vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2007 Saturn ION problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

876 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

66,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 735 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 397 of 876 complaints (45.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior42248.2%
Fuel system concerns15217.4%
Electrical and battery issues9510.8%
Engine operation495.6%
Braking behavior313.5%
Transmission and shifting121.4%

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.

Steering
397
Electrical System
169
Fuel/Propulsion System
130
Air Bags
63
Fuel System, Gasoline
59
Electrical System:Ignition
35
Engine
34
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
20
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering397
Electrical System169
Fuel/Propulsion System130
Air Bags63
Fuel System, Gasoline59
Electrical System:Ignition35
Engine34
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump20

Steering: 397; Electrical System: 169; Fuel/Propulsion System: 130; Air Bags: 63; Fuel System, Gasoline: 59; Electrical System:Ignition: 35; Engine: 34; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 20

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
61
25,000 to 49,999
157
50,000 to 74,999
210
75,000 to 99,999
134
100,000 to 149,999
136
150,000 and above
37
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00061
25,000 to 49,999157
50,000 to 74,999210
75,000 to 99,999134
100,000 to 149,999136
150,000 and above37

Under 25,000: 61; 25,000 to 49,999: 157; 50,000 to 74,999: 210; 75,000 to 99,999: 134; 100,000 to 149,999: 136; 150,000 and above: 37

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (210). 141 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.

2007
12
2008
21
2009
23
2010
188
2011
106
2012
116
2013
74
2014
148
2015
42
2016
37
2017
31
2018
24
2019
20
2020
12
2021
6
2022
5
2023
4
2024
5
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200712
200821
200923
2010188
2011106
2012116
201374
2014148
201542
201637
201731
201824
201920
202012
20216
20225
20234
20245
20251
20261

2007: 12; 2008: 21; 2009: 23; 2010: 188; 2011: 106; 2012: 116; 2013: 74; 2014: 148; 2015: 42; 2016: 37; 2017: 31; 2018: 24; 2019: 20; 2020: 12; 2021: 6; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 422 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 152 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 95 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 10200698 · 2007-08-24 (August 24, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE REMOVED HIS HANDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-60 MPH. THE DEALER ALIGNED THE STEERING WHEEL BUT, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,058.

Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10201613 · 2007-08-31 (August 31, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE SECOND FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND T…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201613 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10229897 · 2008-06-04 (June 4, 2008)

REVISED BRAND NEW CAR, DENT IN TRUNK, 3 MONTHS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NOT STARTING, NEEDS NEW FUEL TANK AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN THE AC UNIT. 05-30-08, CAR WONT START AGAIN - SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT IS DUE TO AUTOMATIC CAR STARTER NEW CAR PURCHASED ON 11-29-08, 6 MONTHS OLD, ONLY 4700 MILES ON IT. FALLING APART ONE PIECE AT A TIME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,147 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10288920 · 2009-10-19 (October 19, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. HE SMELLED AN ODOR OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL TANK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10288920 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10221491 · 2008-03-17 (March 17, 2008)

ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, OUR 07 SATURN ION HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN IT STALLS ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAIL - CAN'T EVEN PUT ON THE HAZARDS LIGHTS. THE SATURN DEALER HAS EVALUATED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM EACH TIME WITH NO RESULT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10203617 · 2007-09-21 (September 21, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 30 MPH AND EVENTUALLY TO ZERO. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED UNTIL IT REACHED 30 MPH AND THEN IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED TWO MORE TIMES APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE SECOND TIME THEY CHANGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203617 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10203520 · 2007-09-20 (September 20, 2007)

UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, OVER DRIVEWAY SLOPES, OR OTHER ROAD BUMPS VEHICLE HAS LOUD POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS POPPING NOISE AND FEELING UNDER FEET OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHILE STEERING AT STAND STILL OR WHILE DRIVING...VEHICLE WHEN EXPERIENCING ROAD HAZARDS THAT CAUSE BRAKING ACTION WHILE STEERING LOCKS UP AND JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR RANDOM TIME AMOUNTS. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER, TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, (3X) EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD PROBLEM IS FIXED, PROBLEM CAN NOT B…

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203520 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10212464 · 2007-12-20 (December 20, 2007)

VEHICLE TRAVELED THROUGH WATER PUDDLE ON A RAIN SOAKED ROADWAY. PUDDLE WAS NO DEEPER THAN MID- TIRE HEIGHT LEVEL. ENGINE STALLED OUT CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND SOME BRAKING ABILITY. ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND VEHICLE DROVE LESS THAN TWO MILES HOME. NEXT DAY, ENGINE STARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. ENGINE SKIPPING AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT WATER HAD BEEN DRAWN INTO THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE, WHICH IS LOCATED AT FRONT BUMPER LEVEL ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE, AND INTO TRAVELED THROUGH THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,840 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212464 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10315669 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)

I HAVE A 2007 SATURN ION AND READ THIS MORNING THAT YOU ARE ISSUING A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY COBALT AND PONTIAC PURSUIT/G5. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT YOU ARE NOT RECALLING THE ION BECAUSE OF A LACK OF REPORTED ISSUES. I HAVE RALLIED ION OWNERS FROM OUR MAIN SATURN ION CLUB SITES LISTED BELOW, WHAT CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THESE SITES IS THE LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THE POWER STEERING ON THESE CARS, WHICH IS THE SAME PART NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED DEFECTIVE ON THE COBALT/G5/PURSUIT. THE COBALT/G5/PURSUIT WAS BASED OFF AND ENGINEERED FROM THE SATUR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10315669 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10343759 · 2010-07-17 (July 17, 2010)

UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE A 2007 SATURN ION WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHICH EXPIRED IN JUNE 2010. ALTHOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 29000 MILES ON IT~ SATURN WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT~ IT WAS THE PURGE SENSOR. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $300 TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I WENT ONLINE AND SAW MANY OTHER'S HAD REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO SAW THE PART FOR ONLY $26.00 ~HOWEVER AT THE SATURN DEALERSHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343759 at NHTSA ↗