2003 Saturn Ion Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 139about this part
- Share
- 18%of 758 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 99,400miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 139 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Saturn Ion, 18% of the 758 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 99,400 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Power steering goes out randomly while in motion. Sometimes it lasts 5 minutes sometimes up to 25-30 minutes. Goes out everyday on my way to work (26 mile commute). Extremely dangerous when trying to park or turn from a light and I don't realize that the assist is out. Obviously on highway not as much of an issue but when driving at slower speeds it is difficult.”
NHTSA complaint #11186034, filed 2019-03, 200,000 miles“The power steering went out on my car twice so far, both times I was driving the car at the time it went out. This happened one week apart and both times the power steering cam back after the ignition was turned off and then restarted. The first time it went out I was driving on an interstate highway and the second in the city.”
NHTSA complaint #11010014, filed 2017-07, 143,000 miles“Driving on staight on the highway hit a bump in the road my car started spinning out of control steering wheel locked up which made my driver side crash into a cement wall, my airbags did not deploy even thought the car hit the wall so hard that it cracked my radiator, my car then shut off then turned back on”
NHTSA complaint #10971606, filed 2017-04, 170,000 miles“In june of 2016 at a speed of approx. 70 MPH my 2003 Saturn ION lost power steering on the e-way. I had to pull off e-way. Park and restart. After restart power steering was back but only for short periods of time. Has been an off and on reoccuring problem since.”
NHTSA complaint #10907471, filed 2016-09, 134,000 miles“I was exiting off the freeway and while merging off my power steering gave out almost resulting in a crash with a red SUV, luckily the vehicle did not crash yet I had to pay out of pocket as 2003 Saturn ions are not added to the power steering recall as 2004 Saturn ions are.”
NHTSA complaint #10639866, filed 2014-09, 126,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10113436Feb 20, 2017This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone…
- 10079501Jan 22, 201514119 - special coverage (message only - customer letter mailing notification). Some 2006-2009 model year chevrolet hhr (non-turbo) and 2003 model year saturn ion vehicles…
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Saturn Ion
383 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 complaintsBrakes
11 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