2003 Saturn Ion engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE NOISE WOULD CEASE ONCE THE ENGINE WAS WARM BUT COULD STILL BE HEARD AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME RESISTANT TO STARTING ATTEMPTS IN COLDER WEATHER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH OF THE FAILURES WERE COMMON, BUT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“2003 SATURN ION . CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WHICH SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOOR. THEN IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. THEN HALF OF THE DASH WENT BLACK. THE NEXT WINDOW WOULD GO UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WITH NO CONTACT OF ANY TYPE. THEN THE CONTROLS TO THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE ELECTRONIC LOCK/OPENING DEVICE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS ANY LONGER OR LOCK THE TRUNK. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT REACT TO BEING IN PARK, SO THEREFORE, SHE HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE O2 SENSOR AND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER PROPERLY REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. *JB”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND COIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”

“ENGINE GOES INTO HIGH IDLE RPM, 1500 TO 2200 RPM, AFTER BEING DRIVEN A PERIOD OF TIME AT HIGH SPEED. IF YOU SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART ENGINE IDLE RESUMES TO 800 RPM, BUT IF DRIVEN ENGINE IDLE WILL GO BACK TO HIGH IDLE AGAIN. DEALER REPROGRAMMED (PCM) POWER CONTROL MODEL AS PER SATURN FIX ALERT OF 4/2004; BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION . WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MILEAGE WAS HIGH AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM NHTSA TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 15-20 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74500.”