Saturn ION Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 198 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Saturn ION across 5 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (60). The words owners use most often: “stuck ignition” (6% of reports).
- 198power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $5,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%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.
- Stuck ignition: mentioned in 11 of 198 complaints (6%)
- Clutch pedal: mentioned in 10 of 198 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Saturn ION at $5,700, and half of them between $2,900 and $7,600.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2017), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 166 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 198 complaints, 4 mention a crash.
Saturn ION power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train 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.
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that upon switching gears to reverse, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. The contact stated that she was unable to shift gears and continued to drive the vehicle in third gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The independent…
2006 saturn ion. Consumer writes in regards to defective shifter switch safety recall. The consumer stated the vehicle became difficult to to turn off. The consumer had to jiggle the key to get the vehicle to power off. This occurred on multiple occasions. Repair attempts have been made but, the…
My key switch doesn't allow me to remove my key when i'm in parked and my transmission strands at times and my car doesn't start all the time when i try to start it i have to sit and wait awhile before it starts again i could be sitting in the drive thru on parked waiting to travel again on th he…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 saturn ion. While stationary, the vehicle would not start when prompted. The contact engaged the clutch to start the vehicle and all of the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure…
1. The ignition switch will not disengage...sometimes after motor is turned off and car is in park the car must be turned back on four or five times before the ignition will engage correctly. The vehicle is stationary...in the park position....key will lock inself and not disengage. The car was on…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Saturn IONs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 198 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Saturn ION?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,700 (half paid between $2,900 and $7,600), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Saturn ION?
The most frequent phrase is “stuck ignition”, in 11 of 198 complaints, followed by “clutch pedal” (10).
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)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (145)
- Engine problems (141)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (116)
See all Saturn ION problems.