Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Saturn Ion owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that occasionally the key failed to turn while in the ignition. The vehicle was slow to start. The contact had to avoid bumps in the roadway while driving. The lock symbol was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V171000 (Electrical System) and 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined to service the recall repairs due to an insurance issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another unknown local dealer, who informed the contact to place the vehicle in park(P) and restart the vehicle, and the symbol turned off. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, another vehicle in the opposite direction drove head first into his vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed at the scene. The contact and his son were treated for injuries at the scene and were transported to a local hospital. The contact was treated for chest, neck and back injuries. The contact 's son sustained injuries to his neck and his back. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent tow yard. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 138,000.
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
My horn stopped working. It never worked well, except from the button on the key holder. I complained to the dealer more than once when Saturn was still in business. I was always told that my hands were not strong enough to make the horn work. One service person even told me to try it by wrapping both hands around where the horn is located and pressing as hard as I could. I went to a GM dealer yesterday to find out why the horn quit working altogether and also because there are times when the key will not come out of the ignition. I have replaced the ignition twice - once at my expense and once after the recall. GM will provide the cost of replacing the gear shift. According to the dealer that is why the key won't release from the ignition. However, they want $1,000 to fix the horn because they said it is part of the airbag so the airbag has to be replaced too. …
I purchased the car on 9/9/03, I was involved in an accident on 9/11/03 I rear ended a pickup truck. The damages to my car totaled $8400.00 and it was a dead-center hit to the front of my car bending both of the front frames and my airbags did not deploy. Because there were no injuries sustained in the accident and because the accident was more then 50% my fault my lawyer has advised me that there are no legal ramifications that I need to take. What I would like to do is insure that the word is out there for consumers to be aware that this is potentially a serious problem and it should be addressed. I will be contacting the Saturn dealership to insure they are aware of this problem.
In early January my mother was involved in a serious car accident while driving a 2003 Saturn iron. "I had no control over the car and it all happened so fast" my mother said. She hit a telephone pool then proceeded to roll down over a small hill and flipped, coming to a rest on a concrete divider. When responders arrived her ignition was off and the air bags did not deploy. She was hanging upside down for almost an hour until they were able to cut her out of the car. I have contacted GM and they confirmed that her car is part of the recent ignition switch recall. Please take the recall serious, it could save your l life, and others!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and repaired per a recall. After the repairs, while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The air bag and check engine warning lights illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The recall specifics were unknown. The failure mileage was 141,000. Updated 10/19/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that while driving an unknown speed, she crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The crash was so severe that the entire front end of the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The contact was also involved in a second crash in which the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for repairs and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. The current mileage was 132,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Saturn Ion. While driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The brake failure caused the contact's vehicle to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the knees, which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact felt that the crash was related to NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system). The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Was driving on wet road approaching an intersection. Before entering the intersection the light turned green and traffic started moving. I slowed down to let the tuck in front of me pick up speed. As I approached a black pickup backed into traffic causing multiple cars to stop in front of me. I pushed on my breaks but could not stop causing me to strike the truck in front o me with the front of my car. Upon impact my air bag did not deploy and my head struck the steering wheel. I recently received the ignition recall notice, but the letter said parts were not available.
Related recalls
Air bags
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect.
Airbag complaints in other Ion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2003 Saturn Ion?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Saturn Ion, 6% of the model year's 758 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Saturn Ion airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Saturn Ion airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 25 crashes, 0 fires and 26 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.