2003 Honda Civic vs 2003 Saturn Ion
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Honda Civic | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 499 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 310 | 498 |
| Investigations | 6 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 90 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–41 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 79,500 mi | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Civic | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 51 | 381 |
| Air Bags | 140 | 49 |
| Power Train | 101 | 55 |
| Steering | 15 | 139 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 37 | 58 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 31 |
| Structure | 26 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 28 | 0 |
| Stalling | 27 | 81 |
| Airbag warning light | 27 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 11 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Overheating | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 18 |
2003 Honda Civic
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Honda Civic vs Saturn Ion years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.