2005 Saturn Ion vs 2005 Subaru Legacy
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 Saturn Ion | 2005 Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 573 | 183 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 584 | 261 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 62,085 mi | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Saturn Ion | Subaru Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 265 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 227 | 25 |
| Air Bags | 34 | 21 |
| Exterior Lighting | 31 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 15 | 29 |
| Power Train | 28 | 13 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 21 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 62 | 0 |
| Stalling | 46 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 30 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 26 | 5 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 10 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 21 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
2005 Saturn Ion
2005 Subaru Legacy
Compare all Saturn Ion vs Subaru Legacy 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.