Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Saturn Ion
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Saturn Ion has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 898 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14E021000 Aftermarket Replacement Ignition Switches NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V171000 Key Can Be Removed when Ignition is not Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V153000 Sudden Loss of Electric Power Steering NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V047000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V547000 GM/SATURN/DRL TURN SIGNAL BULB REPLACEMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V281000 GM/FUEL FEED PIPE ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V002000 GM/BUMPER BRACKET WELDS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V004000 GM/FMVSS 118/POWER WINDOWS/SUNROOF NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V003000 GM/FUEL FILTER CORROSION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 345 complaints
- Electrical System 331 complaints
- Power Train 60 complaints
- Air Bags 52 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 36 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 33 complaints
Of the 898 complaints on file, 51 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 898 complaints, owners report 35 injuries and 3 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Saturn ION has substantial safety concerns, reflected in 898 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns, notably for ignition switch and steering issues. The high volume of complaints about steering (345) and electrical system (331) components further indicates reliability concerns, though limited complaint diversity suggests focus on a few systems rather than widespread failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | very common |
| ignition switch | 80,000–110,000 miles | $200–$600 | very common |
| airbag system | Unknown | $300–$900 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and service
- Tire rotations and replacements
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect suspension components
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering becoming unresponsive
- Ignition key sticking
- Frequent electrical failures
- Airbag warning light
- Fuel odor while driving
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Saturn Ion at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.