2006 Saturn ION shifts on own

2006 SATURN
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DIANACORKILL
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Hello we purchased for our daughter a 2006 Saturn ION with 49500 miles. It has an automative transmission. The problem is that the vehicle just will not start sometimes. All the guages work, the door dinger and lights but when you turn the key there is nothing. Then pretty soon it will start. But the biggest problem is that the car shifts to 1st gear on it own. This has happend a couple of times and the gear shift actually goes to the 1st gear postion. I am VERY concerned that this might happen when cruising down the road. It has been back to the dealer several times. Have you heard of this happening to any other vehicles. Thank you
Nov 26, 2007 at 3:24 PM
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PHOENYIX
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  • 13 POSTS
[quote:c08d80b2ba="dianacorkill"]Hello we purchased for our daughter a 2006 Saturn ION with 49500 miles. It has an automative transmission. The problem is that the vehicle just will not start sometimes. All the guages work, the door dinger and lights but when you turn the key there is nothing. Then pretty soon it will start. But the biggest problem is that the car shifts to 1st gear on it own. This has happend a couple of times and the gear shift actually goes to the 1st gear postion. I am VERY concerned that this might happen when cruising down the road. It has been back to the dealer several times. Have you heard of this happening to any other vehicles. Thank you[/quote:c08d80b2ba]

It sounds to me like a bad or out of adjustment shift cable and/or neutral safety switch. It is located on the transmission. What is happening is when You put the car in PARK it's not completely in park, the safty switch knows that and won't let the car start. BUT the shifting issue is because when it does start it's not in PARK all the way and jumps into gear. Yes this is an issue that needs to be fixed for safety reasons.
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:04 AM