I've had problems especially in the last 6 months with the key getting stuck and leaving only the electrical running when I try to turn off the car. A few times I've had the car shut off while trying to leave my apartment complex and as I would pass over a speed bump the engine would shut off, requiring me to turn the car off all the way and restart the ignition. This has been going on since 2009 but no one could tell me what was wrong until I got the recall for the ignition switch in the mail. Needless to say I am PISSED. I could have died if this happened on the road.

I had recently put a new car battery in the car so I was excited it was running well again. I went to get dinner at work one night and upon returning to work I realized the key would not come out. I was unable to turn off my car. So after contacting my father with the car running I drove to the house. Upon arrival he had me pull into the driveway, I then set the parking break and popped the hood. My father being mechanically inclined was able to safely suffocate the engine. Then once the car was no longer running we then disconnected the battery so that the electrical components would be safe to work on.

After calling around about parts and the expenses involved, he did the next best thing, and cut the solid piece of plastic that was molded so that the key could be removed. Now the deal is that while the car runs, I must be careful not to touch the key as it could potentially fall out. Had the plastic case around the steering column been made into individual removable panels they could have been removed and the key extracted. Thereby maintaining a prettier appearance, as it is in order to save on expensive repairs this was the solution. Which has now lowered the value of my car for future trade in.

Now having experienced this problem and seeing how may others have a similar situation it's time for our government to do something and force General Motors to pay for these repairs. Couldn't turn engine off--luckily the key came out of the ignition, but still running--I removed the fuse from under the hood to stop engine. Then looked internet and found this site which was a tremendous help--found the plug-in under the steering wheel and disconnected it--this allows me to stop pulling fuse under the hood and don't have to disconnect battery--fortunately I have an extended warranty and will take car to dealer tomorrow--will update on the fix--thanks to those who came before me and left instructions on how to do this!!!

I purchased a 2006 Saturn Ion, back in 2008. From time to time my key would get stuck in the ignition. If I wait a few seconds it would eventually come out. Two days ago, afte I filled up my tank. I drove to the store and I was unable to get my key out, I waited like I always do, and nothing. I turn the steering wheel. The key would turn back and fourth but would not come out. After a few minutes,my key came out, but my car would not start. I got a jump, started back up, but my key would not come out. The key was stuck in the on position, this had never happen before. The exhaust was "put put putt", and the gas peddle was not working. I have spoken to two mechanics and they all say the problem is my ignition switch/tumbler. I have read several complaints on this web site and others with the same or similar problem. Has GM done a recall on this problem. This is very frustrating as I am a social worker and I need my car for work. I do not know if putting more money into this car will be worth it.

This sh*t don't make no since. I got home from the doctor and I couldn't turn this damn car off. The key won't come out of the ignition. I went across the street to a auto shop and they said they never seen anything like this. I called a GM dealer and they said that they had several 2006 ions come in for the same problem, however its going to cost $90.00 for a diagnosis. If you already fixed cars with the same problem, why in the hell do you need a diagnosis, just another way for GM to rip off the consumer. I sat for 3 1/2 hours in my car because I didn't know what to do. As high as gas is this sh*t is terrible. I called GM/Saturn to complain and the lady told me she will call me back. They know damn well this should be a recall. I can't afford to have my car fixed I am retired on a fixed income and I owe less than $1,500.00 on this damn car and have less than 50,000 thousand miles. I need my car to get back and forth to the doctor, to take my granddaughter to school and grocery store. You would think that GM gives a damn since the tax payers bailed their asses out. Now Im with out a car and I have to try and pay their asses a car note and get it fixed at the same time. What is this world coming too.

This is mrs. wanda once more about six months later when i was going to my son's job to pick him up from work because i had gotten a call from his girlfriend's doctor telling me we needed to come to the hospital because looked like my grandson was not going to make it. Well, when parking my car at the hospital my car ignition key was stuck again my car would not cut off. I was very upset. Now my grandson is not doing good at all & my car wouldn't cut off. My friend had to walk down to the hospital to sit with my car until I

called someone who had the same car before and they told her what to do. So she called her husband to come to the hospital as soon as he can to get my car to shut down. He had to disconnect the battery/pull the light gray fuse up under the hood. That is a shame for someone who lost thier grandson at the same time their ignition would not cut off. I was going crazy having to lay my grand baby to rest a week later. I let my car set up sometime and I will plug the battery back up and the fuse just so I can get around but later on that got old. i had to get it fix once again because i need it my car his time i had to pay on 11/8/2011 415.00 to get it fix what else need to go wrong before thay will make a recall on these car i was thinking about getting to a lawyer.

my name is mrs. wanda i have a 2006 saturn ion i really loved my car.until going to work on 02/08/ 11 at 5:00am and for the first time my key was stuck in the igintion the car would not shut off and my husband was working out of town. now it's five what could i do so i had to let my car run until i can take it to the dealer ship they acted like they never saw nothing like this before what can i do to get it fix well as ever one no pay to get it fix i was very very upset about this i said if saturn would have still been around i would gave it back to them. i payed all that to get the car fix they gave me a 12,000 mile warranty or 12 month warranty are which one come first i no ever one on this page no what came first i would never buy another saturn.

I was parking in the garage at work and realized that I could not turn off my car. I tried to turn the key, and there was a grinding noise. I tried putting it into a different gear and that did not work. I had to wait until my boss came to work, because I knew that he would not believe me. I had to drive all the way to my nearest dealership, which at the time was Hyundai, they charged me an arm and a leg ($535.35 to be exact). They told me that it was a problem with the computer system reading the key. And they gave me one new key, and told me that I had to buy another key to replace the second key that came with the car. That was going to be an additional $20. I did not pay for the second key. I tried the second old key, and it starts the car up fine. But this is ridiculous and an outrage to have to pay that much to replace an ignition. They really need to recall this problem and reimburse the millions of people who have had to pay to fix this problem. I have read that some other people had to fix this problem twice. If that ever happens again, the dealership can keep the car, because I am not about to fork over another $500.

I really love this car. However, I have had numerous problems. To begin, I went to turn off my car and could not get the key out of the ignition. After allowing the car to run for several hours, I found someone to show me how to turn it off until I could get it to a mechanic.

My next problems occurred when I was going 65 miles an hour on the Interstate 55 near the Chicago area. All of a sudden the check engine light came on and my car lost power. Yes, the car went from going 65 mile an hour down to 10 miles an hour. After pulling over, I turned the car off. Eventually, I started it up and make it to the nearest gas station. I took it in to a mechanic who told me it was the pedal position sensor. I paid another 400 plus dollars for him to fix it. The problem continued to occur and I kept taking it back to the mechanic until I became terrified of driving the car. I eventually took the car in to GM dealer who confirmed that it was the same problem that the other mechanic had diagnosed. However, they wanted me to pay over six hundred to get it rewired. I did not get it rewired, but they cleaned something related to the problem. This appeared to work, however, my check engine light is back on again. Now, I am told that it is a unspecified electrical problem. Basically, they cannot pin point where the problem is. I am told that my car needs to be taken apart until they find where the electrical problem is occurring. At 100 dollars an hour for labor, I cannot afford to pay to have them do exploratory surgery on my car. I would expect these problems of a vehicle that is more than 10 year old. I had less problems with my 1997 GEO Prism that I purchased new and kept for 10 years ---my most expensive repair was replacing my struts. I keep checking for recalls on this Saturn Ion, but I am shocked to discover that there are no recall ... I have read about numerous complaints with other owners. I have even check the lemon laws regarding it. I am spending too much money to fix one problem and no one, not even the GM Dealer, can figure out what is wrong. It is apparent that this is a problem with these vehicles. Of course, I have no warranty.

I went to get my oil changed and went to a store and could not turn off the car. After much time in the hot sun the oil change place was able to take the steering column apart so I could get to the fuse box easily and take the key out. I did call the GM dealership 15 miles away who made an appointment to diagnosis the problem. Based on the information on your site at least I know the problem so that should not have to happen now. Maybe I can get to work on time but I doubt it. I had an extended warranty stupid me which expired in Jan 11 of course and I never used it so this going to cost between 3-5 hundred.