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Comments
As far as we are concerned, this problem is as much a liability as anything else and iat surely sending signals - stay away from GM products ... our fleet of ION's are gradually exchanged for other makes.
Good luck to all of you that are continuesly experiencing this problem.
I am waiting to hear from GM. The car was towed there on thurs and they were to work on it yesterday. I have not heard from them, which does not make me feel very good. i was hoping they would come up with the ignition relay switch which is what most everyone on here says.
Adam
i know this sounds weird, but it works! try it.........
I went downstairs to make an appointment (and I assure you I never go to attorneys with a problem. I try to solve them myself, but the lady from GM was so rude this a.m. And saying yes, the part is defective, but too bad for you as your warranty is over. And too bad for you that you kept calling Saturn about the problem and not GM. The same lady that said this blog is bull and one person can be all of us that are posting comments here. I have no clue if she is a true example of a GM supervisor. Rude, non-caring and nixing everything that the original GM person told me. Anyway, I digress. I walked into the attorney's office and was telling his receptionist why i wanted to see him and the problems I've been having for over 2 years. She is an ex Saturn Ion owner and had the same exact problem with her Ion and Saturn and GM refused to help deal with the problem. They wanted more $ every time they tried something that didn't work. She got rid of the car b/c someone hit her and their insurance company had to pay for her totaled car!!!
As far as Edmund's not having any credibility, GM has never wasted a second using a quote from this site that hasn't praised their cars in it's advertising.
This pisses me off so much on your behalf. GM is a bunch of lying thieves if this is how they're treating you. If you took the car into Saturn and they tried to find out what the problem was, then you should be in the data base as a work order had to be issued.
But if you didn't let them keep the car to work on it, no work order, you won't have a record of your complaint. Calling them on the phone doesn't do a thing. Complaining about it at the service counter, then not letting them look at the car won't either. You cannot then say they knew about it. You have to have a paper trail. The lawyers will tell you the same thing. They'll have to prove GM knew about the problem [which will be easy].
It is easily proven that GM knew these POS ignition switches were defective as the complaints started coming in on the IONs in 2003 right after introduction and continued throughout the run. Then the Cobalt was introduced with the same garbage part and the Colorado and Canyon used this crap as well.
If that is the "cut the white wire" video, remember that the emissions light will stay on and in some states that is an automatic "fail" on your smog test.
Hope you have better luck. Did you send your VIN # to the GM Customer Service contact who posts on this thread ?
I had thought that maybe I would give GM a second chance down the road, but hearing how they continue to deny deny deny and are trying to tell you it's the frigging starter is enough to say: sorry GM you had your chance. Fung Gu.
I see a FORD in my future.
It is one of three things: the ignition switch itself, the key cylinder or the "BTSI" sensor, a connection in the floor shifter that tells the ignition switch to release the key when you shut the car off.
They're getting defensive because they know the ignition switch and Passlock system is 10th rate garbage. A strong letter from those lawyers might turn things around. And it's not just this site that's talking about it. Go over to Saturn Fans and see the complaints about this cut rate part. Or Cobalt sites and GM Inside News. Not just a bunch of malcontents trying to "get over".
Just one more small reason why GM hit the wall. You can't keep screwing people this way for 40 years and expect them to remain customers.
Please keep everyone posted
GM has known this all along.
I feel sorry for all owners that have been told to change the battery etc. when that has never been the source of the starting problem! Equally sorry for all those that has turned in the car to a GM dealership - where the service staff and mechanics are clueless about the problem. Why is GM still selling those faulty start switches and make a point of, "if it fails remember it is an electric component and comes with NO warranty! GM dealer price is almost $50 when you can order the very same part, in the same original component box for less than $20! NO matter what - the switch may be faulty but it is no guarantee if you replace it you will be problem free!
This is a LIABILITY issue, imagine a emergency situation and the vehicle cannot start .... How come GM (And forget supervisors etc - they have no say) and their upper management cannot see how current and former GM vehicle owners are going elsewhere. After a total of 17 Saturn's over a ten year period in our fleet of 12, not a single GM vehicle have replaced those as we are selecting NON-GM makes! Now down to 5 ION's and by spring they too have been replaced!
And be grateful you have the manual !!!
How about making your own You Tube Video ? Tell your story online if you can't get face time on the local news.....
What did the lawyers say ?
This is old school GM. I can see nothing has changed. Business as usual. I can only wish them ill. Shameless whores. Use any excuse not to make good on their trash parts and cost cutting corner hacking products. But one good quarter after BK and the heads of this rotten company are back to giving themselves nice fat bonuses.
Pamela do not give up.
I am glad you posted this. I have been having this problem for a year and a half now. I bought my car in 2005 brand new from a Saturn dealer. I also had to have the steering fixed which GM finally recalled. So if your steering goes out all of a sudden get it to a GM dealer right away because once it goes passed 100K or 10 years they won't cover it. From my research it looks like its going to take $600 to fix the electrical issue after a diagnostic fee. Also, I had to replace the ignition control module 3 times. The first time happened a year after I bought it so it was covered under a warranty but the other two I had to pay for it myself. I'm crossing my fingers it doesn't go out again. I have read a lot of posts and it appears a lot of people are having these problems with the Saturn. Please let me know if GM helped with your problem.
Thanks,
fstcrz
I as well have a 2004 Saturn Ion UNDER 100,000 miles with the start-up and steering issues. To who should I email my info in order to get this case going with a GM dealer? THANKS!
I apologize for your frustrations. I have looked through your case and your agents notes. At this time I will have to agree with the resolution your agent provided you with. If you would like to discuss this further please feel free to email me.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Send your email right to me. Dweezil had it right. Just click my user name.
Christina
GM Customer Service
My 2004 Saturn ION was doing the no start thing, in cold weather on and off for the last two years. Then on Saturday, it did it. It was a gorgeous sunny day 70 and sunny. I did the 10 min wait that I typically did, and it didn't start. Left it alone and tried it again later in the afternoon and it started. Monday morning went to start it to go to work, no go. I got a ride to work and tried it after work and it still isn't starting as of this morning. I may have to get it towed after work if it won't start. I'm going to tell my mechanic about the ignition switch hopefully that works. It's a shame other than this issue, I love my car and haven't had any other major problems.
VIN# 1G8AM12F042122417
Yes it is.
Christina
GM Customer Service
I am so over this. and yes, soo many people have this problem, yet they refuse to do a recall. they admitted to me it is a defective part, but b/c I am over warranty all of a sudden defective seems to mean t is defective only if it is under warranty. i thought defective meant the part was no good... if this is the case they should change it out no matter when it goes. yet, they won't and they want the $600 plus to fix it and according to this blog I would be throwing $600 out. hope you have better luck than i did