2004 Chevrolet Cavalier vs 2004 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 | 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2004 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 330 | 898 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 476 | 525 |
| Investigations | 0 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 17 | 51 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–27 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 54,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Cavalier | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 185 | 331 |
| Steering | 16 | 345 |
| Power Train | 23 | 60 |
| Air Bags | 15 | 52 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 27 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 15 | 33 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 36 |
| Visibility | 23 | 13 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 26 | 41 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 20 |
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 137 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 87 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 34 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 9 |
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
2004 Saturn Ion
Compare all Chevrolet Cavalier 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.