2005 Kia Rio 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 | 2005 Kia Rio | 2005 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 36 | 573 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 11 | 584 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–25 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 52,000 mi | 62,085 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Rio | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3 | 265 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 227 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 34 |
| Power Train | 3 | 28 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 31 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 15 |
| Engine | 5 | 22 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 46 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 11 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 62 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 30 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 26 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 6 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 5 |
2005 Kia Rio
2005 Saturn Ion
Compare all Kia Rio 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.