2005 Saturn ION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
573 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
60,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 466 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 255 of 573 complaints (44.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 276 | 48.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 86 | 15.0% |
| Engine operation | 47 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 4.4% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 255 |
| Electrical System | 173 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 38 |
| Air Bags | 29 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
Steering: 255; Electrical System: 173; Electrical System:Ignition: 38; Air Bags: 29; Exterior Lighting: 23; Engine: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 21; Unknown Or Other: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 64 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 104 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 114 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 78 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 75 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 104; 50,000 to 74,999: 114; 75,000 to 99,999: 78; 100,000 to 149,999: 75; 150,000 and above: 31
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (114). 107 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 51 |
| 2010 | 127 |
| 2011 | 56 |
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 114 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2005: 22; 2006: 20; 2007: 17; 2008: 33; 2009: 51; 2010: 127; 2011: 56; 2012: 31; 2013: 23; 2014: 114; 2015: 27; 2016: 10; 2017: 9; 2018: 10; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 276 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 86 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 47 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10138987 · 2005-10-07 (October 7, 2005)
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. WITHIN 1 MINUTE AFTER THAT ACTION OF THE ATTEMPTED LANE CHANGE, I EXPERIENCED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING ERRATICALLY AND TRYING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR STARTED FISHING TAILING OR SWERVING. WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170957 · 2006-10-16 (October 16, 2006)
THE POWER STEERING UNIT ON MY 2005 SATURN ION HAS FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SATURN OF ELLICOTT CITY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A "SERVICE BULLETIN" ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 WITH LESS THAN 32K MILES. THE STEERING FAILED WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND AGAIN WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT. SATURN ADMITTED THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IT IS ON MANY SATURN VEHICLES, NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115181 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AND LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD ALL THE GAUGES SHINED, INDICATING THAT NOTHING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE GAS GAUGE/ SPEEDOMETER, AND BATTERY METER, ETC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134781 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
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. CONSUMER DID NOT ENTER THE VEHICLE. RAN INSIDE THE HOUSE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND MOST LIKELY WAS LINKED TO THE BATTERY, WHERE THEY BELIEVED THE FIRE ORIGINATED. NO REPAIRS WERE MAD…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136102 · 2005-09-10 (September 10, 2005)
PURCHASED A 2005 SATURN ION 2 IN 12/04. 3 EPISODES OF CAR STALLING WHILE MAKING TURNS AT LOW RATE OF SPEED, TOOK CAR INTO DEARLSHIP IN JUNE 2. SATURN INSTALLED NEW PROGRAMMING. JUNE 13 (213 MILES LATER) CAR STALLS AGAIN. SATURN REPLACES ENGINE WIRING. JUNE 27, THE CAR STALLS IN REVERSE. SATURN RESECURED IGN. FUSE. ON AUGUST 21 CARS STALL TWICE IN ONE DAY. SATURN CURRENTLY HAS CAR. THROUGHOUT ALL THIS TIME HAVE ALSO HAD DASH INDICATORS GO OUT SEVERAL TIMES BUT WILL SELF CORRECT NEXT DAY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142601 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122331 · 2005-05-27 (May 27, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER HAS A 2005 SATURN THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF GEAR AND SHIFTED BACK INTO GEAR WHILE GOING OVER 40 MPH. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CONSUMER TO BE INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE CAR IN 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT HANGS IN GEAR AND SHIFTS HARD. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 7,413 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139844 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT A 2005 SATURN ION ON 12-10-04. THE FIRST 50 MILES HE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALER FIXED THE CRUISE CONTROL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAD TO GET A NEW COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE CAR. SINCE THEN HE HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR SPUTTERED AND DIED SPORADICALLY. THE LAST TWO TIMES WAS ON 9-26-05 AND ON 9-30-05, AND ON 9-26-05 THE DEALER REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BODY CONTROL, TCM, AND POWER TRAIN MODULE. REPAIRED ALL WIRI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124351 · 2005-06-06 (June 6, 2005)
DT: THE CAR IS LOSING POWER AT 70MPH AND IS SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON JUNE 3 AND IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 4 WITH THIS HAPPENING 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. THE SALES PERSON SAID "STAY THERE AND I KNOW WHAT IT IS, IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE". THE SALES PERSON DID COME AND PICK UP THE CONSUMER. THE SALES PERSON SAID THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE CONSUMER'S KEYCHAIN WAS AT FAULT. THE KEYCHAIN WEIGHED ABOUT AN OUNCE OR LESS. THE DEALERSHIP IS IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. THERE ARE NO INDICATOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 86 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145916 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITH THE CONTACT'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND NO CODES WERE FOUND. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE HOOD BUCKLED AND THE GRILL WAS DAMAGED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A LOOSE CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183436 · 2007-02-25 (February 25, 2007)
MY 2005 ION 2 WAS SERVICED CONTINUOUSLY BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP SINCE ITS NEW PURCHASE. THIS CAR HAS NEVER HAD A ENGINE INCIDENT, OVERHEATING, OR MISSED OIL CHANGE/SERVICE AND AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE SATURN TECHNICIAN AND DEDUCED TO EITHER A GAS TANK SEALING ISSUE OR OXYGEN SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS FINALLY REPLACED ON IT 48,000 SERVICE CHECKUP, YET THE LIGHT WAS STILL ACTIVE. A COMPLETE COMPUTER CODE DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED INTERNAL MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283730 · 2009-09-11 (September 11, 2009)
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION AND NOT BEING ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE CAR OFF. THE IGNITION WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY AND WILL BE STUCK IN THE ACC POSITION MOST TIMES. THE MOST RECENT TIME I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF AT ALL. THE IGNITION WOULD NOT RELEASE OR ALLOW THE KEY TO TURN EVEN MINIMALLY. HAD TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY, PULL THE FUEL PUMP FUSE IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO STOP RUNNING. THE IGNITION STILL WOULD NOT RELEASE THE KEY. I GOT THIS INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO THIS FROM MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I READ ABOUT ON THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283730 at NHTSA ↗