2003 Mitsubishi Lancer 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 Mitsubishi Lancer | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 199 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 77 | 498 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 51,680 mi | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mitsubishi Lancer | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 12 | 381 |
| Steering | 6 | 139 |
| Power Train | 51 | 55 |
| Visibility | 71 | 33 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 58 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 49 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 18 |
| Stalling | 6 | 81 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 11 |
| Shifting problems | 5 | 7 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 133 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 32 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 23 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 9 |
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Mitsubishi Lancer 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.