Most common 2005 Saturn Relay problems
Share of the 91 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saturn Relay complaints by model year
Best Relay years: 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2005. Compare all years →
2005 Saturn Relay recalls (2)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2005 Saturn Relay:
Power sliding door opening
Odi has received reports that the power sliding doors opened without command while the vehicle was in motion on model year 2005 and 2006 general motors minivans (Chevrolet uplander/venture, Pontiac montana sv6/montana, Buick terraza, and Saturn relay).some reports indicate that the door May not have been closed and latched before driving away causing the door to reverse (open) at low vehicle speeds.however, other…
Electrical harness damage
The office of defects investigation opened this investigation on November 29, 2005, based on one consumer report to odi and a technical service bulletin issued by general motors.the bulletin, no. 1613174, issued on February 21, 2005, states in part, some customers May report a stall and/or no crank, no start condition after the wipers are used.analysis of the available data indicates that the problem experience…
Power sliding door
Odi evaluated general motors' (GM) data, conducted consumer interviews, inspected and tested my 2005-2007 GM minivans with regard to the alleged defect of a power sliding door (psd) opening while the vehicle is out of park.odi identified a high warranty claim rate.however, these claims are related to various problems associated with doors not properly opening or closing and not specifically to doors opening while…
What 2005 Saturn Relay owners say
Brakes all 41 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Saturn Relay. While operating the vehicle, the speed sensor and traction control sensor lights illuminated and the braking distance increased when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic body control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Also, the sliding door chime activated even though both sliding doors were closed. Also, the steering wheel suddenly became very difficult to turn. The cause of the failures were not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 09/08/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Saturn Relay. The contact stated that while reversing from a driveway, the brakes failed with the illumination of the ABS warning lights. As a result, the contact crashed into a mailbox from the driver's side. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was advised that the driver's side wheel hub needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the brake failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Electrical system all 24 →
On 1/12/15, while my 2005 Saturn Relay was parked in my garage, started on fire. Vehicle was not started or going at the time. Last drove the vehicle approximately one hour prior. It was determined that the ceiling component that has the buttons to open the back sliding doors, OnStar and garage opening, is what started the electrical fire, which burned a whole in my roof, burned the drivers side visor, which in turn burned the driver side seat and car seat behind the driver's door. GM determined it was not there problem because the vehicle was 10 years old and no other cases were on file. A very very very scary situation.
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. They were going to replaced the fuel pump but then noticed the wires located on the passenger side of the van. The mechanic wiggled the wires and the van started. A few weeks later I was driving down the road doing about 50 and the van just lost power. It was as if it ran out of gas. I was able to safely pull over and had the van towed again. …
Body & structure
Tl contact owns a 2005 Saturn Relay. While driving between 5-45 MPH, the contact heard a beeping noise. The noise indicated that the passenger side door was open, however, the door was closed. She had to open and close the door for the beeping noise to stop. The dealer stated that they cleaned the door pins. Approximately a year and a half later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that they changed the hard side trim. Approximately six months later, the failure recurred for the third time. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The current mileage is 12,500 and failure mileage was 5,000.
Saturn Relay started leaking water a month after purchase. Took in for repair several times, filed for lemon law, Saturn had their final attempt to fix the problem and failed. I was told by the corp office to take car back in so they could verify that it was still leaking, did that and they did in fact verify in writing that it was leaking, Saturn refuses to abide by the law and give me a refund or new vehicle, in fact they wouldn't give me any option other than take it to be fixed. Again??? Got myself an attorney!!!
2005 Saturn Relay engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Saturn Relay a good car?
Based on 91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Relay rates avoid: 4.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Relay at the same age. It is one of the Relay years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Saturn Relay?
The brakes — 41 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the electrical system (24) and body & structure (10).
How many recalls does the 2005 Saturn Relay have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2005 Saturn Relay, the most recent from June 20, 2005 (parking brake). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saturn Relay?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005. See the full Saturn Relay years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Saturn Relay problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.