There are 8 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2004 Saturn Ionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE SATURN ION RECALLED IGNITION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. ON 3/20/15, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF, AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT. I STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, AND MANAGED TO BRING IT A STOP EVENTUALLY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CHANGING GEARS. I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET SATISFACTORY INFORMATION FROM EITHER THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP OR GM CUSTOMER SERVICE SO FAR. THE NEW IGNITION FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AND MY BRAKES TO FAIL. THIS CAUSED A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. THE RECALL FAILED TO CORRECT THE IGNITION PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR
EXCESSIVE BRAKE CHATTER IN FRONT BRAKES WHEN WET FROM A HARD RAIN OR RAIN PUDDLES. HARD TO STEER CAR, CAR SHUDDERS. *TR
ROTORS ON 2004 SATURN ION BRAKES ARE PREMATURELY RUSTING PRIOR TO NORMAL ROTOR WEAR AND TEAR AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMER DUE TO THEIR OBVIOUS VERY POOR QUALLITY.
I BOUGHT MY 2004 SATURN ION 2 COUPE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS, THEY WERE WORN DOWN TO THE IRON. I BOUGHT AMERICAN STEEL ROTORS FROM MIDAS. I'M STILL USING THE NEW ROTORS AND EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE BRAKES, ARE STILL LIKE NEW. MY CAR IS IN A GARAGE AND I DON'T DO MUCH DRIVING. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I HAD MY NEW 1992 SATURN SL1. NOW I'M TOLD MY SWAY BAR IS GOING AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES AND THE SWAY BAR BECAUSE IT'S A SATURN AND I NEEDED TO DRIVE IT AND APPLY THE BRAKES HARDER AND PARTS FOR THE SWAY BAR ON THE 2004 HAD TO BE IMPORTED AND WERE POORLY MADE. I FIND THIS SUSPICIOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN A FENDER BENDER. I NOTED 2006 ON MY SATURN 2010 FROM IT'S FIRST PROBLEM, A YEAR LATER ON THE SWAY BAR AND A COUPLE MORE YEARS ON THE 2ND SWAY BAR. THE 1992 SATURN WAS AN ONGOING SITUATION WITH THE ROTORS TILL I JUNKED IT AROUND 2011.
2004 SATURN ION EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR *NM
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THERE WAS A PULSING WHICH WOULD MAKE IT HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LINE. THE BRAKES WERE USELESS. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
VEHICLE VIBRATED/SHOOK DURING BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO NOTICED RUST ON THE LEFT ROTOR, WHICH WAS TURNED, AND BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE CLEANED AND READJUSTED. *AK
THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026