Saturn Relay Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Saturn Relay options? We analyzed 3 model years (2005–2007) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Saturn Relay has 122 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls across model years 2005–2007. The most reported issue area is SERVICE BRAKES. 2005 drew the most complaints; 2007 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Saturn
- Model
- Relay
- Model years analyzed
- 2005–2007 (3 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 122
- Safety recall campaigns
- 6
- Crash-related complaints
- 4
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2005 (91 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2007 (12 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Reliability signal
- Below Average
By model year
Saturn Relay: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
Below AverageThe SATURN RELAY has 122 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. 4 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 122 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 6 federal recall campaigns
- 4 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
6 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
STEERING
STEERING
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
STEERING
PARKING BRAKE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2005–2007. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 122 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
122 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
SERVICE ABS AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND HAVE REMAINED ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. FURTHER MESSAGES CONTINUE FLASHING ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM OVER THE PAST YEAR AFTER ABS WHEEL SENSORS AND THE ASSOCIATED WIRING WERE REPLACED. WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET - I WAS THINKING THAT SURELY A TSB OR RECALL ON THESE ISSUES HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED OR SIMPLY IGNORED BY THE MECHANICS AND SERVICE WRITERS AT THE GM DEALERSHIPS NATIONWIDE. I KNOW THAT A TECH LL SCANNER IS REQUIRED TO CHECK FOR ANY TROUBLE CODES FOR THESE VERY COMPLEX SYSTEMS, BUT WHAT IS THE KNOWN DEFINITIVE FIX FOR THESE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEMS ? THE LIGHTS AND MESSAGES BEGAN APPEARING AFTER MODERATE BRAKING AND WHILE VEHICLE IS/WAS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY WHILE TURNING OR ON A STRAIGHT AHEAD STRETCH OF ROADWAY. VARIED ROAD CONDITIONS AND WET OR DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE SEEMINGLY NOT CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
ATTEMPTED LOW/MODERATE ACCELERATION FROM STOP; TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP WITH ENGINE RPM INCREASING BUT NO TRANSFER OF POWER BEYOND ABOUT INITIAL HALF-FOOT OF FORWARD MOTION, THEN HARD SHIFTED INTO GEAR (LURCHED THE VEHICLE) AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THIS EVENT WAS INITIALLY INTERMITTENT AND NOT ABLE TO BE REPRODUCED BY MECHANIC. IT HAS NOW BECOME FREQUENT AND AFFECTS SHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS WELL AS FROM STOP, MAKING CONTROL OF ACCELERATION UNPREDICTABLE IS HARD SHIFTING THROUGH MOST GEARS WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING, ALTHOUGH AT OTHER TIMES IT SHIFTS VERY SMOOTHLY THROUGHOUT, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO REPRODUCE FOR MECHANIC. *TR
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, GEAR SELECTION LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM PARK AND PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AS RESULT. SHUT DOWN ENGINE, RESTARTED WITH SAME RESULT. AFTER SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER, IT FINALLY RELEASED FROM PARK BUT HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING DIRECTLY INTO REVERSE GEAR - IT HAD TO BE "ROWED" THRU ALL GEARS TO SETTLE TO REVERSE, AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SEEM TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE INITIALLY. WHEN IT DID ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION "JUMPED," LURCHING THE CAR (THE PARKING BRAKE HAD DISENGAGED WHEN GEAR SELECTION LEVER FINALLY MOVED FROM PARK). THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND SEEMS TO SOMETIMES COINCIDE WITH OTHER DRIVETRAIN ISSUE PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. *TR
NOTED THAT DRIVING LIGHTS FLASHED WITH WIPERS ON DELAY SETTING. AT NEXT USE, LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT & WARNING SOUNDED BUT LIGHTS DID NOT FLASH WITH DELAY WIPERS. TURNING OFF ENGINE AND PULLING HOOD LATCH & CLOSING HOOD ENDED LOW PRESSURE WARNING (OIL PRESSURE/ LEVEL WERE CORRECT-FALSE ALARM). 2 DAYS LATER, LIGHTS AGAIN FLASHED WITH WIPERS ON DELAY BUT NO OIL PRESSURE WARNING. CONTINUED THIS BACK-AND-FORTH (EITHER OIL WARNING OR LIGHT FLASH WITH WIPER USE, BUT NOT CONCOMITANT) FOR 2 MONTHS, THEN LOW PRESSURE WARNINGS BECAME CONSTANT, AND THE LIGHTS NO LONGER FLASHED WITH THE WIPERS AT ALL.THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING CAN OFTEN BE STOPPED BY EITHER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND CAREFULLY RESTARTING OR PULLING HOOD LATCH AND SLAMMING HOOD. SHIFTING GEARS MAY ALSO TRIGGER THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING IF IT ISN'T ALREADY ON. *TR
MY 18 YEAR OLD SON HAD AN ACCIDENT. HE ROLLED THE VAN MULTIPLE TIMES, HIT TREES ,DAMAGED ALL SIDES, AND ROOF OF THE VAN. THE ONLY DOOR THAT WOULD EASILY OPEN WAS THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE FRONT AXLE BROKE, WINDSHIELD BROKEN. THE INSURANCE APPRAISER SAID ALL PANELS WERE DAMAGED AND COULD NOT BELIEVE NONE OF THE AIR BAGS OPENED. THE SATURN RELAY 2006 WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN RELAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHIN THREE MONTHS, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE DARKENED BY THREE SHADES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG METALLIC SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT HAD EVEN AFFECTED HER BREATHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FOREIGN HOSE ATTACHED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE TOXIC LEAK. THE CONTACT BECAME VERY ILL AND STRONG TRACES OF CADMIUM, LEAD AND MERCURY WERE FOUND IN HER BLOOD SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Read 14 more owner reports
I STARTED GETTING "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" WARNING MESSAGE AND LIGHT WITH "SERVICE ABS SYSTEM" WARNING MESSAGE AND LIGHT AND "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM". ALL ARE ALWAYS AT THE SAME TIME. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING (PER OWNERS MANUAL) TEMPORARILY CAUSES THE LIGHTS AND MESSAGES TO TURN OFF, BUT THEY ALWAYS RETURN LATER. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN SATURN FORUMS AND IS HAPPENING WITH MANY, MANY OWNERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN RELAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS WOULD NOT SHUT. WHEN ACTIVATED, THE DOOR WOULD START TO CLOSE BUT WOULD NOT LATCH AND THEN WOULD REOPEN. THE CONTACT STATED IT TAKES A COUPLE OF HOURS AND ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIANS PERFORMED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DOOR BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
MY 2006 SATURN ION ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ITS POWER STEERING WHILE I WAS DRIVING! I ALMOST CRASHED! AND NOW IT GOING TO COST OVER 500 OR MORE TO FIX. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, I WAS GOING UP A HILL ON A CURVE. JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BELL RANG AND IT POPPED UP PWR STR. I GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND TURNED IT OFF WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 5 FEET AND AGAIN IT DID IT. I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE FUSE AND MADE SURE IT WAS OK. TODAY I DROVE ALL OVER AND IT WAS OK AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN AGAIN IT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP! *TR
AWD DISABLED WHEN NEEDED IN SNOW. IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY ICY SLUSH. I CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY'S AWD SENSOR CAN GET COVERED UP WITH MUD OR SLUSH AND THE AWD SYSTEM WILL DISABLE. ANY AWD SYSTEM THAT GETS DISABLED BY SLUSH IS LUDICROUSLY DESIGNED, AND BORDERLINE NEGLIGENT WITH REGARDS TO SAFETY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN RELAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR REPEATEDLY OPENS AND CLOSES. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MORE THAN FOUR TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS TO HAVE THE DOOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER HAS SEEN MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH IDENTICAL FAILURES. THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY REPAIRING THE DOOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 34,600.
POWER SLIDING DOOR ON 2006 SATURN RELAY IS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY AND OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, DOES NOT LATCH AND OCCASSIONALLY DOOR REOPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. TROUBLE STARTED ABOT TWO MONTHS AGO BUT THE REGULARITY OF THIS OCCURRANCE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANLTY OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 SATURN RELAY. IT WAS AN EXECUTIVE DRIVEN CAR AND WAS PURCHASED WITH 400 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY TRANSFERRED OVER TO ME. THE TRACTION CONTROL ON THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED IT WOULD KNOCK OUT THE STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH I HAVE BREAKS, THEY ARE MANUAL BREAKS. AT FIRST SATURN SAID THE SYSTEM IS WORKING TO FACTORY SPECS UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO THEIR VEHICLE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MINE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR BECAUSE, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT KIND OF BREAKING SYSTEM I HAVE WHEN TRYING TO ENGAGE MY BREAKS. I DO NOT WANT TO CAUSE HARM TO ANYONE OR HAVE ANY ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS RESULT IN DEATH. I DO NOT WANT HARM TO ME OR MY LOVED ONES EITHER. NO ONE AT SATURN OR SATURN OF GREENFIELD SENSES THE URGENCY OF THIS SITUATION. IT ISN'T UNTIL I COMPLAINT THAT I AT LEAST GET SOME TYPE OF ACTION, ALTHOUGH IT RESULTS IN THE SYSTEM FAILING AGAIN. I HAVE MY CAR IN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED EARLIER THIS SUMMER. THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE SYSTEM FAILED THREE TIMES IN TWO DAYS. NOT A GOOD RESULT. I NEED THIS DOCUMENTED SO THAT IN THE EVENT I AM INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, I WILL NOT BE ACCUSED OF NOT DISCLOSING THIS SITUATION. I CAN SAY THAT I DID AND NO ONE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY WHICH WILL PROBABLY RESULT IN A LONG MESSY LEGAL BATTLE. I HAVE DONE MY PART, BUT SATURN OF GREENFIELD AND GM (SATURN) HAS FAILED TO DO THEIRS. *TR
WE OWN A 2006 SATURN RELAY 3 THAT WE PURCHASED IN JUNE 2007. WE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT EXISTS IN CHEVROLET UPLANDERS AND SATURN RELAYS THAT CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY OUR DEALERSHIP THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THE GAS TANK, IF THE CAR IS IDLING WHILE ON AN INCLINE, GAS DISSIPATES FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CAR MAY STALL. THIS CAN OCCUR DESPITE THERE BEING MORE THAN A QUARTER TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR. FURTHER, THE CAR CANNOT BE RESTARTED UNLESS SET ON A LEVEL SURFACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US ON TWO OCCASIONS. MY WORRY IS THAT IT COULD HAPPEN IN A DANGEROUS PLACE (I.E. IN A TRAFFIC JAM IN A TUNNEL SUCH AS THE LINCOLN TUNNEL) WHERE THE CAR CANNOT BE RESTARTED AND THERE IS NOT EASY ACCESS TO EVACUATE. GM IS KNOWINGLY SELLING THESE MODELS WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE DEFECT. FURTHER, THERE IS NO DISCLOSURE AFTER PURCHASE UNTIL AN EVENT OCCURS AND THEN THERE IS NO EFFORT TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SATURN RELAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DOOR HAS TO BE SLAMMED SHUT IN ORDER FOR IT TO CLOSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000.
2006 SATURN VAN IS DESIGNED WITH THE CHARACTERISTIC OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHEN OPERATING ON AN INCLINE (NOSE UP OR NOSE DOWN), WITH A 1/4 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. AFTER THIS OCCURRED THE 2ND TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO REPAIR. THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE CHARACTERISTIC AND THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THEY CAUTIONED ME TO NOT ALLOW THE GAS LEVEL TO DROP BELOW 1/2 TANK. THEY STATED THIS WAS LISTED AS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND THAT RELEASED THEM FROM RESPONSIBILITY.*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED IN THE CENTER LANE, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO GET INTO THE SAME LANE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP COMPLETELY OVER AND LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND ARM INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THERE WERE PICTURES AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED.
I WAS TRAVELING ON AZ STATE ROUTE 87 ON A 6 PERCENT DOWNGRADE. I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES FOR NO MORE THAN 3 TO 5 SECONDS AT A TIME, THIS OCCURRED OVER A 5 MINUTE TIME FRAME. ON THE THIRD APPLICATION THE BRAKES BEGAN TO CAVITATE VERY BADLY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY AND BRAKES FADED OUT. THE BRAKES MADE A RUBBING SOUND FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE TURNING THEY MAKE A GRINDING SOUND/FEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO SATURN OF ARROWHEAD PEORIA, AZ ON 07/06/06. THEY STATED NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG WITH BRAKES. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON FOR BRAKES TO FADE ON THIS VEHICLE GOING DOWN HILL. THEY STATED WE SHOULD DOWNSHIFT TO COMPENSATE. THEY CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY BRAKES MAKE SOUND WHILE TURNING, THEY SAY BRAKES ARE FINE. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE PROBLEM IS THAT BRAKE ROTORS ARE TO SMALL FOR SIZE OF VEHICLE. THAT THEY HEAT UP TO QUICKLY AND FADE OUT AND ROTORS BEGIN TO WARP. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAN BE CORRECTED BY INCREASING ROTOR SIZE AND BRAKE SHOE SIZE, THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM IN WHEEL WELL. *NM
1) BOUGHT OUR SATURN RELAY MAY 30, 2006 2) TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE HOOD RATTLE, SAID IT WAS NOTHING SENT ME HOME. 3) CALLED ABOUT THE LOW MILEAGE THE VAN WAS MAKING, SAID IT WAS OK 4) 1 MONTH AND 26 DAYS CAR BREACKS DOWN REPAIRS ARE MADE ON 6/26/06 -SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACE -SENSORY KIT WAS REPLACE -HOOD NOT CLOSING WAS CORRECTED LATCH WAS REPLACE -AND HOOD BUMPER WAS FIX -INTERMITTENT ENGINE NOISE ( NOT FIX) -STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN ( NOT FIX) MOST IMPORTANT THE MIDDLE SEAT THAT ARE BOTH CAPTAIN CHAIRS DO NOT HAVE A ARM REST SO WHEN THE KIDS SIT THERE AND MY MOM THEY TEND TO LOOSE THERE VALANCE BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE.--- THEY SAY THAT'S THE WAY THEY COME AND THERE IS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT IT. *NM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Showing 20 of 122 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Saturn Relay
These pages show model-year patterns across 3 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Saturn Relay, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Saturn Relay has 122 complaints on record across 3 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Saturn Relay has 6 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 4 of the Saturn Relay's 122 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Saturn Relay vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Saturn Relay vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Saturn Relay has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Saturn Relay stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Saturn Relay by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Saturn Relay.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Saturn Relay reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Saturn Relay reliable?
Below Average. The Saturn Relay has 122 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is SERVICE BRAKES. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Saturn Relay years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2005 (91 complaints), 2006 (19 complaints), 2007 (12 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Saturn Relay problems?
Top reported issues: SERVICE BRAKES (46 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (29 complaints); HYDRAULIC (29 complaints).
Does the Saturn Relay have recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Saturn Relay. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.