CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND/OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0833 STORED. THE CONDITION MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER YET THE CONSUMER MAY HAVE A REPEAT CONCERN.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Saturn Ion cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2006 Saturn Ion have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 88,687 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Ion | 7 |
| 2006 Ion (this page) | 9 |
| 2007 Ion | 10 |
2crashes
3injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Saturn Ion?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Saturn Ion?
It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 36,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 88,687. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Saturn/Ion.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.