10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
95,917 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Dec 202017

Ion

  • 78,585 miles
Takata recall, my 2003 Saturn Ion has recalls on the ignition switch and cylinder which is causing my car to be impossible to drive. This recall is causing the system to have a short with all my electrical. For example, windows don't roll down/up, wipers don't work, heater doesn't work, blinkers don't work, dash lights stay on causing battery to constantly be dead. All because there are recalls that need to be fixed.

- Naknek, AK, USA

problem #4

Jun 302017

Ion

  • 80,000 miles
In the photograph below you will see the wiper transmission, made of plastic, that broke on my 2003 Saturn Ion and was replaced on my vehicle on 7/7/2017 at my expense of $298. I was stunned to learn that any car manufacturer would use plastic for any moving part in a vehicle engine compartment. I have been in contact with General Motors, and at first they told me there was nothing they could do. However, I have requested that they do a recall on the 2003 Saturn to replace the wipers transmissions. I have also been told not to waste my time that this is not considered a safety issue by NHTSA. Let me assure you, it most definitely is a safety issue. It is extremely dangerous to drive without the use of wipers when it is pouring rain. The wiper broker while I was driving in morning rush hour traffic when I thought a rock had hit my windshield. It wasn't a rock, it was the wiper that had slammed back into my windshield. I had no choice but to keep going until I reached my destination at which time I called a friend who loaned me their car until I could get this fixed. I have also done a little bit of research on this and found that my car is not the only Saturn 2003 that has had this problem. The case file numbers with GM are 8-2993888661 and 8-3078081084, with the latter being the most recent communication. And, while I know my care is 14 years old, the age should not be an issue since the wiper transmission is made of plastic. I thank you for your consideration of this matter, and if this is not on your list of safety/hazardous conditions that it be added to the list.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #3

Oct 262015

Ion

  • miles
My car feels like a death trap. To start off with only one of my windshield wiper motors work. When I first bought the car from a single individual the passenger side wiper appeared to shake a little more than the driver side. As if it was working a little harder to keep up with the other wiper.. and then less than a month after purchasing vehicle it stopped working all together. Now I only have the driver side wiper that I use. Also when I go to turn on the blinker, go over a railroad track, make a turn iorn vehicle, or sometimes just sitting still. The wiper will start working without me having turnned it on. At first it would just come on for 3 or 4 swipes and then automatically stop again. But now its doing it more frequently and sometimes it will not stop swipping whichis very aggravating causing scratches on my windshield and wearing my one wiper down faster than it should be. Along with these problems my car has also been idleing extremly high upon cranking and while changing gears it acts as if it gets stuck between 1rst 2cd and 3rd. Also when I try to increase speed for passing or to make turns it sometimes just causes it to bog down more instead of increasing my speed it sounds as if its gonna blow up the engine.

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #2

Jan 052015

Ion 4-cyl

  • 161,000 miles
While going down the interstate at 75, my wiper motor linkage blew apart because of the plastic. I couldn't see because of the snow, and had to reach out and grab the wipers, they cut my hand.

- Perry, OK, USA

problem #1

May 232010

Ion

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact was driving 25 mph when the power steering seized. In addition, the windshield wiper failed and the front windows driver and passenger side windows could not be opened or closed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was notified who advised the contact that the vehicle should be taken to the dealer and they would decide if they should offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Matawan, NJ, USA