I've had plenty of Saturn in the bay over the years, and the electrical-system complaints on these don't surprise me. 1,577 on the NHTSA record across 21 model-year entries (2005–2010) is not a fluke. The 2006 Saturn Ion leads the list but the pattern shows up across multiple years and models. Not a one-off. 1 fatality report on file with NHTSA tied to this category on Saturn vehicles. That elevates this from nuisance to safety-critical. Average shop fix runs about $850 — not catastrophic, but it adds up over time. Across the 1,220 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 67,183 miles. Read the specific complaints before assuming the worst — the category covers everything from a forty-dollar switch to a twenty-five-hundred-dollar module.
ProblemsByVin SATURN / ELECTRICAL
21 model-year entries · 2005–2010
Saturn electrical problems
1,577 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against Saturn vehicles for electrical issues. See electrical across all makes →
Complaints
1,577
Recalls
0
Year-models
21
Avg fix
$850
30crashes
40fires
27injuries
1fatality
Worst-affected Saturn model-years for electrical Top 21 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
2006 Saturn Ion
313 complaints · ~$850 critical
2005 Saturn Ion
171 complaints · ~$850 severe
2007 Saturn Ion
160 complaints · ~$850 severe
2008 Saturn Outlook
156 complaints · ~$850 severe
2007 Saturn Vue
112 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2007 Saturn Outlook
100 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2006 Saturn Vue
86 complaints · ~$850 severe
2007 Saturn Aura
79 complaints · ~$850 severe
2008 Saturn Aura
73 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2008 Saturn Vue
67 complaints · ~$850 severe
2005 Saturn Vue
60 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2009 Saturn Outlook
40 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2009 Saturn Aura
38 complaints · ~$850 severe
2009 Saturn Vue
32 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2007 Saturn Sky
29 complaints · ~$850 severe
2008 Saturn Astra
17 complaints · ~$850 severe
2008 Saturn Sky
17 complaints · ~$850 severe
2005 Saturn Relay
16 complaints · ~$850 severe
2010 Saturn Outlook
4 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2009 Saturn Sky
4 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2010 Saturn Vue
3 complaints · ~$850 severe
Common questions
How many Saturn electrical complaints are on file with NHTSA?
1,577 complaints across 21 model-year entries from 2005 to 2010. No active recall campaigns currently cover this category for Saturn.
Which Saturn model has the most electrical complaints?
The 2006 Saturn Ion leads with 313 complaints in this category. Next: 2005 Ion (171) and 2007 Ion (160).
What does it cost to fix Saturn electrical problems?
Independent shops average $850 for electrical repairs across the Saturn lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.
Are there Saturn electrical recalls?
No active NHTSA recalls currently cover electrical issues on Saturn vehicles. The complaints are owner-reported and have not risen to a manufacturer recall.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database.
Editorial commentary written by Mark Driver, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin
and not affiliated with Saturn.
Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record.
Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.