The 2006 draws 5.6 complaints per run and the 2008 1, a 5.6-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 87.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 1,466 complaints, typically at 6 years.
Saturn Ion years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2007 | 760 | 161 | yes | |
| 2006 | 1036 | 185 | yes | |
| 2005 | 476 | 146 | yes | |
| 2004 | 680 | 169 | yes | |
| 2003 | 548 | 146 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2006 Ion asks a median $2,350, against $3,400 for a 2007, the next model year: about 31% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 6 Saturn Ion years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2007, 2004; the three worth hunting are 2008, 2005, 2003.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 4.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 7.9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 12.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 23.4% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 37.3% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 50.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 61.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 69.9% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 77.9% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 83.4% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 89.3% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 93.8% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 96% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 98% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 12.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 87.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 8% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Steering at 6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 6 yrs | 58 | — | |
| Electrical System | 6 yrs | 44 | 10 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8.5 yrs | 2 | 3 | |
| Air Bags | 6.9 yrs | 102 | 1 | |
| Fuel System | 5.3 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Gasoline | 5.5 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Power Train | 5.2 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Engine | 8.1 yrs | 5 | 2 |
What else in this class
6 models share the Ion's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 4.48 for the Ion.
| Same class as the Ion | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 219 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lexus IS | 118 | 2001–2026 | |
| BMW M3 | 78 | 1988–2026 | |
| Acura TLX | 41 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford Focus | 138 | 2000–2026 | |
| Subaru WRX | 17 | 2015–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Saturn Ion reliable?
By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.48 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
Which Ion years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2006, 2007, 2004. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2008, 2005, 2003. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Ion problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 6 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover Ion problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 12.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 8% of the complaints here.
Is the Ion more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?
Yes: 4.48 complaints per production run for the Ion against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.
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