2003 Kia Rio 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 Kia Rio | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 74 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 16 | 498 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–26 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 49,349 mi | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Rio | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 15 | 381 |
| Steering | 4 | 139 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 58 |
| Power Train | 12 | 55 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 49 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 31 |
| Visibility | 1 | 33 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 11 | 81 |
| Won’t start | 6 | 133 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 32 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 23 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 18 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 9 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 7 |
2003 Kia Rio
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Kia Rio 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.