AI DamageSaturn ION: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saturn ION across 6 model years: 4,344 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 39% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 36% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints
- 8 Engine 3% of all complaints
- Steering: 1,701 complaints (39% of all), 64 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 1,549 complaints (36% of all), 51 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 317 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 262 complaints (6% of all), 122 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 250 complaints (6% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2004–2007
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2003–2007named in 7 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2006–2007named in 2 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 2005–2007
- automatic, 5-speed 2003–2004
- CVT 2003–2004named in 2 complaints
- manual, 5-speed 2003–2007named in 26 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4,344 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,701 | 64 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1,549 | 51 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 317 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 262 | 122 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 250 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 198 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 145 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 141 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 116 | 17 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 97 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 84 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 75 | 10 | 0 |
| Suspension | 65 | 5 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 63 | 19 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained neck, shoulder, arm, and chest injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted.
The rpms jump around and the a/c makes noise and lights flicker at times. The car will just stall in the middle of an intersection or when I'm turning onto another road. It's quite scary with children in the car.
The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, when the vehicle began to stall and another vehicle rear ended her. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a concussion and back injuries.
The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed at the scene. The contact and his son were treated for injuries at the scene and were transported to a local hospital. The contact was treated for chest, neck and back injuries. The contact 's son sustained injuries to his neck and his back.
Car cuts off a/c wont work unless on max and makes noise when turning. Cpu issue like rpm fluctuates I think its the fuel pump and gas pedal assembly cpu problem and its jerks alot dealer said aint nothing the can do bout it but they suppose to fix it with in 30 days of purchase time.
In january 2016 while driving on highway to work I had bear to the right at an intersection from 1-90 to 1-76, wheels/steering locked or something and I ended up spinning off roadway. Hit division embankment crashing front end and my air bags never deployed.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.