FaultScore

2007 Saturn ION suspension problems

18 of the 1,090 complaints about the 2007 Saturn ION are about the suspension — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 37,100 miles.

B

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 8 44.4%
Front 7 38.9%
Lower ARM 2 11.1%
Stabilizer BAR 1 5.6%

Suspension across every Saturn ION year

2004 19 37.3%
2006 14 27.5%
2007 18 35.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 11,658 miles Mesa, AZ Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION

I HIT MY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT MY CAR WENT TO LEFT IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. I FOUND OUT THAT STRUTS SHIFTED AND CAUSING THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TO SNAP AND BRAKE OFF CAUSING MY CAR TO GO TO THE LEFT INTO ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11129281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Eastlake, OH

SUSPENSION

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO REGARDING FUEL TANK. HOWEVER, IT SPECIFIED CERTAIN STATES OF ORIGIN. I DISREGARDED NOTICE SINCE I WAS NOT RESIDING IN ONE OF THOSE STATES. MY CAR PERIODICALLY SMELLS OF GAS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW PERFORMANCE LIGHT GOES ON/OFF AND MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED RECALL. MY SUSPENSION ISSUES HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BEARING AND SWAY BAR ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND DINGS AS A REMINDER EVERY TIME I START MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11043158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Whitby ONT Canada, NY

SUSPENSION

FUEL LEAKING FROM GAS TANK AREA, BECAME AWARE WHEN PASSENGER CABIN FILLED WITH FUEL VAPOR ,NOTICED GAS SMELL FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN WALKING NEAR REAR OF VEHICLE FUEL MILEAGE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE SINCE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. HAD VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT MILEAGE, I BELIEVE WAS LOOSING FUEL FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THIS MAJOR LEAK OCCURRED. IT MADE MY WIFE AND MYSELF ALONG WITH MY FAMILY DOG VERY SICKLY. HAD INTO DEALERSHIP 3 MONTS AGO AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO LEAK,BUT THEY FAILED TO DROP TANK AND INSPECT AS PER GM RECALL 09226. NOW AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR TO GAS TANK/SENDING UNIT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THIS IS NOT WHAT IS STATED ON RECALL FROM GM GLOBAL WARRANTY MANAGEMENT ON BULLETIN 09226C DATED JULY 19TH 2015

NHTSA complaint #10924504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,163 miles Syracuse, NY

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD THUMPING NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT DECIDED TO REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WITHOUT PERFORMING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,163.

NHTSA complaint #10648783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Durham, NC

SUSPENSION

LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. CAUSED BELT TO BREAK IN TIRE. TOWED TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10515478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

SUSPENSION

LOAD METAL CLANG ON BUMPS ? DRIVER SIDE FRONT. THE BUTTON BUSHING IS CONTAINED IN A METAL RING THAT IS PRESSED INTO THE ARM. THE RING DOES NOT SEPARATE FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THE PROBLEM IS THE BUSHING IS NOT SECURED WELL ENOUGH IN THAT RING (THE RING IS NOT CRIMPED AROUND THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE BUSHING AS IT SHOULD BE) AND SEPARATES ALLOWING THE WHOLE ARM TO GO UP AND BUMP AGAINST THE FRAME CAUSING A LOUD CLANG WHEN THE SUSPENSION REBOUNDS FROM A BUMP. IT IS EASILY DIAGNOSED BY VISUAL INSPECTION SEEING THE REAR AREA OF THE CONTROL ARM UP AGAINST THE FRAME. I CAN SEE THE BUSHING SHREDDING AS A WEAR ISSUE BUT THIS IS A DEFECT WHERE THE BUSING IS FAILING BECAUSE IT IS NOT SECURED AS IT SHOULD BE. I REPLACED IT MYSELF AND MADE THIS VIDEO OF IT. MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10502222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Greenwood, IN

SUSPENSION

THE ELECTRIC STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT AND TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE WOULD HAVE TO CHECK IT TO SEE WHY ITS GOING OUT AS THERE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE ELECTRIC STEERING IN THE PONTIAC G6 WHICH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND CARRIES THE SAME SYSTEM AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IF ITS NOT THE MOTOR I HAVE TO PAY 97.50 FOR THEM TO FIND OUT ITS NOT THE MOTOR IN THE STEERING PLUS WHAT IT COST TO FIX IT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING THERE SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL ON ALL THE ONE THAT USES THE SAME PART WITH THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED ALL READY THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND GM SHOULD PAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM NOT CHARGE A CUSTOMER TO CHECK WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT AS THERE IS STILL SOME WARRANTY ON THE CAR THIS PROBLEM NEEDS FIXED AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY OUT THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,600 MILES ON IT SHOULDN'T BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HOPE YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AND GET GM TO DO A RECALL ON THIS FOR THESES CARS POWER STEERING FAILURE LIKE THAT MAKES THE CAR HARD TO STEER.

NHTSA complaint #10442846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,200 miles Regina, ND

SUSPENSION

PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRY GM REPAIRED BEARINGS ON STEERING RODS AT NO COST. AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRY RATTLING STARTED ON RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR. INDEPENDENT INSPECTION SHOWED ROD END COULD BE RATTLED BY HAND WHEN ON HOIST. FAILURE APPEARED IMMINENT. SWAY BAR CONNECTING BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST. COULD HAVE CAUSED CONTROL PROBLEMS IF THESE PIECES OF JUNK WERE LEFT UNCORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10424658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Columbus, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10378128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Swartz Creek, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

2007 SATURN ION. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE LOWER FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. *JB THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WERE PIECES OF THE CONTROL ARM LAYING ON THE FRAME. UPDATED 11/19/10.*JB UPDATED 11/19/10

NHTSA complaint #10344393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Swartz Creek, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

2007 SATURN ION. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE LOWER FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. *JB THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WERE PIECES OF THE CONTROL ARM LAYING ON THE FRAME. UPDATED 11/19/10.*JB UPDATED 11/19/10

NHTSA complaint #10344393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,145 miles Watertown, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

2007 SATURN ION/4DR SEDAN WITH 16,145 HAD REPLACE BOTH STABILIZER LINKS AND BOTH LOWER CONTROL BUSHINGS. THE SAFETY OF THE BRAKES AND STEERING COULD EASILY BEEN EFFECT. ONLY 16,145 MILES ON IT. MANY OTHER SATURNS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10346258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,000 miles Minneapolis, MN

SUSPENSION:FRONT

UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE A 2007 SATURN ION WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHICH EXPIRED IN JUNE 2010. ALTHOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 29000 MILES ON IT~ SATURN WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT~ IT WAS THE PURGE SENSOR. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $300 TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I WENT ONLINE AND SAW MANY OTHER'S HAD REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO SAW THE PART FOR ONLY $26.00 ~HOWEVER AT THE SATURN DEALERSHIP THEY CHARGED ME $51.00 FOR THE PART. I ENDED UP FIXING THE REPAIR MYSELF TO AVOID BEING ROBBED BY THE SATURN DEALERSHIP!! I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH MY CAR~ NOW THE STRUTS AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT RUMBLE WHEN DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS IN THE ROAD. AT 29000 MILES THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE MAKING ANY NOISE!! I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND SCARED IN MY SATURN!! I'VE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF OTHER OWNER'S WITH THE SAME VEHICLE THAT ARE SIMILAR. EVEN THE GM COBALT WHICH HAS THE EXACT SAME PLATFORM AND STEERING HAS THE SAME ISSUES AND FOR THAT CAR POWER STEERING ISSUES HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT FOR THE ION WHICH ~I REPEAT HAS THE SAME COMPONENTS. I BOUGHT MY CAR WHEN FUEL COSTS SOARED AND THOUGHT IT WOULD AT LEAST LAST ME 5 YEARS WITH OUT ISSUES. I THINK GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES WITH THE REAR DEFROST, POWER WINDOWS, STEERING, AND TRANSMISSION. I'M FROM MN. AND IT'S TERRIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE A NEWER CAR THAT WON'T EVEN TAKE YOU 30,000 MILES WITHOUT BREAKING DOWN!! I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SATURN NEEDS TO RECALL EVERYTHING ON THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT ~LIKE TOYOTA. I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE!! PLEASE HELP!! SATURN WON'T REPAIR UNLESS IT'S COMPLETELY BROKEN EVEN IF THE CAR IS SMOKIN THEY BLOW YOU OFF!!! ~HORRIBLE!!!

NHTSA complaint #10343759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Bethlehem, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN ION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, THE CONTACT COMPLAINED OF A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16000. UPDATED 08/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/18/10

NHTSA complaint #10335627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Fremont, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS GONE ON BOTH SIDES ONLY HAVE 34,000 MILES ON CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10330854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Appleton, WI

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS COMPLETELY MISSING WITH 52,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE WHEELS CAN MOVE UP TO THREE INCHES UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THESE BUSHINGS. MY DEALER INFORMED ME THEY'VE REPLACED A HUGE AMOUNT OF THESE BUSHINGS...AND KEEP MANY IN STOCK.

NHTSA complaint #10324812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WAS HEARING A POPPING,CLICKING, AND RUBBING SOUND AND TOOK TO SATURN THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS MY HUB CAP MAKING THE NOISE. I WENT BACK ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND HAD THEM REMOVE MY HUB CAP AND NOISE WAS EVEN WORSE AND YOU COULD FEEL IT UNDER YOU FEET. THEY SAID IT WAS MY HALF SHAFT ON THE LEFT SIDE SO A WEEK LATER THEY REPLACED IT. THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY AND BY MONDAY MORNING I WAS HEARING AND FEELING THE NOISE AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT BUT THAT I HAD A BENT RIM IN THE REAR. I LEFT BUT THEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND KNEW THAT WAS NOT RIGHT SO I WENT BACK YET AGAIN AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND YOU COULD SEE WHERE MY TIRES AND RIMS ARE GRINDING INTO AND STARTING TO CUT MY TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT BUT THAT WAS "NORMAL" KNOWING IT WASN'T I PROCEEDED TO GO TO A 3RD PARTY SHOP AND PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CAR. TO NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT ISN'T "NORMAL" AND IF NOT FIXED SOON WILL CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES. THE 3RD PARTY ALSO NOTICED WHAT SATURN DID NOT AND THAT ON MY LEFT SIDE IT IS RUBBING ON NOT JUST THE TIE ROD BUT THE CONTROL ARM AS WELL. 3RD PARTY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE NOTHING THERE TO PREVENT ME FROM OVER TURNING MY WHEELS AND THAT IS WHY I AM HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. BUT ONLY AFTER CONTACTING THE BBB IN COLORADO SPRINGS DID THE GM OF SATURN OF COLORADO SPRINGS WANT TO LISTEN TO ME. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT MY SAFETY AND MY SONS SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10204010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6 miles White Lake, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT

UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, OVER DRIVEWAY SLOPES, OR OTHER ROAD BUMPS VEHICLE HAS LOUD POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS POPPING NOISE AND FEELING UNDER FEET OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHILE STEERING AT STAND STILL OR WHILE DRIVING...VEHICLE WHEN EXPERIENCING ROAD HAZARDS THAT CAUSE BRAKING ACTION WHILE STEERING LOCKS UP AND JOLTS FORWARD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR RANDOM TIME AMOUNTS. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER, TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, (3X) EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD PROBLEM IS FIXED, PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. I DRIVE VEHICLE HOME AND THE PROBLEM IS EITHER PARTIALLY BETTER FOR A COUPLE WEEKS OR NOT BETTER AT ALL. DURING THE TIME THAT VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS A STRUT MOUNT WAS REPLACED ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 9,000 MILES (AFTER THE 2ND ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER ISSUE) 3RD ATTEMPT ONLY HAD A STEERING ISSUE ADDRESSED,(I SHAFT DRY AND BINDING) HOWEVER THIS HAS ONLY PARTIALLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE STILL POPS, CLUNKS AND HAS ISSUE WITH LOSS OF CONTROL OVER UNEXPECTED ROAD HAZARDS WHILE BRAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10203520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2007 Saturn ION problems

← Full 2007 Saturn ION report