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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2005 Saturn Ion Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
28about this part
Share
5%of 573 total for the year
Median mileage
47,632miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Saturn Ion, 5% of the 573 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 47,632 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Re: brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) solenoid. The key would get stuck in ignition and not release, or I would be unable to turn the car on after inserting the key. Note: a couple of times I could not turn off the car, which is a safety hazard. I had to force the key to turn the ignition cylinder to the off position over several minutes. I have replaced ignition switch 3 times and ignition housing twice since buying my Saturn ION new in 2005. Therefore, I am now on my fourth ignition switch since the car was manufactured. …”

NHTSA complaint #10577599, filed 2014-04, 50,263 miles

“In ambient temperature of 29 degrees, my vehicle would not start. Passlock light was blinking for 10 minutes and then stopped. After that, I was able to start the car. This has happened before.”

NHTSA complaint #10379425, filed 2011-01, 88,900 miles

“Now I have another transmission leak that I have to get fixed again. Which I find ironic due to the fact that the transmission is sealed. Also my family and I are moving cross county the end of august 2014. Now speaking to my car dealer shop they were honest with me and said that the ignition switch would probably be fixed but not my power steering motor. Now with that being said in the past eight months my car has stalled three times stopping, or coming off an off ramp from an interstate. It has even not wanted to start in my driveway and its not because of the battery or anything like that. …”

NHTSA complaint #10605779, filed 2014-06, 98,000 miles

“9/21/06, my son was diving his 2005 Saturn ION redline home from work. Car had 20,000 miles, bought new. He shifted into 3rd gear and the car made a loud noise and was barely drivable. He pulled into a parking lot and discovered a large fluid leak with no ability to shift gears. Car towed to Saturn of danbury. We were told that the transmission had literally exploded (their words) and upon investigation discovered the transmission case blown apart, supposedly caused by excessive RPM . …”

NHTSA complaint #10173019, filed 2006-11, 20,176 miles

“I was driving my vehicle and my shifter knob fell off in my hand. The shifter failed to go into second and fourth gear. I had the car towed to the dealer and the whole shifter shaft had to be replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10131772, filed 2005-08, 1,023 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2007192%
2006363%
2005285%
2004607%
2003557%

Other parts of the 2005 Saturn Ion

Steering
265 complaintsElectrical system
227 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsExterior lighting
31 complaintsFuel system
27 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsOther or unknown
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsEngine cooling
15 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsElectronic stability control
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 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