running and we could not shut it off. We usually had service with BOb Moore in Edmond, Ok but he no longer has Saturn. So we called the one above. Joey informed us that our Warranty, which we purchased when we bought the car in 2005, had expired. We knew that but this is a recurring problem and we feel should be covered by Saurn. We had to hae it towed to the dealership so we now have a huge tow bill plus we were informed the cost to repair is 400. We feel this is very unfair since the key stuck in the ignition earlier was not repaired properly. In fact, Joey's comment was that they will fix it this time so we have no more problems. My husband and I would appreciate any help you can give us.

C. of Wylie, TX October 1, 2009

This is for your list of complaints on the Saturn ION ignition lock problem. The past two days when I shut off my car after arriving home from work, the key caught, but turned off. Now today the key was locked in the on position in the ignition and I could not turn the car off. I took it to one mechanic who said he could not fix it, so I took it to the dealership. First they quoted me a possible 700 to repair it if the cylinder had damaged the housing. Later they called me and told me the cylinder had not damaged the housing so it is going to cost 319 to repair. Looks like it's a known problem judging from this site. Too bad I still owe so much for the car, or I would trade it in after all the problems I've had. Too bad. I had a 2000 Saturn SC2 that was a really good car. After GM took over the manufacture of Saturns, quality nose-dived.

robert of flower mound, TX September 27, 2009

my college daughters 2006 saturn ion could not turn off car ignition switch. she was stuck out in country at friends house at midnight and had to call aaa. finally fixed by saturn after 450.00 repair and saturn acted like they had never heard of this problem before. after several attempts to get some of my 450.00 back saturn consumer relations keeps blowing us off.

Robert of Salt Lake City, UT September 9, 2009

For the third time in 18 months I have had my 2004 Saturn ION Quad Coupe's Ignition cylinder fail. I can not turn off the car this time. I have to pull out the main fuse to shut off the car. The last Ignition cylinder would even, at times, allow the key to fall out on to the floor while driving and would not turn either direction alot of the times. I had to wiggle the key in and out while trying to turn it.

It has cost me 120.00 to have the car towed to the dealer twice in a year and 162.00 for each of the two previous repairs. This repair I am haveing done under "Good will" because the last Ignition cylinder was replace 4 months ago. 120.00 to have the car towed twice. 162.00 for each of the last repairs. (12 month/12000 mile parts warranty)

E. of Houston, TX September 7, 2009

I purchased my 17th year old daughter a Saturn Ion 2007 in March. She went to get some gas before school and could not turn off the car in order to put the gas into it. She went back home and called me. I was on my way to work so I have a friend to check the car. He nor my brother was able to turn the key in the ignition. They had to disconnect the battery inorder to turn the car off but the key would not come out. That evening, after having another male friend who work on cars try to take the key out, we called the Saturn dealership. The operator knew exactly what the problem was and told me to bring it in the next morning which was Saturday. The driver's side window also would not go down. The motor was completely out. The fuel pump was also not working properly. It also had to be replaced. This is only a two year old car and we should not be having these type of issues. Thank God, I had an extented warrenty. As a result, that Monday I had to continuely call the dealership for them to fix the car inorder for my daughter to have her car for school on Tuesday. I will be getting rid of this car as soon as I can. We barely have had this car 5 months and already having major repair issues. I will never buy another Saturn.

Kathleen of Cockeysville, MD September 1, 2009

I purchased a used Saturn Ion1 in Fall of 2005. The ignition switch failed in 2007. The car would not turn on consistantly. I paid to replace the housing and cylinder in 2007. 30 days later the same part failed. Saturn did replace that part for free at that time. On August 27th 2009, The Saturn Ion1 would not turn off. The key could not turn to the off postion so that it continued to run. AAA was called to disable the car and it was towed to the dealership to be serviced. The exact same parts that failed in 2007 failed again in 2009.

Clearly there is a defect in these parts. An ignition switch should not go bad every 2 years. This is not a high wear and tear part. A car should be able to turn on and off an excessivley large number of times. This part should not continue to fail. A car that fails to turn off is an enormous saftey issue. If you leave the car unattended and turned on, someone could be hurt or killed. It would have been criminal to do so.

AAA came to disable the car and tow it to the dealership. The same part had failed yet again. GM will only pay for the part and not the labor. I fully paid for the labor to replace this part in 2007. I believe that GM is not taking responsiblity for it's know problem with defective parts. GM has a history of ignition switch failures. GM should stand behind their replacement parts.

Also, the District Specialist lied about contacting with a resolution. She only contacted the dealership. She refused to respond to more tha 10 messages left on her phonemail. She repeated failed to follow through on her written commitments via phone contact. Her supervisor was notified to the problem but I doubt that anything repercussions will follow.

I am very disappointed in GM parts and more disappointed in GM customer service. This company is struggling with poor sales because the cars have poor reliablity. If GM stood behand the cars and their replacement parts, maybe people would buy more GM vehichles.

I currently own 2 GM cars and 1 Toyota. I will never buy another GM vehichle again. I think people should think twice before purchasing any GM product. If GM does not stand by their own products the consummer should not buy GM vehichles. It costs 311.50 to repair the car. Fear that this problem will occur again in this same vehichle.

Leni of Spring, TX August 29, 2009

My car won't turn off, and the key is stuck in the ignition. I called Saturn Katy but they want to charge me 575 plus tow expenses. I just ran out of warranty 6 months ago, and during the warranty period I already have similar problems but they said they already fixed it, but the problem is recurring.

I feel sick reading all the complains of other people in the same situation as me. Saturn should recall these Saturn Ion cars and other problematic cars. I believe in American buying American, but this is really sad. I am not buying any Saturn products again, and I will make sure that all of family and friends are warned. Because of this, I missed school, and my husband missed work. We are are just ordinary citizens that are trying to make both ends meet.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |