FAILURE OF SLIDING SIDE DOOR TO LOCK FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILURE OF REAR BRAKES. *TR
2005 Saturn Relay brakes problems
severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
2005 SATURN RELAY HAS NUMEROUS DESIGN FLAWS, AND SATURN IS UNABLE TO FIX. ONSTAR DISABLES SPEEDOMETER WHEN USED, RADIO MUTES AND CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET, ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER REPLACING EBCM, ABS PUMP, BCM, LIGHTS FLICKER BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, ALTERNATOR FOUND TO HAVE ERRATIC OUTPUT, NEW ALTERNATOR DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED WITHIN…
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED FROM BRIGHT TO DIM. ALSO, THE IDLE WAS VERY LOUD AND ROUGH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND NO FUR…
I HAVE A SATURN RELAY WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ABS DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. VERY SCARY STUFF. THE ABS WILL COME ON WITH DRY CONDITIONS BUT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN WE ACTUALLY NEED THEM, LIKE IN THE SNOW. SATURN DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. KEEP TAKING MY VAN BACK AND NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I GUESS THERE WAITING FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN TO ACTUALLY GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BEFO…
I BOUGHT A USED 2005 SATURN RELAY 3 IN JANUARY 2010. I HAVE 2 MAJOR ISSUES GOING ON: POWER SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE CLOSED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DING AS IF I WAS DRIVING WITH THEM OPEN...ON A FEW OCCASIONS I HAVE HEARD THE POWER DOOR MOTOR START ON ITS OWN AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOORS WHILE I AM DRIVING! SECOND ISSUE IS ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING O…
ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2008 I WAS BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED BRIEFLY, STOPPED AND THE SERVICE LIGHT FOR BOTH THE TC AND THE ABS REMAINED ON. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF THE SERVICE LIGHTS. ON MONDAY I BROUGHT THE VAN INTO THE LOCAL GARAGE. IN JUNE 2008, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE SAME GARAGE PUT IN NEW BALL BEARINGS IN…
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2005 Saturn Relay?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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