2003 Saturn Ion transmission problems
Owners reported transmission problems in 37 complaints for the 2003 Saturn Ion, 4% of the complaints on file.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 37 4% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 23,000 miles 29 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When transmission problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 14 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 29 transmission complaints that report mileage, the median is about 23,000 miles, and 76% were reported before 60,000 miles.
None of the transmission complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.
What owners wrote
March 22, 2003 I purchased an saturn ion 3. Within the 1st the week there was problems starting the car. The car was in for service 2 times in 2 weeks. Finally the engine light started flashing (3rd time). Supposedly the car was fixed. 3 days later the dealer's service department called me at saturn corp.'s request to immediately return the car as the engine could blow up. The engine had a cracked cylinder which caused coolant to leak into the engine with about 650 miles.
This has happened twice in exactly thirteen months the first time was on february 3, 2005. I adjusted my power drivers side mirror while driving home at night on highway 61 and heard a pop and all my lights including headlights and dash lights went out . My four way safety flashers also would not work I was driving in complete darkness while traveling approximately 67 MPH this incident occurred almost identically last year while driving in town approximately 25 MPH adjusted mirror heard a pop and all lights went…
Other problems reported for the 2003 Saturn Ion
- Electrical system 396 complaints
- Steering 140 complaints
- Engine 76 complaints
- Air bags 49 complaints
- Cruise control 38 complaints
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 38 complaints
- Lighting 36 complaints
- Fuel system 34 complaints
Transmission problems in other years
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003