In the early 2000s, Saturn introduced the Ion, a vehicle that was plagued with numerous issues, contributing to its brief production run. The car was significantly underpowered, featuring a smaller engine than was typical for the period, which was a notable drawback given its length compared to other vehicles of similar size.

Additionally, the Ion had structural problems, particularly with the side impact frame. This flaw made the vehicle especially susceptible to damage in side collisions, commonly referred to as t-bone collisions, posing increased risk to occupants and further detracting from its market viability.