repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if…
2004 Saturn IONProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 898 owner complaints about the 2004 Saturn ION, most often about the steering. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-153 the manufacturer reports only 60% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Saturn ION has problems
898 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
345Steering17 crash/fire/injury
331Electrical system17 crash/fire/injury
60Power train
52Air bags
36Fuel/propulsion system
33Engine and engine cooling
27Vehicle speed control
25Exterior lighting
23Engine
14018 other systems17 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 345 | 17 |
| Electrical system | 331 | 17 |
| Power train | 60 | 2 |
| Air bags | 52 | 30 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 36 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 33 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 25 | 2 |
| Engine | 23 | 0 |
| 18 other systems | 140 | 17 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2004 Saturn ION recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
no report yet
Exterior lighting: turn signal
Risk. IF A FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMP IS INOPERATIVE, OTHERS MAY REACT MORE SLOWLY TO A TURNING VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Show 4 more recalls
no report yet
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
no report yet
Body: bumpers
Risk. LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE JOINT MAY BE REDUCED AND SEPARATION OF THE BUMPER FROM THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAY RESULT, INCREASING THE…
no report yet
Visibility: power window devices and controls
Risk. IF UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN ARE LEFT UNATTENDED IN THE VEHICLE AND OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS OR SUNROOF, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.
no report yet
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. IF CORROSION ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FUEL FILTER PROGRESSES TO THE POINT OF CREATING A HOLE IN THE SHELL, FUEL DROPLETS COULD FORM AND DROP TO THE…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saturn.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
86kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 307 steering complaints. 62% were reported before 100,000 miles.
23under 30k miles190under 100k miles117100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
31 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $800 – $1,150
Electrical system
30 owners mentioned a cost$300median
Middle half: $250 – $570
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2004 vs. every other ION year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the ION median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2004 Saturn ION safety ratings
2004 Saturn Ion 2-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 Saturn ION, and the recalls they led to.
- FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL FAILURENo recall
- Electric Power Steering FailureLed to recall 14V-153
- FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL FAILURELed to recall 04V-547
- Electric Power Steering FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What ION owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The car doesn't always want to release the key. I have to stick my finger up in the column to push the little button to release it which is not convenient at all. It seems to do it if the wheels aren't completely straight. But still even with the steering wheel straight, sometimes it wont come out…
The contact owns a 2004 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to maneuver the steering wheel on several occasions. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he replaced the electric power steering motor;…
THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING, GM REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE VIN ISN'T ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL, BUT THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR SAYS IT HAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM AND PUMP.
Own a 2004 ION?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.