Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Saturn Ion problems

Owners filed 876 complaints about the 2007 Saturn Ion with NHTSA between Jan 2007 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is steering (408).

Complaints
876
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
38
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering408
  2. Electrical system215
  3. Fuel/propulsion system130
  4. Fuel system, gasoline79
  5. Air bags65
  6. Engine34
  7. Power train19
  8. Suspension17
  9. Vehicle speed control16
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  11. Seat belts9
  12. Engine and engine cooling9
  13. Equipment8
  14. Service brakes7

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200712
200821
200923
2010188
2011106
2012116
201374
2014148
201542
201637
201731
201824
201920
202012
20216
20225
20234
20245
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

408 reports19 crashes1 related recall
“The power steering (the Eps, worst system ever) has been randomly cutting in and out driving down the road and traffic making turns shutting down and making it almost impossible to drive or Park stay between lines adjust as needed and it cuts in and out it has been fixed per recall once but it still continues to do it it hasn't even been 14,000 miles since the recall was fixed and it is still cutting in and out of the dash says power steering and you can't turn the wheel.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2026SteeringODI 11731858

Electrical system

215 reports11 crashes2 related recalls
“This problem has been ongoing for a while. The key gets stuck in the ignition for a while. Have to wait until it finally clicks twice. I have taken vehicle 3 different times to have this repaired. Last for a month or two and same thing starts happening again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2024Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11569795

Fuel/propulsion system

130 reports1 crash
“My 2007 Saturn Ion recently started leaking drops of gasoline near the driver side rear tire. It is either an issue with the fuel line or the tank. It has not been inspected by the dealership yet. I get a gas cap warning message, but I'm not sure if it is related.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11563439

Fuel system, gasoline

79 reports2 related recalls
“The contact's parents own a 2007 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor coming from the vehicle when the vehicle was started or turned off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's father inspected the vehicle but could not find a fuel leak. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V459000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) which she linked to the failure. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2023Fuel system, gasolineODI 11534363

Air bags

65 reports23 crashes1 related recall
“WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE KEY DOSENT WANT TO COME OUT THERES SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION. AND THE RED AIR BAG DOSENT SHUT OFF FROM THE DASHBOARD IT STAYS RED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2021Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11388716

Engine

34 reports2 crashes
“I NEED TO KNOW WHY YOUR SYSTEM SHOWS NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE USING THE VIN NUMBER, BUT HAS (7) RECALLS IF I USE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, THE SYSTEM SHOULD ALLOW ME TO RUN THE VIN, SEE ALL RECALLS, AND EVEN REPORT WITH PROOF IF THE RECALL IS COMPLETE, LIKE A CHECK LIST. YOUR SYSTEM IS USELESS IF THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT AGREEING TO THE RECALLS UNDER THE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL AND ASSIGNING THE RECALLS TO THE VIN TO GRANT APPROVAL TO DEALERS TO REPAIR, A DEALER WILL NOT COMPLETE A GM RECALL UNLESS GM APPROVES OF THE RECALL FOR A PARTICULAR VIN. I HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE THAT FALLS IN THE CATEGORY OF THE RECALLS, BUT I'M NOT PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE REPAIRS, WHEN THEY ARE KNOWN SAFETY ISSUES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11319384
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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