2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 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 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | 2003 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 98 | 756 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 38 | 498 |
| Investigations | 0 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19 | 24–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 12,195 mi | 72,178 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 381 |
| Steering | 1 | 139 |
| Power Train | 65 | 55 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 58 |
| Air Bags | 0 | 49 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 38 |
| Visibility | 3 | 33 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 18 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 7 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 81 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 133 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 32 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 23 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2003 Saturn Ion
Compare all Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 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.