Saturn Relay Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 122 consumer complaints across the 3 model years of the Saturn Relay (2005–2007) that have at least 5 complaints. 2005 has the most, with 91. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (47 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Relay model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 12 | 38,000 | 0 | 773 | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 19 | 67,500 | 1 | 658 | — | Stable |
| 2005 | 91 | 42,000 | 2 | 541 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes47 32%
- Electrical system29 20%
- Body and structure17 12%
- Latches, locks and linkages14 9.7%
- Fuel system12 8.3%
- Transmission and drivetrain9 6.2%
- Other or unknown9 6.2%
- Exterior lighting8 5.5%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2005: “Driving around 10 MPH, car died. Took it to the shop and they said it was the ignition switch. Looked on GM website and there is a recall for this same problem, however not for the Relay. I believe there should be a recall for all saturns! I am very lucky I was not driving on the freeway when this incident occurred.”
NHTSA complaint #10711799, filed 2015-04, 102,515 miles2007: “On december 17 2012 I was on my way back to a cub scouts christmas party. I was going through a green light my 2007 7 Saturn Relay started loosing power.I called my dad to pull me in to his house. I started to eliminating every thing possible trying. So I dropped the fuel tank and pulled the fuel pump out the fuel was empty.when the fuel gauge said it still had 1/4 tank of gas in the tank.”
NHTSA complaint #10490903, filed 2013-01, 129,630 miles2006: “My 2006 Saturn ion all of a sudden lost its power steering while I was driving! I almost crashed! And now it going to cost over 500 or more to fix. I could have been killed, I was going up a hill on a curve. Just all of a sudden the bell rang and it popped up pwr str. I got the car stopped and turned it off when I turned it back on it was fine for about 5 feet and again it did it. I got home and checked the fuse and made sure it was ok. Today I drove all over and it was ok and then all of a sudden again it came on and the steering wheel locked up!”
NHTSA complaint #10335274, filed 2010-06, 82,000 milesOther Saturn models
4,340 complaintsSaturn Vue
2,351 complaintsSaturn SL
2,218 complaintsSaturn LS
1,457 complaintsSaturn Aura
1,434 complaintsSaturn Outlook
1,352 complaintsSaturn Sky
516 complaintsSaturn SC1
413 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology