2003 Saturn Ion Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 1%of 758 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 114,575miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2003 Saturn Ion, 1% of the 758 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 114,575 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takata recalls..I have a 2003 Saturn ION I was driving fine hit cruise control button once I was at 55 an my car made a clicking sound started jerking like the cruise control keeps coming on...I've turned car off hit brakes which should reset it but it still happens..the car feels like its down shifting an trying to accelerate on its on the rpms hump real high wen this happens..you be driving doing 50 MPH an all the sudden car jerks like its trying to stop u feel I t in gas pedal also...”
NHTSA complaint #10863856, filed 2016-05, 114,575 miles“Slight shudder at a stoplight.. Lost acceleration and power steering. Made it to shop. Code p0420 catcon was all that came up, battery and alternator(new) tested fine and vehicle started like nothing happened. I had exhaust tested and 4 hours of general diagnostics= the car seems fine, yes that is weird, just keep an eye on it it twice more, and consistently felt rough before february 2014, (two years) got new suspension, spark plugs, fuel and coolant systems cleaned, etc... My car felt almost new, a little rough so I babied it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10653681, filed 2014-11, 140,000 miles“Saturn ION 3 has intermittent starting problems; it's been checked for problems, but to no avail. The problem appears to be with ignition switch which appears to have a short of some kind. Car starts, then shuts off, then when trying to restart, appears dead, wait 5-10 minutes and it starts again. No automotive tech could detect what the problem was.”
NHTSA complaint #10286634, filed 2009-10, 102,000 miles“Car just recently popped up power steering only happens when its sits over night and when I start it up in the morning it's very stiff to turn but if I drive it like that for a little and shut the car off the steering is fine. The dash lights flicker off and on and when doing so causes heat or A/C to cut out after driving it for alittle bit. The key locks in the ignition switch when I go to shut off the car and I have to press the plunger for it to release. Keeps saying coolant when going down the road even though the coolant is where it needs to be.”
NHTSA complaint #11054619, filed 2017-12Electronic stability control: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Saturn Ion
383 complaintsSteering
139 complaintsEngine cooling
58 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
55 complaintsAir bags
49 complaintsVehicle speed control
38 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
38 complaintsFuel system
34 complaintsExterior lighting
31 complaintsEngine
21 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Saturn Ion
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology