2003 Hyundai Elantra vs 2003 Saturn Ion
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Hyundai Elantra | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 234 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 68 | 498 |
| Investigations | 2 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 42 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,638 mi | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 | 381 |
| Steering | 16 | 139 |
| Air Bags | 48 | 49 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 58 |
| Suspension | 61 | 9 |
| Power Train | 9 | 55 |
| Structure | 32 | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 38 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 43 | 18 |
| Airbag warning light | 11 | 0 |
| Stalling | 8 | 81 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 11 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 133 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 32 |
2003 Hyundai Elantra
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Hyundai Elantra 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.