2004 Saturn Ion vs 2004 Suzuki Forenza
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Saturn Ion | 2004 Suzuki Forenza |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 898 | 63 |
| Recall campaigns | 8 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 525 | 28 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 51 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–26 | 22 |
| Median reported mileage | 70,000 mi | 54,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Saturn Ion | Suzuki Forenza |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 345 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 331 | 10 |
| Power Train | 60 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 52 | 6 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 33 | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | 16 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 36 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Won’t start | 137 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 87 | 0 |
| Stalling | 41 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 34 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
2004 Saturn Ion
2004 Suzuki Forenza
Compare all Saturn Ion vs Suzuki Forenza 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.