2006 Kia Rio vs 2006 Saturn Ion
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 | 2006 Kia Rio | 2006 Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 74 | 1,235 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 26 | 739 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 44 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,000 mi | 67,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Rio | Saturn Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 4 | 544 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 392 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 127 |
| Air Bags | 50 | 61 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 0 | 111 |
| Engine | 2 | 41 |
| Power Train | 2 | 36 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 30 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 23 | 13 |
| Stalling | 5 | 69 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 132 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 65 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 48 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 20 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 9 |
2006 Kia Rio
2006 Saturn Ion
Compare all Kia Rio 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.