2005 Saturn Relay
No clear pattern 16.8% of complaints about the 2005 Saturn Relay arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2005 vehicle, but with only 137 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (27 complaints), typically at 3.0 yr or about 23,400 miles.
- Complaints
- 137
- Median age at failure
- 3.8 yr
- Median mileage
- 42,109 n=119
- Crash / fire / tow
- 3.6% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 3
09E005000 2009-02-17
Steering
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
05V287000 2005-06-20
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). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAILED THIS TEST.
WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNINTENDED BRAKING WHEN ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR COASTING, AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
05V061000 2005-02-18
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.
IF THE REAR LATCHES OF THE SEAT RELEASE EARLY IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, THE FRONT OUTBOARD LATCH MAY DISENGAGE AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Electrical system 2,427 mi 10 mo in service
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER EVEN AFTER 5 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. HEATER INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE AFTER 5 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. POWER SLIDING DOORS DO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AFTER 4 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. DIFFICULT STARTING AFTER 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC BELOW QUARTER TANK. *JB
Electrical system 1,000 mi 1.3 yr in service
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. *JB
Electrical system 1,000 mi 3 mo in service
2005 SATURN RELAY HAS NUMEROUS DESIGN FLAWS, AND SATURN IS UNABLE TO FIX. ONSTAR DISABLES SPEEDOMETER WHEN USED, RADIO MUTES AND CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET, ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER REPLACING EBCM, ABS PUMP, BCM, LIGHTS FLICKER BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, ALTERNATOR FOUND TO HAVE ERRATIC OUTPUT, NEW ALTERNATOR DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED WITHIN 25K MILES. SATURN WILL ONLY KEEPING TRYING TO REPAIR, BUT IS UNABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. *NM
Service brakes, hydraulic 7,266 mi 1.3 yr in service
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. *JB