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. WHERE THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, SOMETIMES CORRECTED BY IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT (WHI…
2006 Saturn Ion electrical problems
critical 313 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
313
Recalls
0
Crashes
9
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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 ENDED UP PAYING $572.40 FOR REPAIRS. I CAME HOME AND AM STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH THE KEY NOT WANTING TO COME OUT O…
COLD WEATHER / AROUND FREEZING TEMPERATURE. CAR DOES NOT START AT ALL IN COLD WEATHER. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY AND IT HAS REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
ACCORDING TO WHAT I CAN RECALL, INITIALLY, I WAS CONTACTED BY SATURN/GM THAT I MIGHT HAVE DEFECT IN MY IGNITION BUT THAT THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT MAKE A RECALL ON IT LATER BUT I SHOULD HAVE IT REPAIRED IF I HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. I DID HAVE PROBLEMS SO I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, I STILL HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR DUE TO LOCKING FEATURES. THIS MEANT THAT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE K…
PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW AS A DEMO, TOLD THERE WAS 'MINOR PANEL DAMAGE BUT FIXED LIKE NEW" FOUND OUT CAR WAS IN CHAIN REACTION CRASH BOTH FRONT AND REAR. BODY AND FRAME STILL NOT FIXED, KEEPS CRACKING WINDSHIELDS NOW IGNITION SYSTEM HAS FAILED. READ MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH SAME ISSUE FROM YEAR 2000 AND UP ON THE CAR. NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR SOMEONE NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS JUNK CAR BESIDES ME. STARTER …
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2006 Saturn Ion?
It's a serious issue. 313 complaints have been filed, including 9 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.