2005 Saturn Ion problems and complaints

Owners have filed 573 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Saturn Ion. The most-reported areas: Steering (265), Electrical System (227), Air Bags (34).

Key takeaways

  • 573 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 31 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 19 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering26546%
Electrical System22740%
Air Bags346%
Exterior Lighting315%
Power Train285%
Engine224%
Fuel/Propulsion System214%
Unknown Or Other203%
Vehicle Speed Control183%
Engine And Engine Cooling153%
Structure102%
Service Brakes92%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2005 Saturn Ion 2-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated
2005 Saturn Ion 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot ratedNot rated

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Steering,electrical System,exterior Lighting - filed 2025-11-15

This vehicle has an electrical issue from time to time seemingly out of nowhere. There is no power steering it just shuts off sometimes it’ll stay off for an hour sometimes it’ll stay off for weeks and I can’t figure out how to fix it. It randomly fixes itself same can be said for the air conditioning And the driver si...

Electrical System - filed 2025-07-21

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the ignition key was stuck inside the ignition key slot, and the vehicle failed to start. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The d...

Electrical System,exterior Lighting,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2025-03-13

My key is stuck in the I can take it out the o2 seners not reading

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More for the 2005 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.