Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 12 | −74% | — | Body | Good |
| 2006 | 19 | −57% | 1 | Brake | Good |
| 2005 | 91 | 4.8× | 2 | Brake | Avoid |
* Complaints compared with the median Relay year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Saturn Relay problems
Latest Saturn Relay recalls
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on March 31, 2006.
Parking brake
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, 'passenger car brake systems.' to meet the standard, the vehicle must not move for five minutes when stopped on a steep hill with the parking brake applied and the vehicle in neutral (n).
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for parking brake lever slippage at each rear brake caliper and replace the caliper if lever slippage is identified. The recall began on November 14, 2005.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
On certain minivans, the outboard release handle on the impact-side second-row bucket seat May be actuated and the rear latches May unlatch early in a side impact crash. This was discovered in a side impact test run by GM, under conditions similar to NHTSA's new car assessment program (ncap) side impact test.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the seat latch release handle and install a black plastic cap over the exposed metal stud to eliminate the side impact safety concern free of charge. The recall began on April 5, 2005.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Saturn Relay should you avoid?
2005 — this year has the most complaints relative to other Relay years at the same age, led by brakes problems in the 2005.
What is the best year for the Saturn Relay?
2007 has the fewest complaints compared with other Relay years at the same age, followed by 2006. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Saturn Relay problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the brakes (47), electrical system (29) and body & structure (17). Brake complaints peak in the 2005 model year.
How many recalls has the Saturn Relay had?
3 recalls across 2005–2007. The model year with the most is 2005. See all Saturn Relay recalls by year.
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.