49 of the
190 complaints filed about the Saturn Relay
are about the braking system —
26% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11149773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11048779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11030754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SPEED SENSOR AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, THE SLIDING DOOR CHIME ACTIVATED EVEN THOUGH BOTH SLIDING DOORS WERE CLOSED. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10885096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ABS & T/C WARNING LIGHTS, BRAKES SEIZED UP WAS UNABLE TO MOVE VAN HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP, T/C ENGAGES WITHOUT ANY ADVERSE WEATHER OR ROAD CONDITIONS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN QUICKLY, REPLACE BRAKE PADS TWICE A YEAR SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10706475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ABS HUB SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.
NHTSA complaint #10694113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS SYSTEM ACTING UP , OCCURRING OFF AND ON SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC PROBLEM . HAPPENS EVERYDAY SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. ALSO PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10676161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER HAVING MY BRAKES REPLACED, THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF FOR AWHILE, BUT EVERY TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES IT WILL COME BACK ON FOR DAYS. I AM ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS. THEY KEEP GOING IN AND OUT. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE CORRECTLY, I CHECK TO MAKE SURE NOTHING IS IN THE WAY BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10567927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE BRAKE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10522302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, SATURN RELAY 2005 SLOWED DOWN AND LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY. DASH WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF (ABS/STABILITY/TRACTION) - WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER ON AND OFF. WHEN I APPLIED THE GAS, THE VEHICLE BOGGED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SLOW. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. I COULD NOT MOVE OVER TO THE BERM DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC SO I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT AT AN UPCOMING EXIT RAMP. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED THE FIRST FEW TIMES. THEN THE BRAKES WORKED SO I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN EVENTUALLY. THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING WHEN I WOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND INTERMITTENTLY, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10520704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARS INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER BRAKES WERE REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS OPENING THE DOOR DOESN'T ALWAYS TURN ON LIGHT OR TURN OFF RADIO. DRAINED BATTERY. NOW I HAVE TO PULL FUSE. STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROLS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY OFTEN PERFORMING OPPOSITE FUNCTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10489110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
12/19/2011 WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN BRAKES ENGAGED FOR NO REASON. FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE PEDAL. VAN LURCHED, TIRES SQUEALED, DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED DOWN TO 20 MPH, AND CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. SHE PULLED OFF ONTO SHOULDER OF ROAD. T/C LIGHT CAME ON. VAN DROVE NORMALLY AFTER THAT UNTIL 1/5/12 WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT HAPPENED AT A LOWER SPEED, WHILE SLOWING TO TURN LEFT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. MADE CAR SKID AND SHE ALMOST MISSED THE TURN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 1/6/11 WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. SAME SYMPTOMS, THIS TIME CAR PULLED TO LEFT. I INSPECTED VEHICLE TO FIND THAT RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THOUGHT THAT WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IT WAS AN UNRELATED ISSUE. HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON 1/10/11, ONCE AGAIN ON 1/11/11 AT 60 MPH, AND ON 1/12/11 AT A LOWER SPEED. DIAGNOSIS BY A GM CERTIFIED MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE EBCM. CURRENTLY THE FUSE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ABS AND ABS PUMP TO PREVENT THIS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SWITCH IN CAR TO DEACTIVATE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT STOPPING IT FROM MALFUNCTIONING. MY WIFE AND KIDS USE THIS CAR, AND I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY, AND I HAD TO CONSULT 3-4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO BRAINSTORM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10443718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10432537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON , IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WASN'T SLOWING DOWN MUCH, AT 35 MPH. IT WAS SCARY. I KNOW OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I WAS TOLD IS THE EBCM MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #10425974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 SATURN RELAY 3: REPLACED ABS SENSOR IN WHEEL HUBS 5 TIMES BECAUSE OF AWD BEING DISABLED DUE TO ABS LIGHT COMING ON. CODE INDICATED BAD SENSOR WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS REALLY THE EBCM. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SATURN RELAY OWNERS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.
NHTSA complaint #10421508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT MY 2005 RELAY BRAND NEW FROM THE SATURN DEALER. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND I HAD IT SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY. 1 MONTH LATER ABS LIGHT AGAIN. THE HUB WAS REPLACED AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. ABS LIGHT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. ONE MONTH LATER REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN. I STARTED HAVING SOME SHAKING WHEN BRAKING THEN THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC INSTEAD OF THE DEALER THINKING THAT MAYBE THE DEALER MECHANICS WERE SHORT-CUTTING ON REPAIRS. THE PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE ABS LIGHT STILL COMES ON ALL THE TIME. THE 2005 SATURN RELAY NEEDS A RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10413963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
I BOUGHT MY 2005 RELAY BRAND NEW FROM THE SATURN DEALER. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND I HAD IT SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY. 1 MONTH LATER ABS LIGHT AGAIN. THE HUB WAS REPLACED AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. ABS LIGHT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. ONE MONTH LATER REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN. I STARTED HAVING SOME SHAKING WHEN BRAKING THEN THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC INSTEAD OF THE DEALER THINKING THAT MAYBE THE DEALER MECHANICS WERE SHORT-CUTTING ON REPAIRS. THE PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE ABS LIGHT STILL COMES ON ALL THE TIME. THE 2005 SATURN RELAY NEEDS A RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10413963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A SATURN RELAY 2005 ABS LIGHTS STAYS ON,ALL WHEEL DRIVE DISABLE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, REPLACED HUB AND WHEELBEARING THREE TIMES STILL HAVE ABS LIGHTS COME ON. NOBODY SEEM TO KNOW HOW FIX THIS PROBLEM, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DON'T TRUST HAVING MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I LOOKED UP ON THE COMPUTER A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SATURN RELAY,THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE THERE ARE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND LAWSUITS.
NHTSA complaint #10407773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. IT HAS BEEN IN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES. BOTH HUBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ABS WARNING CONTINUES TO COME ON DAILY AT RANDOM TIMES. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON WITH THE ABS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING OR BRAKING. THERE ARE NEW BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS ARE GOOD. BUT THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING SOUND ONCE IN AWHILE. THE REPAIRMAN WONDERS WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL BY SATURN.
NHTSA complaint #10387328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.