2006 Saturn Ion problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (504) · Electrical System (206) · Fuel/Propulsion System (106)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saturn Ion model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,072 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Electrical System:ignition:switch 2014-04-30 · campaign 14E021000 · 14,529 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: 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.
Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners requiring additional information on that recall campaign should contact GM at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac) or 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn).
Electrical System:ignition 2014-04-10 · campaign 14V171000 · 2,191,014 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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
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
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2014-03-31 · campaign 14V153000 · 1,373,177 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
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 M
Air Bags 2014-02-10 · campaign 14V047000 · 2,190,934 vehicles
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 748,0
Risk: 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.
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
Service bulletins (739)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Unknown Or Other 2024-12-07 · PIT5074Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads. the j-35616-64b is the latest test probe released for checking tension or probing the .64 series terminals. the test probe
Showing the 6 most recent of 739 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-20 · Steering · 85,200 mi“the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated that the instrument panel and radio were intermittently inoperable. the contact stated that the ignition switch failed to turn to the off position as needed intermittently. additionally, the contact stated that while driving and turning the steering wheel to the right to make a right turn, the …”
2023-08-03 · Electrical System:ignition · 100,764 mi“ the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. additionally, the key was stuck in the ignition switch. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the ignition lock cylinder needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred.…”
2023-01-20 · Steering · 90,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated while exiting a driveway and making a turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact checked the power steering fluid reservoir and there was power steering fluid in the reservoir. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacture…”
2022-04-15 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 84,000 mi“the contact's mother owns a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated that after driving the vehicle to his residence and parking the vehicle in the garage, he observed that a puddle of gasoline had accumulated overnight underneath the vehicle from the fuel tank by the driver's side rear wheel. the contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or i…”
2021-12-01 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel and evap line rusted out inside heat wrap for exhaust pipe near rear drivers tire. pumped out fuel onto street.…”
2021-11-02 · Power Train · 195,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated that upon switching gears to reverse, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. the contact stated that she was unable to shift gears and continued to drive the vehicle in third gear. there were no warning lights illuminated. the independent mechanic diagnosed that the clutch was fractured a…”
2021-10-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 🔥 fire“the year, make, and model of my car has a factory recall for the fuel pump failing. i went to the dealership and they informed me my vin # wasn't included and their was nothing they could do about it. my vehicle started leaking fuel last week so i dropped the tank and removed the fuel pump. i have done my homework on this including watching several…”
2021-07-26 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the car is leaking gas from the gas tank. i see recalls from this year, make and model from this vehicle yet when i put my vin in it says 0 recalls.…”
2021-07-16 · Electrical System · 90,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owned a 2006 saturn ion. the contact stated while driving at 50 mph and there was a stopped vehicle in the middle of the road, in order to avoid crashing the contact veered to the right lane but crashed into the rear of a truck. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was not filed. the contact sustained neck, shoulder, arm, and …”
2021-07-14 · Steering“we purchased this vehicle recently. 1 week later we discovered loss of power steering assist while attempting to parallel park. we spoke with the seller (repair shop) and they discovered the recall notice 14v153000: loss of power steering assist. when i attempted to schedule a recall service at a gm dealership it was shown that this vehicle alre…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.