2007 Saturn ION: complaints, problems and recalls

AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I WAS CUT OFF BY A CAR FROM THE RIGHT LANE WHILE TRAVELING ON I280 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WAS FORCED INTO THE NEXT LANE TO MY LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION - I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS A RENTAL (ENTERPRISE-RENT-A-CAR) - MY ATTEMPTS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AS TO ANY POSSIBLE DEFECTS OF THE CAR FROM ENTERPRISE (& ELCO ADMIN SERVICES) HAVE PROVED FRUITLESS. I REPEATEDLY INFORMED ENTERPRISE THAT I W…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178130 at NHTSA ↗

REAR VIEW MIRROR IS TOO LOW - DRIVER CAN NOT SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM THE RIGHT. DRIVER MUST LOOK UNDER OR TO THE SIDE IN ORDER TO SEE-EXAMPLE - 4 WAY STOP, CANNOT SEE IF A VEHICLE IS AT THE STOP ON RIGHT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10183654 at NHTSA ↗

IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS WE WERE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF, 65, AND 55 MPH RESPECTIVELY WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE FIRST TIME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE AS SOON AS WE PULLED OVER IT BLEW OUT. THE SECOND TIME ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WHEN WE FELT AROUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WE COULD FEEL A KNOT ON THE SIDEWALL, WHERE IT WAS ABOUT TO FAIL JUST LIKE THE FIRST.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10195609 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE REMOVED HIS HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-60 MPH. THE DEALER ALIGNED THE STEERING WHEEL BUT, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,058.

Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200698 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE SECOND FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND T…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201613 at NHTSA ↗

UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, OVER DRIVEWAY SLOPES, OR OTHER ROAD BUMPS VEHICLE HAS LOUD POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS POPPING NOISE AND FEELING UNDER FEET OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHILE STEERING AT STAND STILL OR WHILE DRIVING...VEHICLE WHEN EXPERIENCING ROAD HAZARDS THAT CAUSE BRAKING ACTION WHILE STEERING LOCKS UP AND JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR RANDOM TIME AMOUNTS. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER, TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, (3X) EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD PROBLEM IS FIXED, PROBLEM CAN NOT B…

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203520 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 30 MPH AND EVENTUALLY TO ZERO. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED UNTIL IT REACHED 30 MPH AND THEN IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED TWO MORE TIMES APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE SECOND TIME THEY CHANGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203617 at NHTSA ↗

WAS HEARING A POPPING,CLICKING, AND RUBBING SOUND AND TOOK TO SATURN THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS MY HUB CAP MAKING THE NOISE. I WENT BACK ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND HAD THEM REMOVE MY HUB CAP AND NOISE WAS EVEN WORSE AND YOU COULD FEEL IT UNDER YOU FEET. THEY SAID IT WAS MY HALF SHAFT ON THE LEFT SIDE SO A WEEK LATER THEY REPLACED IT. THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY AND BY MONDAY MORNING I WAS HEARING AND FEELING THE NOISE AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT BUT THAT I HAD A BENT RIM IN THE REAR. I LEFT BUT THEN THOUG…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204010 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-10-29 (October 29, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY MAY CRACK. IF EITHER OF THESE PORTS DEVELOPS A CRACK, FUEL WILL LEAK FROM THE AREA. IF THE CRACK BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH, FUEL MAY BE OBSERVED DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND AND VEHICLE PERFORMANCE MAY BE AFFECTED.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. A SPECIAL COVERAGE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME FOR MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE AND TEXAS AND MODEL YEAR 2007 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN: ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2012-09-19 (September 19, 2012)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.

Consequence: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Reported: 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Reported: 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.