Problems · by component

2006 Saturn Ion air bags problems

61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Saturn Ion cite air bags, 5% of all 1,235 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
61
5% of all complaints
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 2006 Saturn Ion. The contact stated while driving at 50 mph and there was a stopped vehicle in the middle of the road, in order to avoid crashing the contact veered to the right lane but crashed into the rear of a truck. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained neck, shoulder, arm, and chest injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (Air bags, Electrical system). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact to file for the class action lawsuit. The failure mileage was 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2021Electrical system, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11425122
“THE RPMS JUMP AROUND AND THE A/C MAKES NOISE AND LIGHTS FLICKER AT TIMES. THE CAR WILL JUST STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR WHEN I'M TURNING ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. IT'S QUITE SCARY WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. MY MAIN CONCERN IS A LARGE SUV PUT IT IN REVERSE AND HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR BEFORE ENDING UP ON THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WAS GOING PRETTY FAST AND PUSHED MY CAR PRETTY FAR BUT NO AIRBAG! THEN ON A SEPARATE OCCASION I WAS DOING 55 MILES WHEN A LARGE ANIMAL DARTED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. MY FRONT END AND RADIATOR AND FRONT END WERE SHOT. EVEN SPLIT MY PASSENGER SIDE DASH OPEN AND HAD TO BE TOWED OFF BUT NO AIRBAGS!! EXACTLY HOW DO I HAVE TO BE GOING FOR ME TO HAVE PROTECTION????”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2021Electrical system, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11400399
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SATURN ION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, HE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10991249
“I HYDRAPLAINED, DID A 360 AND GOT HIT HEAD ON. I HAD MY SET BELT ON, BUT IT DID NOT CATCH AND LOCK IN PLACE, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE....TO STOP ME FROM HITTING TO REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH MY HEAD, MY CHEST ON THE SHEARING WHEEL AND MY LEGS WITH THE UNDER PART OF THE DASH...I WAS ON A MAIN HWY...I DO NOT HAVE THE POLICE REPORT , BUT I DO HAVE A FEW PICTURE..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10984760
“I WAS IN CALIFORNIA DRIVING ON A CURVING MOUNTAIN ROAD IN LAKE ARROWHEAD- IT WAS DARK. I VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO A TREE. I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR MEMORY OF MUCH AFTER THAT.THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY FACE BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD MY SEAT BELT IMPROPERLY FASTENED. I SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BROKE LEFT NASAL BONE AND SEPTUM DEEP LACERATIONS UNDER LEFT EYE ACROSS TOP OF NOSE. PARAMEDICS TOOK ME LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE THEY THOUGHT I'D BETTER GO DOWN TO A BIG HOSPITAL AND THEY SENT ME TO ARROWHEAD REGENCY HOSPITAL DOWN THE HILL IN SAN BRENARDINO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2016Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10875511
“CAR INSPECTION REJECTED CODEB0092 PASS PRESENSE SYSTEM1 PERFORMANCE JUST PUT CATALIT CONVERTER AND AN ENGINE IN THIS CAR LOOKING FOR TECH. SERVICE BUL. TSB3677 CAR IS REJECTED DEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2016Steering, Air bags, EngineODI 10862705

Showing 6 of 61 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags

Remedy pending

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Air bagsReported Feb 10, 2014NHTSA 14V047000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.