2003 Saturn ION 3 review from North America
"Cute, but never again"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
1. Had to take car back in the first month for the right rear door weather stripping popping out. They fixed it and it popped out again after warranty, and said it would cost about $450 to fix.
2. They replaced recall blinker, and on my way home the blinker stopped working, turned around and they had to fix something else.
3. Leather steering wheel leather cracked and was replaced three times (I then put a cover on it).
4. Starting in cold weather doesn't happen sometimes. They took it back in for a recall on ignition lubrication, and when it didn't start a few years later they said they haven't had any problems with the ones they fixed, and it would cost money to fix. I used WD-40 in the ignition and it works fine.
5. A personal comfort thing for me is that I don't like the center console going all the way to the floor, because my leg hits it. I have had a Jeep and a truck, and could tilt my leg to the right freely.
6. Replacing a lot of bulbs.
7. Probably not going to buy another one.
General comments?
A friend bought the same car before I did, and I liked it, so when I was in the market for one, I bought the same car. See above for all the problems I've had with mine. He also had the steering wheel issue of cracking.
Recommended reviews
| When it wants to, it runs quite well for an American car |
|
| I'm not satisfied with the service department, but I like the size and performance of the car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2003 |
| Year of manufacture | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Previous car | Nissan 720 Pickup |
| Date of Entry | 10th July, 2009 |