2004 Saturn Ion problems and complaints
Owners have filed 898 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Saturn Ion. The most-reported areas: Steering (345), Electrical System (331), Power Train (60).
Key takeaways
- 898 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 51 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 35 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 345 | 38% |
| Electrical System | 331 | 37% |
| Power Train | 60 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 52 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 36 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 33 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | 3% |
| Engine | 23 | 3% |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 | 2% |
| Suspension | 19 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Saturn Ion 2-DR. | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2004 Saturn Ion 4-DR. | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2025-11-02
The car doesn't always want to release the key. I have to stick my finger up in the column to push the little button to release it which is not convenient at all. It seems to do it if the wheels aren't completely straight. But still even with the steering wheel straight, sometimes it wont come out if its on a slight hi...
Electrical System,air Bags - filed 2023-07-06
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the ignition switch and the ignition lock cylin...
Visibility/Wiper - filed 2023-06-22
The drivers side windshield wiper linkage failed at the junction of the metal rod and the plastic wiper mount causing the wiper to stop working. And the wiper arms are almost impossible to remove, even with a puller. Obviously this condition is a safety issue, and other GM vehicles have been recalled for the same issu...
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More for the 2004 Saturn Ion
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.