10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
21 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,073 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Saturn Ion:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Oct 032013

Ion

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while traveling at various low speeds, the engine stalled with the illumination of the warning indicator. The vehicle engine and resumed normally. The failure recurred intermittently. There was a recall related to the failure under NHTSA campaign id number 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system); however, the part needed to perform the repair was currently unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

- Liscruces, NM, USA

problem #16

Dec 082011

Ion

  • 60,000 miles
This car has been cursed with electronic steering problems. The car has been serviced repeatedly. I have had very little response and zero satisfaction from GM. The key often does not release from the ignition. The car was involved in a violent front end collision that was caused by these issues. I bought the car (based on a false Saturn promise) and I had two daughters in the front of the car during the preventable collision. I couldn't figure out why the bags did not deploy. Now I get it! the car cuts off when making a right hand turn. I do not believe a single thing that GM says to me. I am going in for a rental car tomorrow. I. do not even believe that this will go according to plan. I take the car for service, they tell me that they, "cannot repeat the problem." GM sucks and so does NHTSA. Earn your money. I earned mine. I want to add, in addition to steering, brakes, ignition -- the electronic system in this car is a complete mess...........

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #15

Dec 082011

Ion 4-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
This car has been cursed with electronic steering problems. The car has been serviced repeatedly. I have had very little response and zero satisfaction from GM. The key often does not release from the ignition. The car was involved in a violent front end collision that was caused by these issues. I bought the car (based on a false Saturn promise) and I had two daughters in the front of the car during the preventable collision. I couldn't figure out why the bags did not deploy. Now I get it! the car cuts off when making a right hand turn. I do not believe a single thing that GM says to me. I am going in for a rental car tomorrow. I. do not even believe that this will go according to plan. I take the car for service, they tell me that they, "cannot repeat the problem." GM sucks and so does NHTSA. Earn your money. I earned mine. I want to add, in addition to steering, brakes, ignition -- the electronic system in this car is a complete mess.

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #14

Jul 312013

Ion

  • 110,000 miles
Occasionally the airbag warning light would stay on after ignition. Similar to NHTSA campaign number 14V118000.

- Vestavia Hills, AL, USA

problem #13

Jan 052012

Ion

  • miles
I was in the center lane of I-5 northbound, in portland, Oregon. The car in front of me stopped suddenly. I was in a long line of traffic. When I hit my brakes, my car jerked to the right. While trying to correct, I hit the wheels of a semi on my right. I bounced off, the car spun 90 degrees to the left, crossed the inside lane (fortunately I didn't get hit broadside), & went straight into the concrete freeway divider. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the hospital by ambulance, & have had neck & shoulder pain ever since. My car was totaled.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #12

Dec 022013

Ion

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was recurring. Additionally, the contact would have to move the key around in the ignition and apply extreme force to the brake pedal before being able to insert or remove the key from the ignition. The contact also stated that the power steering assist would sporadically fail. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer however, they were unable to diagnose the failure. The contact later received notification that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V047000 (air bags and electrical system) after the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Norman, OK, USA

problem #11

Nov 062013

Ion

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician diagnosed that the clock spring was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 136,658.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #10

Jan 012008

Ion 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
#1. key. In 2008 the key started getting stuck in the ignition when I attempted to turn the car off. The car kept running. It would take up to 10 tries before the engine stopped. Even then I could not always get the key to come out right away. I could not get the key to turn when trying to start the car. The key often would also get stuck in the ignition and I could not get it out and would have to leave it in. 2014 I could not get it to come out at all and at one point the car would not shut off. Mechanic replaced (at my expense) the ignition. #2. when I purchased the car an add on offered was a passive kill switch called id system. Repeatedly the air bag light would come on, and the on-star system also notified me. It would go back off. I took it to the dealer in 2006 and 2007 was told since the light was not on then that they could not/would not do anything. In 2013 the light was always on. I was also having other electrical problems (see #3). I went to an auto electrical shop. While diagnosing the initial problem the shop found that when the kill switch was put in the company had taken out the relay for the air bag and put the put the id system relay in it's place. The result was that neither worked. The shop pulled out the kill switch relay and replaced the air bag one. Which I paid the bill for. Now the air bag light is starting to come back on at times. I assume the air bag is not working. #3. in 2013 the alarm on the car started going off by its self.that day it went on and off 5 or 6 times till I realized it might be my car. The neighbor said there was no one around it at the time. I don't turn on the alarm. I ended up disconnecting the battery. I took it to the shop (see #2) but since it was not doing it then they could not find the problem. #4 I have never been notified by GM that others were having these problems.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 052013

Ion

  • 103,408 miles
My daughter had just gotten off the freeway, she called me hysterical. She couldn't steer the car. Someone helped her push it to the side. I called aaa to have the car towed and was told what happened was ver rare and dangerous. My maintenace personel who has worked for BMW for 17 years says he's only seen this once in his life. A couple of days later I had my car towed to fh dailey in san leandro, and the total cost was $965 a few days later my air bag light came on and my horn wouldn't blow nor would my cruise control work. Again I had to have the car towed I wasn't going to take the chance and drive it with the airbag light on. The cost for that repair was $172.57 I was told that it was going to be $240 but it was actually lower. I've googled this problem and there are a lot of complaints regarding this matter it should have been a re-call. I am asking for a full refund.

- San Leandro, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 102013

Ion 4-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
My son lost control of the car hitting a pole head on and then the car spun three times in a 360 and then a 180... air bags didn't deploy and he and the passenger are badly injured. The air bags could have saved them from several injuries...

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #7

Oct 122012

Ion

  • miles
While I driving my 2006 Saturn Ion the passenger air bag light is on. I think my 2006 Saturn Ion the warranty was expired. For safety driving on the freeway I need help for fix the air bags. Thank you;

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #6

Sep 232011

Ion

  • 120,234 miles
While driving my 2006 Saturn Ion indicator chimed and pwr str light displayed. I lost steering control and almost wrecked. I pulled off the road killed the car upon restarting engine everything was fine. Five minutes into my trip problem happened again. Also, sometimes when I drive the car the passenger airbag is on at other times it turns off on it own. Both are these are very dangerous especially for me being a single mother.

- Sulphur Springs, TX, USA

problem #5

Aug 112010

Ion

  • miles
Auto accident on 8/11/10. Accident totaled front end of car. Air bags did not deploy, on star did not work could not call for help, electric system failed and could not open doors, windows. Emt had to break rear window glass to get to me to help. Seat belt had made severe pain in chest. Was taken to hospital for help with the pain.am still suffering severe pain. Auto is a 2006 Saturn Ion. Insurance co is evaluating the damage to auto. As a senior elderly woman and cannot depend on auto to get help when needed, that is very scary. That is what I pay monthly fees to on star for. I want to feel safe in my auto.

- Sun City, AZ, USA

problem #4

Dec 052009

Ion

  • 57,000 miles
2006 Saturn Ion-3 automatic 2.4L 1. power steering: Power steering goes out nearly every time I drive the vehicle. Saturn dealership changed a sensor I the steering column, but problem persists. It is very dangerous to be driving in the city without power steering. 2. ignition: Car refuses to start when temperature is below 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit. I have been stranded in below freezing weather for almost an hour because of this common Saturn failure.

- Brookville, IN, USA

problem #3

Oct 182008

Ion

  • miles
2006 Saturn Ion air bags did not deploy in an accident. The consumer stated her son was driving the vehicle, when he came upon a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road. The consumers son was run off the road and the vehicle rolled over several times.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #2

Jun 272008

Ion

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that she could not manually turn off the vehicle because the ignition module locked on its own. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the ignition cylinder was corroded and needed to be replaced at the cost of $400. She is in the process of having the cylinder repaired. In addition, the passenger air bag warning indicator would illuminate on the instrument control panel, which meant that the air bag was inoperative. The dealer replaced the air bag sensors at the cost of $800. The manufacturer stated that they would partially reimburse her in the amount of $398.80. The failure mileage was 58,000 and current mileage was 67,000.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #1

Mar 032007

Ion

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I was driving down a 4 lane road and I went to stop at a red light and the street was covered in black ice. I spun out and crashed straight into a car sitting in the left turn lane. My car is totaled and my air bags did not go off. I suffered whiplash and some muscle soreness and bruising. The mechanic said there is no reason that the air bag should not have went off and that I was very lucky.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA