RecallRepo

2004 Saturn Ion Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2004 Saturn Ion has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 6,141,426 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,124 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V171000 2014-04-10 2,191,014 affected
Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the…

Consequence

If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the…

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For…

STEERING 14V153000 2014-03-31 1,373,177 affected
Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS)…

Consequence

If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model…

AIR BAGS 14V047000 2014-02-10 2,190,934 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 04V547000 2004-11-16 178,798 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP (DRL) ON EITHER FRONT SIDE CAN STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET.

Consequence

IF A FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMP IS INOPERATIVE, OTHERS MAY REACT MORE SLOWLY TO A TURNING VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL/TURN SIGNAL BULB ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE AND INSPECT FOR AND ADD A DRL JUMPER KIT IF NOT PRESENT. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 04V281000 2004-06-08 670 affected
Defect

CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SUPERCHARGED 2.0L 4-CYLINDER (LSJ) ENGINE WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL FEED PIPE THAT COULD CRACK AND LEAK FUEL NEAR THE FUEL RAIL. IF FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL FEED PIPE, THERE WOULD BE A NOTICEABLE FUEL ODOR AROUND THE VEHICLE.

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FEED PIPE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

STRUCTURE 04V002000 2004-01-06 344 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME WELDS BETWEEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MOTOR RAIL AND THE FRONT BUMPER BRACKET DO NOT MEET ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence

LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE JOINT MAY BE REDUCED AND SEPARATION OF THE BUMPER FROM THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAY RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

ALL VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER'S POSSESSIONS.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 04V003000 2004-01-05 127,285 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L 4-CYLINDER (L61) ENGINES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL FILTER THAT COULD CORRODE PREMATURELY ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE.

Consequence

IF CORROSION ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FUEL FILTER PROGRESSES TO THE POINT OF CREATING A HOLE IN THE SHELL, FUEL DROPLETS COULD FORM AND DROP TO THE GROUND. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

VISIBILITY 04V004000 2004-01-05 79,204 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION, AND ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS." THE POWER WINDOWS AND/OR SUNROOF MAY BE OPERABLE AFTER THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR IS OPENED.

Consequence

IF UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN ARE LEFT UNATTENDED IN THE VEHICLE AND OPERATE THE POWER WINDOWS OR SUNROOF, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Complaints by component

STEERING
323
15crashes1fires4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
233
8crashes3fires6injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
47
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
44
1crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS
42
22crashes12injuries3deaths
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
36
1fires
POWER TRAIN
26
2crashes
ENGINE
23
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
23
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
21
1crashes
Total complaints1,124

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The car doesn't always want to release the key. I have to stick my finger up in the column to push the little button to release it which is not convenient at all. It seems to do it if the wheels aren't completely straight. But still even with the steering wheel straight, sometimes it wont come out…”

STEERING · reported 2024-03-01

“Airbags did not deploy”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-06-19

“The drivers side windshield wiper linkage failed at the junction of the metal rod and the plastic wiper mount causing the wiper to stop working. And the wiper arms are almost impossible to remove, even with a puller. Obviously this condition is a safety issue, and other gm vehicles have been…”

VISIBILITY/WIPER · reported 2023-06-19

“The contact owns a 2004 saturn ion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to maneuver the steering wheel on several occasions. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he replaced the electric power steering motor;…”

STEERING · reported 2022-12-08

“My car started getting a strong odor of gas. A fuel pipe leak is causing the odor”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2021-09-08

“The fuel pump is leaking, gm refuses to fix it because the vin isn't associated with the recall, but the same year make and model of my car says it has a recall for the fuel system and pump.”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2020-12-29

“The fuel pump is leaking, gm refuses to fix it because the vin isn't associated with the recall, but the same year make and model of my car says it has a recall for the fuel system and pump.”

STEERING · reported 2020-12-29

“Power steering sticks. I take a 55mph curve and the steering wheel doesn't come back to center. It wants to take me off the roadway.”

STEERING · reported 2020-11-30

Defect investigations

Investigation EA04035 Opened 2004-12-22 · closed 2005-10-20

FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL FAILURE

THE COMBINATION FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL IN MY 2003 SATURN ION COUPES EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT EARLY-LIFE FAILURES DUE TO VARIOUS BULB QUALITY ISSUES DUE TO INADEQUATE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE.THIS PROBLEM TREND APPEARS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED AFTER THE FALL OF 2003.THE CHANGE OF LEAD WIRE MATERIAL NEAR THE START OF MY 2004…

Investigation EA11014 Opened 2011-09-29 · closed 2014-04-15

Electric Power Steering Failure

On March 31, 2014, General Motors Company (GM) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 1,340,447 model year (MY) 2004 through 2010 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS), including 334,728…

Investigation EA11014 Opened 2011-09-29 · closed 2014-04-15

Electric Power Steering Failure

On March 31, 2014, General Motors Company (GM) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist in approximately 1,340,447 model year (MY) 2004 through 2010 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS), including 334,728…

Investigation PE04061 Opened 2004-08-17 · closed 2004-12-22

FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL FAILURE

ON NOVEMBER 16, 2004, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 178,798 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 AND 2004 SATURN ION SEDAN VEHICLES FOR INOPERATIVE FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL BULBS.GM STATED THAT TEMPERATURES IN THE LAMP ASSEMBLY EXCEED THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATION FOR THE BULB SOCKETS AND BULB BASE SLEEVES,…

Investigation RQ10004 Opened 2010-12-15 · closed 2011-10-05

Electric Power Steering Failure

ODI has received 846 complaints and GM identified 3,489 reports alleging sudden loss of steering power assist in model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Saturn Ion vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors Corporation (GM).Sixteen of these complaints alleged that the EPS warning lamp had illuminated before or during…

Investigation RQ10004 Opened 2010-12-15 · closed 2011-10-05

Electric Power Steering Failure

ODI has received 846 complaints and GM identified 3,489 reports alleging sudden loss of steering power assist in model year (MY) 2004 through 2007 Saturn Ion vehicles manufactured and sold by General Motors Corporation (GM).Sixteen of these complaints alleged that the EPS warning lamp had illuminated before or during…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Saturn Ion as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.