2004 Saab 9-3 vs 2004 Saturn Ion
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Saab 9-3 | 2004 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 207 | 898 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 8 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 82 | 525 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 51 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 72,500 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Saab 9-3 | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 4 | 345 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 331 |
| Seat Belts | 79 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 20 | 52 |
| Suspension | 52 | 19 |
| Power Train | 5 | 60 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 33 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 36 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 41 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 137 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 87 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 34 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 20 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 9 |
2004 Saab 9-3
2004 Saturn Ion
Compare all Saab 9-3 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.