2006 Saturn Ion Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Saturn Ion.

20052007
Complaints
1,537
Crashes
72
Fires
7
Injuries
46
Fatalities
1
Recalls
3

Worst 2006 Saturn Ion Problems

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

#1524 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:74,719 mi
Crash-related:17
Fires:1
#2310 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:70,350 mi
Crash-related:12
Fires:2
#3111 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:106,104 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
Considering a 2006 Saturn Ion?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Saturn Ion.

Steering Defects
524
complaints
Crashes
17
Fires
1
Avg Miles
74,719
Electrical Faults
310
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Avg Miles
70,350
Fuel System
111
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
106,104
Gasoline Fuel System
93
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
81,045
Airbags
57
complaints
Crashes
21
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,839
Electrical System:Ignition
56
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,976
Engine Problems
41
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
94,599
Fuel Pump
40
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,872
Transmission / Drivetrain
24
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,579
Engine & Cooling
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,455
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,806
Unintended Acceleration
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
77,946
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,736
Electronic Stability Control
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
84,273
Latches / Locks
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
57,671
Suspension Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
73,810
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
74,419
Automatic Transmission
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,887
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
45,769
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
105,308
Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
94,000
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
34,790
Structure:Body:Door
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,935
Fuel System, Other
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,376
Steering:Column
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,880
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,500
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,026
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Saturn Ion. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2006 Saturn Ion

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,755,125 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.

14V047000Airbags · Electrical 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

2006 Saturn Ion — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2006 Saturn Ion reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2006 Saturn Ion has 1,537 NHTSA complaints, 72 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 524 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Saturn Ion?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (524 complaints, avg 74,719 mi); Electrical Faults (310 complaints, avg 70,350 mi); Fuel System (111 complaints, avg 106,104 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Saturn Ion?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,008 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Saturn Ion?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Saturn Ion include 72 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 46 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2006 Saturn Ion have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,755,125 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2006 Saturn Ion?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

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

Check Your Specific 2006 Saturn Ion

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99