CarBrief

The 2006 Saturn Ion has more owner complaints on file with NHTSA than any other Ion model year in our data, 1,235 in all[1][2]. Four recalls apply to it, covering ignition, power steering, air bags and fuel pump leaks[3][4][5][6].

1,235owner complaints[1]
4recalls[2]
23–26MPG combined (EPA)[7]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 1,235 owner complaints for the 2006 Ion[1]. Of those, 44 mention a crash, 7 a fire and 33 injuries, and 1 reports a death[1]. These are unverified reports from owners. One complaint can name more than one component, so the groups below overlap and should not be added up.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Steering[8] 544 65,000
Electrical system[9] 392 62,000
Fuel system, gasoline[10] 127 68,350
Fuel/propulsion system[11] 111 105,000
Engine[12] 71 74,612
Air bags[13] 61 79,826
Power train[14] 36 56,545

Steering. This is the largest group, with 17 crashes among its complaints[8]. In a sample of 12 steering complaints we read, 8 describe power steering assist cutting out or a warning light coming on[8]. In some of them the assist came back after the car was shut off and started again[8]. See recall 14V153 below.

Electrical. In a sample of 12 electrical complaints we read, 5 describe a key that would not come out of the ignition or an engine that would not shut off[9]. Two of those texts look like repeats of one report. Others describe warning lights or a car that would not start[9]. Recalls 14V171 and 14V047 below cover ignition problems.

Fuel system. In a sample of 12 fuel system, gasoline complaints, all 12 describe a gasoline smell or a leak, often traced to the fuel pump assembly or a cracked port or line[10]. In a sample of 12 fuel/propulsion complaints, 10 describe the same thing, and 7 say their car was not covered by the fuel pump recall or was hard to get covered[11]. The fuel/propulsion group lists 2 fires[11]. The gasoline group lists none[10].

Air bags. This group is small at 61 complaints, but 24 of them mention a crash and 24 an injury[13].

Recalls

NHTSA lists four recalls for the 2006 Ion, newest first.

Fuel economy

EPA rates the 2006 Ion at 23 to 26 MPG combined, depending on engine and transmission[15][16][7][17][18]. All five versions are front-wheel drive.

Engine Transmission Fuel City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
2.0L 4-cyl[15] Manual 5-spd Premium 20 / 27 / 23 $3,550
2.2L 4-cyl[16] Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 / 29 / 24 $2,800
2.2L 4-cyl[7] Manual 5-spd Regular 23 / 32 / 26 $2,600
2.4L 4-cyl[17] Automatic 4-spd Premium 21 / 29 / 24 $3,400
2.4L 4-cyl[18] Manual 5-spd Premium 22 / 31 / 25 $3,300

The 2.2L manual is the best of the five at 26 combined and $2,600 a year[7]. The 2.0L manual is lowest at 23 combined and costs the most to fuel at $3,550 a year, and EPA lists it on premium[15].

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings are listed as not rated for the 4-door front-wheel-drive Ion[19] and for the 2-door front-wheel-drive Ion[20].

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, published through NHTSA, and can differ slightly from US cars. Our data does not include engine horsepower for this car.

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
4DR quad coupe FWD /2/3[21] 185 in 68 in 56 in 103 in 2,751 lb
4DR quad coupe FWD /Red Line[22] 185 in 68 in 56 in 103 in 2,945 lb
4DR sedan FWD 1/2/3[23] 185 in 67 in 57 in 103 in 2,692 lb

Sizes and weights are converted from centimeters and kilograms[21][22][23].

How 2006 compares with other years

2003: 758 complaints, 5 recalls20032004: 898 complaints, 8 recalls20042005: 573 complaints, 3 recalls20052006: 1,235 complaints, 4 recalls1,23520062007: 876 complaints, 5 recalls2007
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Ion model year. The 2006 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20037585
20048988
20055733
20061,2354
20078765

The 2006 model year has the most complaints of the five Ion years in our data, at 1,235[2]. Next come 2004 with 898 and 2007 with 876, then 2003 with 758 and 2005 with 573[2]. Recalls on file are 8 for 2004, 5 each for 2003 and 2007, 4 for 2006 and 3 for 2005[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, but all five years are the same model, so the comparison is fair as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2006 Ion?

The numbers do not point to an easy call. The 2006 Ion has the most complaints of any Ion year in our data[2], and steering and electrical reports are the largest groups[8][9]. Four recalls cover ignition, power steering, air bags and fuel pump leaks, so ask for proof that the work was done on the exact car you are looking at[3][4][5][6]. Note that the power steering remedy was not available when its recall was filed[4]. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a checklist, not a verdict.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most reported problems with the 2006 Saturn Ion?
Steering has the most complaints at 544, followed by the electrical system at 392[8][9]. In the samples we read, owners describe power steering assist cutting out and ignition keys that would not come out[8][9].
Has the 2006 Saturn Ion been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists four recalls: 14V171 (ignition key removal), 14V153 (electric power steering), 14V047 (ignition switch and air bags) and 09V419 (fuel pump leak)[3][4][5][6].
What gas mileage does the 2006 Saturn Ion get?
EPA rates it at 23 to 26 MPG combined, depending on engine and transmission[15][16][7][17][18]. The 2.2L manual is best at 26 combined[15][16][7][17][18].
How safe is the 2006 Saturn Ion?
NHTSA lists its 5-Star Safety Ratings as not rated for the 4-door and 2-door versions[19][20]. Two recalls involve ignition problems that can turn the engine off or let the key come out[3][5].
Which Saturn Ion model year has the fewest complaints?
Of the five Ion years in our data, 2005 has the fewest at 573 complaints, and 2006 has the most at 1,235[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 1,235 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Saturn Ion (44 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 33 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Saturn Ion model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. Recall 14V171, filed April 10, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 14V153, filed March 31, 2014: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 14V047, filed February 10, 2014: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 09V419, filed October 29, 2009: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
  7. 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
  8. 544 complaints name the steering component group (17 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 392 complaints name the electrical system component group (13 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 127 complaints name the fuel system, gasoline component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,350). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 111 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 105,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 71 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,612). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 61 complaints name the air bags component group (24 crashes, 1 fires, 24 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,826). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 36 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,545). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. EPA rating for Ion, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for Ion, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. 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
  22. 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 2,945 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  23. 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.