What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 Saturn ION

Typical pattern

2.4% of complaints about the 2006 Saturn ION came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (550 complaints), typically at 5.3 yr or about 65,000 miles.

Complaints
1,529
Median age at failure
5.9 yr
Median mileage
67,492 n=1301
Crash / fire / tow
5.5% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
550 reports · 65,000 mi
5.3 yr
3.6%
Electrical system
395 reports · 62,000 mi
5.8 yr
4.1%
Fuel system
137 reports · 69,000 mi
5.8 yr
0.7%
Fuel / propulsion
111 reports · 106,000 mi
8.9 yr
4.5%
Air bags
62 reports · 79,826 mi
8.4 yr
40.3%
Engine
41 reports · 88,687 mi
8.2 yr
4.9%
Power train
37 reports · 56,545 mi
5.0 yr
0%
Engine cooling
30 reports · 44,000 mi
4.4 yr
3.3%
Other
26 reports · 70,000 mi
5.9 yr
0%
Structure
24 reports · 72,500 mi
7.6 yr
4.2%
Speed control
17 reports · 68,000 mi
8.3 yr
17.6%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14E021000 2014-04-30
Electrical system:ignition:switch

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.

If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.

14V171000 2014-04-10
Electrical system:ignition

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.

If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occup

14V153000 2014-03-31
Steering:electric power assist system

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.

If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V047000 2014-02-10
Air bags

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 vehicle

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

09V419000 2009-10-29
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY MAY CRACK. IF EITHER OF THESE PORTS DEVELOPS A CRACK, FUEL WILL LEAK FROM THE AREA. IF THE CRACK BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH, FUEL MAY BE OBSERVED DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND AND VEHICLE

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 65 mi 2 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN OUR LESS THAN 72 HOUR OLD CAR AND THE UNDERNEATH CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE BUT SATURN SAYS WE MUST HAVE IT A MOVING BLANKET! WE HAD 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND BARELY GOT THEM OUT BEFORE THE FUEL LINE CAUGHT FIRE. WHO'S IDEA WAS IT TO MAKE FUEL LINES OUT OF NYLON ANYWAY? *JB
Electrical system mileage not reported 11 mo in service
DEFECTS WITH HIS 2006 SATURN ION. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MALFUNCTIONING PASSENGER SEAT BELT, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR. *JB
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.4 yr in service
THE FRONT LEFT INDICATOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND FRONT LEFT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT WORK SPORADICALLY. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A SATURN REPAIR TECHNICIAN THAT BOTH RUN ON THE SAME CIRCUIT. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON SPORADICALLY.*AK
Speed control 113 mi 7 mo in service crash / fire / tow
ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR 'REVVED' OR RACED JUST BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB AND ENDED UP FINALLY COMING TO A STOP INSIDE A PARTY STORE. THERE WERE AT LEAST 10 FEET OF SKID MARKS PRESENT AND A WITNESS FROM BEHIND THAT SAW THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND STORE, ALL REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT HAS NOT BEEN DUPLICATED AND HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED. *NM

Other ION model years

20072006200520042003

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