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Saturn ION Reliability Comparisons

You won't find Saturn ION reliability information like this anywhere else. Actual repair frequencies, not just vague dots. So you can tell how much the Saturn ION truly differs from competing car models in reliability.

These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to much more closely track Saturn ION reliability as the cars age. Others tell you how reliable the Saturn ION was a year ago, when the cars were a year younger and had 12,000 fewer miles on them. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Saturn ION has been recently.

See what people are saying about Saturn ION reliability

Take the TrueDelta survey on your car and get free access to all of the data on this page. Click here to get started!

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Saturn ION Competitors' Reliability through December 31, 2012

An asterisk (*) marks results based on small sample sizes.

Year Make/Model Repair Frequencysuccessful repair trips per 100 cars per year Compared to all models for the same year  
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt 28 Cobalts, 8.8 months of data per Cobalt, average 40200 miles39
30% Fewest Trips Most Trips
see reported repairs
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt   19 Cobalts, 9.4 months of data per Cobalt, average 58200 miles

Small sample size.
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2007 Chevrolet Cobalt 26 Cobalts, 9.1 months of data per Cobalt, average 79000 miles41
30% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt   18 Cobalts, 9.8 months of data per Cobalt, average 67400 miles

Small sample size.
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2013 Ford Focus 39 Focuses, 2.1 months of data per Focus, average 3300 miles

New Focus better in its second year, at least so far.
15
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2012 Ford Focus 136 Focuses, 8.3 months of data per Focus, average 10800 miles

Redesigned for this model year. The SYNC system has required many software updates. The reported repair frequency would be much higher if we counted free software updates as repairs.
37
50% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2010 Ford Focus 30 Focuses, 8.8 months of data per Focus, average 35700 miles41
40% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2009 Ford Focus   24 Focuses, 10.0 months of data per Focus, average 45700 miles

Small sample size.
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2008 Ford Focus 27 Focuses, 10.7 months of data per Focus, average 58800 miles

Redesigned for this model year.
25
10% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2007 Ford Focus 39 Focuses, 9.5 months of data per Focus, average 75500 miles

39
30% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2006 Ford Focus 27 Focuses, 8.0 months of data per Focus, average 90000 miles

39
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2005 Ford Focus 30 Focuses, 9.8 months of data per Focus, average 93000 miles45
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2004 Ford Focus   15 Focuses, 10.5 months of data per Focus, average 106500 miles

Small sample size.
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2003 Ford Focus 34 Focuses, 7.6 months of data per Focus, average 102500 miles

79
50% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2002 Ford Focus 26 Focuses, 8.3 months of data per Focus, average 105000 miles

117
90% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2001 Ford Focus   17 Focuses, 9.1 months of data per Focus, average 126500 miles

Small sample size.
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2000 Ford Focus   16 Focuses, 7.0 months of data per Focus, average 119600 miles

Small sample size.
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2012 Honda Civic 68 Civics, 8.4 months of data per Civic, average 10600 miles

Redesigned for this model year.
6
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2011 Honda Civic 26 Civics, 10.2 months of data per Civic, average 16900 miles9
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2010 Honda Civic 41 Civics, 9.4 months of data per Civic, average 25600 miles25
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2009 Honda Civic 64 Civics, 9.5 months of data per Civic, average 37400 miles22
10% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2009 Honda Civic Hybrid   12 Civic Hybrids, 6.3 months of data per Civic Hybrid, average 43100 miles

Small sample size.
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2008 Honda Civic 85 Civics, 9.4 months of data per Civic, average 52800 miles24
10% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2008 Honda Civic Hybrid   13 Civic Hybrids, 8.4 months of data per Civic Hybrid, average 58100 miles

Small sample size.
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2007 Honda Civic 80 Civics, 8.4 months of data per Civic, average 67200 miles

27
10% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2007 Honda Civic Hybrid   13 Civic Hybrids, 9.8 months of data per Civic Hybrid, average 76300 miles

Small sample size.
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2006 Honda Civic 66 Civics, 9.5 months of data per Civic, average 80700 miles

Redesigned for this model year.
35
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2005 Honda Civic 33 Civics, 9.0 months of data per Civic, average 92900 miles41
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2004 Honda Civic 37 Civics, 8.5 months of data per Civic, average 109600 miles23
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2003 Honda Civic 25 Civics, 9.2 months of data per Civic, average 116000 miles

73
40% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2002 Honda Civic 46 Civics, 8.4 months of data per Civic, average 129500 miles46
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2001 Honda Civic 32 Civics, 8.3 months of data per Civic, average 144000 miles

Redesigned for this model year. Might partly explain why the reported repair frequency is so much higher than for other model years. Tramission might be a common problem area.
95
50% Fewest Trips Most Trips
see reported repairs
2000 Honda Civic 34 Civics, 8.1 months of data per Civic, average 118900 miles

39
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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1999 Honda Civic 26 Civics, 9.3 months of data per Civic, average 142600 miles

70
10% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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1998 Honda Civic   16 Civics, 8.4 months of data per Civic, average 148400 miles

Small sample size.
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1997 Honda Civic   12 Civics, 5.3 months of data per Civic, average 169000 miles

Small sample size.
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2012 Mazda Mazda3 63 Mazda3s, 6.8 months of data per Mazda3, average 7100 miles8
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2012 Mazda MazdaSpeed3   15 MazdaSpeed3s, 7.1 months of data per MazdaSpeed3, average 7000 miles

Small sample size.
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2011 Mazda Mazda3 39 Mazda3s, 9.7 months of data per Mazda3, average 14700 miles19
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2011 Mazda MazdaSpeed3   11 MazdaSpeed3s, 9.0 months of data per MazdaSpeed3, average 16800 miles

Small sample size.
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2010 Mazda Mazda3 120 Mazda3s, 9.6 months of data per Mazda3, average 34200 miles

Redesigned for this model year.
15
10% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2010 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 27 MazdaSpeed3s, 9.7 months of data per MazdaSpeed3, average 32000 miles

Redesigned for this model year.
9
0% Fewest Trips Most Trips
see reported repairs
2009 Mazda Mazda3 53 Mazda3s, 9.1 months of data per Mazda3, average 46400 miles

Mostly 2008.5s.
27
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2009 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 27 MazdaSpeed3s, 9.6 months of data per MazdaSpeed3, average 42100 miles

Mostly 2008.5s.
47
40% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2008 Mazda Mazda3 58 Mazda3s, 9.6 months of data per Mazda3, average 54800 miles

28
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2008 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 25 MazdaSpeed3s, 8.5 months of data per MazdaSpeed3, average 57100 miles

40
30% Fewest Trips Most Trips
see reported repairs
2007 Mazda Mazda3 76 Mazda3s, 9.6 months of data per Mazda3, average 67200 miles

51
40% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2007 Mazda MazdaSpeed3   21 MazdaSpeed3s, 9.6 months of data per MazdaSpeed3, average 55800 miles

Small sample size.
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2006 Mazda Mazda3 51 Mazda3s, 9.6 months of data per Mazda3, average 78500 miles76
70% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2005 Mazda Mazda3 37 Mazda3s, 10.2 months of data per Mazda3, average 81400 miles

Prone to rust where the roads are salted.
54
30% Fewest Trips Most Trips
see reported repairs
2004 Mazda Mazda3 37 Mazda3s, 9.2 months of data per Mazda3, average 108600 miles

Prone to rust where the roads are salted.
49
20% Fewest Trips Most Trips
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2006 Scion tC   13 tCs, 9.8 months of data per tC, average 64500 miles

Small sample size.
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Small sample size.
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2005 Scion tC   19 tCs, 8.2 months of data per tC, average 127700 miles

Small sample size.
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What People Are Saying about Reliability and the Saturn ION

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What Our Members Are Saying about Saturn ION Reliability and Durability

Reliability and Durability of the Saturn ION: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2007 4dr Coupe 145-horsepower 2.2L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
We have only owned the Ion for a few months so I cannot comment on the reliablilty yet.
2007 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Plastic panels mean no rust and no fear for dents.
2007 4dr Coupe 145-horsepower 2.2L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
Very durable engine, but sub par interior materials.
2007 4dr Coupe 145-horsepower 2.2L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Just that -- a car I can get into and know it will start and reliably get me from a to b.
2007 4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 2.2L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Low maintenance required just oil changes and rotate tires. No damage to the car that I know of from hitting a tire and rim @ 65mph on the hwy. Had to purchase new rim, hubcap and tire.
2007 4dr Coupe 175-horsepower 2.4L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
Dependable.
2006 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.2L I4
5-speed manual FWD
This car starts even in the coldest weather (Chicago area) and runs smoothly, even after almost a quarter MILLION miles of driving it on bumpy Illinois roads! I sure wish they still made Saturn's so I could buy another one.
2006 4dr Coupe 170-horsepower 2.4L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
good product
2006 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.2L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
I have onlu owed the car for a few months but have not had any problems with it yet.
2003 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.2L I4
5-speed automatic FWD
This is my 2nd new Saturn. My first was a 1998 Saturn SL2 4dr. I had no problems with it and it has 145,000 miles on it and still runs great. So that is why I bought my 2003 Saturn Ion2. I knew that I was getting a good reliable car.
2003 4dr Coupe 140-horsepower 2.2L I4
5-speed manual FWD
In 5 years and 68,000 miles, I have only had less than a handful of problems, which 95% of them were taken care of by the warranty.
Reliability and Durability of the Saturn ION: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2004 4dr Coupe 140-horsepower 2.2L I4
5-speed manual FWD
The ignition switch went out at 33,000!! (SERIOUSLY?) Trunk release at 36k (not a fuse issue) At 29k radio would stick and no functions would work (had it fixed several times still having issues at 62k. Wheel bearings and struts out at 52k.

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