2007 Saturn Ion Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Saturn Ion most often report electric power steering that cuts out while driving, followed by fuel leaks and fumes traced to the fuel pump module and rusted fuel lines, and ignition key problems where the key will not turn or cannot be removed. Many complaints describe the steering assist returning after the car is shut off and restarted, and many describe leaks that come back or are found outside the states covered by an earlier fuel-pump recall.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out while driving

   • 394 complaints (45%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (356 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the PWR STR light and a warning chime coming on, after which the wheel becomes very hard to turn, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes during low-speed turns or while backing out of a parking space. Several say the assist comes back after the car is shut off and restarted, and that the failure returns later, sometimes several times in one trip. Complaints mention dealers diagnosing an internal fault in the steering column, a failed power steering motor or module, or a hose, with repairs sometimes quoted around a thousand dollars; some owners note that their vehicle identification number was not included in the steering recall. Reported from roughly 26,000 to 202,000 miles, most often between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, with no clear seasonal pattern.

   Recall 14V153000

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for the PWR STR warning and note whether the wheel goes heavy, especially at low speed in a turn. Ask whether the car had the electric power steering recall performed and whether the steering column or motor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power steering failure light comes on and I will have no power steering. I can cut car off and wait a few minutes and then the light is out and the power steering working. Very sporadic. Sometimes happens 3 or 4 times in 40 mile trip. Sometimes does not happen at all. If very dangerous when it happens and I am turning a corner.”

   NHTSA complaint #10440043, filed 2011-12, 112,000 miles

   “I was driving my 2007 Saturn ION last october and the electric power steering suddenly went out. I would have to restart the car and drive for maybe 5 to 10 minutes at a time until it failed again. I brought it to a GM dealership and they told me the motor was out and would cost approximately 400 dollars to fix. I purchased the 110 dollar motor from them and installed it myself. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10408889, filed 2011-06, 105,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the fuel pump module

   • 199 complaints (23%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (169 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $695 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners report a strong gasoline odor inside and outside the car, fuel on the ground or dripping near the rear tires, and a fuel gauge that reads wrong. In many cases a mechanic traced it to a cracked or fractured fuel pump module or sending unit, and several owners say the dealer told them a fuel pump recall existed but their vehicle was not covered. Some describe the leak starting after refueling or appearing only while the engine is running. Reported from about 21,000 to 160,000 miles, often around 40,000 to 110,000 miles, sometimes after refueling.

   Recall 12V459000Recall 09V4190002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Smell around the rear of the car and under the fuel filler after starting, and look for staining or drips near the tank and rear tires. Ask whether the fuel pump module recall was done and whether the fuel lines or filler neck have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A couple of months ago I started smelling gas fumes coming from my car. The fumes where mainly located in the driver side back tire and inside my vehicle. I finally took this car to the shop and they told me that the filler neck will need to be replaced because my car is leaking gasoline. This car has been nothing but a headache I am ready to trade it in....”

   NHTSA complaint #10551851, filed 2013-11, 37,000 miles

   “I want to report a problem with my 2007 Saturn ION. I live in virginia and my vehicle had a fuel system leak like the one described in your safety recall 09v419000. My vehicle was actually dripping fuel from the skid plate covering the fuel tank. Gm was made aware of this problem back in december 2009, but because my vehicle was about 7000 miles out of the factory warranty Saturn/GM refused to help. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10324847, filed 2010-04, 43,519 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition key sticks or will not turn off

   • 154 complaints (18%)
   • median 65,974 mi at 4.9 yrs old (120 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners describe the key jamming in the ignition so the car cannot be shut off, or coming out while the engine is still running. Some say the key could only be freed after disconnecting the battery, and some report repeat failures after a repair or after the ignition recall work was done. Complaints also mention the car not starting and warning lights flashing when the key is turned. Reported from about 26,000 to 202,000 miles, with many under 70,000 miles.

   Recall 14V171000Recall 14V047000

   What to check: Turn the car on and off several times and make sure the key moves freely and cannot be pulled out while running. Ask whether the ignition switch recall was completed and keep the key ring light, as the recall notice advises.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My key became locked in the ignition while my Saturn ion2 was engaged. No matter what I tried, the key would not turn to shut the car off. I drove to a mechanic and he also had no idea how to disengage my car. I then drove a nearby Saturn dealership. The dealership was very familiar with this problem and informed me that this kind of malfunction happened often in Saturn ions. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10289295, filed 2009-10, 66,000 miles

   “I have a 2007 Saturn ION 3. Before the ignition recall my ignition stopped working (the car would not turn off) and I had the ignition replaced by GM. Once the recall was announced, GM reimbursed me for the repair. Now, my ignition is not turning off easily ~5% of the time (trying to park on my relatively flat driveway). I need to get it repaired; is a second ignition covered by the recall?”

   NHTSA complaint #11387154, filed 2021-01, 202,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2007 Ion, test the steering at low speed and watch for the PWR STR lamp, check for fuel smells around the rear of the car, and confirm which of the ignition, steering and fuel pump recalls were actually performed. Because many complaints involve vehicles outside a recall's coverage, service records matter more than the recall list alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.