2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 vs 2003 Saturn Ion
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Mercedes-Benz C320 | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 22 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 46 | 498 |
| Investigations | 0 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–20 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz C320 | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 | 381 |
| Steering | 1 | 139 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 58 |
| Power Train | 5 | 55 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 49 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 38 |
| Visibility | 3 | 33 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Won’t start | 0 | 133 |
| Stalling | 0 | 81 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 32 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 23 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 18 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 9 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 7 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz C320
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Mercedes-Benz C320 vs Saturn Ion years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.