Saturn Ion 2003–2007
Single generation · GM Delta (GMX357)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20265,467 complaints, 4,344 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 4,344
- Median of reported failures
- 68,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Steering (31.5%)
- Recalls
- 4
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,984 miles.
Figure 1 · Saturn Ion 2003–2007 · 4,344 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 262 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 70 complaints (1.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 20,000
- 25%
- 43,000
- Median
- 67,902
- 75%
- 100,984
- 90%
- 137,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 174 | 4.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 91 | 2.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 64 | 1.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 87 | 2.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 85 | 2.0% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 91 | 2.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 142 | 3.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 164 | 3.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 233 | 5.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 200 | 4.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 237 | 5.5% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 229 | 5.3% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 262 | 6.0% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 199 | 4.6% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 192 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 178 | 4.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 163 | 3.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 153 | 3.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 160 | 3.7% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 91 | 2.1% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 142 | 3.3% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 95 | 2.2% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 115 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 86 | 2.0% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 94 | 2.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 75 | 1.7% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 69 | 1.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 71 | 1.6% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 58 | 1.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 35 | 0.8% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 58 | 1.3% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 20 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 25 | 0.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 30 | 0.7% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 31 | 0.7% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 21 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 17 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 16 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 15 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 6 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 70 | 1.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 5,467 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003–2007 Saturn Ion, and 4,344 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,984 miles. The median is 67,902 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (31.5% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), the electrical system (29.2% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (5.8% of complaints, typically around 101,000 miles).
4 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2003–2007 Saturn Ion last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2003–2007 Saturn Ion were filed by 68,000 miles and 90% by 137,000 miles — figures drawn from 4,344 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
70 reports (1.6%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Ion reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2003–2007 Ion: the 3-minute check
Generated from 4,344 mileage-tagged complaints, 4 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check vti CVT transmission on 2003–2004 cars. GM's VTi continuously variable transmission suffered very high failure rates — slipping and shudder progressing to total loss of drive. GM halted VTi production in January 2004 and dropped it for MY2005; a class action…
- Check ignition switch on 2003–2007 cars. Same low-detent-torque ignition switch as the Cobalt/HHR: key-ring weight or a jolt can rotate the switch out of 'Run', killing the engine and disabling power steering assist, power brake assist and the airbags. All…
- Check electric power steering on 2004–2007 cars. Column-mounted electric power steering assist motor/control circuit fails, causing sudden loss of steering assist (steering remains mechanical but effort rises sharply). GM recalled all MY2004-2007 Ions under its 2014…
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 101,000 miles, with a median of 68,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Saturn Ion 2003–2007
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine and its cooling system147 reports45,00022,000–75,000Engine and its cooling system: 147 reports, median 45,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 75,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline202 reports57,00023,000–92,000Transmission and driveline: 202 reports, median 57,000 miles, middle half 23,000 to 92,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,597 reports60,00040,000–91,000Electrical system: 1,597 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 91,000 miles.
- Airbag system262 reports67,00035,000–103,000Airbag system: 262 reports, median 67,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 103,000 miles.
- Fuel system254 reports69,00049,000–92,000Fuel system: 254 reports, median 69,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 92,000 miles.
- Steering1,724 reports70,00049,000–102,000Steering: 1,724 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 102,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system317 reports101,00070,000–132,000Fuel and propulsion system: 317 reports, median 101,000 miles, middle half 70,000 to 132,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,724 | 31.5% | 70,000 | 49,000–102,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,597 | 29.2% | 60,000 | 40,000–91,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 317 | 5.8% | 101,000 | 70,000–132,000 |
| Airbag system | 262 | 4.8% | 67,000 | 35,000–103,000 |
| Fuel system | 254 | 4.6% | 69,000 | 49,000–92,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 202 | 3.7% | 57,000 | 23,000–92,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 147 | 2.7% | 45,000 | 22,000–75,000 |
| Engine | 141 | 2.6% | 102,000 | 75,000–133,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 116 | 2.1% | 80,000 | 25,000–115,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 104 | 1.9% | 50,000 | 15,000–100,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Saturn Ion 2003–2007 · 4,344 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 41% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 68% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 1.6% of reports (70) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
41% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 49,000–102,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 40,000–91,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 35,000–103,000 mi
- Fuel system — middle half 49,000–92,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 23,000–92,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 22,000–75,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 70,000–132,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
68% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Engine and its cooling system — median 45,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 49,000–102,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 40,000–91,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 70,000–132,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 35,000–103,000 mi
- Fuel system — middle half 49,000–92,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 23,000–92,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
84% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 70,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 60,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 67,000 mi
- Fuel system — median 69,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 57,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — median 45,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 70,000–132,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 67,902 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 31.5% of complaints (1,724 reports, 1,553 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,000 and 102,000 miles.
A single system taking 31.5% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 29.2% of complaints (1,597 reports, 1,169 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 91,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 5.8% of complaints (317 reports, 263 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 101,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,000 and 132,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 4.8% of complaints (262 reports, 147 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 103,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 4.6% of complaints (254 reports, 213 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,000 and 92,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.7% of complaints (202 reports, 169 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 92,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 1,537 complaints — while 2005 drew the fewest at 755. The median year sits at 1,090.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 4 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 5,467 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 333 (6.1%)
- Fires
- 22
- Injury reports
- 174
- Fatality reports
- 4
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Vti CVT Transmission 2003–2004
GM's VTi continuously variable transmission suffered very high failure rates — slipping and shudder progressing to total loss of drive. GM halted VTi production in January 2004 and dropped it for MY2005; a class action produced a settlement and extended warranty coverage.
Ignition Switch 2003–2007
Same low-detent-torque ignition switch as the Cobalt/HHR: key-ring weight or a jolt can rotate the switch out of 'Run', killing the engine and disabling power steering assist, power brake assist and the airbags. All 2003-2007 Ions were included in GM's February 2014 recall expansion.
Electric Power Steering 2004–2007
Column-mounted electric power steering assist motor/control circuit fails, causing sudden loss of steering assist (steering remains mechanical but effort rises sharply). GM recalled all MY2004-2007 Ions under its 2014 power-steering campaign after an extended delay.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 961 | 679 |
| 2004 | 1,124 | 876 |
| 2005 | 755 | 587 |
| 2006 | 1,537 | 1,306 |
| 2007 | 1,090 | 896 |
Recalls (4) — is your car included?
Jul 2014 · 2004–2007 · SteeringIf power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built fr
Apr 2014 · 2003–2007 · Electrical SystemIf the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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 occupant or pedestrian injuries.
The free fix. General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact Gener
Apr 2014 · 2003–2007 · Air BagsIf the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash…
The defect. 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
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMÂ’s re
Jan 2013 · 2007 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn Ion vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Ne
What can happen. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
What owners reported
I purchased my 2003 Saturn Ion quad 3 on 6-12-2003. I've had nothing but problems with it since the beginning. The transmission slips constantly. A tech from spring hill says this is normal for this type of transmission. Trying to turn left in front of oncoming traffic is a nightmare. This car is in the shop as we…
2003 · 3 miles · Transmission and driveline
Saturn horn is hard to activate (almost impossible in winter climates) due to a poor horn button design. In a panic situation you have to look down and hunt for the "g" spot on the horn button in order to sound the horn within sufficient time to be useful in warning other motorists. I have experinced this many times…
2003 · 7 miles · Electrical system
Everytime the weather is a bit cold, my Saturn Ion 2003 will not start. I took it to a local auto mechanic shop and they told me that it was a typical and unfair problem for the Saturn Ion owners. The also told me they do the same job on these same cars approximately 15 cars/times per week. The explanation they gave…
2003 · 48 miles · Electrical system
When i bought my car it wouldn't start, the dealer said it was because it sat for a long time. This problemhas been constantly been an issue since in extreme weather. I was told during one shop inspection it was electrical and they have seen a lot of this but don't know what causes it. With this case it has shut my…
2003 · 60 miles · Electrical system
Built from 4,344 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page