2003 Saturn Ion Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 38about this part
- Share
- 5%of 758 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,026miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 38 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Saturn Ion, 5% of the 758 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,026 miles. 6 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.
“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“On multiple occasions over the last 2-3yrs, the car was turned on and the engine revved up to 3,500rpm without pressing on the gas pedal. If I put the car in drive while this was happening, the car would accelerate on its own (up to 25mph). I've had multiple auto shops inspect and try to diagnose the problem but none can tell me what the problem is.”
NHTSA complaint #10565927, filed 2014-02, 75,000 miles“This has happened numerous times and is really scary! The gas pedal sticking it gets really stiff and doesnt want to stop . The one time I was going 25 MPH and it wouldn't stop so I had to slam it in park and the rpms got up to 4 . It seems to happen more when it gets cold out . It is not letting up and I am scared for my safety.”
NHTSA complaint #10655362, filed 2014-11, 111,000 miles“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“I was driving down a boulevard, I was doing 40 MPH there was a police car in front and there was maybe about 2 car length distance from him. The light hit yellow and I saw him brake so I started braking as well but my car would not brake. The acceleration continued increasing, I didn't know what to do. I was slamming on the brakes but my car did not stop. My car slammed into the police car within seconds. My car was destroyed. My hood was bent in half, my front bumper scratched & peeled. …”
NHTSA complaint #10573244, filed 2014-03, 87,000 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Saturn Ion
383 complaintsSteering
139 complaintsEngine cooling
58 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
55 complaintsAir bags
49 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 31, 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