Faults:

Ignition switch

I have experienced the same problem with my Saturn. I actually had the dealership replace the ignition switch about 2-1/2 years ago. They did not offer up what was wrong with it at first. Finally, one of the techs I spoke to suggested it might be the ignition switch. He said a number of cars had this problem. Now it's actually happening again even with the replaced switch. The problem is reoccurring every time its cold outside. I live in New England, its cold here most of the year. This is absolutely ridiculous. Saturn should recall this before someone gets killed.

Faults:

My body control module failed. It took out my ignition at the same time.I'm glad my wife was'nt driving the car when this happened because it would have wrecked. Ipaid $1,300.00for the repair. This should not happen to a car with 23,000 miles.

General Comments:

This is my last GM product.

Faults:

I have 2003 ion coupe, the starter was replaced within 7000 miles. All tires had to be replaced by 20,000 miles. Noticed a loud roaring noise at about 32,000 miles (just out of warranty) took it to dealership and was advised tires were cupped badly, back up light switch did not work, trunk release does not work, both front wheel bearings and sway bar bushings, brackets and links were bad and it would cost $1550.00 to repair these problems. I purchased the front wheel bearings, back up light switch and new tires elsewhere and had them installed for 1/6th of the price. The issue with the sway bar has not been corrected yet.

General Comments:

The car only has 42,000 miles. Will not purchase anther car from this manufacturer.

Faults:

Ignition problems in cold weather, turn signal short-outs, leaky driver side door gasket.

General Comments:

The turn signal problem was fixed with the recall after some time with dealing with some frustration. The leaky door gasket was also annoying and only happened to the front driver's side window during VERY pouring/driving rain. Service fixed it twice under 36k warranty, however still leaks once in a while and water drips on window control panel, which I think is why my rear window won't work any longer. The cold weather ignition only happened in very frigged weather and breathing on the security key-chain battery and the ignition block seemed to work. But yes annoying. If it happens again this winter, I am going to try one of those portable 12 volt ceramic car heaters on the ignition before trying to start it. Maybe that will work.

My 2001 SL works like a champ w/o any major issues, but it was one of the last years in that production run. Lesson learned to hold out a few years before buying a new model vehicle.

Faults:

Key gets stuck in the ignition.

General Comments:

Brought my 2003 Ion in because the key kept getting stuck in the ignition. I only had so much money, so when they told me 2 days later that they couldn't find the problem, I went to pick up the car after authorizing a transmission flush and a new key.

When I got to the dealership, they said the key was stuck now, and they really hadn't looked at it because they weren't sure what the problem was (I was EXTREMELY specific). Now the trans flush was done and I had no money to fix the ignition, which the mechanic himself told me was a sticky "actuator" in the shifter, and the service guy said it would be another $200, so I took the car home.

I felt like they hadn't taken my ignition problem seriously, and I would have never authorized a trans flush over the ignition problem, so I called Saturn headquarters. They got the service manager on the phone, and he said he wanted to keep me as a customer, so he would split the difference on the ignition cost, but that the repair would now cost $100 more. Some deal.

Called a reliable local mechanic to see how much he would charge, and when he called a Saturn dealership for the part, he was told there was no such part as an "actuator". Go figure.

I then looked up all the problems with Saturn's on the web, and found hundreds upon hundreds of the same complaints. Instead of recalling these cars, GM must have decided that they could make more money by having them brought in for repair numerous times.

And if you look at my keys (both old and new), you can easily see how soft the metal is, so I believe they are actually making bad keys to make a bundle on repairs. GM should be forced to recall these cars and stop these "bait and switch" repair tactics. I will never buy another Saturn, and make a point to tell everyone I can to never buy one either.

Besides all this, the value of the car dropped 50% on Kelly Blue Book, and I've owned it less than a year.