FaultScore

Saturn ION headlight problems

106 of the 5,471 complaints filed about the Saturn ION are about the lighting — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

106

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

2003 ION 36 34.0%

Median failure at 27,000 miles

2004 ION 27 25.5%

Median failure at 55,600 miles

2005 ION 31 29.2%

Median failure at 54,000 miles

2006 ION 9 8.5%

Median failure at 86,746 miles

2007 ION 3 2.8%

Median failure at 38,500 miles

What owners said

2005 Saturn ION SAN Diego, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This vehicle has an electrical issue from time to time seemingly out of nowhere. There is no power steering it just shuts off sometimes it’ll stay off for an hour sometimes it’ll stay off for weeks and I can’t figure out how to fix it. It randomly fixes itself same can be said for the air conditioning And the driver side, headlight all of these electrical functions, seemingly turn themselves up or down for no apparent reason.

NHTSA complaint #11699599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION Fresno, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

My key is stuck in the I can take it out the o2 seners not reading

NHTSA complaint #11648021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION Farmington, NM

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Headlights are to deem even on high beems.cant see anything coming or the on coming traffic can't see me coming.

NHTSA complaint #11498467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION Lewiston, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I turn my turn signals on and nonthing happens in the Frontline bulbs are brand new doesn't matter back turn signal work,front turn signal dont.this has been happening since forever my inlaws didn't know we didn't know until they gave car.so don't know how long seems like forever

NHTSA complaint #11457641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION at 150,000 miles Byers, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DASH LIGHTS GO OUT AND ALL SYSTEMS ARE YOU FUNCTIONING PROPERTY

NHTSA complaint #11394883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION at 80,000 miles Attleboro, MA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ACTIVATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM CAUSING POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #11378287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn ION Danville, KY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT BUT MY PARKING LIGHT STAYS ON. I SAW ON A SITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I NEED MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FIXED! I HAVE CHANGED BULBS & IT STILL DOESN'T WORK, BUT THE PARKING STILL DOES WORK! WHY IS THIS! JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF A PERSON NOT LONG AGO & IT WAS WORKING TIL YESTERDAY!

NHTSA complaint #11351803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION Hugesville, MD

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT TURN SIGNAL DONT WORK FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM TO OTHER DRIVERS

NHTSA complaint #11222492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION Danville, KY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVER LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK SWITCHED BULB AND CHECKED FUSES

NHTSA complaint #11194351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn ION Rochester, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION IT PASSED SAFETY AND FAILED EMISSIONS ! THERE IS NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON

NHTSA complaint #11012910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION Mount Washington, KY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DRL AND TAIL LIGHTS FLICKER AT HIGH SPEED WHEN CAR IS RUNNING!

NHTSA complaint #10990733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn ION at 179,000 miles Port Huron, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

STRONG GAS SMELL & STARTED NOTICING POOR GAS MILEAGE AND IT GOT WORSE. THEN NOTICE IT IS LEAKING GAS BY THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. ALSO THE RUNNING LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY COME ON DURING THE DAY BUT NOT AT NIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10950318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn ION at 75,334 miles Waipahu, HI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STOP FUNCTIONING ABOUT 2 MONTHS OR SO AFTER THE BULB WAS REPLACED, NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. THE PANEL INSIDE THE CAR HAD SHOWN ME THAT SAME TURN SIGNAL LIGHT HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR SOME TIME BLINKING EXTREMELY FAST BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL IT FINALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CAN'T GET MY SAFETY CHECK DONE BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP IS INOPERATIVE. I WONDER IF A DRL JUMPER KIT NEEDS TO BE ADDED, CAN YOU PLEASE DIRECT ME? THE CAR WAS IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10939801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn ION at 167,000 miles Carthage, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE DEALER, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V547000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

NHTSA complaint #10725226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn ION at 100,000 miles Denver, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TURNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN UPDATED 10/12/2017

NHTSA complaint #10714069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn ION Charlotte, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. WE TOOK IT TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO TOLD US HE HAS SEEN THIS MANY TIMES ON THE SATURN IONS. THERE IS CORROSION ON THE INSIDE OF THE TURN SIGNAL BULB SOCKET WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW A GOOD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. A LADY ALMOST HIT US HEAD ON BECAUSE IN THE CAR, IT APPEARS WHEN YOU TURN ON YOUR LANE SIGNAL, EVERYTHING IS FUNCTIONING WELL. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES THINKING IT WAS THE BULBS, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT WAS NOT CORRECT.

NHTSA complaint #10702394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn ION at 150,000 miles Somonauk, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT LIGHT OR BLINK WHEN THE LEVER IS PRESSED DOWN. THE REAR RIGHT SIGNAL WORKS AS DO THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY DEALER SAYS WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMMAND MODULE AT A COST OF @ $1400.

NHTSA complaint #10651099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn ION at 111,500 miles Taylor, MI Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING IN PRE-DAWN HOURS (HEADLIGHTS & DEFROSTERS ON), STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING MELTING OR BURNING. THEN INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS THEN CAME BACK ON & STARTED FLASHING ON & OFF REALLY FAST. AT THAT SAME TIME, DOOR LOCKS STARTED LOCKING & UNLOCKING REPEATEDLY ON THEIR OWN. BURNING & MELTING SMELL WAS GETTING STRONGER. AS I WAS PULLING OVER, I ENTERED A MORE WELL-LIT AREA AND SAW SMOKE ACCUMULATING INSIDE CAR NEAR ROOF & TOP OF WINDSHIELD. SHUT CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA complaint #10621755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Saturn ION Lake Orion, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10619013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn ION at 50,000 miles Hopkins, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE MY TAIL LIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE FROM THAT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. I REPLACE THE LIGHTS AND HAVE A MECHANIC LOOKS AT THE ISSUE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR BUT THEY CONTINUE TO GO OUT CONSTANTLY. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND HAVE PAID MANY TICKETS. THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO CHANGE MY LIGHTS ON MY PREVIOUS CARS LIKE THIS AND IT IS COSTING ME A FORTUNE NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS IF SINCE IT AFFECTS MY TURN SIGNALS AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10607912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn ION problems