Saturn ION Engine Problems
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Saturn ION across 5 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (41). The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (14% of reports).
- 141engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 20 of 141 complaints (14%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 11 of 141 complaints (8%)
- Stalled without: mentioned in 11 of 141 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 141 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.
Saturn ION engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Saturn ION. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I took my 2003 Saturn ion to my local Chevrolet dealership in Lincoln Illinois and they refused to complete the recall issues (2) both are to do with the ignition and keys.thwy told me it was not fixable it needed a whole steering column that would cost me they said around $800.so it has now been 2…
Airbags
2003 saturn ion, consumer writes in regards to broken timing chain. The consumer stated while driving the timing chain broke, nearly causing a crash in the middle of an intersection.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEERING ASSIST AND GAUGES WERE IN OPERABLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED…
I need to know why your system shows no recalls for my vehicle using the vin number, but has (7) recalls if i use year/make/model, the system should allow me to run the vin, see all recalls, and even report with proof if the recall is complete, like a check list. Your system is useless if the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Saturn IONs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints about engine for the Saturn ION. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Saturn ION engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Saturn ION?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 20 of 141 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (11).
Other Saturn ION problems
- Steering problems (1,701)
- Electrical System problems (1,549)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (317)
- Air Bags problems (262)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (240)
- Power Train problems (198)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (145)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (116)
See all Saturn ION problems.