Used 2004 Saturn ION 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A) Consumer Reviews
Used ION for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
A bad used car-fails to start
Mike Dbn, 01/17/2010
Saturn ION 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
This Saturn has the infamous "Passlock" anti-theft defect. The IC chip in the ignition column switch fails to recognize a genuine key and fails to start, usually in winter, but this has happened other times as well. The IC chip has been replaced twice, but I refuse to pay $300+ for an out-of- warranty repair. Not a reliable used car because of this. Also, the McPherson struts are noisy in winter, and make anoying "click" sounds. Seats feel cheap (no back support). Electric steering is too tight and you might oversteer into the next lane. Bad blind spots on both side pillars. Basically this is a 2004 Chevy Cavalier with plastic side panels. A real dog!
BEST CAR EVER
StetLaw, New Port Richey, FL, 07/13/2019
Saturn ION 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2004 Saturn Ion with 138k miles from the original owner a year and a half ago. The car now has 186k miles (yes I drive a lot). I had to replace the alternator at 155k because it was the ORIGINAL one. This car is a hidden gem, its better than a corolla because it doesn't have the reputation and you can get the car way cheaper! I bought the car to get me through law school, but I've grown so attached to the car because its been so reliable that I just can't sell the car. Its going to stay with me till it falls apart.
Thought it would be better
psyculman, 04/04/2010
Saturn ION 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my Saturn based on friends who owned older ones. But, my Ion reflected GM's usual utter disregard for customer loyalty. The front suspension rattled @20,000 miles, the ignition switch froze in 20 deg. weather, the wiper gear case broke off, front wheel bearings began to make noise at 60,000 mi. After 4 yr my $2,000 warranty, 5 year warranty, "applied from the "day" the car was "assembled", so did NOTHING! The morning the 'check engine' light came on, and I could not discover why on my own, I went directly to Toyota, and, bought a Corolla. End of story. See other reviews listed here on this site, if you can get a used Ion, cheap, it's probably going give you good service, but beware.
Consider other options
Mercury, Portland, OR, 03/15/2022
Saturn ION 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I wish I'd bought a different vehicle. It just wasn't made well. I drive it minimally and I've had to repair it twice in one month. It does have almost 120k miles on it, so some of the repairs weren't entirely unexpected. But a day after picking it up from the shop for the second time in two months, the torsion bars in the trunk just fall out for no apparent reason. I haven't had any major mechanical problems, but all the little things have added up to almost the resell value of the car. It's also been sluggish the entire four years I've had it. The shop I took it to recommended replacing the throttle body. Basically, expect frequent repairs. I had more power with my 2001 Dodge Neon. Also, the interior is not comfortable. It's fine for short trips, but your back will hurt if you drive for over half an hour. You don't want to put yourself through a long trip. It's awful. Also, the installed headlight system is dangerously dim on dark roads, so test drive it at night first if you're considering buying a Saturn. It is fuel-efficient, but it's not fun to drive and mine has required frequent repairs, which have not been worthwhile considering the low resell cost. If you have other options, It would be better to save up and buy a car that is made well. I don't think it's just me getting unlucky with my car because when I look up how to fix the weird issues I've had with it, there's always a few other Saturn owners with the same, stupid problem, like the keys not coming out of the ignition (that one is fun).
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Car Won't Start
Saturn Stinks!, 08/12/2010
Saturn ION 2 4dr Sedan (2.2L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought a Saturn because I thought they were reliable and Saturn always made such a big deal of their great service. What a joke! I have the same IC chip problem in the ignition as lots of others. Before I knew this I contacted Saturn and they were absolutely not helpful. Told me to take it to a local GM dealer or drive and hour to the nearest Saturn dealer. No wonder they went out of business. I will never buy and never recommend a Saturn to anyone.