2005 Saturn Ion Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Saturn Ion.

20042006
Complaints
755
Crashes
49
Fires
5
Injuries
29
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2005 Saturn Ion Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1255 complaints

STEERING

Avg mileage:76,990 mi
Crash-related:9
#2173 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:68,776 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:2
#338 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Avg mileage:57,799 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Saturn Ion.

STEERING
255
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
Avg Miles
76,990
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
173
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
68,776
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
38
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,799
AIR BAGS
29
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
72,401
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,900
ENGINE
22
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
128,003
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
134,345
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
89,083
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,880
POWER TRAIN
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,203
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
71,147
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,583
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
44,391
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
33,969
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,226
STRUCTURE:BODY
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
58,775
SUSPENSION
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
21,667
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
36,918
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
19,067
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,002
SEAT BELTS
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
100,000
SERVICE BRAKES
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
81,316
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
495
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
15,000
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,455
SEATS
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
63,000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
46,260
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,984
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
EQUIPMENT
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
24,026

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Saturn Ion. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Saturn Ion

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~7,946,059 vehicles.

14V171000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
~2,191,014 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

14V153000STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
~1,373,177 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

14V047000AIR BAGS
~2,190,934 affected

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

14V047000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
~2,190,934 affected

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Other Saturn Ion Years

Wider context: See the full Saturn Ion reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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