Saturn's brand revitalization is complete, and they now boast an entire lineup of fresh, new vehicles ranging from compact to full-size. The new Astra three-door and five-door models have recently taken a stand at the lower end of Saturn's offerings- so the time may be right to look for a good deal on the brands former entry-level car, the Ion.

Ion was produced from 2003 to 2007 in either coupe or sedan body styles, replacing the "S" series in Saturn's lineup. The coupe offered easy backseat access for people or pets by way of a useful set of suicide doors. Tucked in behind the front doors, these smaller openings allowed easier access to the rear seats while maintaining the looks of a coupe.


Ion came powered by several fuel-efficient Ecotec engines, mated to a four-speed or five-speed automatic gearbox, or a five-speed manual. A Continually Variable Transmission (CVT) was available in certain years, though it was scrapped because of reliability issues and poor sales. If you've never thought there was anything wrong with a normal automatic transmission, don't look for a used Ion with the CVT.

Later in the cars life, GM's 170 horsepower, 2.4 litre four cylinder was available, as was a two-litre supercharged engine in the high-performance Redline model. The latter delivered various suspension and visual tweaks, alongside 205 horsepower.

With various engine and transmission choices alongside different special editions and appearance packages, finding a Saturn Ion that matches your personality won't be a problem.

The big appeal to the Ion is the selection and fresh, youthful sense of style that made it a hit with customers across a wide span of age groups. It's a car worth considering- but it wasn't without its share of problems you'll want to look into first.

If considering a used Ion, be sure to have access to service records and question the former owner to see if indications of any common problems have been noted. Ion is full of potential issues that may present themselves audibly- so be sure to turn off that stereo on a test-drive, once you know it works.

Pop the hood and have someone start the engine. Listen for any unusual or sporadic rattling sounds, which could be caused by loose exhaust manifold bolts. This isn't a huge issue if diagnosed properly.



Once inside, work the blower fan through its speeds, listening for any chirping or clicking noises within. If you hear any, you'll probably need to replace the blower motor cover to make it stop. Also, make sure that the controls for the temperature system are all easy to turn, and that air-flow from the system is adequate- as an internal defect may cause debris to jam up the doors that control the air distribution.

Potential electrical problems with Ion include the sunroof and blinkers. If the sunroof doesn't work, it's likely a blown fuse. Blinkers may act strange if there's anything plugged into the power outlet on some models, though it's a simple wiring glitch that's easy to repair.

Additionally, make sure the engine idles smoothly with no hesitation or fluctuation. A lumpy or awkward idle may be the result of a malfunction in the engine computer that requires it to be reprogrammed. When idling, the tachometer needle should quickly fall to about 750 rpm and stay there.


If considering a used Ion Redline, you'll want to have a close look underneath- inspecting the underside of the transmission for signs of cracking or leakage. Abusive driving could leave expensive drivetrain parts like the axles or gearbox housing in poor shape.

Recall issues mainly dealt with the fuel system and leaks which could result from a defective feed-pipe or premature corrosion of the fuel filter. Since gasoline is involved, an ignition source near a leak could start a fire. That's a safety issue, and the recall was a common one- so be sure to investigate whether the corrective work has been carried out.

You'll also want to try and ask the vehicle's former owner about the ignition switch, and see if it' ever given them a problem starting. An ongoing headache with Saturn ignition switches from pre-Ion days may leave owners endlessly fiddling with the key, only to call a tow-truck because the car can't be started. One owner, having replaced the same part several times, suggests learning how to hot wire the Ion rather than paying a few hundred dollars to replace the switch every time it acts up.

Issues are issues- but as far as an inexpensive American car goes, you could do a lot worse in terms of reliability. Note that except for the un-popular CVT, no serious issues were noted with engines or transmissions. Additionally, generally weak resale values mean that shoppers will be able to find a just-right Ion for their budget.

Carefully inspect the car, check for recall work and make sure all the accessories function properly. If it all checks out, you've got yourself a decent ticket to economical driving with a unique sense of style and character.