2003 Saturn Ion: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 958 complaints
958
Total Complaints
72,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
64
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

42,000 25th Percentile
72,000 Median Mileage
115,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
228
STEERING
129
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
68
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
54
AIR BAGS
39
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
33
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
32
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
31
ENGINE
20
POWER TRAIN
19

Severity Assessment

64
Crashes
4
Fires
48
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DEAR ADMINISTRATOR: I PURCHASED A 2003 SATURN ION 2 ON DECEMBER 28, 2002. I REPORTED TO BOTH THE SATURN CORPORATION AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T SAFE AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 80 MILES. THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX THE VEHICLE, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A..."
"WHEN THE CONSUMER PLUGGED DEVICES INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT WORK. *NLM"
"NEW SATURN ION 2003 STALLS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP, MUST STOP SUDDENLY TO RESTART AND GAIN CONTROL OF CAR. *NLM"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28