2004 Saturn Ion Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 52about this part
- Share
- 6%of 898 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 52 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Saturn Ion, 6% of the 898 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 30 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving at night on a country road when a deer ran out in front of me and the car struck it. The car sustained some front end damage and the cabin filled with smoke. The seat-belts locked up but the airbags never deployed. Now the airbag light is on and the seat-belts are locked up. It concerns me that with everything that happened that the airbag should have when off.”
NHTSA complaint #10502620, filed 2013-03, 239,512 miles“Driving 60 MPH on the expressway, I was run off the road by a semi truck on the right side of the road. I hit a highway sign head-on. The airbag did not deploy, although the damage to the car was extensive. Thankfully I had my seat belt on, but sustained bruises.”
NHTSA complaint #10572631, filed 2014-03, 60,000 miles“1) my son drove our 2004 Saturn ion3 off the road wherein the front of the car hit a tree at approximately 45 MPH (according to the diagnostics from the on board computer). 2) the airbags failed to deploy. 3) GM was queried as to why they did not deploy. Gm provided the computer diagnostics of the incident but did not provide an answer/explanation despite multiple attempts.”
NHTSA complaint #10347362, filed 2010-08, 60,000 miles“An accident occurred while traveling on the tollway,the other vehicle came in my lane,passing lane, just as I was passing him causing major damage to the right front,passenger, part of the car.the airbags on the passenger side did open,no problem.,the driver side air bag spilt causing the powder to come into my face.I did lose a tooth but neither the other person insurance would not pay for it nor my health insurance . One good thing the ignition did shut off ,which was good because there was a gas leak which could have cause a fire. …”
NHTSA complaint #10617482, filed 2014-07, 194,000 miles“Was travelling on my way home from work and a fox darted out in front of me in the center of the road. I swerved slightly to miss the fox and the power steering in the car went out. I was unable to straighten the wheel and the car went into a 180 degree spin and ended up facing the other direction flipped up on the passenger side. I crawled out of the drivers window. Air bags did not deploy either. Had I not been wearing my seatbelt, I probably would have ended up underneath the car and if traffic had been coming, I could have killed someone else in oncoming traffic.”
NHTSA complaint #10607373, filed 2014-07, 134,000 milesRelated recalls
- 14V047000Feb 10, 2014This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings…Covers: Saturn Ion 2003–2007, Chevrolet Cobalt 2005–2010, HHR 2006–2011 +3 more
Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Saturn Ion
345 complaintsElectrical system
331 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
60 complaintsFuel system
52 complaintsEngine cooling
33 complaintsVehicle speed control
27 complaintsExterior lighting
25 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsBrakes
19 complaintsSuspension
19 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Saturn Ion
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology