2005 Saturn Relay Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 4%of 91 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 82,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2005 Saturn Relay, 4% of the 91 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 82,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“While driving on freeway, Saturn Relay 2005 slowed down and lost power intermittently. Dash warning lights flashed on and off (ABS/stability/traction) - warning lights. The vehicle had no power on and off. When I applied the gas, the vehicle bogged down and continued to slow. Then all of a sudden, the vehicle accelerated when I depressed the gas pedal. I could not move over to the berm due to heavy traffic so I attempted to exit at an upcoming exit ramp. When I applied the brakes nothing happened the first few times. Then the brakes worked so I was able to slow down eventually. …”
NHTSA complaint #10520704, filed 2013-06, 78,000 miles“On sunday, november 9, 2008 I was backing up in my driveway when the traction control engaged briefly, stopped and the service light for both the tc and the ABS remained on. I have not been able to get rid of the service lights. On monday I brought the van into the local garage. In june 2008, I had the same problem but the service lights turned off. The same garage put in new ball bearings including the one that has the sensor in it for the tc and ABS. I have read the ebcm module or the sensor on the ball bearing could be the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10248524, filed 2008-11, 42,000 miles“12/19/2011 wife was driving car on 4 lane highway when brakes engaged for no reason. Foot was not even on the pedal. Van lurched, tires squealed, drastically reduced speed down to 20 MPH, and car pulled to the right. She pulled off onto shoulder of road. T/c light came on. Van drove normally after that until 1/5/12 when it happened again. This time it happened at a lower speed, while slowing to turn left through an intersection. Made car skid and she almost missed the turn. It happened again on 1/6/11 while turning into a parking lot. Same symptoms, this time car pulled to left. …”
NHTSA complaint #10443718, filed 2012-01, 86,000 milesElectronic stability control: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Saturn Relay
41 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Saturn Relay
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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