A Saturn Ion VIN opens with 1G8 (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 6 codes, most often Z (98%); a 2007 Ion carries 7 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 12 recall campaigns and 3,503 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Saturn Ion VIN
Here is a real 2007 Saturn Ion VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 1G8AJ55F67Z199731 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Where Saturn Ion VINs say the car was built
The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 11 Saturn Ion VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:
| WMI | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on file | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G8 | United States | — | 11 |
Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.
Model-year codes for the Saturn Ion
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Saturn Ion has not yet outlived: its 5 years still map one-to-one. All 5 model years of the Saturn Ion, 2003 to 2007, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Saturn Ion VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 11 VINs the Saturn Ion uses 8 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | A (100%) | 1 distinct |
| 5 — series | J (55%) · V (9%) · W (9%) · G (9%) · Z (9%) · N (9%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | F (100%) | 1 distinct |
What a decoded Saturn Ion VIN gets you
Behind a Saturn Ion VIN: 3,503 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 12 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 3,503 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 26 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
Where to find the VIN on a Saturn Ion
A Saturn Ion VIN normally opens with 1G8; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Saturn Ion VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 12 recall campaigns and 3,503 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Saturn Ion.
What year is my Ion by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2007 Ion carries 7, a 2006 Ion carries 6, a 2005 Ion carries 5.
Where was my Ion built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 3,496 dated Saturn Ion VINs it reads Z 98%, 2 1%, 1 0%, 7 0% and 2 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Saturn Ion VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 11 Saturn Ion VINs here, A is the most common character in position 4, on 100% of them.
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