2004 Nissan Sentra 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 Nissan Sentra | 2004 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 197 | 898 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 76 | 525 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 51 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–27 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Sentra | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 28 | 331 |
| Steering | 5 | 345 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 59 | 33 |
| Air Bags | 32 | 52 |
| Power Train | 7 | 60 |
| Engine | 26 | 23 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 36 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 25 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 43 | 41 |
| Check engine light | 22 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 137 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 34 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 6 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 7 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 87 |
2004 Nissan Sentra
2004 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.