RecallRepo

2005 Saturn Ion Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2005 Saturn Ion has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,755,125 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 755 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…

Complaints by component

STEERING
255
9crashes5injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
173
4crashes2fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
38
AIR BAGS
29
14crashes9injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
23
ENGINE
22
2crashes1fires1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
13
POWER TRAIN
13
Total complaints755

What owners report

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

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-04-15

“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…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2025-04-15

“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…”

STEERING · reported 2025-04-15

“The contact owns a 2005 saturn ion. The contact stated that the ignition key was stuck inside the ignition key slot, and the vehicle failed to start. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed that the vin was not included in the nhtsa campaign number: 14v171000…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · reported 2025-04-01

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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2025-03-12

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-03-12

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

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2025-03-12

“The ignition cylinder was replaced in my vehicle because the key would not turn in the ignition to start the car. It is actually, the fourth time this has happened. I understand that there have been two recalls on this issue in the past. The reason it was recalled is because the ignition has…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-10-08

Defect investigations

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 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 2005 Saturn Ion as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.