2004 Saturn Ion Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,124 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Saturn Ion, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 79/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 52,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2004 sits among all Ion years
What owners report
“After the car is stopped and placed in park, the engine can be shut off but the key stays in a accesory mode and can not be turned to off or removed from the ignition.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Ion
“No power steering at low speed or after more than 5 minutes driving. Very hard to steer. No control of the car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Ion
“1. The ignition switch will not disengage...sometimes after motor is turned off and car is in park the car must be turned back on four or five times before the ignition will engage correctly. The vehicle is stationary...in the park position....key will lock inself and not disengage. The car was on…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Ion
“Car went for recall 7/7/14 about 3 times after the first recall i contact general motor to ask what have happend why tyhe car need to go back in again for the second recall chevrolet sayd that they did not perfom the job right once again i contact general motor in deceber they send me a letter…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Ion
“My car started getting a strong odor of gas. A fuel pipe leak is causing the odor”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Ion
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 858 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,280 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,500 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on…
Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of…
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…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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,…
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.…
Fix: 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…
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FEED PIPE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME WELDS BETWEEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MOTOR RAIL AND THE FRONT BUMPER BRACKET DO NOT MEET ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS.
Fix: ALL VEHICLES ARE STILL IN DEALER'S POSSESSIONS.
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…
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 14V153000.
Led to recall campaign 04V547000.
Technical service bulletins
525 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Saturn Ion. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Saturn Ion reliable?
The 2004 Saturn Ion drew 1,124 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 79/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2004 Saturn Ion problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Saturn Ion are electrical (380 complaints), steering (350), and transmission & drivetrain (60).
At what mileage do 2004 Saturn Ion problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Saturn Ion problems around 70,280 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,500 and 110,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Saturn Ion have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Saturn Ion. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.