2005 Saturn Relay Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2005 Saturn Relay, and owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2005 Saturn Relay
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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…
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. Owners may contact buick at…
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Mid/rear assembly (seats)
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. Owners may…
91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2005 Saturn Relay have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 56,862 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 15 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Exact same issue as described in april 2014 GM recall 14063. Sudden loss of electrical power while driving causing the engine to shut off. Unpredictable very dangerous. Seems to be the ignition switch”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 17, 2018 · Electrical system
“The anti-lock brake system warning light and traction control system (tcs) warning light continue to light up and stays on i have seen similar complaints on various chat sessions.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 27, 2017 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2005 Saturn Relay (Relay AWD, Relay FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–16 / 21–23 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Minivan - 2WD, Minivan - 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Saturn Relay model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saturn Relay model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Saturn Relay | 2 | 91 |
| 2006 Saturn Relay | 1 | 19 |
| 2007 Saturn Relay | 0 | 12 |
Checking a specific 2005 Saturn Relay
How do I know if my 2005 Saturn Relay has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2005 Saturn Relay; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saturn dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V061000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saturn models
- Ion4,343 complaints
- Vue2,351 complaints
- SL2,218 complaints
- LS1,458 complaints
- Aura1,439 complaints
- Outlook1,352 complaints
- Sky516 complaints
- SC1413 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.