2004 Audi A4 vs 2004 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 | 2004 Audi A4 | 2004 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 189 | 898 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 172 | 525 |
| Investigations | 1 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 51 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–23 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi A4 | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3 | 345 |
| Electrical System | 15 | 331 |
| Air Bags | 26 | 52 |
| Power Train | 12 | 60 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 46 | 16 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 18 | 33 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 27 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 36 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 31 | 41 |
| Airbag warning light | 9 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 6 | 34 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 137 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 87 |
2004 Audi A4
2004 Saturn Ion
Compare all Audi A4 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.