Saturn ION Problems by Year
NHTSA has 4,343 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls on file for the Saturn ION, across 6 model years (2003–2008). The 2006 model year has the most complaints (1,235). The most reported problem area overall is steering.
Saturn ION years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No ION model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2006 ION: 1,235 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2004 ION: 898 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2007 ION: 876 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2008 ION: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 ION: 573 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2003 ION: 757 complaints, 5 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Saturn ION problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 1,701 | 5 | 64 |
| Electrical System problems | 1,548 | 6 | 51 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 317 | 5 | 2 |
| Air Bags problems | 262 | 6 | 122 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 240 | 5 | 2 |
| Power Train problems | 198 | 5 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 145 | 5 | 2 |
| Engine problems | 141 | 5 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 116 | 5 | 17 |
| Exterior Lighting | 97 | 5 | 4 |
| Structure | 75 | 5 | 10 |
| Visibility | 66 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension | 65 | 5 | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 38 | 5 | 1 |
| Equipment | 36 | 5 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 33 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 5 | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 31 | 5 | 13 |
| Seat Belts | 30 | 5 | 8 |
| Tires | 26 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| Wheels | 17 | 5 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Saturn ION problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2007: steering (408) · electrical system (215) · fuel/propulsion system (130) · fuel system, gasoline (79) · air bags (65)
- 2006: steering (544) · electrical system (392) · fuel system, gasoline (127) · fuel/propulsion system (111) · air bags (61)
- 2005: steering (265) · electrical system (227)
- 2004: steering (345) · electrical system (331) · power train (60) · air bags (52)
- 2003: electrical system (382) · steering (139) · engine and engine cooling (58) · power train (55)
All Saturn ION model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 ION | 4 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2007 ION | 876 | 5 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2006 ION | 1,235 | 4 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 ION | 573 | 3 | — | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 ION | 898 | 8 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 ION | 757 | 5 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Saturn: all Saturn models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Saturn ION years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2006 (1,235), 2004 (898), 2007 (876). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Saturn ION?
Steering, with 1,701 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Saturn ION have?
10 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.