Saturn Ion problems
0 safety recalls. 1,235 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN ION LEVEL 2. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE BEGAN SIX WEEKS AGO. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER…
OCCASIONALLY, IN THE MORNING, OUR 2006 SATURN ION 2 WILL NOT START. THE BATTERY CHECKS OUT, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH DISPLAY, BUT TURNING THE KEY GETS NO RESULT. IF WE REMOVE THE KEY AND WAIT 10 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL THEN START. I RECENTLY VISITED A BUICK SERVICE DEPT.…
2006 SATURN ION 3. KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. IT STARTED OUT JUST EVER SO OFTEN ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO AND STEADILY BECAME MORE FREQUENT. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY PUT IN A NEW CYLINDER AND HOUSING AND I ALSO GOT A NEW KEY. THE WARRANTY WAS OUT IN 8/08, SO I…
MY HUSBAND AND I CRASHED FRONTEND FIRST INTO A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATED THE AIRBAG WAS ON. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE MOTOR OF THE CAR IS PARTIALLY IN THE FLOORBOARD OF THE CAR. I SUSTAINED LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES AND WAS…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2006 Saturn Ion reliable?
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 1,235 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Saturn Ion has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
What's the most common problem on the 2006 Saturn Ion?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 543 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Saturn Ion has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Saturn Ion?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,235 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.