The most-reported Ion run is 1G8AJ55F66Z (2006 builds) with 57 complaints, 12.7× the typical run. Steering problems make up 38% of reports; 2006 is the worst model year at 5.6 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for Ion model years 2003–2007.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Saturn Ion has 782 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 7% of every Ion complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G8AJ55F66Z•••••• | 2006 | 2 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F86Z•••••• | 2006 | — | 2 | |
| 1G8AJ55FX6Z•••••• | 2006 | 1 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F16Z•••••• | 2006 | 3 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F97Z•••••• | 2007 | 3 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F76Z•••••• | 2006 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1G8AJ55F26Z•••••• | 2006 | 2 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F06Z•••••• | 2006 | 2 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F46Z•••••• | 2006 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1G8AJ55F47Z•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F07Z•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1G8AJ55F77Z•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — |
Each of the other 770 Ion runs has 40 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 11 Ion VINs so far, most often 2007, 2004, 2006 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Saturn Ion the gap between build years is 5.6×: a 2006 car draws 5.6 complaints per run, a 2008 one 1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 760 | 161 | 31 | |
| 2006 | 1036 | 185 | 40 | |
| 2005 | 476 | 146 | 30 | |
| 2004 | 680 | 169 | 44 | |
| 2003 | 548 | 146 | 34 |
Heaviest year here is 2006 at 5.6 complaints per run; lightest is 2008 at 1.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 38% of everything Saturn Ion owners report: Steering, 1,466 of 3,503 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 58 | — | |
| Electrical System | 44 | 10 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 3 | |
| Air Bags | 102 | 1 | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | |
| Power Train | 3 | — | |
| Engine | 5 | 2 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 12 recall campaigns on the Saturn Ion; the 6 below cover build years 2003 to 2007. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 14V171000 | Electrical System:ignition | 2003–2007 |
| 14E021000 | Electrical System:ignition:switch | 2003–2007 |
| 14V047000 | Air Bags | 2003–2007 |
| 09E012000 | Exterior Lighting | 2003–2007 |
| 14V153000 | Steering:electric Power Assist System | 2004–2007 |
| 09V419000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump | 2006–2007 |
14V171000 was opened in 2014 on cars built from 2003: 11 years on the road before the recall.
The Ion against its rivals
The Ion draws 4.5 complaints per production run; the Chevrolet Cavalier 2.8, the Jaguar X-Type 2.1 and the BMW 525i 1.4. That is the highest rate of the 4.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn Ion | 3,503 | 782 | 5.1% | |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 3,474 | 1,220 | 9.2% | |
| Jaguar X-Type | 255 | 119 | 14.5% | |
| BMW 525i | 77 | 56 | 5.2% |
How serious were they
Of the 3,503 reports on the Saturn Ion, 5.1% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.
| Outcome | Saturn Ion | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 3,503 | 1,116,631 |
| Involved a crash | 180 (5.1%) | 64,221 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 16 (0.5%) | 26,977 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 137 | 58,047 |
| Deaths reported | 4 | 2,728 |
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Saturn Ion share of that is 3,503 complaints over 782 runs, 0.31% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Saturn Ion VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 3,503 NHTSA complaints from 782 Ion runs and 12 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Ion production run has the most complaints?
1G8AJ55F66Z, a 2006 build, with 57 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Ion run has 4.5.
Which Ion years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2006 is heaviest at 5.6 complaints per run and 2008 lightest at 1.
Does the Ion get more complaints than the Chevrolet Cavalier?
Yes: 4.5 complaints per production run for the Ion against 2.8 for the Chevrolet Cavalier.
How many Ion complaints involve a crash?
5.1% of 3,503 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 16 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.