Problems - Saturn Ion 1

I've got just under 5000 miles on my Ion and it's been having issues since
about 3000 miles. Three or four times the fuel gauge has gone to zero and
the passlock symbol lighted up on the dash. The car still drove fine and
the problem fixed itself after a while. The most recent problem occured
yesterday when I started up the car - the steering wheel was all locked up.
It still turned a little bit, but was very, very tight. I restarted and
the problem when away.

We bought the Ion because we wanted to save a little money but still have
reliable transportation and had heard good things from a few people who
owned Saturns ( the S- Series). However, we are now planning to trade in
the Ion as soon as possible because let's be honest, a car with electrical
problems after just 3000 miles isn't worth hanging onto.

As far as I can gather, the Passlock system is supposed to disengage the
the fuel and lock up the steering wheel when it determines that you aren't
using the right key. Something with the Passlock system on my car is all
screwy and I suspect it's not easy to fix. The dealer was quite
circumspect about and that gave me a bad feeling.

I asked myself, would it have helped if we spend a little more money and
got an ION 3? Probably not, since it's all the same engine underneath the
hood.

We are lucky that we are able to absorb the financial loss on the Ion and
get a different car. I am sure that most Saturns are reliable vehicles, but
unfortunately, mine just isn't one of them. There is no doubt in my mind
that the problems will only escalate. I have no desire to be zooming down
the freeway at 60 have the steering wheel lock up, or the fuel system
disengage. We are just going to bite the bullet on the trade in and get a
different car.

Good luck to everyone else out there with Saturn problems!

 

Do you have another late model car with a similar antitheft ignition system?
According to my Toyota manual, if the wrong key gets too close to the
ignition switch and it has a similar system, it can trick my Toyota into
refusing to start.

 

the sterring lock thing happened to me once did pwr str show up on your
gauge cause thats what happened to me i restarted and havent had the problem
since. The ion uses electronically assisted power steering and the computer
"burped" and missed the startup sequnce thus thinkin the car was off.

 

"Do you have another late model car with a similar antitheft ignition
system?
According to my Toyota manual, if the wrong key gets too close to the
ignition switch and it has a similar system, it can trick my Toyota into
refusing to start."


Oh... I keep a key for a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer on the same keychain.
Only thing is, both of the keys are just keys. No chip in them or anything.

 

"the sterring lock thing happened to me once did pwr str show up on your
gauge cause thats what happened to me i restarted and havent had the problem
since. The ion uses electronically assisted power steering and the computer
"burped" and missed the startup sequnce thus thinkin the car was off."

That's a good explanation. Did your dealer tell you about this? I hope
that the power steering won't go out while I'm driving!