2005 Saturn Relay Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the anti-lock brake and traction control warning lights coming on, sometimes with the brakes behaving oddly, and about the power sliding doors opening or refusing to latch on their own. Many of these reports arrive at relatively low mileage, and several owners mention repeat dealer visits where the problem could not be reproduced or came back after a sensor, module or motor was replaced.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS and traction control warning lights, brakes acting up

   • 33 complaints (36%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $550 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2017

   The service ABS and service traction control messages light up, sometimes together and sometimes intermittently, and clearing them by restarting the van only works for a while. Owners describe the traction control engaging without cause, the brake pedal pulsating or going to the floor, longer stopping distance, and in some cases the brakes seizing or the van not slowing as expected. Complaints mention wheel hub or wheel speed sensors, the EBCM, wiring repairs and brake pads being replaced, with the lights often returning afterwards; some report the dealer could not reproduce the fault. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to well past 100,000, with many entries in the 30,000 to 90,000 mile band.

   Recall 05V287000

   What to check: Ask for repair records covering wheel speed sensors, hubs, the EBCM and any wiring repairs, and check whether the ABS and traction control lights are off on a cold start and stay off during a test drive. A scan tool reading of stored ABS codes is worth having done before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs system light comes on. We bought the 2005 Saturn Relay used from a Saturn dealer. Day after we got it, the ABS and brake lights came on. Dealer corrected it. One year later, brakes are all good but service ABS system light comes on. Turn the van off and back on, it disappears. Then next time it is on. This has been reported in many forums. Why is this safety issue not being elevated to recall status.”

   NHTSA complaint #10326976, filed 2010-04, 73,548 miles

   “I have a Saturn Relay 2005 ABS lights stays on,all wheel drive disable warning light stays on, replaced hub and wheelbearing three times still have ABS lights come on. Nobody seem to know how fix this problem, this is a safety issue. Don't trust having my kids in the car. I looked up on the computer a lot of similar complaints with the same issue with the Saturn Relay,there needs to be a recall before there are serious accidents and lawsuits.”

   NHTSA complaint #10407773, filed 2011-06, 65,632 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Electrical gremlins: dimming lights, dead audio, no-start

   • 37 complaints (41%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2018

   Complaints describe interior, dash and headlights dimming and brightening, radios and speakers going silent until the van is shut off, speedometer and gauge oddities, and erratic starting or stalling that some mechanics traced to the ignition switch, a fuel pump relay or a wiring harness. Several owners say the dealer could not reproduce the symptoms or told them it was normal behavior. Reported from very low mileage up to high-mileage vehicles, with no single clear pattern in the sampled complaints.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all interior and exterior lights work steadily, that the radio and speakers produce sound, and that the van starts reliably from cold and after sitting. Ask whether the ignition switch, battery cables or ground connections have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 miles

   “Lights on dash and exterior dim and fade erratically. Radio decides to mute itself if car is unlocked and tail gate is opened first. They don't know the mileage for oil changes. Has a hesitation from rolling start that makes the wheels break free as if a turbo. Saturn dealer can not see any of this even when shown. Also they say I must contact Saturn to find out how to fix. Saturn is not returning my calls.”

   NHTSA complaint #10148283, filed 2006-01, 1,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door opens on its own or will not latch

   • 16 complaints (18%)
   • median 39,600 mi at 3.8 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2016

   Owners describe the power sliding doors reopening as they close, chiming as though a door is open while it is shut, and in some cases opening by themselves while driving or while the van is parked. Complaints mention door jam switches, sensors and motors being replaced, sometimes more than once, with the problem coming back; a few report the dealer could not duplicate the fault or that the repair was done at the owner's expense. Often reported at low mileage, many under 40,000 miles and some within the first year of ownership.

   Recall 05V0610001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Open and close both sliding doors several times, including with the remote and while the van is in gear but stationary, and listen for chiming with the doors shut. Ask whether the door motors, sensors or latches have been replaced and whether the door operates reliably in manual mode.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchase the van march 2006 as the first owners. The original problem started in june of 2007 when the passenger side power sliding door would open back up when closing. We took the van to the dealer and they replaced the door jam switch. The mileage at the time was 11,584. From that time to now dec 2008, with 31,000 miles, the problem has continued and adding in the driver side power sliding door. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10251421, filed 2008-12, 11,584 miles

   “I bought a used 2005 Saturn Relay 3 in january 2010. I have 2 major issues going on: power sliding doors will not recognize that they are closed and will continue to ding as if I was driving with them open...on a few occasions I have heard the power door motor start on its own as if it was trying to open the doors while I am driving! Second issue is ABS/traction control lights have been coming on sporadically since I purchased it. Of course, no one can find the problem because they can't replicate it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10366814, filed 2010-11, 148,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake vibration and warped rotors

   • 11 complaints (12%)
   • median 16,500 mi at 1.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2013

   Owners report shaking or shuddering through the steering wheel and pedal when braking, often described as rotors warping and needing resurfacing or replacement more than once. Some link it to long downhill braking, and a few say the vibration returned shortly after the dealer resurfaced the rotors. Several reports under 25,000 miles, with recurrences at intervals of roughly 10,000 miles or less in some cases.

   Recall 05V287000

   What to check: Brake firmly from highway speed on the test drive and feel for pulsation or shudder, and ask for receipts showing when rotors and pads were last replaced or resurfaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car purchased 8/24/05 1/9/06 = ABS/traction control service lights illuminating; part repaired 3/31/06 = high speed braking vibration/pulsation; part repaired 7/24/06 = high speed braking vibration/pulsation; part repaired 8/2/06 = high speed braking vibration/pulsation; part replaced 8/2/06 = ABS/traction control service lights illuminating; part repaired/replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10164353, filed 2006-08, 7,266 miles

   “Brake rotors have warped 2 twice in the last 2 years. Saturn of beaverton has resurfaced the rotors the first time and had to replace the brakes (fall 2006). The 2nd time they are going to resurface again as far as parts I do not know at this time. Waiting for Saturn to schedule service. (july 2007)”

   NHTSA complaint #10197167, filed 2007-07, 23,400 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads wrong or van stalls near empty

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 96,300 mi at 8.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Complaints describe the fuel gauge showing empty right after filling up, then moving erratically between levels, and in some cases the engine stalling or refusing to start while the gauge still shows about a quarter tank. Owners report fuel level sensors and relays being replaced, sometimes without a lasting fix, and some say they were told to keep the tank at least half full. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles up to 100,000 miles, often in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile range.

   What to check: Watch the gauge behavior after a fill-up and after sitting overnight, and ask whether the fuel level sensor or fuel pump assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time we fill up with fuel, the gas gauge shows empty,and the display tells us we have low fuel. After awhile the gauge will go to full, then become erratic and show us different fuel levels. It takes quite a while for the gauge to give an actual reading. I recommend that this vehicle be put on the recall list for the fuel sensor problem that other GM vehicles have had.”

   NHTSA complaint #10595574, filed 2014-06, 92,600 miles

   “The first time I was parked and the van would not start. I was told it might be the fuel pump. I had the van tow to a service center. They said it was the fuel Relay. I paid to have the fuel Relay replaced. A few days later same thing happened again. The van would not start. This time we thought it was the battery or spark plugs. I paid to have a new battery, new spark plugs, spark plug cables. A few days later I was leaving from work and the van would not start again. I had it tow and they said it might be the fuel pump. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10758509, filed 2015-08, 110,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws complaints about brake and traction control warning lights and about power sliding doors, many of them at low mileage, so a used example is worth a careful test drive plus a check of its repair history. Budget for possible sensor, module or door-mechanism work, and confirm current safety recalls have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.