Model year guide

2005 Saturn ION

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2005 Saturn ION is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 76 on record.

2005 Saturn ION — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2005 Saturn ION at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints573
Combined24 mpg
Typical price$2,143

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2005 Saturn ION recalls 5

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #14V171000 · 10/04/2014

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 "Off" position.

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 will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for ea…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V153000 · 31/03/2014

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) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

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, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin …

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #14E021000 · 30/04/2014

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 various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditi…

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 charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners r…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #14V047000 · 10/02/2014

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, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicl…

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 safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014…

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2005 Saturn ION common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 573 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2005 Saturn ION safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2005 Saturn Ion 2-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2005 Saturn ION MPG & running costs

Combined24 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,733

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2005 Saturn ION worth?

Low
$600
Typical price
$2,143
High
$3,950

From 75 comparable 2005 Saturn ION listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2005 Saturn ION costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,665
Fuel only$13,665
Per mile$0.18

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2005 Saturn ION trims & engines on record

Trims
2 · 3 · 1 · Sedan Level 2 · Sedan Level 1 · Red Line · Sedan Level 3 · Coupe Level 2
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl 170 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 205 hp

2005 Saturn ION vehicles on record

2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F75Z182678 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AZ52F65Z124912 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AN12F25Z182486 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F75Z152998 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 11G8AG52F15Z124936 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ54FX5Z144777 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F95Z145034 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AN12FX5Z158629 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 31G8AL52F25Z147265 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F25Z126406 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 11G8AF52F25Z142672 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 11G8AG52F65Z178166 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F85Z122568 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F35Z103152 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 11G8AG54F95Z161035 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F85Z158339 2005 Saturn ION 31G8AL52F45Z154864 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F75Z161880 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ54F15Z119122 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AN12F45Z113394 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 21G8AJ52F25Z119455 2005 Saturn ION 11G8AG52F35Z124677 2005 Saturn ION 11G8AG52F35Z152009 2005 Saturn ION 2005 Saturn ION 31G8AK52F05Z120875

Other Saturn ION model years

2007 2006 2004 2003

2005 Saturn ION — frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Saturn ION have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2005 Saturn ION. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Saturn ION?

Based on 573 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, steering, exterior lighting.

What is the 2005 Saturn ION safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2005 Saturn ION crash-test ratings of frontal 5★, side 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2005 Saturn ION get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2005 Saturn ION at about 24 mpg combined (21 city / 29 highway).

How much is a 2005 Saturn ION worth?

Comparable 2005 Saturn ION listings run roughly $600–$3,950, typically around $2,143 (from 75 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.