2003 Saturn Ion vs 2005 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 Saturn Ion | 2005 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 756 | 573 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 498 | 584 |
| Investigations | 5 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 43 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–25 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 72,178 mi | 62,085 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Saturn Ion | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 381 | 227 |
| Steering | 139 | 265 |
| Power Train | 55 | 28 |
| Air Bags | 49 | 34 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 58 | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 31 | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 38 | 18 |
| Engine | 20 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Won’t start | 133 | 30 |
| Stalling | 81 | 46 |
| Steering problems | 32 | 62 |
| Loss of power | 23 | 26 |
| Rust / corrosion | 18 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 11 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 0 |
2003 Saturn Ion
2005 Saturn Ion
Compare all Saturn Ion 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.