2004 Saturn Ion engine problems

56 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2004 Saturn Ion, which is 5% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

Complaints: 56 5% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage: 82,000 miles 41 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires: 0 and 0
Injuries and deaths: 0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Based on 41 complaints that include mileage. 34% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.

View the numbers

Mileage	Complaints
0k to 20k miles	4
20k to 40k miles	3
40k to 60k miles	7
60k to 80k miles	5
80k to 100k miles	6
100k to 120k miles	7
120k to 140k miles	2
140k to 160k miles	5
160k to 180k miles	0
180k to 200k miles	2
200k+ miles	0

What the data shows

Of the 41 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 82,000 miles, and 34% were reported before 60,000 miles.

None of the engine complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.

What owners wrote

Engine shut off, causing the steering wheel to lock when vehicle traveled over road bumps. Taken to dealer twice for testing, but the results showed no apparent problem.

November 2004

2004 saturn ion III lost 4 of 5 quarts of oil and the oil light did not come on. The engine has to be replaced at a cost of $6,000. The dealer said, too bad".

Reported at 36,000 miles, October 2006

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Saturn models