2005 Saturn Relay problems
Owners have filed 137 complaints about the 2005 Saturn Relay with NHTSA. Service brakes, hydraulic account for 19.7% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 18.2%.
Complaints137
Crashes3
Fires1
Injuries1
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes, hydraulic 19.7% · 27
Electrical system 18.2% · 25
Structure 8.0% · 11
Latches/locks/linkages 6.6% · 9
Service brakes 6.6% · 9
Exterior lighting 5.1% · 7
Service brakes, electric 3.6% · 5
Traction control system 3.6% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 3 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 1 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 26 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 42,109 miles.
In owners' own words
Brakes get so hot when traveling down a mountain that it causes the rotors to warp. The van shakes and shimmies and makes a loud sound as if you were traveling over rumble strips on the road. The van exhibited these failures around 15,000 miles. The problem still exists despite the dealer resurfacing the rotors. After driving the vehicle down hill the brakes get hot again and cause the rotors to be warped again. Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Relay. While driving 5 mph, the contact heard an unfamiliar noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the sway bar had failed and the rotors were puncturing the tires. The dealer replaced the bar and rotors, however the failure recurred. The dealer has been unable to duplicate the failure. The current mileage is 39,170 and failure mileage was 20,318. Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 20,318 miles
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. Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 7,266 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…