2003 Saturn Ion Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2003 Saturn Ion, and owners have filed 757 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2003 Saturn Ion
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
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 removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Remedy: 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 will replace the…
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Air bags and switch (electrical system)
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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are…
Remedy: 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 safety defect.…
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Turn signal (exterior lighting)
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.
Remedy: 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 contact saturn at…
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Fuel system, gasoline
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filter assembly. Owner notification began on december 30, 2003. Owners should contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
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Power window devices and controls (visibility)
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 to the "off" position and the front passenger door is opened.
Remedy: 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.
757 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Saturn Ion have filed 757 complaints with NHTSA; 43 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 36 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 78,585 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 140 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I took my 2003 Saturn ion to my local Chevrolet dealership in Lincoln Illinois and they refused to complete the recall issues (2) both are to do with the ignition and keys.thwy told me it was not fixa”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 9, 2026 · Engine
“After I did the recall several years ago, the problem came back. The key will not come out of the ignition. It's happened many times.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 16, 2025 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Saturn Ion. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–22 / 29–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saturn Ion model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn Ion model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Saturn Ion | 5 | 757 |
| 2004 Saturn Ion | 8 | 898 |
| 2005 Saturn Ion | 3 | 573 |
| 2006 Saturn Ion | 4 | 1,235 |
| 2007 Saturn Ion | 5 | 876 |
| 2008 Saturn Ion | 0 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2003 Saturn Ion
How do I know if my 2003 Saturn Ion has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2003 Saturn Ion; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V003000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Vue2,351 complaints
- SL2,218 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
- Sc296 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.