Saturn ION transmission problems
167 complaint narratives mention transmission 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.
Transmission and shifting evidence
167 of 4,343 complaints match this topic (3.8%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10025418 · 2003-07-04 (July 4, 2003)
MARCH 22, 2003 I PURCHASED AN SATURN ION 3. WITHIN THE 1ST THE WEEK THERE WAS PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE 2 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING (3RD TIME). SUPPOSEDLY THE CAR WAS FIXED. 3 DAYS LATER THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED ME AT SATURN CORP.'S REQUEST TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN THE CAR AS THE ENGINE COULD BLOW UP. THE ENGINE HAD A CRACKED CYLINDER WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE WITH ABOUT 650 MILES. ALSO, ANOTHER SATURN ION WITH 2500 MILES WAS SITTING IN THE DEALER'S LOT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028649 · 2003-07-20 (July 20, 2003)
MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT A SATURN ION III. SHE HAS RECENTLY HAD TROUBLE WITH HER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SATURN HAS ACKNOWELDGED A HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM FROM 2ND TO 3RD, BUT SINCE A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT, IT IS BEING CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOW BEGUN TO BE A WAY MORE SERIOUS CONCERN BECAUSE IT WILL COMPLETELY SLIP, (LOSE ALL POWER), FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN EVER INCREASING LONGER INTERVAL AND MORE FREQUENTLY. SHE HAS HAD THIS HAPPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030788 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
MY 2003 SATURN ION, WAS DELIVERED ON DECEMBER 3,2002. THIS WAS MY SECOND SATURN. AFTER ABOUT A 1000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THAT TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER 1000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH 4 TIMES SINCE THEN AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039405 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SATURN ION QUAD 3 ON 6-12-2003. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE THE BEGINNING. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. A TECH FROM SPRING HILL SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. TRYING TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS A NIGHTMARE. THIS CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL IS CRACKED AND BEING REPLACED. THE REAR BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF SCRATCHES FROM THE TRUNK RUBBING. THE FRONT BUMPER IS BEING PAINTED BECAUSE OF RUNS IN THE PAINT. NONE OF THE BODY PANELS SEEM TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040419 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040419 at NHTSA ↗