2005 Saturn ION Saturn ION 2005

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2005 Saturn ION repairs by problem area

Engine (41%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (1%)

Brakes and Traction Control (5%)

Suspension and Steering (32%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (14%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (1%)

Other (5%)

Chart based on 92 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2005 Saturn ION.

2005 Saturn ION repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (4%)

$500 - $999 (15%)

$100 - $499 (30%)

< $100 (51%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 82 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2005 Saturn ION 4dr Sedan

140-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Saturn ION in South Carolina, United States
Jan 2012 - Jun 2016
Feb 2012

65800 mi

US $128
Replaced shocks and spring seats 
Apr 2012

68300 mi

US $78
Radiator fan needed to be replaced. 
Oct 2012

73000 mi

US $100
Replaced Front Oxygen Sensor and coolant sensor 
Saturn ION in Arizona, United States
Sep 2010 - Dec 2012
Oct 2010

159000 mi

US $300
noise from front suspension, replaced bushings and control arms and stabilizer links 
Feb 2011

168000 mi

US $20
Replaced thermostat 
Saturn ION in South Dakota, United States
Oct 2009 - Jun 2013
May 2012

127700 mi

US $800
Ignition system stopped working correctly Catalytic converter was damaged by ignition issue 
Saturn ION in Ohio, United States
Jan 2010 - Mar 2014
Nov 2012

130000 mi

US $60
random multiple misfires. Replaced coil pack 
Jun 2013

130000 mi

US $60
Ignition cylinder failed. Key would not turn. Had to replace 
Saturn ION in Arizona, United States
Apr 2006 - Oct 2013
Feb 2006

20000 mi
noticed a knocking sound when turning. Suspension bushing was bad. Covered under warranty. Now, 6 months later, it is happening again. 
May 2006

23000 mi
driver's side window stopped working. Dealership said it was that the weatherstripping was stuck and lubed it with silicone. 2 weeks later it happened again, apparently the motor was bad. All was covered under warranty. 
Jul 2007

41 mi
Just got back from dealer, many repairs done. LF wheel bearing and hub assembly; suspension bushing (for the 3rd time); Intermediate steering shaft, insulator and clamp; concentric slave cylinder; alignment. All covered under extended warranty. Thank 
Saturn ION in Wisconsin, United States
May 2008 - Mar 2010
Apr 2008

32000 mi
Had rear cigarette lighter unit replace (just quit working) 
May 2008

32050 mi
Blower fan replaced, Sunroof Motor replaced 
Jun 2008

33000 mi
Grinding noise shifting into 2nd gear. Mechanic says it's normal on Ions. I drove another Ion same day on their lot. Didn't make the noise. If this is normal, these Ions need to be recalled. 
Saturn ION in Vermont, United States
Jan 2010 - Jun 2012
Jul 2010

52000 mi

US $600
Replaced sway bar links and wheel bearing - said wheel bearing was in the worst condition they'd ever seen. Rotors were entirely disintegrated piles of rust. 
Saturn ION in New York, United States
May 2007 - Sep 2014
Sep 2007

21705 mi
AC compressor seized causing belt breakage Dealer replaced compressor and belt under warranty 
Aug 2008

28700 mi
Front control arm bushing fell loose from the control arm. Dealer replaced despite being out of warranty 
Aug 2011

73000 mi

US $93
Control Arm Bushing came loose from its mounting. Replaced control arm 
Jun 2013

104000 mi

US $75
Stabilizer bar links and bushings replaced due to rattling 
Saturn ION in Vermont, United States
Apr 2009 - Mar 2010
May 2009

73000 mi

US $35
Ignition switch was bad 
Saturn ION in Michigan, United States
- Dec 2006
Jun 2006

17000 mi
Gauges starting "lagging". Speedometer in particular. Also cruise control occasionally not working. ECU update fixed it. 
Aug 2006

19000 mi
Window seal on passenger side went bad - window would not roll up properly into the door. Covered under warranty. 
Dec 2006

23000 mi
Head was cracked on the motor. Check engine light tipped us off that something was wrong - but car ran pretty well like this for a year. It explained the mysterious dissapearing coolant. Warranty covered $1400 cost. 

Return to top

2005 Saturn ION 4dr Sedan

140-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Saturn ION in Georgia, United States
Feb 2013 - Apr 2014
Mar 2013

129000 mi
Would not start in extreme cold. Disconnected white wire from pass-lock system. It now cranks EVERY freezing morning! 
Mar 2014

147000 mi

US $300
replaced icm and coil 
Saturn ION in Quebec, Canada
Sep 2012 - Mar 2017
May 2013

52080 mi

C $529
New tire installation 
Feb 2014

54660 mi

C $35
Does not start, Passlock lignt and other lights flashing. 
Aug 2015

57660 mi

C $115
Replace Right front Sway bar link 
Feb 2016

58480 mi

C $50
HVAC Blower fan stop working in low and medium speed. High speed is working. rnReplaced HVAC Blower motor Resistor. 
Nov 2016

60240 mi

C $125
Replace front Left Wheel Bearing. Replace rear brake cylinder(Right and left). 
Saturn ION in New Mexico, United States
Aug 2015 - Jun 2018
Aug 2016

90000 mi

US $890
replaced shocks and struts 
Sep 2016

91000 mi

US $475
ignition switch lock cylinder replaced during GM recall failed (key will not turn). Found dealer recall 'repair' damaged switch housing to where lock cylinder replacement ineffective, need to replace the entire switch and housing 
Jan 2018

102000 mi

US $320
Engine light, code 102; thermostat replacement 
Saturn ION in Maryland, United States
Dec 2011 - Feb 2012
Jan 2012

US $580
Struts 
Saturn ION in Texas, United States
Jun 2013 - Aug 2013
Aug 2013

66000 mi
If the car went over a large bump or dip too quickly, the entire electrical system shut down, and the car would stall. On restarting, the car worked fine. 
Saturn ION in Illinois, United States
May 2013 - Dec 2013
Jul 2013

75500 mi

US $45
Bad oxygen sensor "upstream", means before catalytic converter. Replaced sensor. Had to replace both stabilizer links, and sway bar bushings. 
Dec 2013

78000 mi
engine coolant light comes on. Needs new coolant surge tank. 
Saturn ION in British Columbia, Canada
Feb 2011 - Apr 2015
Jun 2011

112840 mi

C $500
One front bearing changed. 
Dec 2012

161200 mi

C $600
Serviced Catalytic Converter 
Saturn ION in Texas, United States
May 2009 - Oct 2014
Sep 2013

124000 mi

US $50
Replace spark plugs. 
Saturn ION in Pennsylvania, United States
Feb 2010 - Jun 2018
Apr 2010

59000 mi
Took car in for yearly PA. state inspection. Car would not pass state emissions test due to bad gas cap. Dealer service replaced gas cap. 
May 2011

64300 mi

US $70
Replaced clips that held driver side window to power window track ..took to local glass shop 
Jun 2011

65000 mi

US $200
Both rear shocks replaced after I noticed one was leaking..car does not bounce so much going over rough roads 
Apr 2012

71500 mi

US $400
replaced rear drum brake cylinders 
Oct 2012

75000 mi

US $8
Car was running a tiny bit hot according to temp gauge. Checked to find upper radiator hose was collapsing due to negative pressure in cooling system. Replaced screw on cap on overflow reservoir. Problem solved. 
Mar 2013

79000 mi

US $262
Replaced both front stabilizer link bars as the y were worn and loose. front end noise going over bumps stopped had both rear shocks replaced as rear end bounced a lot 
May 2013

81000 mi

US $326
front right wheel bearing was replaced as it was noisy 
Feb 2015

93000 mi

US $150
Both rear shocks replaced for Pennsylvania state inspection due to leaks. 
Nov 2015

99000 mi

US $65
Replaced both front end Mcpherson struts and coils Replaced the coolant recovery tank and hose engine supply hose from the tank to the engine. Old one was leaking from the bottom near the sensor. New one came with sensor and cap. 
Sep 2016

107000 mi

US $174
One of the trunk lid torsion bars that hold up the deck lid when opened snapped on its own. I had to replace both the torsion bars as they work as a set. trunk/deck lid now is able to stay in the open position.... 
Mar 2017

113000 mi

US $266
Emission light on dash was related to a faulty valve from gas tank that traps and hold fumes. Valve replaced and light cleared. 
Saturn ION in Pennsylvania, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2013
Apr 2010

59000 mi

US $150
p0455 error, can't solve it, put new gas caps still happens. can't find parts that need attention on the car, don't know where to look 
Feb 2011

70000 mi

US $291
emissions problems suspension problem 
Mar 2011

70000 mi

US $106
transmission lines leaking 
Dec 2011

82000 mi
had problems with the inside door switch. also with the security system locking my start up. thanks for google and all the help there. 
Oct 2012

92500 mi

US $10
cruise control, replaced the up-down switch. it works now. 
Saturn ION in Illinois, United States
Mar 2010 - Mar 2015
May 2010

85000 mi

US $90
Blinkers inoperative. Replaced wiring harness. 
Jun 2011

94000 mi

US $600
Swaybar links replaced on both sides. 
Jun 2012

115000 mi

US $85
Broken windshield wiper transmission. 
Jul 2014

145800 mi

US $150
Excessive noise at front driver side wheel. 
Mar 2015

160000 mi

US $250
Fuel line leak near rear driver-side tire. Found excessive corrosion on the line. Replaced with new lines. 
Saturn ION in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2010 - Jun 2011
Aug 2010

70000 mi

US $100
Replaced lower control arm bushings, stabilizer end links and bushings by myself 
Saturn ION in California, United States
Apr 2006 - Jun 2022
Apr 2006

14000 mi
Ignition Switch Replacement, Car locked key in ignition, no start no electrical 
Jul 2011

49000 mi

US $236
I paid for the ignition switch replacement though it was replaced not 20,000 miles ago under warranty. The BTSI sensor [$400.00] was covered by GM as it had been replaced 20,000 miles before as well. Update: GM later refunded the rest. 
Jul 2014

61200 mi
Recall ignition switch and cylinder. The 2011 repair lasted a little over a year and 3000 miles. I've been diddling a little tab under the steering wheel to get the key to release. 
Feb 2016

65000 mi

US $381
Bushing on sway bar went out again after less than 30,000 miles. 1st time was under warranty. Recall for ignition key only partially successful. Key would still not come out after repair. TSB was issued by GM for this condition. Shifter replaced because of open circuit 
Jul 2018

69000 mi

US $988
Fuel filler neck and vapor recovery system 

Return to top

2005 Saturn ION 4dr Coupe

supercharged 205hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Saturn ION in Michigan, United States
Sep 2016 - Mar 2018
Jan 2017

97000 mi

US $1400
fuel and return line replaced - rusted from factory heat shield holding water 
Oct 2017

101000 mi

US $1000
front bearings replaced 
Mar 2018

106000 mi

US $88
replaced water pump 
Saturn ION in California, United States
Jun 2009 - Aug 2012
Jul 2009

63000 mi

US $100
Slow coolant leak. Dealer replaced water pump. 
Oct 2009

75000 mi
Cat convertor flex pipe cracked. Replaced under Federal Emmissions requirement 
Dec 2009

80000 mi

US $550
Replaced struts shocks 
Dec 2011

115000 mi

US $300
Crankshaft position sensor failure 
Feb 2012

118000 mi

US $680
Check engine light was still on after I replaced the crankshaft position sensor myself. Code said I needed to do a CASE relearn.  The dealer also found another code indicating the coolant temp was too low. Also replace a failing thermostat. 

Return to top

2005 Saturn ION 4dr Coupe

140-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Saturn ION in Ohio, United States
- Apr 2007
Apr 2007 I seem to be have a stupid little problem with my gas caps. I am on my third and they keep going bad! I have replaced 2, at a whopping $26 each. 

Return to top

2005 Saturn ION 4dr Coupe

140-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Saturn ION in Arizona, United States
Mar 2004 - Jun 2012
Dec 2004

50 mi
brake light switch adjusted by dealer 
Jul 2007

30000 mi
ignition lock cylinder replaced under warranty 
Saturn ION in Kentucky, United States
Jan 2014 - Dec 2014
Dec 2014

44000 mi
Fuel injector line came loose / or electrical ignition cause a fire. Car was a total loss due to fire. 
Saturn ION in Tennessee, United States
Aug 2010 - Dec 2011
Sep 2010

48000 mi

US $50
Replaced solenoid switch, auto transaxle park/neutral position to fix BTSI system. 
Saturn ION in California, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2013
Sep 2013

36000 mi

US $1100
Clunking noise from front suspension. Shop diagnosed as needing a new steering yoke. Battery would not hold a charge. Replaced battery. 
Saturn ION in New Jersey, United States
Aug 2009 - Apr 2011
Apr 2011

85000 mi
Shocks, Struts, Break Pads and Rotors. 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Coupes.
See TrueDelta's information for all Saturn models.

2005 Saturn ION Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2005 Saturn ION problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.