2006 Saturn Relay Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2006 Saturn Relay has 19 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking 2nd-worst among 3 model years covered. Top issues are structure & body (26% of complaints, mostly sliding doors) and brakes (21%), with one recall on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #2 of 3 Relay years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 19
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2006 Saturn Relay problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body5 (26%)
- Brakes4 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (21%)
- Fuel System3 (16%)
- Airbags2 (11%)
- Electrical System2 (11%)
- Engine2 (11%)
- Steering2 (11%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Power or manual sliding doors fail to latch, reopen while driving, or require slamming shut to close.
- Brakes can fade or cavitate on long downgrades, causing the vehicle to sway before braking returns.
- Traction control activation sometimes knocks out ABS and stability control together.
- Fuel system design lets the tank run low or the engine stall when idling or driving on an incline with about a quarter tank left.
- Airbags failed to deploy in rollover and side-impact crashes, including one crash reported at 1,600 miles and another at 125,000 miles.
2006 Saturn Relay recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 05V552000Dec 7, 2005Other32,068 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.
Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on march 31, 2006. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, hummer at 1-800-732-5493, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
2006 Saturn Relay fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Relay years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Saturn Relay reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 19 complaints for the 2006 Relay with a complaint index of 50, ranking 2nd-worst of the 3 model years with data. Structure & body problems, mainly sliding doors, and brake issues are the most reported.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Saturn Relay?
- Structure & Body complaints are the most common, making up 26% of reports, largely centered on sliding doors that fail to latch or reopen while driving.
- Does the 2006 Saturn Relay have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall for the 2006 Relay, covering incorrect tire and loading information labels.
- How does the 2006 Relay compare to other years?
- The 2006 Relay's complaint index of 50 is lower than the 2005 model's index of 100 but higher than the 2007 model's index of 0.