2003 Nissan Sentra 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 Nissan Sentra | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 180 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 68 | 498 |
| Investigations | 2 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–28 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Sentra | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 | 381 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 86 | 58 |
| Steering | 2 | 139 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 49 |
| Power Train | 9 | 55 |
| Engine | 24 | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 38 |
| Visibility | 2 | 33 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 50 | 81 |
| Check engine light | 40 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 133 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 11 |
| Oil consumption | 7 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 7 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 6 | 23 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 32 |
2003 Nissan Sentra
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Nissan Sentra 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.