10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,683 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #9

Jun 112008

Ion

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. While driving in the rain at approximately 50 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the median. The vehicle rolled over three times. The driver's frontal air bag failed to deploy. The contact received injuries to her leg and neck. The manufacturer took a report. They offered medical assistance, but would not investigate the air bag failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. Minnesota state police filed report number E08405161. The current and failure mileages were 80,000.

- Anoka, MN, USA

problem #8

Dec 032007

Ion 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,000 miles
On 12/03/2007 at 8:41 am I was involved in an automobile accident on I-240 East in memphis tn. I was trailing traffic in the passing lane, when traffic came to a complete stop. I didnt react in time and suffered a frontal collision to a 2004 Saturn Ion that I own. I was travelling approx 30-35 mph when I struck the back of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy and the seatbelt tensioner failed resulted in my going headfirst into the steering wheel. I have since had to have tests at the doctor for migraines and still experience the aftereffects of this accident.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #7

Dec 032007

Ion 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,000 miles
On 12/03/2007 at 8:41 am I was involved in an automobile accident on I-240 East in memphis tn. I was trailing traffic in the passing lane, when traffic came to a complete stop. I didnt react in time and suffered a frontal collision to a 2004 Saturn Ion that I own. I was travelling approx 30-35 mph when I struck the back of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy and the seatbelt tensioner failed resulted in my going headfirst into the steering wheel. I have since had to have tests at the doctor for migraines and still experience the aftereffects of this accident.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #6

Sep 162005

Ion 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 15,450 miles
Dear NHTSA associate, I had a 100% parallel, full frontal impact, no angle, as my new car traveling 35 mph hit a large delivery van twice the weight of my vehicle with a square and steel bumper that was stopped ( 1 mph according to police report ). the front airbags did not deploy and my neck and head were impacted on to the steering wheel even though I was using my seatbelt properly. The force was sufficient to strain the belt and injure my head. I had a cut on the top of my forehead in the middle, a concussion, and I am currently being treated for migraine type headaches by a doctor that have occurred daily since the accident. I placed the car into the care of a Saturn owned body shop for repair and asked that the airbag deployment system be tested for functionality. Instead, I was given a 1-800 number for Saturn corporate headquarters to call. They said the first step was to send me the airbag manufacturing information booklet and to call back after reading it. I did so and asked that the airbags be tested while in the care of the Saturn body shop, as the type of impact and miles per hour exceeded the minimum standards for air bag deployment contained in the manual they sent to me. Instead of granting clearance to the dealership to test the airbags, in light of my valid argument of their documentation contradictions, Saturn corporate instead issued me an internal "case number" 1-17876541 and told me someone in their legal department would contact me within 6 to 8 weeks. I mentioned I would have the car back before then and would be afraid and nervous driving it as I am sure the airbag system in the front is not fully functional. They actually said they could deny testing the system at all. Nothing has been done to address the safety issue, the body damage was fixed, at a cost of almost 7 thousand dollars to the front end, including cutting out a piece of the frame and welding a new section in.

- Avondale, AZ, USA

problem #5

Sep 132005

Ion 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles
Accident at approximately 40 mph - airbags did not deploy.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #4

Aug 022005

Ion 2-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
3 vehicle accident. I collided with another vehicle and my air bags deployed. However, my driver's side air bag deployed incorrectly. Rather then one large air bag, it came out in two pieces due to a failure in the steering wheel "opening" completely to release the entire air bag. This left the top portion of the steering wheel exposed.

- Hightstown, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jan 182005

Ion 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,800 miles
While driving 30 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, the dual air bags did not deploy. No injuries reported.

- Feeding Hills, MA, USA

problem #2

Aug 062004

Ion

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,900 miles
The air bag lights were on. Dealer told consumer that he would have to wait until he is called. Consumer stated that he is afraid to drive without air bags.

- Tinley Park, IL, USA

problem #1

May 102004

Ion

  • miles
While driving through an intersection the vehicle was hit by another vehicle on the front right side. The consumer stated that both frontal air bags did not deploy upon impact. The driver sustained minor injuries as a result. Please provide any additional information.

- Naples, FL, USA