CarBrief

Owners filed 573 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Saturn Ion, and steering and the electrical system are the two largest complaint groups[1][2][3]. Three 2014 recalls apply to it, covering the ignition key, power steering assist and the ignition switch[4][5][6].

573owner complaints[1]
3recalls[7]
23–26MPG combined (EPA)[8]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 573 owner complaints on file for this model year[1]. Of those, 31 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 19 injuries[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several components. The counts are also not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Here are the component groups with the most complaints:

Component group Complaints Crashes Median miles at failure
Steering[2] 265 9 69,000
Electrical system[3] 227 5 53,000
Engine[9] 37 2 95,867
Air bags[10] 34 19 63,053
Exterior lighting[11] 31 0 54,000
Power train[12] 28 1 50,263

Steering and electrical are far ahead of every other group. In a sample of steering complaints we read, owners describe power steering assist stopping or a power steering warning coming on while driving. Some say it came back after the car was turned off and on again. A few describe the key sticking in the ignition[2].

In a sample of electrical complaints, owners describe dashboard gauges and warning lights failing, the car stalling or shutting off while driving, and trouble starting[3]. The electrical group includes 3 complaints that mention a fire[3].

Air bags is a small group, but it stands out for severity. It has 34 complaints, with 19 crashes and 13 injuries[10]. In the sample of air bag complaints we read, owners describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash. A few also describe the driver seat breaking or bending back in a rear-end crash[10].

The engine group has 37 complaints[9]. In a sample of those, owners describe stalling or loss of power while driving[9]. Because the sample is small, treat these themes as examples of what owners report, not as a measure of how often each problem happens.

Recalls

Three recalls on file apply to the 2005 Ion. All three are General Motors recalls that also cover other models. Newest first:

Fuel economy

EPA lists three versions of the 2005 Ion, all front-wheel drive:

Engine and transmission City / Highway / Combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium[13] 20 / 27 / 23 $3,550
2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular[14] 21 / 29 / 24 $2,800
2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular[8] 23 / 32 / 26 $2,600

The 2.0L version is listed with premium fuel and has the highest annual fuel cost[13]. EPA's cost figures use its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists the 4-door and 2-door versions of the 2005 Ion as not rated in its 5-Star Safety Ratings[15][16]. So there is no star rating to compare. The crash-related complaints above are owner reports, not test results.

Engine and size

These dimensions come from Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA, so they are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models[17]. The variant names are as listed in the source.

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
ION 4DR QUAD COUPE FWD /2/3[17] 185 in 68 in 56 in 103 in 2,751 lb
ION 4DR QUAD COUPE FWD /RED LINE[18] 185 in 68 in 56 in 103 in 2,930 lb
ION 4DR SEDAN FWD 1/2/3[19] 185 in 67 in 57 in 103 in 2,692 lb

EPA lists engines of 2.0L and 2.2L, both with 4 cylinders[13][14][8].

How 2005 compares with other years

2003: 758 complaints, 5 recalls20032004: 898 complaints, 8 recalls20042005: 573 complaints, 3 recalls57320052006: 1,235 complaints, 4 recalls20062007: 876 complaints, 5 recalls2007
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Ion model year. The 2005 is highlighted[7].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20037585
20048988
20055733
20061,2354
20078765

NHTSA counts for each Saturn Ion model year on file:

Model year Complaints Recalls
2003[7] 758 5
2004[7] 898 8
2005[7] 573 3
2006[7] 1,235 4
2007[7] 876 5

The 2005 model year has the fewest complaints and the fewest recalls of the five years listed[7]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so a lower count does not prove a better car. It is still a useful comparison between years of the same model.

Should you buy a used 2005 Saturn Ion?

Among Ion model years, 2005 has the lightest record on file, with 573 complaints and 3 recalls[7]. That is relative, though. Steering and electrical complaints are still large in number[2][3], and the car has three recalls that matter for safety[4][5][6]. Before buying, find out whether these recalls were completed. The power steering record said parts were not yet available[5], and the ignition switch record said owners would be told once parts were available[6]. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic is a sensible step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Saturn Ion?
Steering and electrical system lead the NHTSA complaint counts, with 265 and 227 complaints out of 573 total[1][2][3]. In samples we read, owners describe power steering assist stopping and dashboard or stalling problems[2][3].
Does the 2005 Saturn Ion have any recalls?
Yes, three: 14V171 for ignition key removal, 14V153 for loss of power steering assist and 14V047 for the ignition switch and air bags[4][5][6]. The power steering record said parts were not yet available[5].
How many miles per gallon does a 2005 Saturn Ion get?
EPA combined ratings are 23 MPG for the 2.0L manual, 24 for the 2.2L automatic and 26 for the 2.2L manual[13][14][8].
Is the 2005 Saturn Ion a good year compared with other Ions?
By NHTSA counts it has the fewest complaints (573) and fewest recalls (3) of the 2003 to 2007 model years[7]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.
What are the safety ratings for the 2005 Saturn Ion?
NHTSA lists both the 4-door and 2-door versions as not rated[15][16].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 573 owner complaints on file for the 2005 Saturn Ion (31 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 19 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 265 complaints name the steering component group (9 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 69,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. 227 complaints name the electrical system component group (5 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. Recall 14V171, filed April 10, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 14V153, filed March 31, 2014: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 14V047, filed February 10, 2014: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  7. Owner complaints and recalls for every Saturn Ion model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  8. EPA rating for Ion, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  9. 37 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 95,867). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 34 complaints name the air bags component group (19 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,053). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 31 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 28 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,263). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for Ion, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Ion, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  16. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ION 4DR QUAD COUPE FWD /2/3: length 185 in, width 68 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 2,751 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ION 4DR QUAD COUPE FWD /RED LINE: length 185 in, width 68 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 2,930 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ION 4DR SEDAN FWD 1/2/3: length 185 in, width 67 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 103 in, curb weight 2,692 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.