KnownCarProblems2003 Saturn Ion Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 758 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Saturn Ion, most often about the electrical (51% of complaints, typically around 69,000 miles). It is 4th of 6 Ion model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2003 Saturn Ion problems
Electrical
383 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, horn, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The vehicle would intermittently not start. This mostly occurred in below freezing temperature conditions but would also occur in above 70 degree temperatures. The vehicle also stalled while being driven and could immediately be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition switch.
Whenever it is damp or cold outside the vehicle will refuse to start. Once the vehicle has refused to start I must wait a minimum of 10 mins before starting the vehicle. On certain occasions this process repeats and I may have to wait upwards of 20 mins to start my vehicle and drive. This issue has been traced back to…
Steering
139 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, linkages, steering wheel/handle bar, column locking.
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that when driving at low speeds and attempting turns, the power steering would lock without warning. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,800.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH when the power steering light illuminated and the power steering failed and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact drove the vehicle home, turned it off and restarted it; the power steering seemed to reset and function…
Engine
79 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start in cold weather. It takes approximately 30 minutes or less for the vehicle to start. The vehicle was taken in for inspection, but they could not find any failures. The manufacturer stated that no recalls were available. The failure…
The timing chain broke on the vehicle. All I did was go to start it up and it wouldn't start. I had to have it towed to a goodyear but they couldn't fix it. So right now it is being looked at by a mechanic. He said that the timing chain is broken and because of the breakage I now have to have the valves replaced as…
Transmission
55 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, manual transmission.
: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH the vehicle revved at a high rate followed by a sudden decrease. The vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop. The mechanic performed a diagnostic and road tested which indicated a new transmission was needed. The mechanic replaced the automatic transmission and rebuilt…
Will driving down the road the transmission in my Saturn Ion lvl 3 slips and I have to let my foot off the gas and then kick the gas pedal for it to go into gear. It does this all the time when I am driving it. Also when I go to park the car, I put it in park and pull up the emergency brake and I go to remove the key…
Air bags
49 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
In early january my mother was involved in a serious car accident while driving a 2003 Saturn iron. "I had no control over the car and it all happened so fast" my mother said. She hit a telephone pool then proceeded to roll down over a small hill and flipped, coming to a rest on a concrete divider. When responders…
I was in a head-on collision in my 2003 Saturn Ion and the air bags did not deploy. The front of my car is crunched in and I have pictures of the accident. Luckily, I was able to walk away from the accident unharmed, but if I hit the other car any harder I would have been seriously hurt! I called the Saturn dealers…
Speed control
38 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while the driver attempted to cross an intersection. The driver was able to shift the gear into neutral, move onto the road shoulder and release the accelerator pedal that was stuck to the floor board. The vehicle returned to…
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact engaged the cruise control but the vehicle suddenly accelerated abruptly without warning. The contact then applied pressure to the brakes, manually depressed the cruise control button and pressed the clutch to disengage the system…
Visibility and wipers
38 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer, power window devices and controls, rearview mirrors/devices, sun/moon roof assembly.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. Sporadically, while driving various speeds, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact would also experience a no start condition. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch at the cost of several hundred dollars. Two years later, the failure…
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the while driving in incliment weather, he noticed that the windshield wipers would not operate. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no recalls…
Fuel system
34 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, carburetor system.
Key came out, but car was still running. Put key back in managed to get turn off engine, however key would not release for over 15min! This keeps happening to me. Scheduled appointment with chapman chevrolet tempe, az to repair according to recall instructions that I submitted to their customer service dept. They say…
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the vehicle had an abnormal odor and was leaking fuel from underneath. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 04v003000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Saturn Ion recalls
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
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 will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on april 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact general
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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 safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on april 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on april 18, 2014. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or saturn at 1-800-553-6000. Gm's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. Gmâs recall nu
Full defect summary
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 recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 chevrolet cobalt, and 2007 pontiac g5 vehicles. On february 25, 2014, gm increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 chevrolet hhr and pontiac solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 saturn ion vehicles and 2007 saturn sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On march 27, 2014, gm notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have be
Lights: turn signal
Risk: If a front turn signal lamp is inoperative, others may react more slowly to a turning vehicle and a crash could occur.
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 contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
Full defect summary
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.
Visibility and wipers: power window devices and controls
Risk: If unsupervised children are left unattended in the vehicle and operate the power windows or sunroof, there is an increased risk of injury to the child.
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: If corrosion on the exterior surface of the fuel filter progresses to the point of creating a hole in the shell, fuel droplets could form and drop to the ground. If an ignition source is present, a fire could result.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel filter assembly. Owner notification began on december 30, 2003. Owners should contact saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Windshied wiper linkage failure
Summary
Investigation disclosed that the manufacturer issued a service bulletin in august 2003, regarding service that required removal of the wiper arms.gm issued the bulletin at that time to address customer comments on windshield wiper chattering or hopping across the windshield during wiper operation.the correction was to replace the wiper arm and blade.however, the bulletin did not place specific emphasis on the importance of using the proper tool and procedures to remove the wiper arm and to prevent damage to the pivot shaft housing.in gm's response to odi's information request letter, gm states, ...the wiper pivot housing in the subject vehicle may crack and/or fracture as a result of an over
Timing chain failure
Summary
On december 12, 2005, odi received a defect petition (dp05-008) requesting the investigation of timing chain failures that could cause stalling in saturn vehicles equipped with the 2.2l (l61) engine. Odi opened pe06-006 on january 24, 2006, with 24 vehicle owner complaints that alleged a broken timing chain caused the vehicle to stop operating.on april 12, 2006, odi received information from general motors (gm) concerning timing chain failures in approximately 412,000 model year (my) 2000 through 2003 saturn l-series and ion vehicles with 2.2l engines. Gm's response included 1,020 owner complaints and field reports concerning timing chain failure, including 228 that alleged the failure cause
Timing chain failure
Summary
Analysis undertaken in response to the petition identified 26 complaints alleging timing chain failures in my 2000-2003 saturn l-series vehicle equipped with the 2.2l l4 engine.most complaints of timing chain failure reportedly resulted in a sudden loss of engine power and stalling.odi also noted that certain my 2002-2003 saturn vue and my 2003 saturn ion model vehicles with the 2.2l engine vehiclescovered by a technical service bulletin (03-06-01-017) that addressed timing chain design and service procedure changes, exhibited no complaints of timing chain failure.odi will grant the petition and open a preliminary evaluation to assess the frequency, trend, scope and safety consequences assoc
Front turn signal/drl failure
Summary
The combination front turn signal/drl in my 2003 saturn ion coupes experienced significant early-life failures due to various bulb quality issues due to inadequate design and manufacture.this problem trend appears to have disappeared after the fall of 2003.the change of lead wire material near the start of my 2004 vehicle production appears to have reduced the failure rate for my 2004 saturn ion coupes.although operating temperatures in the subject vehicles' lamp assemblies are below the socket material maximum temperature specification, they are only slightly below the specification.in december 2004, gm reduced the voltage to the lamp assembly in order to reduce the temperature in the assem
Front turn signal/drl failure
Summary
On november 16, 2004, gm notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall of 178,798 model year (my) 2003 and 2004 saturn ion sedan vehicles for inoperative front turn signal/drl bulbs.gm stated that temperatures in the lamp assembly exceed the material specification for the bulb sockets and bulb base sleeves, which cause deformation.the deformed sockets can cause loss of bulb and socket contact.the deformed sleeves can cause stress cracks to form on the bulb that can lead to premature bulb failure.the recall remedy is to replace the front turn signal/drl bulbs and inspect for voltage-reducing jumper (which reduces temperature in lamp assembly) and add if not present.see NHTSA recall no.
Questions about the 2003 Saturn Ion
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Saturn Ion?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (383 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles); steering (139 complaints, typically around 99,500 miles); engine (79 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Saturn Ion have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 10, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Saturn Ion?
- It is 4th of 6 Ion model years by number of complaints, with 758 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.