Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Saturn Ion engine problems

76 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Saturn Ion, which is 8% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
76 8% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
73,000 miles 55 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
1 and 1
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2003 Saturn Ion Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 73,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 13 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 6 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 5 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 7 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 8 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 4 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 8 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 2 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 2 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 73,000 miles
Based on 55 complaints that include mileage. 44% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles13
20k to 40k miles6
40k to 60k miles5
60k to 80k miles7
80k to 100k miles8
100k to 120k miles4
120k to 140k miles8
140k to 160k miles2
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles2
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 55 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 73,000 miles, and 44% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. While driving in reverse approximately 2 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the engine and suddenly the engine warning indicator began to illuminate. Also, there was smoke emitting from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they replaced the spark plugs, ignition control module and coil. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Reported at 100,000 miles, April 2011 Fire

Our 2003 saturn ion II has stalled on numerous occasions. This problem started occuring a month after we purchased the vehicle and have continued since. We have taken our car in for service for this particular problem on these dates: 10/3/03, 11/5/03, 5/24/04. We are also taking it in 6/28/04 for service for the same reason. The saturn has stalled while slowing down at a stoplight, while turning through an intersection, while driving, while accelerating from a stop sign, and while entering a toll station.

Reported at 5,000 miles, October 2003

Other problems reported for the 2003 Saturn Ion

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Saturn models