MYRModel Year Report

2005 Saturn ION

○ Not enough data
2005 Saturn ION
BUILT 2026-10-10

Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
573
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Steering

47% of complaints

Complaints per year

2003: 757 complaints 2003 2004: 898 complaints 2004 2005: 573 complaints 2005 573 2006: 1,235 complaints 2006 2007: 876 complaints 2007 2008: 4 complaints 2008
2003: 757 complaints 2003 2004: 898 complaints 2004 2005: 573 complaints 2005 573 2006: 1,235 complaints 2006 2007: 876 complaints 2007 2008: 4 complaints 2008
2003: 757 complaints 2003 2004: 898 complaints 2004 2005: 573 complaints 2005 573 2006: 1,235 complaints 2006 2007: 876 complaints 2007 2008: 4 complaints 2008

2005: 573 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2003757
2004898
2005573
20061,235
2007876
20084

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Steering

47% · 270 reports

Most commonly citing electric power assist system and hydraulic power assist system.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Loss of steering while turning. Resulted in a crash and over $2000.00 in damage. Car is not driveable.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-05-30

I was attempting to change lines on md i-97 north bound from the slow right lane to the fast lane left lane. When a car in the fast lane speed up which never allowed me to change lanes, I continued to travel in the same slow right lane.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-10-07

Driving home from work suddenly I had experienced sudden loss of power steering. Research online indicates this make model and year has a known issue with this problem. However using VIN search I find no recall information.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-02

Electrical system

40% · 232 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and switch.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Dt: vehicle was parked outside in the yard and consumer went to the vehicle to get some papers out of the glove compartment and smelled smoke coming from both front and back of the vehicle. No flames at this time.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-08-30

All dash gauges failed, including gas gauge, speedometer, odometer, etc. On at least two separate occaisions. Car was two weeks old to the day.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-03-12

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

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-03-13

Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system

Air bags

6% · 34 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Saturn ION. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree.

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-11-17

Travelling on 580EB in traffic. Came to a stop, vehicle behind me did not. He was travelling at approx 50MPH and demolished my vehicle. My air bags did not deploy and the driver seat bent back to fully reclined position.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-06-14

Also filed under Seats

Exterior lighting

5% · 31 reports

Most commonly citing turn signal and headlights.

Power train

5% · 29 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASH

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    2010-12-15Recall queryClosed 2011-10-05 Electric Power Steering Failure
  3. I
    2011-09-29Engineering analysisClosed 2014-04-15 Electric Power Steering Failure
  4. R
    2014-04-04Electrical system14E021000 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...

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2014-04-18Electrical system14V171000 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.

    Remedy: 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...

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2014-04-18Air bags, electrical system14V047000 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.

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2014-07-17Steering14V153000 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.

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Saturn ION — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Steering: 270 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 232 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 34 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 14E021000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 14V171000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 14V047000 · Air bags, electrical system
  • Recall 14V153000 · Steering
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

FAQ

Is the 2005 Saturn ION reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Saturn ION?
The most-reported component is steering, accounting for 47% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Saturn ION have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-06 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.