Saturn ION brakes problems
177 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.
Key facts
4,343 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 3,543 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Braking behavior evidence
177 of 4,343 complaints match this topic (4.1%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10033002 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
WITHIN 1 WEEK OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND CAR WOULD SHAKE. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG. WITHIN 2 DAYS ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, SOMETIMES STAYING ON STEADY AND SOMETIMES BLINKING. VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS (EVEN SMALL ONES) VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY FEEL LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUT ON AND VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO STALL OUT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN OPENING THE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 98 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090971 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
THE AREA IN MY TRUNK ABOVE THE MUFFLER HAS STARTED GETTING EXTREMELY HOT. ITEMS STORED IN THE TRUNK ARE HOT TO THE TOUCH AND THE METAL IN THE TRUNK IS TOO HOT TO LAY A HAND ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER DROPPED ITEMS WHILE REMOVING THEM FROM THE TRUNK BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE FEBRUARY 2003. I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND IT IS IN THE SHOP EVERY MONTH TO MONTH AND A HALF BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093324 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. I BEGAN TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THE PATTERN OF THE NOISE AND VERIFIED THAT IT PRIMARILY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS OF 20-25MPH OR HIGH SPEEDS OF 50-55 MPH WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. I TOOK MY CAR INTO SATURN DEALERSHIP 9/18/04 TO HAVE IT 'CHECKED OUT'. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT I EITHER HAD A FAILING WHEEL-BEARING OR I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TIRES. THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOT IMMANENT DANGER OF DRIVING THE CAR. EXACTLY ONE WEEK …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099238 · 2004-11-02 (November 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM 5 TO 20 MILES ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB THE DRIVER HAS ELECTRICAL WINDOWS AND LOCKS FAILED. THE WINDOW WOULD ROLL UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD DO THE SAME. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THESE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO OCCURRED AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE DRIVER HAS INFORMED THE MECHANIC ABO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105756 · 2005-01-04 (January 4, 2005)
WHILE ON LOCAL INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE SATURN ION 3 QUAD COUPE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THE RPMS REACHED ABOUT 6,000 WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED AND PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. AFTER A BRIEF FULL STOP (WHILE IN DRIVE), THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED PROPERLY AND DID NOT SLIP. UPON TAKING THE NEXT EXIT, THE CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND WAS IDLING. EXITING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING SMELL WHICH WAS QUITE SIMILAR TO A CLUTCH SLIPPING IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. NO FLUIDS WERE SEEN DRIPPING AND THERE WAS NO COSMETIC DAMAGE. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105756 at NHTSA ↗