2003 Saturn Ion Electrical Problems

Which parts fail

• Ignition › Switch
  68
• Ignition
  54
• Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
  19
• Horn
  11
• 12V/24V/48V battery
  4
• Ignition › Module
  4

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  3112%
• 25k–50k
  4517%
• 50k–75k
  7629%
• 75k–100k
  4919%
• 100k–150k
  4718%
• 150k+
  156%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Saturn Ion owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that occasionally the key failed to turn while in the ignition. The vehicle was slow to start. The contact had to avoid bumps in the roadway while driving. The lock symbol was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V171000 (Electrical System) and 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined to service the recall repairs due to an insurance issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another unknown local dealer, who informed the contact to place the vehicle in park(P) and restart the vehicle, and the symbol turned off. …

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the recall repair failed to prevent the failure from occurring shortly after. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff, the speedometer failed to display the accurate velocity, the fog lights would not deactivate, and several other electrical features failed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that less than a minute after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality, with the power steering failure message was displayed. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P), the contact would wiggle the key around in the ignition before being able to remove the key from the ignition switch. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,350.

I took my 2003 Saturn ion to my local Chevrolet dealership in Lincoln Illinois and they refused to complete the recall issues (2) both are to do with the ignition and keys.thwy told me it was not fixable it needed a whole steering column that would cost me they said around $800.so it has now been 2 weeks my car has been there at Graue Chevrolet Dealership unfixed and they refused to fix please help me it's my only means of transportation and I have health issues that I have to go to Dr appointments quite frequently.

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system). The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, a fire started under the dashboard. The contact was able to merge to the side of the road and extinguish the fire. A police report was filed, but there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was contacted and, after evaluating pictures sent by the owner, stated that the failure was not related to the recall. The failure mileage was 204,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and crashed into another vehicle. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per an unknown recall for the ignition switch. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

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. …

To formally add this incident to your records, on 2/22/13, at about 9 am, I was starting to brake upon approaching a traffic light on a highway near my home in icy conditions, only to find that I apparently had no braking capability, (at least all efforts short of standing on the brake, which would lock up the wheels), and the dash lights seemed to indicate the engine had stopped. After sliding into the pick-up truck ahead of me at the light, the collision was at a high enough speed to enough to crumple the front half of the engine compartment, but the air bag did not deploy, (I thought my speed at point of impact was about 25mph, but the trooper taking the accident report felt that it had to be faster than that). I was wearing my seat belt, and have suffered only bruising and pulled muscles. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the key remained seized in the ignition when the vehicle was shifted into park. The contact stated that the key seized midway while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle lost electrical power and took 15 to 20 minutes before starting. The contact stated that there was a click before the key was released. The battery and engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The contact called Saturn of memphis (2420 covington pike, memphis, tn 38128) and informed the dealer of the failure. The contact was informed to take the vehicle to jim keras automotive (2000 covington pike, memphis, tn 38128). The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, when the vehicle began to stall and another vehicle rear ended her. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a concussion and back injuries. The contact was taken by an ambulance to seek medical attention and also seek physical therapy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to repair shop and was not repaired at that moment. The contact stated the vehicle had the battery was replaced prior to the accident. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Related recalls

Electrical complaints in other Ion years