Single generation · GM Delta (GMX357) · 5,467 complaints, 4,344 with mileage
Owners filed 5,467 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003–2007 Saturn Ion, and 4,344 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,984 miles. The median is 67,902 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (31.5% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), the electrical system (29.2% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (5.8% of complaints, typically around 101,000 miles).
4 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,724 | 31.5% | 70,000 | 48,854–102,300 |
| Electrical System | 1,597 | 29.2% | 60,000 | 40,000–90,878 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 317 | 5.8% | 101,000 | 70,324–132,000 |
| Air Bags | 262 | 4.8% | 67,000 | 35,209–103,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 254 | 4.6% | 69,000 | 49,000–92,200 |
| Power Train | 202 | 3.7% | 56,891 | 22,960–92,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 147 | 2.7% | 44,662 | 22,000–74,612 |
| Engine | 141 | 2.6% | 101,828 | 75,000–133,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 116 | 2.1% | 80,025 | 25,000–114,575 |
| Exterior Lighting | 104 | 1.9% | 50,000 | 15,000–100,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 961 | 679 |
| 2004 | 1,124 | 876 |
| 2005 | 755 | 587 |
| 2006 | 1,537 | 1,306 |
| 2007 | 1,090 | 896 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 67,902 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 31.5% of complaints (1,724 reports, 1,553 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,854 and 102,300 miles.
A single system taking 31.5% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 29.2% of complaints (1,597 reports, 1,169 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 90,878 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 5.8% of complaints (317 reports, 263 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 101,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,324 and 132,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 4.8% of complaints (262 reports, 147 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,209 and 103,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 4.6% of complaints (254 reports, 213 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,000 and 92,200 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.7% of complaints (202 reports, 169 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,891 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,960 and 92,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 1,537 complaints — while 2005 drew the fewest at 755. The median year sits at 1,090.
NHTSA records 4 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 5,467 complaints filed against this generation, 333 reported a crash; 22 reported a fire; 226 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 100,984 miles, with a median of 67,902. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
GM's VTi continuously variable transmission suffered very high failure rates — slipping and shudder progressing to total loss of drive. GM halted VTi production in January 2004 and dropped it for MY2005; a class action produced a settlement and extended warranty coverage.
Same low-detent-torque ignition switch as the Cobalt/HHR: key-ring weight or a jolt can rotate the switch out of 'Run', killing the engine and disabling power steering assist, power brake assist and the airbags. All 2003-2007 Ions were included in GM's February 2014 recall expansion.
Column-mounted electric power steering assist motor/control circuit fails, causing sudden loss of steering assist (steering remains mechanical but effort rises sharply). GM recalled all MY2004-2007 Ions under its 2014 power-steering campaign after an extended delay.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 14V153000 | 2014-07-17 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System |
| 14V171000 | 2014-04-18 | Electrical System:Ignition |
| 14V047000 | 2014-04-18 | Air Bags |
| 12V459000 | 2013-01-01 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump |