The dominant failure across 160 complaints is an ignition key that gets stuck and won't turn to OFF or remove from the cylinder, leaving the car running with the driver trapped. Owners routinely disconnect the battery or pull fuses under the hood to shut down the car. The condition shows up sporadically—sometimes intermittent over months, sometimes suddenly locked solid—across vehicles with mileage from under 5,000 to over 165,000 miles.
GM issued Recall 14V-047 in March 2014 for the ignition switch, but owners report parts backlogs lasting 2–3 months. More troubling: many describe the same key-stuck failure recurring within weeks or months after the recall repair. A secondary pattern emerges where the automatic shift lock solenoid fails to register PARK, preventing key removal; dealers quote $400+ for the solenoid but claim it's the owner's bill, not covered under recall.
Owners also report airbag warning lights coming on after recall work, and two documented crashes where airbags failed to deploy. Electrical faults appear after ignition repair—radio and windows glitching, power steering suddenly failing mid-drive, seat belt warning lights flashing. One owner detected excessive trunk moisture and exhaust fumes near the gas tank via a defective one-way vent valve. Throughout, dealership service has been inconsistent: some acknowledge the problem as widespread, others deny it exists or blame the owner.
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition key stuck in ignition / key won't turn or remove
The ignition key becomes stuck and will not turn to the OFF position or release from the cylinder. The engine continues to run, trapping the driver in the vehicle with doors locked. Owners must disconnect battery or pull fuses to shut down the car. The condition is intermittent or chronic and often recurs even after dealer or independent repair.
When: Occurs across various mileages from under 5,000 miles to over 165,000 miles. Can happen at any time—when parking, after driving, or on first start.
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn from ON/ACC to OFF position; Key cannot be removed from ignition cylinder; Car remains running with key stuck; Doors lock and will not unlock; Key is stuck in ACC position only; Condition is intermittent, happening sporadically over weeks or months
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer/independent shops replace ignition cylinder and/or ignition switch. Costs range from $230 to $900+ depending on labor and parts. Some owners report battery discharge ($205 new battery) while waiting months for recall parts. Issue often recurs after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Ignition Switch Recall 14V-047 (2014). Owners report long delays (2–3+ months) waiting for recall parts. After recall work, many report the same or related failures (key sticking, door lock issues) persist. Dealerships initially denied this was a known issue or recall despite widespread online complaints dating back years.
Gear shift / shift lock solenoid not engaging properly
After ignition switch recall repairs, the automatic gear shift fails to register the PARK position, preventing the key from being released. Owner must repeatedly start and shift the vehicle multiple times to force the solenoid to engage before the key will turn OFF and come out.
When: Begins after or during ignition switch recall repair. Mileage varies.
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift will not engage or disengage properly; Shift lock solenoid does not register PARK position; Key cannot be removed until vehicle is restarted multiple times; Key gets stuck in ignition until shifting sequence is repeated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $400+ to replace shift lock solenoid. Owners report dealer claiming this is 'remotely connected' to recall but billing customer instead of honoring recall coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall work acknowledged. Dealerships claim solenoid replacement is customer responsibility even though it appears to be a consequence of ignition recall repair. GM initially denied parts were covered, then began ordering parts 'by VIN' under revised recall protocol, causing further delays.
Airbag warning light illumination / airbags fail to deploy
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently on the dashboard after ignition switch recall work. In two crash scenarios, airbags failed to deploy despite front-end impact and rear-end collisions at 50+ mph.
When: Begins within 2 months after ignition recall repair; mileage 27,600 and 43,000; crash events October 2016 and December 2017.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light stays on or flashes intermittently; Light turns on and off randomly during startup or while driving; Airbags do not deploy in collisions (50–65 mph impacts); Light frequency increases after second recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Dealers inform owners the recall work was unrelated to airbag failure. Owner sustained chest and head injury in crash where airbags failed to deploy.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V-047 listed as related to electrical system and airbags. Dealership states recall remedies had nothing to do with reported failures.
Engine stalling / loss of power while driving
Vehicle suddenly loses power and decelerates from highway speeds to 0 mph, or stalls intermittently. Engine light illuminates. Vehicle jerks and hesitates. Condition occurs repeatedly despite dealer diagnostics and sensor replacement.
When: Occurs across various mileage points: 11,000–13,000 miles (early), and ongoing. One incident at unknown mileage in 2017.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden deceleration from 55 mph to 30 mph, then to 0; Engine stalls without warning; Check Engine light illuminates; Vehicle jerks and hesitates until reaching 30 mph; Multiple stalls in short distance (25 miles)
Codes mentioned: Ignition Switch fault code (reported by owner after check engine light)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced accelerator pedal sensor but issue persisted. Dealer twice stated 'nothing is wrong.' One owner reported $2,000 estimate for cylinder 1 misfire after ignition recall work. Another technician blamed ignition switch design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls for this specific failure. After ignition switch recall, one owner's check engine light indicated ignition switch fault; dealer quoted $80 for part, $150 programming, $150+ labor.
Power steering failure
Power steering suddenly fails while driving, leaving the steering wheel locked or immobile. Vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to control.
When: Occurred on highway after ignition recall repair; another incident while reversing in parking lot.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering abruptly fails mid-drive; Steering wheel locks or becomes immobile; Unable to turn the wheel; Problem resolves briefly after restarting vehicle (in one case); Failure described as 'very scary' on highway
Repairs/costs cited: One owner obtained rental car for 1 month during repair. Another incident in 2017 while reversing; steering seized and vehicle stalled; ignition key independently released from switch; GM dealer replaced locking system and ignition key but failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under separate recall (separate from ignition recall). Dealer replaced part and provided rental. Failure recurred post-repair.
Electrical system intermittent failures (radio, windows, door locks)
Radio turns on/off by itself with display flashing; windows stop working then resume; door locks fail to engage when shifting into drive. Issues appear related to body module or electrical harness.
When: Ongoing for several months; one incident after ignition/steering column recall work.
Symptoms owners cite: Radio powers on and off unpredictably; Radio display flashes patterns, difficult to determine on/off state; Power windows intermittently fail; resume after car restart; Door locks do not engage when vehicle shifted into DRIVE; Power steering loss correlates with electrical symptoms
Repairs/costs cited: Owner's sister had similar issue on Saturn Vue; her body module was replaced and eventually car would not start. No parts or repairs documented for this Ion.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific response mentioned. Dealer replaced steering column and ignition as part of recall; electrical gremlins persisted.
Trunk moisture / one-way flapper valve leak
Excessive moisture accumulates in trunk, detected via desiccant saturation within 2 weeks (vs. 2 months in a house) and carbon monoxide monitor showing peak level 10 after 24 hours. Mud-like residue found inside trunk on passenger side, traced to defective one-way flapper vent/valve (approximately 4×6 inches). Valve is located near gas tank filler cap, 12V battery, and fuel system.
When: Detected early 2013; moisture noted May 2013; fume detection and source identification June 2013.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible moisture and clumping in trunk; Muddy residue on interior trunk wall passenger side; Rapid saturation of commercial desiccant (DAMP RID); Carbon monoxide monitor chirping after 24 hours (peak level 10); One-way flapper valve malfunctioning
Repairs/costs cited: Owner cleaned trunk and documented defect. No dealer repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented. Proximity to fuel tank, battery, and exhaust raises corrosion and explosion risk.
Vehicle fails to start / key will not turn in ignition
Vehicle randomly refuses to start; the ignition key will not turn in the lock. Condition is unpredictable and occurs in both warm and cold weather. Waiting 20 minutes sometimes allows restart, but often does not. Dealer has replaced ignition switch and fuse; problem persists.
When: Can happen on first start of the day or after shutdown. Multiple stranding incidents reported in freezing and extreme heat.
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not turn in ignition cylinder; Vehicle will not start; Condition is completely unpredictable; Intermittent; sometimes resolves after waiting 20+ minutes; Owner and child stranded in freezing temps and extreme heat on multiple occasions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced ignition switch and fuse; issue continues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or coverage documented for this start-only failure (distinct from key-stuck-in-ON issue).
Seat belt warning light intermittent / seat belt detachment
Seat belt warning light illuminates intermittently on dash (on/off randomly) after ignition recall. In one crash, front driver's side seat belt unexpectedly detached, causing driver to strike dashboard and sustain chest and head injury.
When: Light issues begin within months after ignition recall work (post-May 2014). Crash/detachment event June 2014 at 27,600 miles during low-speed reverse collision.
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt warning light stays on or flickers; Light illuminates randomly at startup or while driving; Front driver's side seat belt detached during crash; Driver struck dashboard, sustaining chest and head injury
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V-047 listed as covering airbags and electrical system. GM denies seat belt warning light is related to ignition recall work. Owner disputes; no detachment issues prior to recall.
Check Engine light / multiple sensor faults post-recall
Check Engine light illuminates, sometimes flashing warning lights and dashboard messages (COOLANT, TRUNK, TRACK, etc.) in mileage display. Vehicle may not start normally; takes 10+ minutes before mileage display appears and car will start. Sometimes requires 20+ seconds in OFF position before start is possible. Codes indicate ignition switch fault.
When: Occurred after ignition recall work; mileage varies.
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light on; Dashboard warning messages flash (COOLANT, TRUNK, TRACK, etc.); Car will not turn over or try to start initially; Flashers flash, then mileage display pauses 10+ minutes; Car requires reset (OFF position 20+ seconds) before restart
Codes mentioned: Ignition Switch fault code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $80 for ignition switch part, $150 programming, $150+ labor (total $380+). Owner unable to pay; cited safety concern that vehicle might not start in emergency.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No coverage; customer billed for diagnosis and repair.
Synthesized from 160 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.