Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Saturn Ion
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Saturn Ion has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,235 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 #09V419000 FUEL PUMP MODULE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 544 complaints
- Electrical System 392 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 127 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 111 complaints
- Air Bags 61 complaints
- Engine 41 complaints
Of the 1,235 complaints on file, 44 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 1,235 complaints, owners report 33 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Saturn ION has received considerable owner complaints and multiple recalls, notably in the steering and electrical systems, suggesting reliability concerns. The high number of steering and electrical system complaints indicates frequent issues, while further concerns about the fuel system and air bags highlight potential safety risks.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 50,000-90,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
| ignition system | 40,000-80,000 miles | $150–$500 | common |
| fuel system | 60,000-100,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
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
- Coolant flush
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering difficulties
- Stalling or loss of power
- Excessive fuel smells
- Engine warning lights
- Electrical issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Saturn Ion at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.