2003 Saturn Ion problems
NHTSA has received 962 complaints about the 2003 Saturn Ion, and 41% of them involve electrical system. Next are steering (15%) and engine (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 962 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 64 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 48 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 680 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 102 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 61 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 88 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 129 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 81 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 62 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 68 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 37 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 23 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 14 |
| 200k+ miles | 15 |
What the data shows
Of the 680 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 72,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 68,000 miles (269 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 64 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 48 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Saturn Ion with enough data (431 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I was the driver of a 2003 saturn ion 2 involved in a front end collision with a parked vehicle, and the airbags did not deploy. We did have seat belts on. The approximate speed was 30-35 MPH. None of the injuries to the occupants were serious.
My daughter (17 years old) had an accident four days ago. She hit a tree - head on going somewhere around 40 MPH. Neither air bag deployed. Emergency personnel - again - were in a state of shock and awe. This is our fourth (4th) GM vehicle involved in a "total loss" accident where the air bags did not deploy.
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while in traffic, causing consumer's vehicle to crash into another vehicle. Driver sustained injuries. Taken for repair to the dealer for the second time, but the cause was undetermined even after the computer had been reset. Consumer stated the only way to stop the vehicle was when it hit the other car in front. Put foot on brake to stop the car and it surge forward.
The vehicle was involved in a collision and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled. Dealer notified.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saturn ion. The contact stated that the key seized in the ignition. The contact called a locksmith who removed the key and stated that the vehicle was subjected to an unknown recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired in 2014 for an unknown recall, for a similar failure, at the weseloh chevrolet dealer located at 5335 paseo del norte, carlsbad, ca 92008. The contact called the same dealer and was informed that the recall was expired.