2003 Saturn Ion Problems, Recalls & Reliability
961 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Saturn Ion, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 66/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 67,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2003 sits among all Ion years
What owners report
“Intermittent starting problem, car sounds like it is starting then doesnt, i wait ten minutes then it will start. Ignition switch problem”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Ion
“Power steering stopped working want to see if it is covered by a recall before i pay out-of-pocket.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Ion
“2003 saturn ion, consumer writes in regards to broken timing chain. The consumer stated while driving the timing chain broke, nearly causing a crash in the middle of an intersection.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Ion
“My key switch doesn't allow me to remove my key when i'm in parked and my transmission strands at times and my car doesn't start all the time when i try to start it i have to sit and wait awhile before it starts again i could be sitting in the drive thru on parked waiting to travel again on th he…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Ion
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Ion
“Accelerator car speeds up on its on when i am driving on it's own. Rps getting to the highest level cant hardly stop car”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Ion
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 660 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 73,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,000 and 115,796 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on…
Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be…
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers…
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the…
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP (DRL) ON EITHER FRONT SIDE CAN STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF LOSS OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL/TURN SIGNAL BULB ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE AND INSPECT FOR AND ADD A DRL JUMPER KIT IF NOT PRESENT. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD…
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION, AND ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS." THE POWER WINDOWS AND/OR SUNROOF MAY BE OPERABLE AFTER THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED…
Fix: DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L 4-CYLINDER (L61) ENGINES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL FILTER THAT COULD CORRODE PREMATURELY ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 04V547000.
Technical service bulletins
498 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2003 Saturn Ion. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Saturn Ion reliable?
The 2003 Saturn Ion drew 961 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 66/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2003 Saturn Ion problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Saturn Ion are electrical (431 complaints), steering (140), and engine (80).
At what mileage do 2003 Saturn Ion problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Saturn Ion problems around 73,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,000 and 115,796 miles.
Does the 2003 Saturn Ion have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Saturn Ion. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.