What year Saturn Relay should I avoid?

The data does not assign an Avoid verdict to any Relay year. The 2005 model year has the highest complaint index (100) and most complaints (91), driven mostly by brake issues, so it carries the most reported risk relative to 2006 and 2007.

Is the 2005 Saturn Relay reliable?

NHTSA lists 91 complaints for the 2005 Relay, the most of any year, with a complaint index of 100 and 2 recall campaigns. Brakes account for the largest share of complaints across all Relay years at 42 percent.

Which Saturn Relay year has the fewest complaints?

The 2007 model year has the fewest complaints at 12, a complaint index of 0, and no recall campaigns on file.

What is the most common problem on the Saturn Relay?

Across all model years, brakes are the top problem area with 51 complaints, or 42 percent of all complaints, followed by electrical system issues at 25 percent.

Does the Saturn Relay have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns total across the 2005-2007 Relay: 2 for the 2005 model year and 1 for the 2006 model year. The 2007 model year has no recalls listed.

Saturn Relay Best and Worst Years (2005–2007)

No Saturn Relay year carries an official Avoid, Best, or Good verdict in this data. The 2005 model has the highest complaint index at 100 with 91 complaints and 2 recalls, mostly brake issues, while 2006 and 2007 show far fewer complaints (19 and 12) and lower complaint indexes of 50 and 0.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Model years: 3; 2005–2007
NHTSA complaints: 122
Recall campaigns: 3
Crashes reported: 4
Fires reported: 1
Top problem area: Brakes

Relay Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Saturn Relay problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2005	No verdict	100	91	2	1	2	Brakes	17.5	—
2006	No verdict	50	19	2	0	1	Structure & Body	19	—
2007	No verdict	0	12	0	0	0	Structure & Body	19	—

Most common Saturn Relay problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Brakes51 (42%)
Electrical System30 (25%)
Structure & Body29 (24%)
Fuel System12 (10%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (7%)
Transmission & Powertrain9 (7%)
Engine7 (6%)
Steering6 (5%)
Other4 (3%)
Airbags2 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What year Saturn Relay should I avoid?: The data does not assign an Avoid verdict to any Relay year. The 2005 model year has the highest complaint index (100) and most complaints (91), driven mostly by brake issues, so it carries the most reported risk relative to 2006 and 2007.
Is the 2005 Saturn Relay reliable?: NHTSA lists 91 complaints for the 2005 Relay, the most of any year, with a complaint index of 100 and 2 recall campaigns. Brakes account for the largest share of complaints across all Relay years at 42 percent.
Which Saturn Relay year has the fewest complaints?: The 2007 model year has the fewest complaints at 12, a complaint index of 0, and no recall campaigns on file.
What is the most common problem on the Saturn Relay?: Across all model years, brakes are the top problem area with 51 complaints, or 42 percent of all complaints, followed by electrical system issues at 25 percent.
Does the Saturn Relay have any recalls?: NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns total across the 2005-2007 Relay: 2 for the 2005 model year and 1 for the 2006 model year. The 2007 model year has no recalls listed.